The Second Baptism

Forty days after Jesus risen from the grave, he gave his followers a simple but imperative command: "Wait in the City of Jerusalem until you have received power from on high!" He further said, "John baptized you with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days." From those instructions, it is easy to conclude that what he said was vital to the success of his followers. John's baptism, the first baptism, was important; water baptism is a statement on the outside about what has happened on the inside. But the second Baptism was vital; that is, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This baptism is the evidence on the outside about what has happened on the inside. The statement on the outside is important; every believer should be baptized in water. The disciples did it; Jesus did it, and we should do it! But the second baptism is vital; the baptism in the Holy Spirit provides the enduring evidence on the outside about what has happened on the inside. Let's be real, the evidence trumps a statement any day!