Holy Spirit Baptism!

For Tuesday, December 13, 2022:

Mark 1:7-8 NLT: “John (the Baptist) announced: ‘Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!’”

Most people understand water-baptism. We confess our sins, and next comes the water. It’s an outward sign of an inward change. We’re turning our backs on darkness, and enjoying the light of Jesus. We still may stumble, but we’ll get up again and keep going!

Holy Spirit baptism is different. It’s part of our permanent decision to be a Christian. On the Day of Pentecost, for the first time, believers were indwelt by the Holy Spirit. 3,000 were added to their number that day. It was the beginning of the church. “We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit.” This is not a special experience for only a few. All believers have received the Holy Spirit baptism, synonymous with the gift of salvation!

Believers are aligned with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection through Holy Spirit baptism. This separates us from the power of sin, and we can now walk in newness of life, having been given a fresh start by our Savior!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship