"The Baptism of the Spirit" Series
By Sean Morris
Info: This is a 2 Part Series.
PART #1: "The Baptism of the Spirit - what is it?"
The content of the sermon entitled, "The Baptism of the Spirit - what is it?", is noted below for a closer study. To condescend to those who are in our local congregation who have little knowledge of the subject, the first 15 minutes (approximately) served as a general introduction. After the general introduction is addressed, the content below is held in focus unto the end. May God grant you all ears to hear and eyes to see, according to the prayer of the apostle Paul found in Ephesians chapter 1 & 3.
Biblical Historical References of Spiritual Baptism:
1 Cor. 10:1-4 (Heb. 11:29), 1 Pet. 3:21 [Note: What does baptism symbolize?]
Other typological references to Spiritual Baptism do include the washings of the Priests, the crossing of the Jordan River, the washing of Naaman the leper in the River Jordan, etc.
Clear Doctrinal Affirmations of Spiritual Baptism from the Epistles:
1 Cor. 12:13, Col. 2:12, Rom. 6:3-4, Gal. 3:27, Eph. 4:5, 1 Pet. 3:21, Titus 3:5-6 (washing away thy sins)
What did Jesus Christ have to say about Baptism?
Acts 1:4-5, Luke 24:49, John 7:38-39 (in correlation with John 13:31, 17:5), John 14:16-26, John 15:26-27, John 16:7-15 [Note: Why did the Lord Jesus say that they must wait if they had already received the Holy Ghost in John 20:22?]
The Principle in Focus:
The Ceremonies of Salvation needed to be completed in Heaven like as they were shadowed in Old Testament law; thus Christ needed to ascend into Heaven. Upon His ascension the ceremonies began. Upon His enthronement the ceremonies were completed. Thus the Baptism of the Spirit is the signal to all people that the heavenly ceremonies have been accepted by God the Father and completed by God the Son - Christ sat down as King of the world at the right hand of God the Father! Thereby New Testament Salvation did begin.
Tracing this principle in Hebrews:
Heb. 1:3, 2:9-18, 4:14-16, 6:19-20, 7:24-27, 8:1-5, 9:16-24 (Other references: John 15:26, Rom. 8:34, 1 John 2:1-2)
The Climactic Explanation of what the Baptism of the Spirit is:
Acts 2:33, Peter's sermon which declared all things accomplished!
Having been incarnated as a Jew into the tribe of Judah as the seed of David, Jesus Christ walked-out the Old Testament Ceremonial Law in all available and necessary means to fulfill all righteousness during his lifetime, according to the flesh. After being offered to God upon an earthly altar called The Cross, the scheme of redemption was not yet complete. No, rather, it had just begun! The death of Christ on The Cross was the first step in the grand scheme of salvation which was yet to be accomplished via a High Priest after the order of Melchisedec (Heb. 5:6) in a Heavenly Environment which included a Temple and all associated instruments for the performance of an unprecedented ceremony. When Jesus Christ was fastened to The Cross by nails as a propitiatory sacrifice, this was but the beginning of this ceremony. When Christ said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), the oppression and affliction of becoming a sacrifice was completely accomplished (“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, and yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth”-Isa.53:7), but the ceremonial application of this blood-atonement must sprinkle the Throne of Heaven which resides inside of a Heavenly Temple (Lev. 16:14-15, Heb. 9:19-24, Rev. 7:15, 11:19). These things must proceed in Heaven after the similitude of the High Priest, Aaron, who dared not enter into the Holy Place of the earthly Tabernacle without “a young bullock for a sin-offering and a ram for a burnt-offering” (see Lev. 16:2-4). Even so, Christ, “by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 10:26), was finally enabled to enter into “Heaven itself, now to appear in the Presence of God for us” (Heb. 10:24)! Finally enabled, I say, because theretofore a human body had never entered such a place to perform such a ceremony on behalf of the rest of condemned humanity! It was necessary for Jesus Christ to become a human that He might suffer and die, this is true, but also that He might be perfected and credentialed as a “Merciful and Faithful High Priest”!
Biblical Historical References of Spiritual Baptism:
1 Cor. 10:1-4 (Heb. 11:29), 1 Pet. 3:21 [Note: What does baptism symbolize?]
Other typological references to Spiritual Baptism do include the washings of the Priests, the crossing of the Jordan River, the washing of Naaman the leper in the River Jordan, etc.
Clear Doctrinal Affirmations of Spiritual Baptism from the Epistles:
1 Cor. 12:13, Col. 2:12, Rom. 6:3-4, Gal. 3:27, Eph. 4:5, 1 Pet. 3:21, Titus 3:5-6 (washing away thy sins)
What did Jesus Christ have to say about Baptism?
