Tabernacle school of Ministry

In Ephesians 4:5, the Scripture tells us that there is only one baptism. How do we understand this statement? We see from all of the foregoing that there are simply two parts to one baptism.

[Just as there are two parts to one Bible and two parts to one Testament. The first part of the Bible was a Testament written under the Law and the Prophets. The second part unveils the Testament of all that comes in the actual fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in CHRIST JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT. Put together the Testament of the Bible is one Testament. The New fulfills the Old and gives it life.]

The first part of the one baptism is water baptism (opened by John the Baptist under the Law and the Prophets), where we covenant through an imperfect repentance to present ourselves to GOD.

The second part is GOD, by HIS SPIRIT in us, enabling the fulfillment of the covenant of baptism; and, this is a process that commences by us being SPIRIT baptized. The second part of the one baptism has the intent of unveiling the fulfillment of the Law through CHRIST JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT (see Romans 8:2; John 16:13-15).

The second part of the one baptism enables us to function in gifts sovereignly distributed amongst us by the HOLY SPIRIT (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-11). However, HOLY SPIRIT baptism also involves the HOLY SPIRIT actually indwelling us and leading to realize the fruits of the HOLY SPIRIT that are in conformance to the nature of the LORD JESUS. And, this is important to understand, because without the fruits, we all will misuse the gifts.

Finally, it is crucial that we understand that we need to enjoy the reality of being a Christian, expecting by hope and faith to receive the strength of GOD’s grace and love for each of us. There is no doubt that when GOD corrects it is painful. But, through the correction, there comes a peace and a joy that demonstrates the actuality of LORD’s love for us.

Any Christian who has gone through the waters of baptism will realize that the hardest obstacle to becoming a true Christian is the ability and willingness to make the right choices.

Very often we can appear to say and do the right thing but the intentions of our heart are otherwise. And, this is particularly so because of the unintentional sin in our nature.

To simply put it, it is impossible for any human being to make the right choices by their own self.

This is why when Adam and Eve ate of the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil, they died spiritually. They had decided to make choices of right and wrong in their own strength. And, no man can actually do that. The fact is that no one can live in the right way without GOD. Life, and the ability to live correctly, comes exclusively from GOD. This is why the LORD JESUS declared that HE is the Way, the Truth and, the Life.

But the reality of the LORD JESUS as the Way, the Truth and, the Life, only comes to us by the HOLY SPIRIT. This is what the LORD JESUS HIMSELF declared in John 16:13-15 that the HOLY SPIRIT is the ONE WHO will lead us into all truth. The LORD said that the HOLY SPIRIT is the ONE WHO will communicate the LORD’s Fullness to us.

The strength and conviction to do what is right, needs to be developed in partnership with GOD the HOLY SPIRIT (see John 16:7-15).

And, this is why the LORD tells the disciples that it would be better for them that HE left them so that the HOLY SPIRIT could come alive in them and guide them into all truth (see also John 14:16-17). Because only truth can set us free (see John 8:31-32) and truth comes to us by the HOLY SPIRIT (see John 16:13-14), in CHRIST JESUS (see John 14:6; 8:34-36).

It is only as we learn to live by the SPIRIT, in CHRIST JESUS that we are actually set free from the Law Of Sin And Death (see Romans 8:2). This is the Law Of Life. That is, this is the only way that we can live – in CHRIST JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT. Because only the HOLY SPIRIT can unveil and make the fullness of CHRIST JESUS available to us (see John 16:13-15).

When we are born again we are born of the SPIRIT and the Water of the Word (see John 3:3,5).

But in order to live in partnership with the HOLY SPIRIT we must be baptized in and with the HOLY SPIRIT (see Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). Notice that the words of John the Baptist tells us that being baptized in water and being baptized in the HOLY SPIRIT are not the same process. Please understand that John was baptizing in water and, he is declaring that HOLY SPIRIT baptism is a distinctly different process that only the LORD JESUS CHRIST would undertake.

In the Baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT, the HOLY SPIRIT indwells us.

In John 14:16-17, the LORD JESUS tells us that the HOLY SPIRIT will be with us and, HE will also be in us. Please understand that there are two different realities of the HOLY SPIRIT. One ‘with us’ and, the other ‘in us’.

