https___theharborchurch.net_baptism.xml
https___wordoftruth.com.np_spirit-baptism-6__1.xml
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I am Ready for Baptism What prevents me from being baptized? Is baptism optional? Did you ever wonder if believer’s baptism was an option for a Christian? Maybe you figured it was kind of like a good idea, but not really necessary? Something you might eventually get around to doing one day, some day? Think again! It may come as a surprise, and perhaps even a shock, but baptism is actually a clear and firm command to be followed by all believers in Jesus Christ. Before departing into heaven, Jesus told his disciples to make disciples by baptizing them and then teaching them. His disciples understood that it was a command, not a suggestion that they were to follow. After the Apostle Peter finished his first sermon in Jerusalem at Pentecost, in response to the crowd asking him what they were supposed to do, he told them to believe and be baptized. In that instance, he was speaking with both clarity and authority about the necessity of being baptized. For him, belief and baptism were interconnected and inseparable. A short while later, after seeing a great number of people come to faith at a Roman centurion’s home, the Apostle Peter actually ordered them to be baptized. No matter what you may have come to believe (or convinced yourself of), baptism is way more than a suggestion, an option, or a good idea. It’s a command for all believers to follow. And of course, we all know that when a command is given we can either chose to obey or disobey. Seriously, for a Christian, wouldn’t you agree that it’s always better to obey the commands of God? The Great Commission And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. The Great Multitude in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Cornelius the Centurion, in Caesarea While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. A very tiny gap of time Some believers understand that baptism is a command, but somehow come to the conclusion that they can wait as long as they would like before they obey. However, the Scriptural evidence points strongly and consistently to the fact that believers were baptized immediately upon conversion. Seriously, there was no lag time between making a confession of faith and obediently being baptized. Others make up man-made reasons and requirements that they place upon themselves as an excuse to hold off on baptism. Some say, “I need to straighten out my life first,” or “When I’m older,” or even “When I’m finally a strong and mature Christian,” or worse, “When I’m worthy to be baptized.” While sanctification (the process of setting yourself apart for God and seeking to lead a holy life) is a worthy and natural goal for a believing Christian, it has nothing at all to do with being baptized. Further, the overwhelming biblical evidence is that the one and only requirement for baptism is belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Which begs the question, “If you have believed, why are you delaying your baptism?” Here are eight biblical examples of baptism that show how quickly people got baptized after coming to a saving faith in Jesus Christ: The residents of Samaria (including Simon the Magician) But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. The Ethiopian Eunuch on his way back to Ethiopia Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. The Apostle Paul on his way to Damascus So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. Cornelius, his relatives and close friends, at his home in Caesarea While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. Lydia and her family, after a prayer meeting in Thyatira And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. The jailer and his family, after an earthquake in Philippi Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. Crispus, his family, and many others, in Corinth Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. A dozen believers in Ephesus (who didn’t know they were supposed to be baptized) And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all. Following in his steps Believers in Jesus are also known as disciples of Jesus. The fact is that disciples willingly and obediently follow their master and seek to become like him. Are you willing to follow Jesus by being baptized? Our Heavenly Father was “well pleased” with Jesus getting baptized. Don’t you want to hear the same blessing upon yourself when you get baptized? Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” It's all about love It could well be that like the dozen believers that the Apostle Paul found in Ephesus, that immediately following your conversion, you simply were unaware of the significance and necessity of being baptized. It could also be that you have intentionally been putting off baptism for some (non-biblical) reason. The possibility also exists that you knew (and know) you were supposed to be baptized, but have been guilty of procrastination. No matter what the reason, rationalization, or excuse, if you have come to saving faith in Jesus Christ and have not yet been baptized, you are living in disobedience to a clear command of Christ as well as potentially being a poor role model for new believers who are looking to you to figure out how to properly and obediently live the Christian faith. Beyond that, you are also missing out on the amazing blessings that await you upon your baptism. If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Just ask yourself... Without baptism, have I seriously been united with Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Without baptism, have I really “put on Christ?” For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Without baptism, have I truly put off the “the body of the flesh?” In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. Without baptism, have I honestly appealed to God for a good conscience? Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. You were just a baby Yes, there are four accounts in the book of Acts that speak about "households" being baptized. Were there infants in those families? No one really knows. To argue from silence or assumption - either way - is really senseless. However, it is good to know that there is no specific account or reference in the New Testament of any infant ever being baptized. All the written accounts record that baptism only took place after a person came to a knowledge and confession of saving faith in Jesus Christ - something it is reasonable to assume that an infant is not capable of doing. If you were baptized as a baby, you need to ask yourself if you repented of your sins, believed in Jesus Christ, and clearly wanted to identify with and follow him when you were baptized. Beyond that, ask yourself whether as an infant, you truly understood you were uniting to Christ in his death, burial and resurrection (Rom 6:3-11), in what way you really “put on Christ” (Gal 3:26-28), exactly how you “put off the body of flesh” or were “raised through faith in the powerful working of God” (Col 2:11-14), and if you distinctly remember appealing to God for a good conscience (1 Pt 3:21). If none of these things actually occurred when you were baptized as an infant, then you should really seek to be baptized as a believer. The call Think about it, why did Jesus, his Apostles, and his disciples place so much importance, significance, and emphasis on baptism immediately following conversion… and you don’t? Seriously, has the Holy Spirit finally convicted you through the Word of God that you need to be baptized? Have you come to the logical and biblical conclusion that you should now obediently follow the commands of Jesus and his Apostles so as to be baptized and experience the full blessings that await you? What in the world are you waiting for? When you think about it, there’s nothing preventing you from being baptized. It’s time!
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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)