Acts 1:4-5, Luke 24:49, John 7:38-39 (in correlation with John 13:31, 17:5), John 14:16-26, John 15:26-27, John 16:7-15 [Note: Why did the Lord Jesus say that they must wait if they had already received the Holy Ghost in John 20:22?]
The Principle in Focus:
The Ceremonies of Salvation needed to be completed in Heaven like as they were shadowed in Old Testament law; thus Christ needed to ascend into Heaven. Upon His ascension the ceremonies began. Upon His enthronement the ceremonies were completed. Thus the Baptism of the Spirit is the signal to all people that the heavenly ceremonies have been accepted by God the Father and completed by God the Son - Christ sat down as King of the world at the right hand of God the Father! Thereby New Testament Salvation did begin.
Tracing this principle in Hebrews:
Heb. 1:3, 2:9-18, 4:14-16, 6:19-20, 7:24-27, 8:1-5, 9:16-24 (Other references: John 15:26, Rom. 8:34, 1 John 2:1-2)
The Climactic Explanation of what the Baptism of the Spirit is:
Acts 2:33, Peter's sermon which declared all things accomplished!
Having been incarnated as a Jew into the tribe of Judah as the seed of David, Jesus Christ walked-out the Old Testament Ceremonial Law in all available and necessary means to fulfill all righteousness during his lifetime, according to the flesh. After being offered to God upon an earthly altar called The Cross, the scheme of redemption was not yet complete. No, rather, it had just begun! The death of Christ on The Cross was the first step in the grand scheme of salvation which was yet to be accomplished via a High Priest after the order of Melchisedec (Heb. 5:6) in a Heavenly Environment which included a Temple and all associated instruments for the performance of an unprecedented ceremony. When Jesus Christ was fastened to The Cross by nails as a propitiatory sacrifice, this was but the beginning of this ceremony. When Christ said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), the oppression and affliction of becoming a sacrifice was completely accomplished (“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, and yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth”-Isa.53:7), but the ceremonial application of this blood-atonement must sprinkle the Throne of Heaven which resides inside of a Heavenly Temple (Lev. 16:14-15, Heb. 9:19-24, Rev. 7:15, 11:19). These things must proceed in Heaven after the similitude of the High Priest, Aaron, who dared not enter into the Holy Place of the earthly Tabernacle without “a young bullock for a sin-offering and a ram for a burnt-offering” (see Lev. 16:2-4). Even so, Christ, “by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 10:26), was finally enabled to enter into “Heaven itself, now to appear in the Presence of God for us” (Heb. 10:24)! Finally enabled, I say, because theretofore a human body had never entered such a place to perform such a ceremony on behalf of the rest of condemned humanity! It was necessary for Jesus Christ to become a human that He might suffer and die, this is true, but also that He might be perfected and credentialed as a “Merciful and Faithful High Priest”!
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“But we see Jesus, who was made a
little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and
honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became
him, for whom are all things,
and by whom are all things, in
bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect
through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is
not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my
brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I
will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath
given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he
also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might
destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them
who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For
verily he took not on him the nature
of angels; but he took on him
the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like
unto his brethren, that he
might be a Merciful and Faithful High Priest
in things pertaining to God, to
make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath
suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” – Hebrews
2:9-18
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Upon being perfected and
credentialed in this magnificent way, Jesus Christ assumed the role of a
resurrected God-Man: “the Firstborn from the dead” (Col. 1:18, Rev. 1:5). “In 1Co_15:20,
Christ is called the first-fruits of them that slept; and here, the chief and
first-born from the dead; he being the first that ever resumed the natural
life, with the employment of all its functions, never more to enter the empire
of death, after having died a natural death, and in such circumstances as
precluded the possibility of deception” (Adam Clarke). He
was raised from the dead on the third day (1 Cor. 15:4), He appeared unto his
disciples and over 500 others over a space of 40 days (Acts 1:2-3), He spoke of
the mysteries of the Kingdom of God in a glorified human body which still
hungered and thirsted (Lk. 24:41-43, John 21:5-6, Acts 1:2-3), a body by which
He ate and drank alongside his disciples just as other humans do (Acts 10:41), “until
the day in which He was taken up”, scripture states (Acts 1:2). What day? The
day of the Lord’s ascension into Heaven! Jesus Christ had theretofore been
resurrected, but not ascended. Speaking of this, Christ disallowed Mary to
touch him after she had just been wandering among the graveyard (a thing which
would be improper and offensive, considering the circumstances of Jewish Law
and, furthermore, the ceremonies the Lord was soon to perform in His human body;
see John 20:17, Lev. 10:6-7, 21:10-12, Num. 19:16-22).
