(John 1:33)
�And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.�
We are nearing the end of the story of the ministry of John the Baptist. Today�s text verse contains an encapsulation of that ministry. It also contains a distilled picture of the Gospel Message as it came into the world and continues to reach out to those who are still in their sins.
The first point I�d like to address is that of the unknown Savior. �And I knew him not�� It is sad, but true, that most people in this day have a very limited view of just Who the Person of Jesus Christ is in reality.
Many see Jesus as a man of peace. Yet, we see wars fought in His name throughout the history of the past two millennia. Many see Jesus as a teacher of ethical values. Yet, most can name very few of the ethics He actually taught. Many will understand the Jesus of history to be a dreamer.
There are those who do not accept that a man by the name of Jesus, at least as far as the New Testament documents picture him, even existed. How foolish are those of this latter group. The faith of the New Testament church did not spring up because there were a group of men and women who wanted to be persecuted. The faith of the early Christians came into being by the energizing belief that Jesus had risen from the dead. This was at a time when it would have been easy for eyewitness accounts to disprove the story had it been false.
One of the greatest mistakes in assessing the life of Jesus of Nazareth is to speak of Him in the past tense. It is true that Jesus, the human man of Galilee, lived and walked this earth two thousand years ago. It is equally true that Jesus, the Creator God of the Universe, is still active in the world of man in this day.
One of the hallmarks of the Old Testament is that it often uses physical illustrations to teach us spiritual truths. Although this passage is from a New Testament source, it is still in the Old Testament setting as the New Testament of the Blood of Jesus would not be fully realized until His sacrificial death. Therefore, as we see the Spirit descending upon Jesus we are viewing an object lesson that God would have us to understand about His workings in our times.
This isn�t that the incident was not real. It was. But, the purpose was not to show a division among the Godhead as much as it was to show our need to be empowered by the Spirit in our own lives.
When we consider the working of the Gospel in this day we need to understand that He searches while we respond.
There was a lady in a church I pastored who believed she had crossed the �dead line.� Her background was in the Holiness Church movement and she believed that she had sinned away her chance at salvation.
In dealing with her I used three verses. The first verse was Luke 19:10. �For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.� The second verse I used was from Romans 3:11. �There is none that understand, there is none that seeketh after God.� The third verse was Ephesians 2:8-9. �For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.�
With the use of these verse I was able to show her that no person, in the natural state, will ever search for God. The sin nature of the natural man is diametrically opposed to the things of God. It is impossible for one who is bound in sin to approach the holiness of God.
But, God does choose to approach mankind with an antidote for sin. This comes through the sacrifice of Jesus at the Cross of Calvary. Because of this, the work of Jesus, God is able to offer not only forgiveness to the sinner; He is able to offer regeneration to that sinner which will serve to reestablish a relationship between the sinner and God.
The only problem with this scenario is the sin of mankind which causes him not to move toward God. God even solves this problem by moving toward man. We hear much about �charismatic gifts.� The very term, charisma, denotes the power of God. God�s great gift to humanity is the faith to accept what God has offered. No man can find this on his own; it is part of the gift of salvation.
It, therefore, follows that this woman, since she had an interest in salvation - a fear that she would not be able to attain that to which she aspired, was under conviction from God. Since she was under conviction she would be able to accept the salvation which God was offering to her. Had she felt no conviction there would have been cause for her to worry. But, she would not have worried because she would not have felt the need of, or desire for, salvation.
God given conviction is man�s opportunity!
The truth of the matter is that God saves. We simply repent in response to His convicting grace.
The term �repentance� means �to turn around.� Salvation is a refusal of the lordship of Satan in our lives and the acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is a desire to walk in a newness of life.
Because of this fact we may be assured that God secures our salvation while we are allowed to rest therein. This does not mean that we do not work the good works of salvation after we are born again. It does mean that those good works are not seen as a payment to God, or a bribe, to cause Him to give us this salvation.
We can not earn that for which payment has already been made. Jesus paid for our salvation at the cross. We do our acts of good works in response to this as a �Thank You� to Him and as part of our resolve to walk in a new way.
In this we see the unction of service. ��but he that sent me to baptize with water��
The term �unction� means to anoint something or, more specifically, someone. To anoint someone is similar, though not the exact equivalent, of sanctification. Unction is done for the purpose of appointing someone to a specific purpose. Sanctification means to set aside someone, or something, for a specific purpose.
The point I�m trying to make is that God gives us special rights and privileges as part of our salvation experience.
First, He gives us the rest as described above. In the giving of peace there are things withheld from us which will produce that peace. Paul says, �For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.� (II Timothy 1:7)
We do not have to work, and worry, about our salvation experience. That is His job. He has done it well. We are saved because of what He has done. We do not have to worry about a �balance sheet� at the judgment which might find us deficient. Our salvation is based in His sufficiency not our insufficiency. Our salvation is secure because He has made the guarantee.
