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Today, we are continuing our message series called “Power for Life.” If you missed last Sunday’s message “Why You Need the Spirit’s Power” I would strongly encourage you to watch the video, available on our website, YouTube and Facebook. The key verse for this message series is: Acts 1:8a (ESV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you … In the Greek, the word for power is dunamis. Dunamis means power, might or strength. In the New Testament it means the miraculous, supernatural power of God, not just simply natural abilities. You see natural abilities are given to every human being by God at birth. The dunamis power spoken of in Acts 1:8 is a supernatural power that comes into your life through an experience with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:5 Jesus gives us the biblical name of this experience. Acts 1:5 (ESV) for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. It is the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Today, our message is entitled “What is Spirit Baptism?” Let’s begin by looking at the incredibly important verse that we ended last Sunday’s message with. Acts 2:38 (ESV) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” These are Peter’s Spirit-filled words to a crowd of thousands. And these words, inspired by the Holy Spirit were not just for those people, but for people of all time. God commands people to enter into three experiences in order to fulfill their God-given purpose. As these three fundamental experiences are so essential, they have been under attack by Satan for thousands of years. The result has been the splintering of the church into many denominations. This is not a God-given diversity in the body of Christ, but ungodly factions caused by wrong doctrine. Romans 16:17 (ESV) I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. We ought to strive for the unity of the Spirit which comes through agreement on sound doctrine. In the book of Acts, we see God’s model for the church demonstrated in the three experiences that Peter commands on the day of Pentecost. However, in the centuries following, the church drifted into Catholicism which basically taught salvation by works, which saves no one. In 1517, Luther began the Reformation with the recovery of the truth that salvation was by faith alone. The Reformation resulted in the formation of denominations based on men, such as the Lutherans, Presbyterians and Methodists. Unfortunately, these Reformation denominations continued the Catholic practice of infant baptism. The result was that most people in those denominations believe they are saved through being baptized as infants. There is zero biblical support for that doctrine and those who believe it are not saved at all. In the 1600’s the Baptist denomination arose. They rightly rejected infant baptism as being unbiblical and began to practice believer’s baptism, as well as salvation by faith. However, none of the major denominations we’ve mentioned teach or practice Spirit baptism as taught in the book of Acts. The final restoration of the truth of Acts 2:38 began in 1901 in Topeka, Kansas. A young lady in Charles Parham’s Bible college named Agnes Ozman was baptized in the Holy Spirit on January 1 and began to speak in tongues, just as in the book of Acts. This recovered truth of Spirit baptism began to spread like wildfire and in 1914, the Assemblies of God was formed. The first denomination to teach the truth of these three biblical experiences. The Assemblies of God has grown explosively over the last 100 years