When we are born again, the HOLY SPIRIT is with us and we come alive to GOD. But, in the baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT, the HOLY SPIRIT actually indwells us (permanently) and, we can learn to live by HIM – forever. And, we are meant to come alive into an actual partnership with HIM. In this reality the HOLY SPIRIT is called the SPIRIT Of Life (see Romans 8:2; John 6:63a).

We are all called to learn to live and walk by the SPIRIT and, the result is a reality called the fruits of the HOLY SPIRIT, the actual growing freedom from sin (see Galatians 5:22-23).

We must understand that we need the HOLY SPIRIT to overcome sin.

Nobody will overcome sin without the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT. So it is fundamentally wrong to think that baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT is for “sinless” people.

The Church that was baptized in the HOLY SPIRIT in Acts 2:1-4 and 10:44-47 was by no means a sinless body of believers! They had so many fears and so many inadequacies. But, they each needed the HOLY SPIRIT to make JESUS CHRIST alive in them and through them, so that they would be able to do HIS work (see Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18).

The Baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT is evidenced by speaking in tongues (see Acts 2:4 and 10:45-46). Notice that in Mark 16:17, the LORD JESUS tells us that we will speak in new tongues as one of the signs that we are HIS disciples.

The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:6, that tongues is the conduit to receiving and realizing revelation knowledge, the ability to prophesy (that is the ability to speak life into others) and, the ability to teach. I move in all these realities in ministry. And, I can testify that what Paul is saying here is available to those who will seek the realization.

The apostle who penned two-thirds of the New Testament also tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:5,18 that he wished that we all spoke in tongues and, that he himself spoke in tongues extensively. And, Paul did this in spite of the fact that the tongues he spoke were not immediately understandable to him (see 1 Corinthians 14:2). Yet in 1 Corinthians 14:6 Paul says that tongues result in revelation knowledge!

Obviously the HOLY SPIRIT WHO indwells us converts tongues into revelation knowledge in and by and through the revealed Word Of GOD (see 1 Corinthians 2:10,9-13; Mark 4:22; Deuteronomy 29:29; Jeremiah 31:31-34).

All this should tell us that we should desire to speak in tongues. So that, we can draw life by the mysteries of GOD being manifested and explained into us as revelation knowledge, in order that we may grow spiritually, overcoming sin in new strength gained from GOD, and so, become a blessing to nations (see 1 Corinthians 14:2,4; 2:10).

The LORD JESUS tells us that the primary ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT is to teach us all truth and to unveil to us the Mystery Of CHRIST (see John 14:13-15; Ephesians 3:3-5). The Mystery Of CHRIST is a revelation from the Word Of GOD.

In Mark 16:17, we see that the LORD JESUS HIMSELF identifies tongues as being one of the signs of us being HIS disciples. This also tells us that while HE was still with HIS disciples the LORD JESUS discussed tongues with HIS disciples. Tongues were not a surprise to those who were gathered in the upper room – all of them (see Acts 1:5,8; 2:1-4). Similarly speaking in tongues came to Cornelius and his family quite naturally (see Acts 10:44-47). Understand that tongues are a practical tool of communication in the HOLY SPIRIT – which must always be consistent with GOD’s Word.

Water baptism gives expression to our understanding of this process of change, that GOD is going to work into us even as we choose to daily respond to HIM in our lives.

We are baptized in water not because we have repented perfectly but because we have chosen to enter into CHRIST’s death (see Rom 6:3-4). Knowing – by promise of salvation – that all that JESUS died for, is available to us, for us to work out our salvation, by making the right choices before GOD (see Genesis 17:2).

In HIS death on the cross, the LORD JESUS CHRIST expressed a faith and, a love to not only forgive us but, also to save us.

Through HIS resurrection, GOD released a power to save us in the faith and love of JESUS CHRIST for us. We change because the faith and love of JESUS received changes us (see John 1:16-17; 1 Timothy 1:14). We enter the waters of baptism because we know that GOD will work into us the power of the LORD’s resurrection.

In baptism we are committing to choose to every day present ourselves to GOD (by hope and faith – see Heb 6:19; 1 John 3:3) as those alive from the dead (as those set free from death in sin, by the power of GOD – see Ps 54:1).

And, in baptism we are also committing to choose to present our members as instruments of righteousness to GOD (see Romans 6:13).

Baptism is the activation of a process by which we choose (in our own free will) to present our bodies as a living sacrifice unto GOD (see Romans 12:1-2) although, we know that we will fail many times because of the nature of unintentional and deliberate sin in us.