We can rest in this assurance.
But, along with that rest, He has also given us responsibility. We have a duty to live with this newness of life. We are not as are others. We are born again by the power of God. We should live with this reality and act accordingly.
Part of this responsibility is to share the message of the gospel with others. Each of us has some task that we can accomplish toward this goal. That is just one of the reasons why we need to be active in our local church assemblies. Our gifts and responsibilities will mesh with others in that assembly so that the work of God will move on more efficiently.
If you�ll study the etymology of the word church you will find that it means a group of people called out of the general population to perform a specific purpose. That is one more reason why we need to be faithful to attend, and fellowship with, a local body. We are a called out people who are ordained to fellowship in a called out assembly. This assembly, in turn, has been given a purpose. We are obligated to take our part in the outworking of that purpose.
That is part of our responsibility.
We are also given reward by the God of Glory. He gives us rest and responsibility. But, he also gives us the high honor of being able to work with Him in His work in this world.
Think of that!
I have a picture of me shaking hands with the president of the United States. In the light of eternity I can honestly say that means nothing. Still, it was a honor I am proud to display on my office wall.
How much more rewarding is the fact that our hand is working with the Hand of the Master of Eternity!
Now, that�s glory!
We are also able to see, in this text verse, the unveiling of the Spirit. ��Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending��
We discussed last week that this in no way diminishes the truth of the absolute deity of Christ. This is a sign to the believer that the Spirit comes to rest upon the Son. One thing the believer of this age is to gain from this picture of the Spirit resting upon the Son is that we need the Spirit of God in our own lives.
The Spirit of God will bear witness, Himself, to the Truth of God. We see the Spirit, at this time, giving witness to the truth that Jesus is the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament Scripture.
If we are sensitive to His leading He will lead us into all the truth that God has for us in this time. Being sensitive to Him is predicated upon our communion with the Father through the twin conversational mediums of Scripture and prayer. We need both in our experiences.
Scripture without prayer will lead one to a pharisaical attitude of superiority. Prayer without Scripture - which allows the Lord to speak to us, will tend to make one wildly fanatical without benefit of the leading of the Spirit into truth.
The Spirit came upon Jesus to show the wisdom of His teaching. We need to consider the teaching of the Spirit in our own souls. When the time comes that we feel we know everything that God has for us, it is at this point that we are most vulnerable to the onset of error. We can know nothing of God, and the realities of the spiritual realm, unless we are willing to be in subjection to the teaching of the Spirit of God which was sent to the church for that purpose.
It is through the worshipful souls of the churches which Jesus established that the Spirit gives watch over His Testament of Truth. This is the manner which God used to preserve His Word - the guidance of the Spirit over the lives and souls of those who were the called of the churches. Even as the Spirit gave witness to the truth of the Messiah, so He gives witness to the truth of His preserved Word.
Though some would deny His witness, His witness remains true to those who are the called according to His purpose.
We also note, in this text verse, the unity of the Spirit. ��and remaining of him��
There is but one God. This the Scriptures declare. Yet, this One God is shown to man in three distinct Persons. I can not explain this. But, the Bible does declare that this is true.
It was only a few days ago that I attended some meetings in town that had to do with the concept of �Intelligent Design� in reference to the origin of life on earth. The evolutionists were quite vocal in their opposition to these meetings. They attempted to deride the concept of Intelligent Design as mere religion masquerading as science. Yet, the forces of evolution have no answer, or true concept, of beginnings.
When it comes to the beginning of all things there is a silence on the part of the scientific community. There is no answer to the beginning of all things except to say that it has always existed. Still, they ask the question - as though this would silence all the arguments of the man of faith, as to where God came from. They are not ready to accept the metaphysical answer that He has always existed because they can not test this theory in their laboratories.
The person of faith understands that God created the universe and all that is within. That means that God stands outside our physical laws which we are able to observe. This means that there are things which are true on the spiritual realm about which man can have no concept because he has no frame of reference to understand.
The concept of the Trinity of God is one of these things which we cannot understand with out physical sense and reasoning. But, we can accept this as truth because God has said it is so.
It should be noted that the Spirit and the Lord are united in purpose. Jesus came to this earth to call men and women to repentance. He came to seek sinners for salvation. The same must be said of us as we yield to the convicting work of the Spirit in our day. Being a �Christian� means that we are followers of Christ. Where He went, we are to follow.
The Spirit and the Lord are also united in performance. Jesus can never fail. Yet, He did fail to impart salvation to every person with whom He came into contact. He gives man the freedom and will to reject His message. Jesus came to call men, not to force men, to repentance. This is not failure; this is allowing freedom.
