Holy Spirit and Fire

Post author:Contributor
Post published:August 3, 2020
Post category:Baptism / My Helper / Savior
Post comments:1 Comment

John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire – Luke 3:16

John the Baptist was in all the region around Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Multitudes came to be baptized by him because they struggled with sin. They were expectantly looking for the Messiah to come to deliver them from the power of sin. They thought that John the Baptist was the Messiah. But, “John answered, saying to all, ‘I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire'” (Luke 3:16).

All the people were baptized with water and instructed by John to do good works – give to him who has none, don’t steal, don’t accuse anyone, be content with your wages – while they waited for the Messiah to come. The people tried do these good works but they could not do them perfectly because the power of sin was too strong for them. They needed the Messiah to help them. They needed Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus came to the Jordan and was baptized by John. “And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.'” (Luke 3:22). Jesus did good works before God and man, and never sinned – He did them perfectly. The people, who failed repeatedly, needed to be baptized by Jesus with the Holy Spirit and fire, in order to do good works perfectly too. Jesus said, “…without Me you can do nothing“ (John 15:5). The people also needed to abide in Him to keep the fire burning in them. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Today, invite Jesus to come into your heart and ask Him to baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire, so that you can do good works perfectly. Ask Him to bring you to abide in Him. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.