and now numbers 70 million with hundreds of millions of other believers now having experienced Spirit baptism. Other denominations who have not embraced these biblical truths are in decline. What about non-denominational churches? They must be evaluated by their teaching on these three experiences and you will find the same denominational factions. Not only do each one of us at Life Church need to experience God in these 3 areas, so do your friends and relatives in other churches that don’t each the truth. Invite them to hear the truth here at Life Church. Jesus is our example and we are to follow Him in these three experiences. Luke 1:35 (ESV) And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” From His birth, the Holy Spirit was active in Jesus’ life. Of course, that is obvious because Jesus, as the Son of God was one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Luke 3:21 (ESV) Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in water, as an example for us to follow. He was not baptized as an infant, He was baptized by immersion as an adult following God’s command. Luke 3:22 (ESV) and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Notice the sequence here, Jesus was water baptized and then He was praying. What was He praying? I believe He was praying for the Holy Spirit to baptize Him. God’s answer to His prayer was the opening of the heavens and the Spirit coming down upon Jesus. At His baptism God spoke directly from heaven acknowledging His pleasure in Jesus’ water and Spirit baptism. Up to this point, Jesus had not begun His ministry. It is very significant that Jesus did not begin His ministry until He was Spirit baptized. We read in Luke 4:1 that now Jesus was full of the Spirit and in Luke 4:14, that Jesus was now in the power (dunamis) of the Spirit. And His supernatural ministry began. How are we to follow Jesus’ example? First of all, you need to become a follower of Jesus and be saved. We’ll give you an opportunity at the end of this message. Secondly, you need to be water baptized by immersion after you become a believer. Thirdly, you need to pray, as Jesus did, for God to baptize you with the Holy Spirit. This is the first thing that I’m asking everyone to do during this Power for Life series. Pray and seek God for more of the Spirit’s power in your life and in our church. Next, we’re going to look at the example of how the apostles were Spirit baptized. Remember that all these examples in Scripture are meant to teach us how to experience the same things that they did. John 20:22 (ESV) And when he [Jesus] had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This verse took place after the resurrection. The Holy Spirit had been with the apostles before this, but at this point, Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into them. They were now born again. Every believer has the Holy Spirit living inside of them after the point of salvation. Yet, as we’ll see Spirit baptism is a different and subsequent experience that every born again believer needs. Acts 2:4 (ESV) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit … On the day of Pentecost, the apostles and the other 120 disciples were together praying to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Suddenly, after praying for many days, the Holy Spirit was poured out from an open heaven and they were Spirit baptized, here described as being filled with the Holy Spirit. What was the initial evidence that they were Spirit baptized? Acts 2:4 (ESV) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. These 120 disciples, including the