LOVE TABERNACLE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
BOOK: The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Chapter 3.1: Three Baptisms
3.1 Three Baptisms
There are three baptisms discussed in scripture1.
These are water baptism as a sign of repentance, blood baptism into the
body of Christ, and spirit baptism into the power and anointing of the
Holy Spirit.
Water baptism, performed by John the
Baptist, by his followers, by Jesus' disciples, and by ministers today
is for a sign of turning from sin to God2, And symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ3. A physical minister baptizes the believer into water.
Blood baptism is when a person receives
Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. It is a spiritual
baptizing into the Body of Christ, becoming one with Him, and being
cleansed from all sins4. The Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into the Body of Christ.
Spirit baptism is when a person receives the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit5. It is the promise of the Father6, that is for you and "all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call"7. Jesus baptizes the believer into the Holy Spirit8.
Jesus did no miracles until He received the baptism of the Holy Spirit9.
Jesus was just as much Jesus, just as much the Body of Christ, before
He received the baptism as He was after. But He had no power, no
anointing. This is also why Jesus commanded the disciples not to
leave Jerusalem until they had received the baptism\power10.
After receiving the baptism, the disciples went forth, preaching
everywhere, with the Lord confirming thru signs and miracles11.
Notice several things:
First,
the baptism is for believers who are already saved; the amount of time
between rebirth and baptism may be small, even a fraction of a second,
but it happens in that order.
Second,
only a baptized believer has been endowed with power for signs and
wonders; a non-baptized believer may be able to get similar results by
calling the power from the throne of God, but God's plan calls for you
to be endowed with it.
Third,
the baptism is upon; read all the scriptures on Jesus receiving it and
on believers receiving it, and you will find it is always upon.
Fourth,
the baptism with evidence of speaking in tongues is an outward proof
that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in glory12!
Hallelujah! Amen!
Footnotes:
1. Hebrews 6:1-2, 1 John 5:8
2. Luke 3:3, Acts 1:5, Acts 19:4
3. Col 2:12-13, Rom 6:3-5
4. 1 Cor 12:13, Rom 6:3-5
5. Acts 1:8, Acts 10:38
6. Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5, Gal 3:14
7. Acts 10:38-39
8. Joel 2:28-29, Matt 3:11, Luke 3:16, John 1:33
9. Matt 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32-33, Acts 10:38
10. Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8
11. Mark 16:15-20
12. Luke 24:49-52