When I was 24 I had been backslidden for 11years and living constantly in the flesh...on a night when something particularly stressful had accured...it was the final proverbial straw...with tears in my eyes I simply put my attention toward heaven and said please help me..
From that moment a change happened...I said nothing to anyone but with in. A few days people where asking.
Whats my point...the the Holy Spirit is involved with every aspect of anything we receive from the Lord...he draws us...convicts us... baptizes us into the cross of our Lord...quickens our mortal bodies...leads us into all truth...all of this done through the finished work of Christ.
Some Pentecostals act as though believers don't have the Holy Spirit until they receive the baptism...this is just as wrong as some few who teach you are not saved until you are water baptized.
Water baptism is a witness before men that one has chosen to die to their own life and accept his life...so an outward expression of an inward decision.
In the same way when one dies to trying to do it themselves and gives themselves completely to his reign....there is another witness. We call this the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
We are water baptised when we ask a man to help us witness our decision before all...we are Spirit baptised when we ask God to help us witness our decision...in this way some have an almost instant experience...others the Lord deals with for a time...others through ignorance or pride refuse to make this witness.
As with all things our Lord is patient,longsuffering, forbearing, compassionate, and kind...if one ignored being water baptised would they lose their salvation...no. Yet it would show by disobedience a problem in their walk....which would be of greater concern than getting them wet...
Rick Rosamond
the bond slave of Jesus
Rick Rosamond
the bond slave of Jesus
