Lesson 11: Water & The Spirit

Getting Started: why were you baptized (or why should you be)? What did baptism accomplish?

The book of Exodus not only describes how Israel became a great nation, but how they were figuratively born as God’s people. First, they were rescued from Egyptian bondage and brought to God so that they could be “my treasured possession among all peoples” (Exodus 19.5). Furthermore, God intended to dwell among this people, but for that to happen two things had to take place:

• First, the people must be in covenant relationship with Him (Exodus 24). God’s covenants are always based on His gracious promises (see Exodus 19.4-6) and are contingent on the people following the requirements of the covenant (Exodus 24.3). Finally, the covenant is ratified with blood (Exodus 24.5-8).
• Second, a holy sanctuary had to be constructed, a place suitable for the Lord to dwell in the midst of the people (Exodus 25.8).

It will probably come as no surprise that all of the elements of the Exodus story (deliverance from bondage, covenant with God, dwelling place for God) are fulfilled in Christ. And, as we will see, since they are all fulfilled in Christ, then baptism takes on even greater significance than we may have once thought.

All fulfilled in Christ

The New Testament makes it clear that Christ is the true fulfillment of the Exodus story:

1. It is Christ who delivers us from the bondage of sin (John 1.29; Hebrews 2.14-15).
2. Christ has ratified a new covenant in His blood (Luke 22.20).
3. Christ makes His people “into a holy temple in the Lord… a dwelling place for God by the Spirit (Ephesians 2.21-22).

In future lessons we will focus on how we have become God’s holy temple, but for now let’s take a moment and consider the new covenant which is ratified in Christ’s blood. God had foretold that He was going to make a new covenant with His people, a covenant where His law would be written on their hearts and “I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31.31-34). It was this covenant Jesus inaugurated with His blood, a covenant where forgiveness of sins could be found, where each member of the covenant would “know” God. Christians, disciples of Christ, are members of this new covenant, one that is “enacted on better promises” (Hebrews 8.6).

But what is meant by “better promises”? Our mind likely goes to the true forgiveness of sins found in this covenant, forgiveness promised in Jeremiah 31.34 and truly accomplished by Christ (Hebrews 10.12,14). But that’s not the only better promise of the New Covenant; there was the promise of God pouring His Spirit on His people (Isaiah 44.3-4; Ezekiel 36. 25-27; 39.28-29).

Water & The Spirit

“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5, ESV)

Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, after he came declaring his faith that Jesus was from God. Jesus’ words are clearly taken from the Lord’s promise in Ezekiel 36:25-27, and point to the truth that to be in His Kingdom will require a new birth; a new birth that is of both water and the Spirit! The New Testament makes clear baptism (water) is how we become united with Jesus. We are baptized into His death and raised to newness of life (Romans 6.3-4); through baptism we “put on Christ” and become sons of God (Galatians 3.26-27). And in Christ, the Exodus story is fulfilled in us:

• We are redeemed from bondage (Ephesians 1.7; Colossians 1.13-14).
• We are part of His new covenant (Hebrews 9.15; 13.20-21).
• We are sanctified (1Corinthians 6.11; Hebrews 10.14).

But the new birth isn’t just a matter of water, it is also one of Spirit. “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,” (Titus 3:4–6, ESV) The terms “regeneration” and “renewal” both convey the idea of making something new (Jesus speaks of the world to come in this way, see Matthew 19.28). Through sin we became “children of wrath” (Ephesians 2.3), but through water and the Spirit we are reborn… “that which is born of Spirit is spirit” (John 3.6)! Truly, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2Corinthians 5.17).

The Gift Of The Spirit

“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38, ESV)

The first gospel sermon following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension resulted in a multitude of people being pricked in their hearts and asking Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter’s response is well known, but what did he mean that they would “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”? Sincere brethren have long debated what is meant by receiving “the gift of the Holy Spirit,” some concluding that the gift is what the Spirit gives, while others believe with equal conviction that the “gift” is the Spirit. For most of my life I believed that the gift was from the Spirit, that the gift was salvation. Perhaps this was some reactionary thinking on my part. After all, some have taken Acts 2:38 to infer that if we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, then we should be able to speak in tongues, heal the sick and do any other miracle that the apostles could perform. Peter’s use of Joel 2 earlier in the text clearly indicates that the Spirit coming upon the apostles resulted in miraculous works, but even that prophecy carried the promise that the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh.

Seeing the Spirit as the gift is the most natural way to look at the text, particularly from the standpoint of Peter’s Jewish audience. They knew that the pouring out of God’s spirit had been promised (Isaiah 44; Ezekiel 36,39; etc.), now they were told that by being baptized they could receive the promised Spirit. The promise of the new covenant wasn’t simply that they would receive forgiveness of sins, but that they would receive a new spirit… His Spirit (Ezekiel 36.25-27). Peter’s audience knew that they didn’t simply need some sins forgiven, they needed a complete rebirth; they needed a new spirit.

Future lessons will further explore how in Christ we receive a new spirit, His Spirit. But as we conclude this lesson let’s make sure we understand this fundamental truth: if the Holy Spirit is important to you, then so is baptism! The ONLY way to be renewed by His Spirit and to enjoy His presence is to be baptized into Christ.