apostles, then began to speak in other tongues through the power of the Spirit. What are these other tongues? Tongues in the New Testament are languages of some type that the speaker has not learned naturally. On the day of Pentecost, the tongues that were spoken were the disciples glorifying and praising God in the languages of the crowd that had assembled, who understood them. However, as we study everything the Bible has to say about tongues, we’ll see that they can also be heavenly languages that have no earthly counterpart. We will talk more about the purpose of tongues in another message. Suffice it to say that tongues are a new kind of prayer language that make it possible to communicate with God in a way that bypasses the limitations of our minds. When were the apostles water baptized? The Scripture doesn’t tell us. Most likely they were baptized along with the other 3000 people on the day of Pentecost. So, the three-fold sequence was not only followed by the 120 disciples on the day of Pentecost, but also by the 3000 in the crowd who were saved, water baptized and Spirit baptized. Now to get the most benefit from this series and to counter the wrong teaching that you’ve undoubtedly heard, I’m asking you to do three things during January. First all, pray and seek God to experience more of the Spirit’s power in your life. Secondly, read through the book of Acts during January. You can do it by reading a couple of chapters a day. My father was a Baptist preacher and we didn’t believe any of what we’re talking about today, but I did believe the Bible was God’s Word. So, I was challenged to read the book of Acts. As I did, God opened my mind to His truth and I was Spirit baptized. I’ll talk more about my experience another Sunday. So, read the book of Acts this month. Contrary to popular opinion, Spirit baptism is not a minor topic in Scripture, it is a major topic and we’re only going to scratch the surface in this message series. So, let’s look at another group of people who experienced Spirit baptism. Acts 8:12 (ESV) But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ … So, here we have Philip preaching the Gospel, speaking about the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ. Not only was Philip preaching, he was also doing signs and wonders as people were being miraculously healed and delivered from demons. The Samaritans believed the Gospel and were saved. Acts 8:12b (ESV) … they were baptized, both men and women. So, after they believed, they new believers were water baptized, presumably by Philip. We’re beginning to see a pattern in these experiences. Salvation is always first. And as we’ll see water baptism is normally the second experience. However, we’ll a clear example in a couple of weeks, where Spirit baptism precedes water baptism. So those two can be interchanged and they probably were for the 120 on the day of Pentecost as well. Acts 8:14-16 (ESV) Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. These verses are very informative in our study today of Spirit baptism. First of all, they tell us that people who are clearly saved and water baptized do not automatically receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit. It was commonly taught in denominational churches that even mention Spirit baptism, is that it happens automatically at salvation and has no visible consequences. There is zero Scriptural basis for that belief and teaching. Spirit baptism is seen here and in all of the other examples we’ve looked at today as a separate and subsequent experience following salvation. Of course, no one can be