Paul s intentions here are to help the believers in Corinth understand the first baptism you experience is salvation...

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1 ` 3 Baptisms 1. Baptism in the body of Christ... SALVATION Paul s intentions here are to help the believers in Corinth understand the first baptism you experience is salvation... Text: 1 Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized (salvation) by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. This is the baptism IN the Holy Spirit... this is not the baptism WITH the Holy Spirit. When you are saved you are baptized into the body of Christ... However Jesus will mention to us another Baptism...the Baptism WITH the Holy Spirit. 2. Baptism in Water Text: Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing (water) them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Most people believe in the first two baptisms but the majority seem to have a problem with the third baptism Baptism WITH the Holy Spirit Text: Matthew 3:11 "I (John the Baptist) baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one (Jesus) who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The Holy Spirit will baptize you into the body of Christ... but Jesus will baptize you in or with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Grammatically this cannot be the same baptism mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:13 Something you might want to make a note of here is that the scriptures mention this in more than one place... If this was an isolated place and there were no other occurrences throughout the scripture it could be argued against... however in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John we can discover that ALL of the Gospels support 4 things Jesus birth 2. Jesus death 3. Jesus resurrection 4. Baptism WITH the Holy Spirit

2 Text: Mark 1:8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Text: Luke 3:16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Text: John 1:33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' In the Old Testament the prophets would speak on behalf of God when His Spirit would come upon, or descend upon them. However, when they were done... it left them. The Holy Spirit wants to descend and REMAIN! Jesus was baptized IN the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit wants to descend and remain upon you! I hear what John said about Jesus but we need to hear what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit! You can read Luke 24:49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." and Acts 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. Jesus last words to the disciples (I think we can agree that these disciples would represent those that were saved, those that believed in Jesus... having witness His life, death, and resurrection... Jesus is instructing them to what?) WAIT! Jesus last words were not go... it was wait. For what? The PROMISE = Holy Spirit. In other words... If you GO without it (the Holy Spirit) nothing will happen. Why do we believe and teach salvation, water baptism, and baptism in the Holy Spirit? Text: Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized (water), every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. V. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call."

3 Look at Acts 8: But when they believed (salvation) Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized (water), both men and women. Simon himself believed (salvation) and was baptized (water). And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word (Jesus... salvation) of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, WHY? because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Text: Acts 19:1-4 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when (after) you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." V. 5-6 On hearing this, they were baptized into (in) the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. The Holy Spirit wants to baptize you into the Body of Christ or into Jesus. Jesus wants to baptize you in the Holy Spirit. Text: 1 John 5:7-8 For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. What this means is that there are three things that testify or offer a personal account, and these three are in agreement! Blood = covers my sin and baptizes me into the body of Christ, Water = Water Baptism is the outward expression of the new covenant or inner commitment, and Spirit = Baptism in the Holy Sprit which is the empowering to live the righteous, overcoming life of a believer. Historical:

4 Abraham and his life can be looked at as a type of salvation, water baptism and spirit baptism... Text: Genesis 12 The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. This is a TYPE of salvation... According to 2 Corinthians 6:17 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. Text: Genesis 15:17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. (This was happening while Abram was asleep. (according to verse 12.) This is a TYPE of Water Baptism remember it symbolizes the old is dead and gone and behold all things are new... covenant required a cutting or a death, and this was symbolic representation of a TYPE of water baptism. Genesis 17:5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. Illustration: I heard a pastor illustrate this by bringing attention to the added letter of significance. God added a letter that WAS NOT ALREADY A PART OF HIS NAME. (h) (H) ruah - is the Hebrew word for breath or spirit, or it can mean The Holy Spirit... God was saying, From now on your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham... Now the breath of My Spirit will accompany you... And if you ever really wanted to know if it is God s intention that you and your entire house be filled, lets look at what He has to say about Sarai... Text: Genesis 17:15 God also said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. God decided to remove the I and add the H - ruah - Holy Spirit, or Breath of the Spirit. I think we all could use a little less I and a whole lot more of the Spirit of God in our lives... would you agree? Example of another TYPE: Text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

5 What was Moses (Type of Deliverer or Salvation) What is the Cloud (The Holy Spirit) What was the Sea (Water Baptism) By the Way: To enter the Tabernacle of Moses... what three things had to be done? 1. Shedding of Blood (Salvation) 2. Washing in water (Baptism in water) 3. Anointing of Oil (Spirit Baptism) NOTICE: ALL THREE were necessary to enter the Holy of Holies... Remember the rope that was tied to the ankle of the priest who wore the outfit with the bells on it? The rope was just in case the priest had forgotten a step. If you are going to enter into the presence of God you are going to do it HIS WAY...you cant assume that you can pick and choose the steps you ll follow. I like the Salvation thing (the blood makes sense to me), and I like the water baptism ting (the whole past is buried and all things are new stuff resonates with me) so, I ll take these two baptisms and that s all I ll ever need! Is there anyone who could say that they just have all the power they need... or that they ll never need an endowment of fresh anointing or power from God! NO! God set this thing up from the beginning, He has given us example and illustration after illustration to remind and guide us, His plan is to provide three baptisms, Salvation a baptism into the Body of Christ through the shedding of Jesus blood, water baptism to illustrate the outward expression of the inward commitment, and the Baptism offered by Jesus who came to baptize in spirit and fire, the baptism IN the Holy Spirit to empower you to be able to live in a right-standing with God while living in an unrighteous generation! I believe the scriptures tell us very clearly that you can t side step the anointing and enter the presence of God... If you want to see Him... you need to go His way! Acts 2 & 4 The people were filled and Baptized IN the Holy Spirit. Acts 2 & 10 are corporate baptisms and I believe with all my heart that God wants to fill us today with this very special baptism IN the Holy Spirit... which is planned and provided for ALL those who are afar off and willing to have faith and trust.