John 1:33.
33 I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me: ‘On whomever you see the Spirit descend and settle on him, he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
Here the Baptist identifies Jesus as the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. He acknowledges that his own baptism is merely water. It was an important act, but not comparable to the baptism of Jesus. In most cases where water is mentioned in the Book of Acts, the work of the Spirit is also recorded. Peter’s sermon links the two, giving many the idea that one automatically produces the other. After my water baptism at age 12, I was told that I had received the Holy Spirit. I have since come to believe that one who has received God does not need anyone to inform him. Several varied representations of the order of events are recorded in Acts. In some cases, the Spirit comes first. In others, it is water, but followed by the laying on of hands before the Spirit comes. There are no set formulas here. Some seek, others are surprised. God apparently refuses to be pushed into the corner, and rather delights in giving gifts to those who sincerely desire them and will use them appropriately.
John 3:5-8.
5 Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not wonder that I told you: ‘You have to be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wants, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
The famous exchange with Nicodemus. You will notice in my comments that I am mixing passages that some want to call “the baptism”, with others that we call “new birth”, and still others that could be called “filling”. I am no longer so sure that these distinctions are useful or even intended by the writers of the Scriptures. The driving motivation I have is to show that supernatural life is expected today. My readers are free to rate if they wish.
In this conversation, Jesus once again links the water and the Spirit, and then contrasts the flesh and the Spirit. He ends by suggesting that the one born of the Spirit is a mysterious person. These people do not behave according to our rules. Another Principle, a Personal one, has invaded your life, causing you to act in ways that create many questions. They are hearing from another world and enjoying it immensely.
Obviously, this was not to be limited to the first century. how much mysteries does your church expect? Do people sing and pray and overflow with something, and you don’t always know what? Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?
John 4:23-24.
23 But the time is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; because the Father looks for such so that they adore him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
Most people won’t argue with this, but very few will be able to concisely tell you what it means! Worshiping in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for people who will do this. In fact, since God is a spirit, he is required let them do this. There is no other way to worship God correctly. Do we do this today? I note that the translator in my edition of the Bible has capitalized “Spirit” when referring to God, but not capitalized when referring to the action required of us. So we must worship God, the Spirit, in spirit… That will work, if we understand that our spirit is dead until the Holy Spirit combines with it and gives it life.
Now everyone seems to know what it means to worship in “truth.” They would say, “Follow biblical principles.” Or, “Worship Jesus, Who is the Truth.” Or simply, “Worship properly.” Okay, let’s leave that. It still seems to me that the other remains a mystery to most. I remember that the first person who tried to explain it to me said that it means that we must worship “ourselves”, that is, in silence. I do not think.
It’s really not that hard to understand this, but you may not like the answer if your church hasn’t bought the gifts. Paul spoke of praying and singing “in the Spirit,” vs. doing the same things “with the understanding”. Spirit against understanding. Spirit against mind. unintelligible vs. intelligible. Something I can’t understand vs. something i can
We’re definitely going to revisit that concept when we get to Paul. For now he just lets it be known that questions have answers. There really is a way to worship in the spirit, and it is up to each of us to find out in that way if we want to please the Lord and offer a sacrifice of worship that He accepts. Surely we do not want to forget the story of Abel-Cain and what constitutes acceptable worship in his eyes.