Scripture

” I baptise with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am – so much greater that I am not worthy to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Observation

John the Baptist appears in the wilderness of Judea and preachers a radical message of repentance. People come from all over the country to listen to John. They confess their sins and are baptised by him.

John warns the Pharisees and Sadducees that they cannot flee God’s wrath by being baptised. They must repent of their sins and produce the fruit of repentance like everybody else.

John says that he baptises with water, but one is coming who will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Application

The message is the same and has never changed. We are all sinners and we need to turn back to God. He will forgive us because of the sacrifice of Christ.

Jesus is the one who baptises us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. When we give our hearts to Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts. Every believer can experience the fullness or the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

There is a very severe warning here. Being religious is not good enough. It’s not enough to look good on the outside – the Pharisees and Sadducees were experts at that. We all need to repent from the heart and allow God to change us from the inside out.

The really good news in all of this is that God’s grace has no limits. We can come as often as we need to drink deeply of his love.

Prayer

Lord your grace never runs out. Thank you for this wonderful gift. Amen.