The Baptism of John

Acts 19:19 "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."

 I've been avoiding going here for a few days. Why? It's controversial among modern Christians. Rather than bringing together in one accord, it sows discord. Not at that time, but now. Since then Christians, rather than embracing the Holy Ghost, run in fear. Are they afraid of ghosts or is it Jesus they fear?  They spoke with their tongues, but this being common, context is that they spoke languages. By implication it's a previously unknown language which they spoke. However, it is not said to be an unknown language here, even in English, nor even elsewhere in the Greek. "Unknown" was an implied adjective meaning what? A language which was new to their tongue, not an ancient language which God spoke.

With that said some readers will flee. However, never fear... that's just scripture! Did they speak because they had the gift of the Holy Ghost? Yes they did! Does the Holy Ghost still come into Christians now? Most assuredly. Then the argument remains: "Was tongues to be a lasting witness for the reception of the Holy Ghost or was it only a miracle as were many to cause church growth? I can't answer that and so as not to "grieve the Holy Ghost" I shall not entertain or be so prideful to think that meek me should address this issue. As for me, I don't speak in tongues, not even Spanish, but if God gives me that, I can never refuse what I have been given. On the other hand, all Christians must be cautious of whose ghost it is that they're getting!

We do know one thing: From a history standpoint "speaking in tongues" was not the normative from 300 A.D. or earlier until the 20th Century.  Would that imply that all those who were martyred for Jesus' sake weren't full of the Holy Ghost? That's a logic issue, but that must be considered. Now on to today's commentary.

What is important to address here is twofold: 1) What is the Baptism of John and 2) What is the Baptism of Jesus?

John baptized before Jesus made the sacrifice for our sins. Let's look at what John said:

Mark 1:3 "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins."

Here is John's Baptism. This is the baptism of the disciples who Paul  met in Ephesus. They were obviously Jews who had believed what scripture taught. Being disciples they were "followers" of Christ, and being righteous Jews who understood prophecy in their own scripture knew that Jesus is the promised Messiah! Their baptism paved the way or set the example for others (Mark 1:3). They had faith that Jesus would die for their sins. Hence, they confessed their sins as they were baptized. Because they were admonished by John they repented and by God's grace they were forgiven, not by the shed blood of Jesus, but by the belief that Christ's blood was forthcoming for redemption.

The faith of those disciples who had John's Baptism were much like the faith of Abraham. The disciples just like the Christians of the Book of Acts "shall be saved (made safe)".  They were genuine Christians who had the hope of salvation, but no where did scripture say that they had the Holy Ghost! We see (Acts 19:6 above) that they were willing Christians who did not fear ghosts nor Jesus even though they didn't have God's Spirit at that instant.

It's for certain that they had not the Holy Ghost after John's Baptism, but one did!

John 1:32 "And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God."

When Jesus was baptized by John, the Holy Ghost descended on him and stayed there! That Jesus received and kept the Holy Ghost is said two times above: "abode on him" (verse 32) and "descending and remaining on him" (verse 33).  By that it is implied that all the others were touched by God's Spirit during baptism, but it was a temporary visitation. For Jesus and Jesus only did the Holy Ghost remained! It was different for him.

Those who had only John's Baptism were Christians, in that they were his disciples (Acts 19:19), but they were lacking in something. They had not been filled with the Holy Ghost. They had faith in what John SAID, but had yet to have faith in what Jesus DID!

They could have said "I'm a Christian... I don't need to be baptized again." They indeed were, but something was still missing! Jesus had yet to suffer and die. Christians must believe that Jesus not only SAID that he would DO that, but that he actually DID that. Jesus had not died yet, so how could his "Ghost" come into them? He didn't! Now the Ghost was there to Comfort them and they needed as assurance;  that their hope is real! How do I know that Jesus is real? He lives within me! Christians experience a change. Out temple is filled with the Baptism of Jesus and his Ghost resides in each of us! It's my desire to serve him that I know that he lives within me even though I continue to fail him.

In Ephesus Paul found Christians walking around who were not filled with the Holy Spirit. They were believers (verse 2), but had not even heard of the Holy Ghost. Paul taught them what they must do. They were to be baptized in Jesus' name (verse 5). Some put the importance on SAYING the name "Jesus". Some argue that SAYING "in the name of Father, Son and Holy Ghost" won't work. That's Simonism, not in a monetary perspective, but in a magical transformation. Circumcision (baptism) is of the heart, not of words! (Romans 2:29). The "magic" is "grace" wrought by the blood of Jesus and that is the Baptism of Jesus! It's where the Ghost comes on those who have been redeemed and stays. The Holy Ghost doesn't come and go, but many believe that the devil can infiltrate a believer to the extent that Jesus' Ghost "has no room at the inn: so to speak! (Apostasy).

There is a difference in the Baptism of John and the Baptism of Jesus. Some will argue about the point of efficacy, but that's for another day. Was it with enlightenment that allowed the Holy Ghost to enter in or was it the act of baptism? That's controversial and not for today! Either way, in this instance the Holy Ghost came at the Baptism of Jesus, not at the time they first believed. These were special disciples in a special time in a special place. Never put God in a box!