Water baptism is spiritually symbolic of a very awesome spiritual process that GOD opens to us - in HIS power - forever.

Water in the Bible represents the Rhema (or, the quickened) Word Of GOD (see Ephesians 5:26-27) and also the Voice Of GOD (see Ezekiel 1:24; Revelation 1:15).

So in water baptism we are actually committing to immersing ourselves in the Voice of GOD’s Rhema Word. And, this is how we will actually be enabled to present our bodies as living sacrifices and, the members of our bodies as instruments of righteousness in fulfillment of our commitment at water baptism.

Ephesians 5:26-27 tells us that we will, in the washing of the water of the Rhema Word, become spotless and blameless and without blemish. But, this process of being baptized (or, being spiritually immersed) in the waters of the Voice of GOD so as to be washed, can’t be done by us. It has to be done by the HOLY SPIRIT.

Titus 3:5, explains this by telling us that washing is a process undertaken by the HOLY SPIRIT. And, washing is a supernatural process of renewal (the old being made new) and regeneration (the dead being made alive). Both processes of renewal and regeneration are beyond the technologies of man.

We are born again instantaneously and come alive to GOD in our heart (see John 3:3,5). However, being born again is only the beginning of the process of salvation. The process of salvation goes on forever as GOD perfects us and causes us to grow in HIM (see Matthew 5:48). Matthew 5:48 tells us that we need to grow to become more and more perfect – like our FATHER!

In order for this to happen, the Bible tells us that GOD must circumcise our hearts so that we come to love HIM with all of our heart and soul (see Deuteronomy 30:6). This circumcision is not by human hands (see Colossians 2:11) but by the HOLY SPIRIT (see Rom 2:29).

And, circumcision of our heart, enables us to worship by the SPIRIT, by actually being able to glory in CHRIST JESUS, so as to have no confidence in the flesh of man (see Phil 3:3). That is, we learn to live by GOD’s enabling power instead of our own righteousness. And, we need to do this because our self-denominated righteousness is like filthy rags (see Isaiah 64:6).

In Philippians 2:12-13, we are instructed to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that GOD is at work in us – to will and to work in us HIS good pleasure.

Fear and trembling is a response to GOD’s reality and, to all that GOD is doing in us. This verse is not telling us that we can actually work out our salvation by ourselves. But, this verse tells us that we make choices to allow GOD to work in us in HIS will and pleasure, so that we are strengthened with all power and be able to do what GOD wants us to do (see this from Colossians 2:9b-11).

GOD must save us!

Too many Christians have unhappy and unfulfilled lives because they are trying to do in their own strength what only GOD can do. We are guilty of not taking hold of GOD’s grace available to us in the LORD’s faith and love for us (see 1 Timothy 1:14; John 1:16).

Matthew 5:48, tells us that we are to be perfect even as our heavenly FATHER is perfect! Obviously this is a process that GOD has to work into us – forever! And, this process never ends because GOD’s perfection is limitless! The more we are like GOD (by nature), the more of HIM we can see (see Matthew 5:8) and, the more of HIM we can know (see Jeremiah 31:31,33-34) and, the more of HIM we can function by.

And, all this involves a process of us being actually saved – forever. Salvation is not just about going to heaven. Salvation is about being transformed in the image (see Romans 8:29) and fullness of CHRIST JESUS (see John 1:16-17) so as to increasingly be like our FATHER in heaven (see Matthew 5:48; 1 John 3:3).

1 John 3:3, tells us that if we learn to set our hope on the LORD JESUS, there is a process of change in salvation that is activated through hope, that actually makes us perfect even as the LORD JESUS is perfect. This is not an instantaneous process but it is an eternal process of being perfected.

In the Old Testament, when GOD introduces HIS Law, through Moses, GOD describes two kinds of offerings for sin. These two offerings identify the two forms of sin that afflict us.

The first offering was called a Sin Offering (see Leviticus 4:1-3). And you will notice that this offering was for “unintentional sin”. And, unintentional sin is the sin we commit by nature.

The nature that has come down the generations through the lines of race, culture, religion, family roots, family heritage and, the value systems cultivated through the generations.

Unintentional sin is the sin we all commit by nature.

For instance a proud man commits sin by expressing pride through all that he thinks and does in word and deed. A man can be proud of his achievements. A man can be proud of his status in life. A man can be proud of his race and his language and his family heritage. A proud man is not a humble man (see Isaiah 66:2). And, pride is the most fundamental form of man’s sin. It is the deepest and worst form of unintentional sin.

