“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
--- Matthew 3:11
John baptized people as a sign that they had asked God to forgive their sins and had decided to live as he wanted them to live. Baptism was an outward sign of commitment. To be effective, it had to be accompanied by an inward change of attitude leading to a changed life---the work of Holy Spirit. John said that Jesus would baptize with Holy Spirit and fire. This looked ahead to Pentecost (Acts 2), when Holy Spirit would be sent by Jesus in the form of tongues of fire, empowering his followers to preach the Good News. John’s statement also symbolizes the work of Holy Spirit in bringing God’s judgment on those who refuse to turn from their sins. Everyone will one day be baptized---either now by God’s Holy Spirit or later by the fire of his judgment.
--- Life Application Study Bible notes
In Album: Dave Parrish's Timeline Photos
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