Spirit baptized without being saved first. Somehow word got back to the apostles that the Samaritans had not been Spirit baptized. So Peter and John came and prayed with them to receive the experience of Spirit baptism. Acts 8:17-18 (ESV) Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, We see the Peter and John praying for these new believers and laying their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit, which means they were baptized in or with the Holy Spirit. Notice that a man named Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of hands. How could Simon have seen that the Spirit was given as the Spirit is invisible? The answer given throughout the book of Acts is that when anyone is baptized with the Holy Spirit, they speak in tongues and that is what Simon saw and heard here. This completed the third experience preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost for the Samaritans. Next week, we’re going to be talking in more detail about how to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. But let’s review what we’ve learned today. We’ve seen Jesus and the 120 disciples in the upper room at Pentecost waiting on God and praying to be Spirit baptized. In the last case of the Samaritans, Peter and John, who had already been Spirit baptized prayed and laid their hands on the believers. We are also beginning to see the pattern that there is an initial physical and observable evidence that someone has been Spirit baptized, which is speaking in tongues. During this series, I’m asking you to do three things. First was to pray and seek God for His power every day. Second is read the book of Acts in January, several chapters a day. Third, I’d like to encourage you to read a great new book out this year by Assembly of God pastor Jeff Leake, it’s called Power for Life. It is an easy read, full of current stories of God’s power working and explaining from God’s Word, why every believer needs to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. It’s only 9 chapters long and if you read about three chapters a week, you’ll complete it in January. My guess is that when you start reading, you won’t be able to stop and you’ll finish long before the end of January. I’d recommend one book per family and we have some available on the Guest Table in the foyer. If we run out, we’ll get more in by next Sunday. Today, we’ve looked at biblical patterns to understand what Spirit baptism is all about. Spirit baptism is when Jesus baptizes you with the Holy Spirit. At Spirit baptism you receive supernatural power to accomplish great things for God in your life. Every believer needs and is commanded to receive Spirit baptism, it is not optional. Next week, we will study what the Bible has to say about How to Receive Spirit baptism. At the end of the service next week, I’ll be available to pray for all those who desire to obey Jesus and receive Spirit baptism.
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आत्माको बप्तिस्मा पाठ ६-आत्माको बप्तिस्मा आत्माको बप्तिस्मा सम्बन्धी चाबी पद १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ हो—“किनकि चाहे हामी यहूदी हौं चाहे ग्रीक, चाहे हामी कमारा हौं चाहे स्वतन्त्र, हामी सबै एउटै __________ एउटै शरीरभित्र ____________ (डुबाइएनु, राखिनु) भयौं; र सबैलाई एउटै आत्माभित्र पिउन दिइयो।” यस पदमा बताइएको “एउटै शरीर” भनेको मण्डली हो। “र सबै कुराहरू उहाँका पाउहरूमनि पारिदिनुभयो, र उहाँलाई सबै कुराहरूमाथि ________ हुनाका निम्ति __________लाई दिनुभयो, जोचाहिँ उहाँको __________ हो अर्थात् उहाँको परिपूर्णता, जसले सबै कुरामा सबै कुराहरू भरिदिनुहुन्छ” (एफेसी १:२२-२३)। “अनि उहाँ _________ अर्थात् ____________ _________ हुनुहुन्छ” (कलस्सी १:१८)। मण्डलीलाई ख्रीष्टको शरीर भनिएको छ, र ख्रीष्ट उक्त शरीरको शिर हुनुहुन्छ। आत्माको बप्तिस्मालाई १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ मा परमेश्वरको कार्य भनिएको छ जुन कार्यद्वारा विश्वासीहरू ख्रीष्टको शरीर, अर्थात् मण्डली भित्र बप्तिस्मा (डुबाइनु, राखिनु) गराइन्छन्। त्यसोभए कसरी एउटा विश्वासी ख्रीष्टको शरीरको अङ्ग बन्दछ? आत्माको बप्तिस्माद्वारा। यस खण्डले मण्डली कहिले सुरु भयो भन्ने महत्त्वपूर्ण प्रश्नको जवाफ खुलस्त पार्ने चाबी दिँदछ। हामीले सर्वप्रथम आत्माको बप्तिस्मालाई बुझ्यौं भने, मण्डली कहिले सुरु भयो भनी हामीले निर्धारण गर्न सक्नेछौं। परमेश्वरले सर्वप्रथम विश्वासीहरूलाई आफ्नो शरीरमा कहिले बप्तिस्मा दिनुभयो? विश्वासीहरू सर्वप्रथम कहिले ख्रीष्टको शरीरमा राखिए? यसको जवाफ दिनु भनेको मण्डली कुन दिनमा सुरु भयो भनी निर्धारण गर्नु हो। आत्माको बप्तिस्माको बारेमा बप्तिस्मा दिने यूहन्नाले सर्वप्रथम मत्ती ३:११ मा भविष्यवाणी गरेका थिए (साथै मर्कूस १:८; लूका ३:१६; यूहन्ना १:३३)। “साँच्चै, पश्चात्तापका निम्ति म तिमीहरूलाई __________ बप्तिस्मा दिन्छु, तर जो मपछि आउनुहुन्छ, उहाँ मभन्दा शक्तिशाली हुनुहुन्छ, जसका जुत्ता बोक्ने लायकको म छैनँ; उहाँले तिमीहरूलाई __________ _________ र आगोले बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुनेछ” (मत्ती ३:११; तुलना गर्नुहोस्, मर्कूस १:८; लूका ३:१६; यूहन्ना १:३३)। यूहन्नाको बप्तिस्मा पानीको बप्तिस्मा थियो (“म तिमीहरूलाई पानीमा बप्तिस्मा दिन्छु”); ख्रीष्टको बप्तिस्मा आत्मिक बप्तिस्मा हुनेथियो (उहाँले तिमीहरूलाई पवित्र आत्मा र आगोले बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुनेछ)। “आगोको बप्तिस्मा” मुक्ति नपाएकाहरूको निम्ति हो र त्यसमा इन्साफ सम्मिलित हुन्छ। यो “आगोको बप्तिस्मा” भविष्यको कुरा हो (मत्ती ३:१२)। यस वाक्यांशलाई ध्यान दिनुहोस्, “उहाँले तिमीहरूलाई पवित्र आत्मा…ले बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुनेछ”। “बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुनेछ” मा प्रयोग भएको क्रियापद भविष्यत् कालमा छ। यसको अर्थ बप्तिस्मा दिने यूहन्नाले यी शब्दहरू बोल्दाहुँदि आत्माको बप्तिस्मा सुरु भइसकेको थिएन। यो कुरा भविष्यमा हुनेछ भनी यूहन्नाले प्रचार गरिरहेका थिए, तर यो ठीक कुन समयमा हुनेछ भनी उनले पूर्वसूचना गरेनन्। यो पनि ध्यान दिनुहोस्, बप्तिस्मा दिनेवाला ख्रीष्ट हुनुहुन्छ। विश्वासीहरूलाई ख्रीष्टको शरीरमा स्थानान्तर गराउनुहुने उहाँ नै हुनुहुन्छ। मण्डली बनाउनुहुने उहाँ नै हुनुहुन्छ (मत्ती १६:१८)। हामी केही क्षणमा अध्ययन गर्नेछौं, १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ मा बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुने पनि ख्रीष्ट नै हुनुहुन्छ। मत्ती १६:१८ मा प्रभु येशूले भन्नुभयो, “म आफ्नो मण्डली ___________”। यस कृयापदको भविष्यत् कालले मण्डलीको निर्माण कार्य येशूले यी शब्दहरू बोल्नुहुँदा भइसकेको थिएन भनी सङ्केत गर्दछ। उहाँले यसो भन्नुभएन, “मैले आफ्नो मण्डली बनाएको छु।” उहाँले यसो पनि भन्नुभएन, “म आफ्नो मण्डली बनाउँदैछु।” होइन, निर्माण परियोजना सुरु भइसकेको थिएन र मण्डली अझै भविष्यमै थियो। येशूले मत्ती १६:१८ का शब्दहरू बोल्नुहुँदा मण्डली सुरु भइसकेको थिएन। आज ख्रीष्टले आफ्नो मण्डली बनाउँदै हुनुहुन्छ। दिनुहुँ उहाँले _________ पाउनेहरूलाई ____________ थप्दैहुनुहुन्छ (प्रेरित २:४७ हेर्नुहोस्)। तर प्रश्न आउँछ, निर्माण परियोजना कहिले सुरु भयो? प्रेरित १:५ मा प्रभु येशूले आत्माको बप्तिस्मा अझै भविष्यमा नै रहेको कुरा बताउनुभयो: “किनभने यूहन्नाले साँच्चै पानीमा बप्तिस्मा दियौ; तर अब केही __________ तिमीहरू पवित्र आत्माले बप्तिस्मा गरिनेछौ” (प्रेरित १:५)। हाम्रो प्रभुको अगमवाणी अनुसार, आत्माको बप्तिस्मा त्यस घडी सम्म भइसकेको थिएन, तर यो छिट्टै हुनेवाला थियो। एकै जना पनि ख्रीष्टको शरीरमा डुबाइएको थिएन। त्यसैले, प्रेरित १:५ अगाडि मण्डली सुरु भइसकेको हुन सक्दैन। येशूले प्रेरित १:५ का शब्दहरू बोल्नुहुँदा, उहाँको मृत्यु र उहाँको बौरिउठाइ भइसकेको थियो, तरैपनि त्यस समयसम्म आत्माको बप्तिस्मा भइसकेको थिएन, पवित्र