Lesson 33 – When the Spirit Baptizes with Holiness

Luke 3:15-16

Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

    You probably remember this story well. John is baptizing in the Jordan as a symbol of people's willingness to forsake sin in preparation for the coming of the Christ. After all, this is what he was born for. It is his mission.

    Luke even mentions the "expectation" of the peoples. Something was going on. Something was going to happen. They could feel it in the air. "Hurry, come to the Jordan, you don't want to get left out. Could John be the promised Messiah?"

    Looking back, we have a hard time putting ourselves in the place of these peoples. After all, we've got the entire New Testament. We can read about Jesus from four gospel accounts understand he is the Christ and John was simply his forerunner. But for these seekers, they knew something was about to happen, but just what, they weren't so sure?

    John clarifies things for the crowd; he is not the one they are seeking. There is another to come and they needed to look to him. "I'm nothing compared this one. He will baptize you with another kind of baptism--with the Holy Spirit and fire."

    Consider for a moment the effect of this promised baptism of the Spirit and fire. Yes, it brings about new life in Christ, secures our salvation, and marks us as a believer. But also consider that it is this baptism which brings about our holiness.

    Fire applied to a metal ore burns away that which is unwanted, leaving the pure element. In the same way, when the Spirit comes upon a believer, those parts of our lives which are not holy before the Lord are destroyed. They are burned up in the presence of God's holiness.

    The rebirth is about being made holy. I know, you look at your own life and don't see much holiness. That's because our salvation is still being affected according to God's plan. While we're secure in Christ through faith, the final completion of being made holy comes when we're changed in the instant of the twinkling of an eye when our Lord comes again.

    I for one am ready and look forward to holiness in Christ.

LORD JESUS

May your Spirit continuously burn away the dross of my life so that I'm holy in you, through and through. Amen.