Lesson 2280

(Lesson 2280)(03-09-18) Matthew 3:11-12
     “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

  Today’s quote is another one of the most important yet underexplained lessons in the whole of the New Testament.
    In the quote, John said, “ I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance.”  By phrasing the statement the way he did, John clearly separated his water baptism from the baptism that Jesus would come to provide. John very succinctly related that water baptism is ONLY a prepatory step toward repentance that has NOTHING to do with the salvation of one’s eternal soul.
    John, speaking of Jesus, also said, “he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost (God the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one in the same)”, “and with fire:”
    Therein, John declared that Jesus was far more powerful than he, and that the baptisms Jesus would perform would immerse the receivers into the Holy Ghost (The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost as one) and fire. The baptism that Jesus peforms for those who believe in Him IS the baptism that saves one’s eternal soul.
    It is very important that anyone studying the bible fully understand all of what is actually being said in every lesson in the New Testament. Sadly, most so-called Christians erroneously believe and contend that water baptism is pre-requisite to eternal salvation, or, in other words, that one must be baptized in water to be permitted into heaven. Nothing is further from the truth. As is made so vividly clear in today’s lesson, water baptism and the baptism of, and or into, Jesus Christ are two very different baptisms.~
    There will be much more discussion of this subject as these lessons proceed.