आत्मा आइसक्नुभएको थिएन, र मण्डली बनिसकेको थिएन। तरैपनि प्रेरित १:५ को अगमवाणी निकै उल्लेखनीय थियो किनभने येशूले आत्माको बप्तिस्मा “केही दिनपछि” (त्यस समयदेखि धेरै दिन पर्खनुपर्दैन) हुनेछ भनी भन्नुभयो। यसको अर्थ त्यो घटना छिट्टै हुनेछ, केही दिनमै। साँच्चै, हामीले सिक्नेछौं, उक्त घटना केवल १० दिनपछि पेन्टेकोस्टको दिनमा घट्यो। पेन्टेकोस्टको दिन र उक्त दिनमा घटेका अनौठा घटनाहरूलाई प्रेरित २ अध्यायमा वर्णन गरिएको छ। यस अध्यायमा आत्माको बप्तिस्मालाई तोकिएरै बताइएको छैन। पेन्टेकोस्टको दिनमा आत्माको बप्तिस्मा भएको थियो भनी हामीलाई एकैचोटी प्रेरित ११ मा मात्र तोकिएरै बताइएको छ, “अनि जब म बोल्न थालें, तब पवित्र आत्मा, जसरी _________ (पेन्टेकोस्टको दिनमा) हामीहरूमाथि ओर्लनुभएको थियो, उसरी नै उनीहरूमाथि ओर्लनुभयो। तब प्रभुले यसो भन्नुभऐको वचन मलाई सम्झना भयो, ‘यूहन्नाले साँच्चै पानीमा बप्तिस्मा दिए, तर तिमीहरू पवित्र आत्माले ___________ गरिनेछौ’” (प्रेरित ११:१५-१६)। यस खण्डको स्पष्ट भनाइको आधारमा, पवित्र आत्माको बप्तिस्मा सर्वप्रथम पेन्टेकोस्टको दिनमा भएको थियो भनी हामी जान्दछौं। विश्वासीहरू सर्वप्रथम त्यही दिनमा ख्रीष्टको शरीरमा संलग्न गराइएका थिए। मण्डली त्यही दिनमा सुरु भएको थियो। तर कोही-कोहीले आपत्ति जनाउलान् र यसो भन्लान्, “मत्ती ३:११ र प्रेरित १:५ मा उल्लेख गरिएको आत्माको बप्तिस्मा १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ मा उल्लेख गरिएको आत्माको बप्तिस्माभन्दा बेग्लै कुरा हो। मत्ती ३:११ र प्रेरित १:५ मा बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुने व्यक्ति ख्रीष्ट हुनुहुन्छ, तर १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ मा मा बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुने व्यक्ति ख्रीष्ट हुनुहुन्छ।” झट्ट पढ्दा यस्तो लागे तापनि मत्ती ३:११ र प्रेरित १:५ का ग्रीक शब्दावलीहरू व्यावहारिक रूपमा १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ सँग समान छन्। तलको चार्टले यो स्पष्ट पार्दछ। यी सबै पदहरूले उही बप्तिस्माको कुरा गरिरहेको छ, र यी चारओटै पदहरूका ग्रीक संरचना एकदम मिल्दोजुल्दो छन्। निम्न चार्टमा गरिएको अक्षरश: उद्दरणले स्पष्ट पार्दछ। ग्रीकको “en” अव्यय (नामयोगी) लाई हाम्रो नेपाली बाइबलमा “एउटै आत्माद्वारा” भनी अनुवाद गरिएको छ (१ कोरिन्थी १२:१३) जसको कारण बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुने पवित्र आत्मा नै हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने गलत निश्कर्षमा कोही-कोही पुगेका छन्। तर यस पदलाई यसरी बुझिनुपर्छ, “एउटै आत्मासित एउटै शरीरमा (ख्रीष्टक शरीर, अर्थात् उहाँको मण्डली) बप्तिस्मा भयौं (ख्रीष्टद्वारा)”। ख्रीष्टले हामीलाई आफ्नो शरीरमा बसाल्नु मात्र हुँदैन, तर उहाँले हामीलाई पवित्र आत्मा भित्र डुबाउनु पनि हुन्छ। “किनकि चाहे हामी यहूदी हौं चाहे ग्रीक, चाहे हामी कमारा हौं चाहे स्वतन्त्र, हामी सबै एउटै आत्माद्वारा एउटै शरीरभित्र बप्तिस्मा भयौं; र सबैलाई एउटै आत्माभित्र पिउन दिइयो।” (१ कोरिन्थी १२:१३)। हामीले पवित्र आत्मालाई प्राप्त गर्दा सबै आशिषहरूको भरपूरीमा सहभागी भएका छौं: “तब हामी आफैले गरेका धर्मका कामहरूद्वारा होइन, तर उहाँकै कृपाअनुसार उहाँले हाम्रो उद्धार गर्नुभयो — नयाँ जन्मको स्नान र पवित्र आत्माबाटको नवीकरणद्वारा; जसलाई (“जसलाई” शब्दले पवित्र आत्मालाई सङ्केत गर्दछ) उहाँले येशू ख्रीष्ट हाम्रा मुक्तिदाताद्वारा हामीमाथि प्रशस्त गरी खन्याउनुभयो” (तीतस ३:५-६)। “…पिताबाट पवित्र आत्माको प्रतिज्ञालाई प्राप्त गरेर” (प्रेरित २:३३)। “जसले ममाथि विश्वास गर्छ, पवित्रशास्त्रले भनेअनुसार, उसको हृदयबाट (एकदम भित्रबाट) जिउँदो पानीका नदीहरू बहनेछन्। तर यो कुरा उहाँले आत्माको विषयमा भन्नुभयो, जसलाई उहाँमाथि विश्वास गर्नेहरूले पाउन लागेका थिए; किनकि पवित्र आत्मा अझैसम्म दिइनुभएको थिएन; किनभने येशू अझै महिमित हुनुभएको थिएन।” (यूहन्ना ७:३८-३९)। परमेश्वरको प्रशंसा गर्नुहोस्, शान्तिदाता आउनुभएको छ! पिताको प्रतिज्ञा दिइएको छ! आत्माको बप्तिस्मा पेन्टेकोस्टको दिनमा सुरु भयो र मानिसहरूले ख्रीष्टमा विश्वास गर्दा यस वर्तमान समयमा पनि निरन्तर भइरहेको छ। यदि तपाईंले प्रभु