THE BAPTISMS OF JOHN, JESUS,& THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Acts of the Apostles Part 20
The Teaching Ministry of Rick Trice
November 6, 2005
Trinity Fellowship
Acts 18:24-19:7
PAUL RETURNS TO
Prior to this passage, Paul has left
Now this is interesting from the point of view that, even though Paul himself later wrote that traditions will not save you, some traditions, when observed as a genuine act of worship of the lord, are important. The fact that you’re here this morning in church could be a useless tradition, if you are merely here because you think your “supposed to.” Or, it could be a valuable tradition for you if you are here as part of your desire to worship your lord.
Now, in verse 22, Paul has rested, and worshipped, and greeted his brothers and sisters in Christ at his home church in
APOLLOS Now during this time that Paul is back home, a Jew name Apollo’s from Alexandria, a student of scripture, a follower of john the Baptist, and a devout man, has been preaching that scripture revealed to him that Jesus is the Christ; the messiah. Such is the power of god’s word!
Apollos may have also been one of the thousands of people who encountered Jesus when he walked the earth. (we aren’t told, but I say that because of his acquaintance with john the Baptist and his knowledge of Jesus). But Apollos has a gap in his experience, and Priscilla and aquiline take him aside to explain some additional truths to him.
BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE(V19:1 ff) So what is the additional information given to Apollos? I believe it is revealed in this next passage.
Apollos had just come from Ephesus, and he goes on to Corinth, about the time Paul returns to Ephesus, and finds these disciples who have a belief in Jesus, but also have a gap in their full knowledge of their relationship with God. That is, that the power of the holy spirit has not been unleashed into their lives. I believe these 12 men are converts who responded to the teachings of apollos, regarding the redemption of Christ. But that since apollos was missing a key element, so were they.
Let’s look at the timeline: If you had been baptized into John the Baptist’s message of repentance, this was a good thing. But even John the Baptist warned that there was someone coming greater than he (i.e. Jesus). Then, when Jesus was executed for our sins, and rose from the grave, he walked the earth for several weeks. And his followers wanted him to stay, but he told them “I have to leave to heaven so that another comforter can come.”
And as he leaves, he tells them to “go into all the world, teach what I have taught, and baptize into the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. “ So he ascends, and the holy spirit descends on the day of Pentecost.
Now, was Apollos saved? Most certainly. He was described as a repentant righteous man who preached Jesus. But he, and any that he had preached Jesus to, had no knowledge of the coming of the holy spirit.
BAPTISM OF JESUS
Now, I’m going to say something that may rub against someone’s understanding here today, but there are many followers of Jesus today who have no knowledge of the holy spirit. After looking at this for a long time, I am convinced there are many experiences one can have with Jesus:
*you can listen to the gospel, and nod, and think “yes, I think that’s probably the truth.” And never go any further in your relationship.
*you can respond to the gospel, and receive Jesus into your very life and accept his death for payment for your sins; and then not go any further with it.
*you can go on and get yourself discipled, and get into god’s word and start applying scripture to your life, and start seeing some amazing things happen in your life; but then, not go any further with it.
*you can be baptized into the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit, in obedience to Jesus’ command.
*you can receive the holy spirit and receive the full abundance of power and life that god intends for you.
Practically at any point in the above experiences, you can receive the Holy Spirit. I know people who received the holy spirit at the time they were saved; people that received him when they were baptized; people that received him later on.
(read 19:5-6) They had repented, they had professed Jesus as the messiah, and they had been saved. But no one had laid hands on them through the baptism of Jesus, or to receive the holy spirit! Now, keep in mind, we’re not talking about salvation! Salvation has occurred with these people. They just aren’t able to live their lives powerfully.
(read Ephesians 1:13-14)
top