Devil’s Baptism
Bible
Matters 487: Devil’s Baptism
You are told that Jesus did not baptize anyone
in water.
John 3:22-24 – After these things came Jesus
and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and
baptized. And John also was baptizing in
Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and
were baptized. For John was not yet cast
into prison.
John 4:1-2 -When therefore the Lord knew how
the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than
John, (Though Jesus himself baptized
not, but his disciples,)
Reject the devil and concentrate on doing the will of God, so that you
will not pass away.
1 John 2:16-17 – For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of
the world. And the world passeth away,
and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 Peter 2:12,15-17 – Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles:
that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works,
which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. For so is the
will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of
foolish men: As free, and not using your
liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear
God. Honour the king.
1 Peter 4:2 – That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the
flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Jesus did the will of God and delivered God’s
gospel of Love. He told the rich man to
sell all he had to the poor and follow him for eternal life. For the rich man, selling all he had was too
much. That rich man could have been
baptized by water, continuously, until he drowned and he would not have
inherited a life with God in heaven!
Mark 10:17-21 – And when he was gone
forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him,
Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me
good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do
not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and
mother. And he answered and said unto
him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him
loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell
whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Jesus in the flesh could not give his
followers the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost did not come!
John 20:21-22 – Then said Jesus to them again,
Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on
them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
God the Father sends the Holy Ghost to those
whose heart is right with God.
Acts 1:7-8 – And he said unto them, It is not
for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own
power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 5:32 – And we are his witnesses of these
things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey
him.
After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy
Ghost was sent to those believers that had assembled into one place, no longer
to be in fear of prosecution, for their heart was right with God. No laying of hands. No act of water baptism.
Acts 2:1-4 – And when the day of Pentecost was
fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came
a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house
where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of
fire, and it sat upon each of them. And
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The power of the Holy Ghost is to be received
without water baptism, but by baptism by fire.
Acts 4:19-20,31-33 – But Peter and John
answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken
unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. And when they had prayed, the place was
shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were
of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things
which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles
witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them
all.
This gift and power of the Holy Ghost cannot
be bought. It is only available when
your heart is right with God.
Acts 8:15,19-21 – Who, when they were come
down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: Saying, Give me also this power, that on
whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish
with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with
money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not
right in the sight of God.
Acts 15:8 -And God, which knoweth the hearts,
bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Romans 2:29 – But he is a Jew, which is one
inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the
letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
A heart that is right with God, by repenting
and turning from sin. There are sixty
verses in the New Testament from six witnesses on repenting of your sins. In only one verse is repent used with
baptized.
Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
This verse does not state water baptism. John the Baptism testimony from witnesses has
told you that Jesus will present the baptism by fire! The fire is the Holy Ghost being sent to
your soul by obeying the will of God following the circumcision of your heart. John the Baptist’s baptism was one of
repentance for the remission of sins.
God wanted to break the Jewish religious practice of living in sin
followed by continuous animal sacrifice.
Matthew 3:11 – I indeed baptize you with water
unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I
am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Peter spoke out against acts of religion,
being a yoke the disciples should not bear. Peter did not agree with imposing
religious acts onto the believers.
Acts 15:5,7-10 – But there rose up certain of
the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to
circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And when there had been much disputing, Peter
rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while
ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the
word of the gospel, and believe. And
God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost,
even as he did unto us; And put no
difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke
upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to
bear?
God is looking for you to repent and turn from
sin. It is required per God’s gospel of
Love. It is required for everlasting
life.
Luke 13:3 – I tell you, Nay: but, except ye
repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning
his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not
willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Acts 3:19 – Repent ye therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing
shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 8:22 – Repent therefore of this thy
wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven
thee.
Today, God is asking you by faith to put your
trust in the Gospel and not putting our trust in man’s religion or the things
of this earth. Do not complain nor
blaspheme God about your situation.
Repent, turn from sin and give your life to God. Go live his gospel of Love!
1 Thessalonians 2:4 – But as we were allowed
of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing
men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
Revelation 16:11 – And blasphemed the God of
heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
Jesus performed many miracles with power from God
above. Lazarus, Mary and Matha were
friends of Jesus. Lazarus was sick. Jesus was less than 15 miles away and stayed
away until after Lazurus died. Lazurus
was dead for four days, when Jesus decided to visit Martha and Mary. Per Jewish culture, a body must be dead for 3
days, before one was declared dead.
Jesus stayed away four days so that the power of God could be
revealed. Jesus prayed to God the
Father, so that people could see the glory of God. God as King, had unmatched power.
John 11:39-43 -Jesus said, Take ye away the
stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this
time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee,
that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place
where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I
thank thee that thou hast heard me. And
I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I
said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a
loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
The Jewish people and Pharisees took John the
Baptist to be a prophet and that his power was from above. Sarcastically, Jesus made it clear that his
power was from above and John’s baptism with water was of man. Thus, man nor water baptism can never take
away sin. (See Matthew 21:24-25,27; Mark 11:29-31-33; Luke
20:3-4,8)
Luke 20:3-4,8 – And he answered and
said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or
of men? And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do
these things.
Hebrews 10:11
– And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Jesus died once for the forgiveness of your
past sins. Your walk is to be of life, living unto God.
Romans 3:25 – Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the
remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Romans 6:10 – For in that he died, he died
unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
The preponderance of evidence is clear. Do not be deceived by the devil. The power of the Holy Ghost is the result of
spiritual baptism by God for those whose heart is right with God. A converted and repented heart that has asked
for forgiveness of sins. A converted and repented heart that loves God
and loves your neighbor. Water baptism
is but a sign performed by man. When you
lead someone to God, you must take this responsibility personally and make sure
they understand God’s word! Some
churches may require water baptism as a sign of your personal commitment to the
Gospel. This water baptism will not
likely result in a converted heart, as required by God, for the baptism of the
Holy Ghost. Your testimony will be your fire
and a sign of your spiritual baptism by the Holy Ghost! Read
Peter’s testimony on God’s gospel of Love.
You won’t be disappointed.
To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.