The Spirit also sends His conviction upon many who will not accept. Many choose to go into a Christless eternity rather than submit to the wooing of the Spirit. This is not failure on the part of the Spirit. This is foolish freedom on the part of humans.
As parts of the Godhead, the Spirit and the Son are both united in perfections. The salvation both desire for man is a perfect salvation which will produce a perfect life in eternity.
The work of each is the work of perfection in all aspects as They are Perfection Personified.
In this text verse we also see the uniqueness of the Savior. ��the same is he��
As we have noted earlier in the first chapter of John, Jesus is the First Cause of all things. Verse three of this first chapter says of Jesus, �All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.�
Jesus is more than a good man who taught a novel way to approach God and interpersonal relationships. Jesus is more than a seer who understood how to live in love and respect with others. Jesus is even more than another prophet such as was John the Baptist. Jesus is the Creator God Who made heaven and earth.
This is why, and how, Jesus could be the only Savior of mankind. All other persons are sinners such as are we. They could not be a righteous sacrifice for us because they all have their own sins. Jesus, the perfect Son of God, had no sin for which He was personally responsible. Because of this fact, He could offer Himself as THE PERFECT SACRIFICE for the sins of mankind.
No! There is no other way of Salvation expect through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That is not a �narrow� view any more than the correct answer to a mathematical equation is narrow. It is the correct assessment of the situation.
Paul was asked, �What must I do to be saved?� He answered, �Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.� (see Acts 16:30-31) It is equally true that if one fails to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ he will die in his sins.
Narrow? No. Just a correct answer in light of reality.
Jesus is also the omnipresent Security for the Christian. In the third chapter of John, Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus. Jesus said, �And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.� (John 3:13)
As God, Jesus had the attribute of being in Heaven even as He was speaking to a man in the first century Middle East. Again, I can�t explain this spiritual reality. I do accept it on the word of the Savior.
This means that Jesus is available to the Christian anytime, anyplace, and in any situation. A simple word of prayer will be heard. What comfort that should give us! What great dignity that bestows upon us, as well. When Linda and I visited Washington, D.C., there were many places that we just were not allowed to visit. We didn�t have the right to go these places.
But, Jesus invites us into His presence anytime we bow our hearts; in prayer. This He desires that we do often!
Finally, this verse suggests the uniting of the Savior�s Body, the church. ��which baptizeth with the Holy Spirit.�
Sometimes the Fundamentalist is so afraid of the excesses of the charismatic that he fails to consider the truth that the Spirit is the Sender of Power for the churches.
Jesus said to His disciples, �And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.� (Luke 24:49) Some might consider these words to be at variance with the Great Commission as recorded in the Book of Matthew. �Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.� (Matthew 28:19)
Is it possible to tarry (stay) and go at the same time?
Well, the stay was for a purpose. Jesus said that these persons were to wait for the Power of God to come upon them before they went into the world. In our day of many training classes before one is considered qualified to do almost anything, this is easily understood. Jesus said, �Wait until you are made ready. Then go out and preach the Word!�
The Power which came upon the church in Jerusalem was the power of the Holy Spirit. This same manifestation was upon Cornelius in Acts, chapter ten. We do not need to simply consider the Spirit; we need to be endued with the Power of the Spirit as we go out into the world with the message that Jesus Christ died in time so that we might live in eternity.
Without the power of the Spirit of God this message is simply another story. With the energizing power of the Holy Spirit this is the Power of God. (see Romans 1:16)
By the way, as a side note, consider that Jesus said, �I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.�: (Matthew 28:20b) Since the Biblical record states that the Holy Spirit of God came into the church with power, this is another intimation of the unity of the deity of Jesus.
The Spirit is also the Securer of Performance for the churches. The power of the Gospel Message does not lie in our brilliance or oratorical skill. The power of the Gospel lies in the Power of the Spirit. This is one reason why it is so important that we pray, by name, for those to whom we present this message.
God expects us to take our part in the proclaiming of the message. We trust Him to do His part. He will!
And, the Spirit is the Source of Permanence for the churches. Jesus made the promise that even the gates of hell would not deter His churches. It is the power of the Spirit Who is our defense against the wiles and works of the enemy.
The Spirit is also the Source of Permanence for the Scripture. He has preserved His Word so that we can wield the �Sword of the Spirit� in our battles in spiritual entities. We can do more than it is possible that we can do, if we reside in the will, and protective offensive capabilities of the Spirit of God!
Christian. Go into the world with the message that Jesus died in time so that we might live in eternity!
To those of you who are not yet Christians. Now is the time. The Holy Spirit of God is speaking to you as you hear these words. Accept Jesus as your Savior.
Do it today!