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Christ promised
the Apostles that when the Holy Spirit came upon them they would be guided
as they preached to all the truth, John 16:13. When Peter preached on
Pentecost, Acts 2, he had received the Holy Spirit, verse 4, therefore, his
preaching was truth.
Peter told those
who heard him to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins,
and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:38.
The Apostle
Paul, writing by the same Holy Spirit that guided Peter in his preaching,
tells us that when we receive the Holy Spirit we have life, Romans 8:11. The
people on Pentecost had natural life before their baptism. The Holy Spirit
gave them spiritual life with their baptism, Romans 8:9,10.
Acts 2:41
records that 3,000 people were baptized on Pentecost day and:
Their faith
become more precious than gold, 1 Peter 1:7,
They had
peace that passed understanding, Philippians 4:7.
Joy came to
them that was unspeakable, 1 Peter 1:8.
Love entered
their hearts that was beyond knowledge, Ephesians 3:19.
Hope for the
future now anchored their souls, Hebrews 6:19.
I received
these same things when I was baptized into Christ. With all of these
enlarged qualities I understand now why I felt so good when I was baptized.
I understand why the Bible says that when the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized,
Act 8:38, that he went on his way rejoicing, Acts 8:39. He went back to
Ethiopia with faith, peace, joy, love, and hope! What a treasure!
Now I
understand why the hundreds I baptized into Christ were joyful: they were
born of the Spirit at that time, John 5:5-8.
In 1946 Sue
and I had a Bible study with a couple in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After we
had studied about what the Bible teaches us to be saved, Mr. and Mrs. Hammer
asked to be baptized. We went to the church building where we had a
baptistry filled with warm water, and clothes for them to dress in for their
baptism. When I buried Mrs. Hammer with her Lord in baptism and brought her
up out of the water she threw her arms up and shouted:
"I never felt
so good in my life!"
Why did she
feel that way? She had been born of the water and the Spirit, John 3:5-5.
She felt the surge of peace, joy, love and hope that came into her. Others I
baptized showed emotion in other ways, but everyone born of the Spirit in
this way feels so clean - forgiven of their sins - and so happy that they
are a child of God.
When we
believe that Jesus is God's son, repent of our sins, and are buried with
Christ in baptism we receive all of the spiritual blessings God has for us
because we are in Christ, Ephesians 1:3.
God has other
blessings we will explore in our
next message.
Harvey
Childress, servant of Jesus Christ. |
