The Weekly Perspective
by Burke Shade, Associate Pastor
Pastor Joe noted last week that baptismal water and the Holy Spirit always go together (“…unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the KOG…”). That’s something us whole-bible, baby-baptizing people stress to other Christians! We stress it because we believe Jesus has poured out his Spirit on our children (and any person) at baptism, and that covenantally affects how we think and act toward our children: they are Christians filled with the Spirit. So does water and the Spirit go together in the Bible that much?
“And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” — Genesis 1:2
“I will sprinkle clean water on you,..I will put my Spirit within you.” — Ezekiel 36:25
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you…and overshadow you, therefore the child to be born will be called holy…” — Luke 1:35
“…and when Jesus also had been baptized, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, like a dove…” — Luke 3:21–22.
“And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized…and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children…” — Acts 2:38–39.
“And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Phillip away…” — Acts 8:39
“…so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit….then he arose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.” — Acts 9:17–19
“And while Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word…and he commanded
them to be baptized ….” —Acts 10:44, 48
“On hearing this, they were baptized..the Holy Spirit came upon them.” — Acts 19:5–6
“He saved us…by the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5