Baptism By Fire

March 17

Read: Acts 18:24-19:10

Baptism By Fire

“There (Paul) found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Acts 19:2

God works in his people to move them beyond repentance and a fixation on sins into a life that is defined more so by the work of His Spirit in and through them. We see this played out in both Apollos and these disciples that Paul meets in Ephesus. Look at these two different encounters and how they are described:

“Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.” (v. 18:24,25) Apollos knew only the baptism of John. John the Baptist’s baptism was “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (cf. Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3, Acts 13:24) Being “competent in the scriptures” and “instructed in the way of the Lord” is good. Being “fervent in spirit” is helpful and a blessing. “Speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus” is no doubt important. But even in the midst of all those things, Apollos was missing something… “he knew only the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” He had not yet been immersed in the baptism of JESUS. Even John proclaimed this: ““I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (cf. Matt 3:11) This is why “when Priscilla and Aquila heard (Apollos), they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” (v. 18:26) Despite all those credentials… eloquence, competent in scriptures, instructed in the way of the Lord, fervent in spirit, teaching accurately, repentant for the forgiveness fo sins… Apollos was still not “accurate” in his understanding and experience of God. There was more! What exactly was that “more”… that bigger more “accurate” picture that Priscilla and Aquila pulled him aside to teach him? I propose it was the baptism of Jesus which is a baptism of “The Spirit and of Fire”. Our knowledge of Jesus as Christ must proceed past… extend beyond the acknowledging of sin and repentance… it must someday come into relationship and power in Christ.

We see this again with the disciples mentioned above. Think of how crazy this is! When Paul asks them if they have received the Holy Spirit - they answer: “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” How about you? Have you heard that there is a Holy Spirit? “Into what then have you been baptized?” (v. 19:3) If all you have been baptized into is repentance for sin, then you are missing out on the rest of the Christian life. It is more than simply guilt for our sin… it is also the indwelling presence of God and the powerful manifestation of his presence through His Spirit. Would you be able to answer Paul’s question? Have you experienced the use of your Spiritual Gifts enough that you could say whether or not you have moved beyond the stages of repentance and forgiveness? Has your Christian journey been primarily around guilt and a fixation on what to avoid? Has there been any room for the “baptism of Jesus”? Or is it only about the “baptism of John”. John the Baptist was preparing the way for Jesus. The baptism of repentance is a runway … a pathway… to the baptism of Christ. It is totally possible to be like Apollos or these disciples - well meaning and functioning with only a partial picture of the Christian life.

God sends us Priscilla’s, Aquila’s, and Paul’s to help usher us into this fullness… this “more accurate” understanding. God does no save you so that you can languish and remain in the repentance and guilt of your sin. He is working through “John’s Baptism” to bring us to “Jesus’ Baptism. There has always been more to the story. Repentance and transformation is a means to an end… the end that God is working out through his people… His Kingdom. Have you experienced the Lord that way today? Are you willing to embrace this “fire” of Jesus. It is not always comfortable… but it is GOOD. Our devotion to and understanding of Christ shapes our experience of the Spirit… and our experience with the Spirit shapes our devotion and understanding! Love you guys. - JDP