Pride is the root of man’s rebellion against GOD.

Another example would be fear. A fearful person commits sin by being afraid of people, being afraid of the unknown, being afraid of failure and, so on. And fundamentally, such a fear comes about because the person does not trust GOD. And, if we do not trust GOD we are in sin. However, trust only comes as we develop a relationship with GOD and come to see HIM more and more.

You cannot trust someone you do not actually know and do not actually relate to.

So unless GOD causes us to grow to trust HIM more and more (see Deuteronomy 30:6,8; Ezekiel 36:27,25-27; Jeremiah 31:33-34), we will not change and be delivered from this sin of not trusting GOD. That is GOD has to do a major work in us in order to enable us to trust HIM.

All of us (including all born again Christians) have unintentional sin. And we are changed only by becoming actual partakers of the Divine Nature (see 2 Peter 1:3-4) through the actual and true knowledge of the LORD JESUS CHRIST (see Isaiah 53:11b).

The second kind of offering was called a Guilt Offering or a Trespass Offering, depending on what translation of the Bible you are reading. A Guilt Offering is described in Leviticus 6:1-7. And, a Guilt Offering is for “deliberate sin” or “premeditated sin”. The sin we commit deliberately after birthing the sin in our minds.

We all know that when a person tells a lie he has sinned. But, why does a person tell a lie? Sometimes it is because he is afraid. At other times a person tells a lie because he does not trust GOD. And, these are examples of unintentional sin. At other times a person tells a lie because he wants to deliberately mislead another person. And, this is an example of deliberate sin.

Sometimes a person tells a lie because he can’t help it (and this is an example of unintentional sin). At other times a person tells a lie because he really wants to lie (and this is an example of deliberate sin).

But both expressions are sin. And, the wages of sin is death.

All human beings (including all Christians) commit sin – both unintentional sin and deliberate sin. But in salvation GOD covers our sin with the Blood of JESUS, while HE works the necessary changes of our character, our thought processes and our desires – into us – even as we learn to repent.

To repent, GOD needs to convict us and cause us to change (see Ezekiel 36:27). This verse also implies that HE has to enable us to change. To cause us to change GOD has to actually build the basis of the change into us. And, this involves our nature, our desires, our thoughts, our emotions etc. Change is not a simple process. Change involves a creative process of transformation in our inward parts (see 2 Corinthians 4:16; Ephesians 4:23-24; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Repentance is not simply saying I’m sorry. Repentance involves actual change in our character and nature and desires. And, it takes time and commitment to GOD to actually change.

And, it is important to understand that all true change comes from GOD. And, this is because if man can actually change by himself, the LORD JESUS need not have come into the world to save us. Many Christians have not understood this and try to live by application of the Law and by application of principles.

The Law cannot change us it can only instruct us as to what is right or wrong. Similarly, a principle can only instruct us to act along certain lines of thought, it cannot change our character and nature. We can only change by grace received from GOD. By grace, GOD has to manifest new strength (of character, for example) for us to change.

No man can change his nature and character in his own strength (although there are many people who pretend that they can change themselves by their own actions). The Pharisees thought they were good because they appeared to follow the Law. And, in their self-denominated ‘goodness’ they crucified the LORD.

GOD has to save us (see Eze 36:25-27; Ps 54:1). And, salvation is a process that GOD works into us.

Every genuine change in our nature can only come from GOD. And, in this process of actually changing us, GOD shows us how real HE IS, and also, HE starts building a relationship with us. Teaching us how to live by HIM instead of pretending to live by ourselves.

We start in response to GOD, to learn to live by GOD and HIS strength instead of in our own abilities.

Meanwhile, we suffer the consequences of our sinful nature and our sinful actions, whether they are deliberate or, unintentional.

The wages of sin is death and the effects of sin cause us to worry, quarrel, be jealous, be selfish, be dishonest, be proud, tell lies, manipulate others, steal etc.

And, we see the effects of sin manifest in fear, unhappiness, misery, anger, bitterness, condemnation, self-righteousness, sickness, disease etc. There is a tangible absence of peace, love and joy in us.

However, while all this is happening, GOD is still working change in our lives as part of HIS plan of saving us. That’s grace because the LORD’s Blood stands over our lives in the reality of our salvation!