You see, my reader, while the body of the Lord Jesus was fixated on The Cross, the ceremony of salvation could not be accomplished. While Christ did reside among earth-dwellers after his resurrection, the ceremony could not be performed. He must – in human body – pass into the Heavens via the ascension (Heb. 4:1, Acts 1:2-11), enter the Gates beyond which a human body had never traversed (Ps. 24:7-10, Heb. 9:8), walk through the courts and into the Holy Place of the first and original Temple not made by human hands (Heb. 6:19-20, 8:2) – a Heavenly and Holy Place never before tread by the soles of human feet (1 Cor. 15:20-23, Acts 26:23, Rev. 1:5)! The ceremony of salvation that Christ was to perform on behalf of humanity was not located on earth, but in Heaven. According to scripture, it was necessary that a High Priest of an Eternal Priesthood called, the order of Melchisedec (Ps. 110:4, Heb. 5:6, 10, 7:1-21), enter into the Heavenly Courts of the Most Holy Temple to sprinkle the “heavenly things” with the blood of Jesus Christ, The Sacrifice (Heb. 9:19-24). Seeing that this was on behalf of mankind, this Priest and the Sacrifice must also be a Man… and until “the Lion of the Tribe of Judah” did prevail, humanity was left without the hope of redemption (Rev. 5:5)!
You see, my reader, while the body of the Lord Jesus was fixated on The Cross, the ceremony of salvation could not be accomplished. While Christ did reside among earth-dwellers after his resurrection, the ceremony could not be performed. He must – in human body – pass into the Heavens via the ascension (Heb. 4:1, Acts 1:2-11), enter the Gates beyond which a human body had never traversed (Ps. 24:7-10, Heb. 9:8), walk through the courts and into the Holy Place of the first and original Temple not made by human hands (Heb. 6:19-20, 8:2) – a Heavenly and Holy Place never before tread by the soles of human feet (1 Cor. 15:20-23, Acts 26:23, Rev. 1:5)! The ceremony of salvation that Christ was to perform on behalf of humanity was not located on earth, but in Heaven. According to scripture, it was necessary that a High Priest of an Eternal Priesthood called, the order of Melchisedec (Ps. 110:4, Heb. 5:6, 10, 7:1-21), enter into the Heavenly Courts of the Most Holy Temple to sprinkle the “heavenly things” with the blood of Jesus Christ, The Sacrifice (Heb. 9:19-24). Seeing that this was on behalf of mankind, this Priest and the Sacrifice must also be a Man… and until “the Lion of the Tribe of Judah” did prevail, humanity was left without the hope of redemption (Rev. 5:5)!
“the Way into the Holiest of all” – Heb. 9:8
After the Lord Jesus did prevail, He became “The Forerunner” behind which all humanity can follow. Positioned in Heaven right now in His human frame with its scars and all, “He ever liveth to make intercession” (Heb. 7:25), therefore because He “passed into the Heavens” …so can we (Heb. 4:14-16)! Having such a High Priest over the House of God (Heb. 4:1, 10:21-22), redeemed humanity has “boldness to enter into The Holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19, 9:8)! Having accomplished the full ceremony of salvation which was expected of Him in the Heavenly Arena (the reality of the typological similitude declared by the Old Testament Ceremonial Law; Col. 2:9-17, Heb. 8:1-6, 9:23-24), it was written that Jesus Christ did, last of all, sit down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on High (Heb. 1:3, 8:1, Php. 2:6-11). With the entire ceremony accomplished whereby mankind could be fully redeemed, the mode of redemption did thenceforth begin: The Kingdom of God. This mode of redemption began with the enthronement of Jesus Christ, the seed of David (a Human), as King and Lord of visible and invisible creation (Php. 2:9-11), soon to appear on earth yet again (Heb. 9:28, 2 Tim. 4:1, Rev. 19:11-16)! Upon this enthronement, The Kingdom of God began, and after this enthronement the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Day of Pentecost to mark the beginning of New Testament redemption on earth (Acts 2:33; i.e. The Kingdom of God on earth via The Baptism of the Spirit).
The Chronological Order of Redemption:
(1st) The Crucifixion – The Earthly Altar (John 3:12-18)
(2nd) The Resurrection – The Human Body for a Priesthood & Kingship (Heb. 2:9-18, Php. 2:9-11)
(3rd) The Ascension – The Forerunning Redeemer & 2nd Adam (Heb. 6:19-20, 1 Cor. 15:22-23, Rom. 5:12-21)
(1st) The Crucifixion – The Earthly Altar (John 3:12-18)
(2nd) The Resurrection – The Human Body for a Priesthood & Kingship (Heb. 2:9-18, Php. 2:9-11)
(3rd) The Ascension – The Forerunning Redeemer & 2nd Adam (Heb. 6:19-20, 1 Cor. 15:22-23, Rom. 5:12-21)
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Firstly: The Ceremonial Purging of the Heavenly Things (Heb. 1:3, 9:23)
Secondarily: The Final &Everlasting Enthronement (Heb. 1:3, 8:1, Acts 2:33, Ezek. 34:23-24, 37:24-25, Hos. 3:5, Jer. 23:5, 30:9, 33:15) |
PART #2: "The Baptism of the Spirit - Be Filled With The Spirit"
"Let Me See!"
