Spiritual Baptism

I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:33)

I myself did not know him

1. John the baptizer merely recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29)
   1. Jesus would sacrifice himself as an atonement of our sins (John 19:36)
   2. Jesus would pay in full the wages of sin on the Cross (John19:30; cf. Rom.6:23)
2. John the baptizer did not know who Jesus really was
   1. He did not know that Jesus was the Messiah
   2. He was not aware that Jesus would actually baptize with the Holy Spirit
3. There is more about Jesus as the Messiah. John the baptizer needed further revelation about Jesus!

But he who sent me…said to me

1. The word “but” is indicative of a contrast emerged
   1. John the baptizer did not know Jesus more than “the Lamb of God”
   2. John the baptizer was further revealed about Jesus as the Baptizer of spiritual baptism
2. “He who sent me” is a reference to God the Father
   1. God sent John to bear witness about Jesus (John 1:6)
   2. God sent John to baptize
3. It is God the Father who told (“said to me”) John more about Jesus

2. It takes the revelation of God to know Jesus as the Baptizer of spiritual baptism

He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit

1. This “he” is so specifically identified as Jesus
   1. On whom the Spirit in the form of a dove descends and remains
   2. Whom John the baptizer sees the Spirit resting on
2. This “he” thus is Jesus the Messiah who administers spiritual baptism
3. As a matter of fact and faith, Jesus is the Baptizer-Messiah
4. Jesus the Baptizer-Messiah could never ever be mistaken any more

ONE BAPTISM ALONE

1. There is only one baptism that we all must go through – Spiritual Baptism (1 Cor.12:12-13, cf. 10:3)
2. Jesus baptizes us all as members of his spiritual body by means of the Holy Spirit
3. This ‘spiritual baptism’, not water baptism, is necessary for our salvation
4. This kind of baptism is more of a reality than an experience (Cf. John 3:8)
5. This is “one baptism” we all hold dear (Ephesians 4:5)