येशूलाई आफ्नो मुक्तिदाताको रूपमा ग्रहण गर्नुभएको छ भने (यूहन्ना १:१२), के तपाईं ख्रीष्टको शरीरको अङ्ग हुनुभएकोमा धन्यवादी हुनुहुन्छ (१ कोरिन्थी १२:२७)? मानिसहरूले “मण्डली जाने” कुरा गर्छन् तर के तपाईंले तपाईं आफैं नै मण्डली हुनुहुन्छ भनी महसुस गर्नुभएको छ? तपाईंले आफैंलाई ख्रीष्टको शरीरको अङ्गको रूपमा देख्नाले तपाईंको ख्रीष्टिय जीवनमा ठूलो भिन्नता ल्याउँदछ। परमेश्वरले अति महत्त्वपूर्ण तरिकाले तपाईंलाई तपाईंको शिर, प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्टसँग जोड्नुभएको छ (एफेसी ५:३०-३२), र परमेश्वरले तपाईंलाई अति महत्त्वपूर्ण तरिकाले यस शरीरमा भएका अन्य सबै विश्वासीसँग जोड्नुभएको छ। मण्डली कुनै संस्था होइन; यो एउटा जीवित संरचना हो, जोचाहिँ परमेश्वरकै जीवनद्वारा स्पन्दित भइरहेको छ (कलस्सी १:२७; गलाती २:२०)। महत्त्वपूर्ण व्याकरणगत विचार १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ को व्याकरणगत संरचना सुसमाचारका पुस्तकहरू र प्रेरितको पुस्तकमा भएको आत्माको बप्तिस्मा सम्बन्धी पदहरूसँग एकसमान छ भनेर हामीले हेरिसक्यौं। यी हरेक पदहरूमा बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुनेचाहिँ ख्रीष्ट हुनुहुन्छ र उहाँले पवित्र आत्माभित्र (ग्रीक: en) (पवित्र आत्मासित वा पवित्र आत्माको माध्यमद्वारा) बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुन्छ। बप्तिस्मा दिने कार्यमा ख्रीष्ट र पवित्र आत्मा दुवैजनाको भूमिका हुनु सम्भव छ। ख्रीष्टले पवित्र आत्मालाई नै सो कार्य गर्न दिनुभएर विश्वासीहरूलाई शरीरमा बप्तिस्मा दिनुभएको हुनसक्छ। यो कुरालाई यूहन्ना ४:१-२ मा चित्रण गरिएको छ। यूहन्ना ४:१ मा येशूले बप्तिस्मा दिने यूहन्नाले भन्दा पनि बेसी चेलाहरूलाई बप्तिस्मा दिनुभयो भनी बताइएको छ। यूहन्ना ४:२ मा येशू आफैंले कसैलाई बप्तिस्मा दिनुभएन भनी खुलाइएको छ! कसरी उहाँले धेरैलाई बप्तिस्मा दिनुभएर एकैजनालाई पनि बप्तिस्मा नदिन सक्नुहुन्छ? जवाफ यो हो, येशूले धेरै चेलाहरूलाई बप्तिस्मा दिनुभयो तर उहाँले यो कार्य आफ्ना चेलाहरूद्वारा गर्नुभयो जोहरूले वास्तवमा बप्तिस्मा दिने कार्य गर्दथे। १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ मा यस्तै हुनु सम्भव छ। बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुने येशू ख्रीष्ट हुनुहुन्छ (मत्ती ३:११; प्रेरित १:५ इत्यादिको प्रकाशमा) तर बप्तिस्मा दिने काम वास्तवमा पवित्र आत्माले गरिरहनुभएको छ। ख्रीष्टले आफ्नो बप्तिस्माको कार्यलाई कार्यान्वयन गर्ने माध्यमचाहिँ पवित्र आत्मा हुनुहुन्छ। नयाँ नियमका पत्रहरूमा यो अवधारणा नौलो छैन। येशूले मुक्ति दिनुहुन्छ भन्ने कुरामा हामी सबै सहमत छौं र तरपनि मुक्तिको वास्तविक कार्य परमेश्वरका आत्माद्वारा कार्यान्वयन गरिन्छ (१ कोरिन्थी ६:११ हेर्नुहोस्)। ख्रीष्टले आफ्ना विश्वासीहरूलाई ख्रीष्टको शरीरमा डुबाउनु हुन्छ भन्नु निश्चय पनि उचित कुरा हो, र त्यसैले उहाँसँग बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुने नामक पदवीको दाबी गर्ने उचित अधिकार छ। मत्ती १६:१८ मा आफ्नो मण्डली बनाउनुहुने ख्रीष्ट नै हुनुहुन्छ भनी हामी सिक्दछौं। प्रेरित २:४७ मा मुक्ति पाएकाहरूलाई दिनहुँ मण्डलीमा थप्नुहुने प्रभु (येशू ख्रीष्) हुनुहुन्छ भनी सिक्दछौं। प्रेरित २:३३ लाई बिचार गर्नुहोस्, त्यहाँ आत्मालाई खन्याउनुहुने प्रभु येशू नै हुनुहुन्छ। प्रभु येशूले पवित्र आत्माको आशिषपूर्ण व्यक्तित्वसँग सहकार्य गर्नुभइ, उहाँको अनुग्रहको महिमाको प्रशंसाको निम्ति यो महान् कार्य सम्पन्न गर्नुहुन्छ। ख्रीष्ट येशूमा बप्तिस्मा गरिएको विश्वासीहरूको महिमित ओहोदा छ। उनीहरू ख्रीष्टमा छन्। उनीहरू परमेश्वरका प्रिय पुत्रमा छन्: “यसैकारण कोही __________ छ भने ऊ एउटा नयाँ सृष्टि हो, पुराना कुराहरू बितिगएका छन्; हेर, सबै कुराहरू नयाँ भएका छन्” (२ कोरिन्थी ५:१७)। “यसकारण अब ख्रीष्ट येशू___ हुनेहरूलाई कुनै दण्डको आज्ञा छैन” (रोमी ८:१)। विश्वासीहरू कसरी यो ओहोदामा प्रवेश गर्छन्? कसरी मुक्ति पाएको व्यक्ति परमेश्वरको पुत्रमा राखिन्छ? यो आत्मिक बप्तिस्माको माध्यमबाट गरिन्छ (पानीको बप्तिस्माको माध्यमबाट होइन)। एउटा व्यक्तिले मुक्ति पाएकै घडी यो कार्य सम्पन्न हुन्छ। परमेश्वरले विश्वासीलाई आफ्नो पुत्रमा राख्नुहुने समय यही