Daily Devotional from The Way Bible Church for July 2nd, 2020

According to what is written in today’s scripture text, there are some elementary, or basic, things that everyone who claims to be a believer in Christ should know. One of those things is ‘instructions about baptisms’. Notice that it refers to ‘baptisms’, plural, not a single baptism. The truth is that the Bible talks about three different baptisms: The baptism into the Body of Christ, being born again (1 Corinthians 12:13), water baptism (Acts 2:38) and the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). The word baptism means to be washed or immersed in something. When you were born again, the Holy Spirit baptized or immersed you into the Body of Christ. From that point on you belonged to God forever. As a result of being born again, the Bible says that you should be water baptized as a public testimony of the internal rebirth that you experienced as a result of being born again. As you are immersed in the water and brought back up it is a picture of the old you dying and the new you being brought back out. Free from the sin that separated you from God. The final baptism mentioned, although it doesn’t have to be the final one you experience is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This is the promise of the Father that Jesus referred to before He ascended. This is you receiving the power of God to overcome and experience victory in every area of your life. Each of these baptisms is a vital occurrence in the life of every believer. Your place, your testimony, and your empowering are encompassed in these extraordinary and miraculous events. Allowing these acts of obedience to take place will enable you to experience the fullness of life that He intends for you to have. – Love and Blessings, Pastor Jeff.