Oh Thou, ascended Christ, let me see Thy rising!
Let me peer into Thy gladness, bought by Thy dying!
“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.” – Isaiah 53:10
Oh Thou, in heaven, in glory Thou art!
Thy fame, spread abroad, Thy government did start!
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” – Isaiah 9:6-7
Let me not be a stranger, to Thy good pleasure, (Eph. 1:8-9)
Make me to know the proportion, of my measure. (John 17:21-23)
“Unto all pleasing”, I would be, if I could walk worthily! (Col. 1:9-14)
Thy Name – glorified! – it surely would be,
If the “good pleasure of Thy goodness” doth work in me! (2 Thess. 1:11-12)
“Perfect” I’d be, yea, “in every good work”,
“wellpleasing” to my King as a trophy of His worth! (Heb. 13:20-21)
To be “enlightened”, we wait! (Eph. 1:18) Our powerlessness, we hate! (Eph. 1:19)
Oh God of heaven, lift up Thy countenance abroad,
Thy earthly brothers wait for Thee, oh Thou ascended God!
Oh Thou, ascended Christ, let me see Thy rising!
Let me know the truth I’ve heard, of Thy good tiding.
If I could see Thee go, where Thou hast gone,
And know the verity of Thy heavenly reception.
I would no longer err, or footstep wrong,
But live the life of this my song.
If I could watch Thee, as Elijah did rise,
To know Thy placement high in the skies.
Oh Lord, my soul, emblazoned would be,
Thy mantle falling would rest on me!
Oh Lord, I give my plea, wouldst Thou hear me?
Though we have parted ways,
Though Thou hast gone up for many days,
If I could know Thy blazon eyes,
The armies before Thee, the fiery skies,
If I could see Thee, though we’ve parted ways,
Thy heavenly armies caught up in Thy gaze,
As I stand a-watch, ere long I look,
Lo, Thy mantle would fall, as it is written in Thy Book.
Then, lo! Like Elisha I know! Because I have seen Thee go!
This mantle of Thy ascension, fallen down and in my possession, to the world I show!
Oh Thou, ascended Christ, let me see Thy rising!
Let me peer into Thy gladness, bought by Thy dying!
“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.” – Isaiah 53:10
Oh Thou, in heaven, in glory Thou art!
Thy fame, spread abroad, Thy government did start!
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” – Isaiah 9:6-7
Let me not be a stranger, to Thy good pleasure, (Eph. 1:8-9)
Make me to know the proportion, of my measure. (John 17:21-23)
“Unto all pleasing”, I would be, if I could walk worthily! (Col. 1:9-14)
Thy Name – glorified! – it surely would be,
If the “good pleasure of Thy goodness” doth work in me! (2 Thess. 1:11-12)
“Perfect” I’d be, yea, “in every good work”,
“wellpleasing” to my King as a trophy of His worth! (Heb. 13:20-21)
To be “enlightened”, we wait! (Eph. 1:18) Our powerlessness, we hate! (Eph. 1:19)
Oh God of heaven, lift up Thy countenance abroad,
Thy earthly brothers wait for Thee, oh Thou ascended God!
Oh Thou, ascended Christ, let me see Thy rising!
Let me know the truth I’ve heard, of Thy good tiding.
If I could see Thee go, where Thou hast gone,
And know the verity of Thy heavenly reception.
I would no longer err, or footstep wrong,
But live the life of this my song.
If I could watch Thee, as Elijah did rise,
To know Thy placement high in the skies.
Oh Lord, my soul, emblazoned would be,
Thy mantle falling would rest on me!
Oh Lord, I give my plea, wouldst Thou hear me?
Though we have parted ways,
Though Thou hast gone up for many days,
If I could know Thy blazon eyes,
The armies before Thee, the fiery skies,
If I could see Thee, though we’ve parted ways,
Thy heavenly armies caught up in Thy gaze,
As I stand a-watch, ere long I look,
Lo, Thy mantle would fall, as it is written in Thy Book.
Then, lo! Like Elisha I know! Because I have seen Thee go!
This mantle of Thy ascension, fallen down and in my possession, to the world I show!
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"The Baptism of the Spirit" Series |
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