हो: गलाती ३ अध्याय: किकि ख्रीष्ट येशूमाथि राखिएको ____________द्वारा तिमीहरू सबै परमेश्वरका सन्तान हौ। किनकि तिमीहरू जतिले ख्रीष्टभित्र _______________ (डुबाउनु, राखिनु) लिएका छौ, तिमीहरूले ख्रीष्टलाई पहिरेका छौ। अब त्यहाँ न यहूदी रह्यो न ग्रीक, न कमारा न स्वतन्त्र, न पुरुष न स्त्री; किनकि ख्रीष्ट येशू____ तिमीहरू सबै एक हौ” (गलाती ३:२६-२८)। रोमी ६ अध्याय: वा हामीहरूमध्ये जतिजनाले _________ __________ ____________ (डुबाउनु, राखिनु) लियौं, हामीले उहाँकै मृत्युभित्र बप्तिस्मा लिएका थियौं भन्ने कुरा के तिमीहरूलाई थाह छैन? यसकारण हामी उहाँसँगै बप्तिस्माद्वारा मृत्युभित्र गाडियौं; र जसरी पिताको महिमाद्वारा ख्रीष्ट मरेकाहरूबाट बौराइनुभयो, त्यसरी नै हामी पनि जीवनको नयाँपनामा हिँड्नुपर्दछ। किनकि यदि हामी उहाँको मृत्युको समानतामा एकैसाथ जोरिएका छौं भने उहाँको बौरिउठाइको समानतामा पनि जोरिएका हुनेछौं (रोमी ६:३-५)। विश्वास गरेको घडी साँचो बप्तिस्मामा के हुन्छ भनी देखाउन पानीको बप्तिस्माचाहिँ एउटा चित्रणयुक्त बप्तिस्मा हो। मुक्ति पाएको समयमा, एउटा मानिस येशू ख्रीष्टभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराइन्छ वा राखिन्छ, फलस्वरूप ऊ “ख्रीष्टभित्र” हुन्छ। यो साँचो बप्तिस्मालाई तल चित्राङ्कन गरिएको छ: विश्वासी येशू ख्रीष्टभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराइएको छ (गलाती ३:२७; रोमी ६:३), यसको अर्थ यो पनि हो कि ऊ, - उहाँको मृत्युभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराइएको छ (रोमी ६:३)। - उहाँको गडाइभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराइएको छ (रोमी ६:४)। - उहाँको बौरिउठाइभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराइएको छ (रोमी ६:४-५)। - उहाँको शरीर, अर्थात् मण्डलीभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराइएको छ (१ कोरिन्थी १२:१३)। अर्को शब्दमा, विश्वासीलाई पूर्ण रूपमा ख्रीष्टसित यतिसम्म सम्मिलित गराइएको छ कि प्रभु येशूले टार्ससका शाउललाई यसरी भन्न सक्नुभयो, “तिमी ________ किन सताउँछौ?” (प्रेरित ९:४)। शाउलले विश्वासीहरूलाई सताएका थिए भनी हामी जान्दछौं (१ कोरिन्थी १५:९)। त्यसोभए येशूले किन यसो भन्नुभयो, “तिमी मलाई किन सताउँछौ?” शरीरले दु:ख भोग्यो भने, शिरले महसुस गर्दछ! तसर्थ, पानीको बप्तिस्मा विश्वासीको ख्रीष्टमा भएको यस महिमित सम्बन्ध र ओहोदाको चित्रण हुनुपर्छ। त्यसैले मैले (विश्वासीको रूपमा) यसो भन्न सक्छु: आत्माको बप्तिस्माको व्यवहारिक महत्त्व - म उहाँको शरीरमा राखिएको छु। म अतिमहत्त्वपूर्वक मेरो शिर, प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्टसित जोडिएको छु (कलस्सी ३:३-४)। म अतिमहत्त्वपूर्वक ख्रीष्टमा मेरा दाजुभाइहरू र दिदि बहिनीहरूसित जोडिएको छु। म परमेश्वरकै जीवनद्वारा स्पन्दित भइरहेको एउटा जिउँदो संरचनाको हिस्सा भएको छु। - म ख्रीष्टमा सदाको निम्ति अनन्तसम्मै सुरक्षित छु। मेरो मुक्ति गुम्नको निम्ति, कसैले मलाई ख्रीष्ट शरीरबाट विस्थापित गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ (मलाई शरीरबाट छुट्टाउनुपर्ने हुन्छ!)। यो कहिल्यै पनि हुन सक्दैन। - मैले आत्माको बप्तिस्मा पाएको छु भन्ने तथ्यले ख्रीष्टिय एकतालाई प्रोत्साहन दिनुपर्छ। त्यहाँ “एउटै शरीर”, “एउटै आत्मा” र “एउटै बप्तिस्मा” (एफेसी ४:४-६) छ। रगतद्वारा किनिएको हरेक विश्वासी ख्रीष्टको शरीरमा राखिएका छन्, र हामी एउटै मण्डलीको साझा अङ्ग हौं। हामीहरू एउटै शिरसँग जोडिएका छौं। हामीहरू एउटै रगतले किनिएका छौं। हामी एउटै आत्माद्वारा अन्तर्वास गरिएका छौं। हामीहरू एउटै स्वर्गीय पिताका सन्तानहरू हौं। हामी एउटै पुस्तकको (“एउटै विश्वास”) विद्यार्थीहरू हौं। हामीहरू एउटै जीवनका हकवालाहरू हौं। हामी एउटै धन्य आशाको बाटो हेरिरहेका छौं। आशिषपूर्ण एकता र अमूल्य अभिन्नता! - आत्माको बप्तिस्माले मलाई एउटा नयाँ र महिमित ओहोदामा प्रवेश गराउँछ। - आत्माको बप्तिस्माले मलाई ख्रीष्टसित उहाँको मृत्यु, गडाइ र बौरिउठाइमा सम्मिलित गराउँछ। ख्रीष्टले पूर्ण गर्नुभएको कार्य मेरो निम्ति अति व्यक्तिगत बन्दछ। उहाँको मृत्यु मेरो हुँदछ। उहाँक जीवन मेरो हुन्छ। म उहाँसित मरेँ र म उहाँसित जिउँछु र उहाँ मभित्र जिउनुहुन्छ (गलाती २:२०)