Sir,
Thanks for taking the time to respond to me. I will try to keep my questions short and to the point.
I’ve been involved in religion for many many years before I came to understand that Jesus DID NOT start Christianity but someone else with an agenda to deceive people did. I have examined the perspective of Jesus’ message of the Kingdom and so that is where I identify.
According to the record of the book of Acts there are two baptisms, one was from John and the other from Jesus; one is of the water and the other of the Spirit. In the days of the Apostles, men received the baptism of the Spirit by the laying on of hands of the apostles or those who themselves were filled.
How is that done today?
Much Grace,
Howard Williams
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Greetings, Brother Williams!
You are correct that there are only two baptisms ordained by God in the Scriptures. What is commonly called Christian baptism is not one of them.
John’s baptism always included a message that the baptized person was to expect the baptism to come, that is, the baptism of Christ with the Spirit. When the 12 Jewish disciples in Ephesus in Acts 19 told Paul that they had received John’s baptism but that they had never heard of the holy Spirit, but Paul disagreed and then corrected them. Without hearing of the baptism of the Spirit, they had not received John’s baptism. The man who had baptized them in water, Apollos, had said that was baptizing them with John’s baptism, but God did not recognize it as such. That is why Paul baptized them again, this time adding the message that made that baptism John’s.
The major difference between John’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism is that John’s was ONLY for Jews. John said that his purpose for baptizing in water was to introduce the Messiah to Israel (Jn. 1).
Jesus’ baptism is not just for Jews, but is for “whosoever will”, and it may be received by anyone at any time and place. The only requirement to receive it is to believe the gospel and repent. That is what God was showing Peter at Cornelius’ house in Acts 10.
I have heard many testimonies of Jesus baptizing people when they were alone, in bed at night praying, in a cornfield, in a truck driving down the highway, etc. Of course, God may also use one of his servants to lay hands on repentant souls to receive the Spirit. God works all things according to the counsel of His own will. We cannot lay out any boundaries for God.
I hope that answers your question. Thank you for writing.
Your servant in Christ,
John