Complete English translation
ARTICLE_TEXT
Through water baptism, we show our repentance. However, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire, as written in Matthew 3:11, marks our acceptance by God and the process of purifying our lives.
I baptize you with water as a sign of repentance, but the one who comes after me is more powerful from me, and I am not worthy to take off his shoes. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
The journey of faith of believers in general:
1. Live in
Sin
3. Water Baptism
(Repentance)
4. Baptism of the Holy Spirit
(Sealed)
5. Fire Baptism
(Consecrated)
1. Living in sin.
Sin means missing the goal/goal. God's purpose for us is to rule the physical world as a manager representing God, and for that, we must be similar to His image in order to reflect His character.
The analogy, as part of a President's family, we are expected to act with certain standards so as not to embarrass the name of the family. Likewise, when we act in a way that does not reflect the image of God, we are sinning (missing the target).
Reference: Genesis 1:26-28, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 4:22-24.
2. Accept God's truth.
We have a choice, do we believe in God when He says that we commit sins (missing the target)?
If we don't believe in God, then like Adam and Eve who choose to determine good and bad according to their views alone, we rebel against God. However, if we believe in God and repent (metanoia = change of mind), we admit to God that we sin (miss the target) and want to return to what God wants. So, we are said to be in the true relationship with God (true before God).
Reference: Proverbs 3:5-6, Genesis 3:1-6, 1 John 1:9, Isaiah 55:7.
3. Water Baptism (Repentance).
Water baptism is our action to declare that we repent (return to God), and want to let our old selves die and be raised as a new creation in Christ. However, this is the part that is difficult to accept: this is our action, but God can accept or reject our repentance. Why doesn't God accept our repentance? Maybe because our repentance is not sincere, for example, just because of a momentary impulse, wanting to impress someone, because of the pressure from the environment, or we have not really understood the truth of God.
Then, what is the sign that God accepts our repentance? He will baptize us with the Holy Spirit. This means His Spirit (Spirit of Truth) will live in us, side by side with our own spirit.
Reference: Acts of the Apostles 2:38, Romans 6:3-4, Isaiah 29:13, Acts of the Apostles 10:44-48, Ephesians 1:13-14.
4. Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Sealed).
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a sign that we are sealed as God's. When God baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, this is a sign that we are officially sealed as His. The Holy Spirit becomes...
Assurance that we are part of God's family and its inheritance. Being sealed by the Holy Spirit means that God has marked us as His people, and nothing can separate us from His love. The Holy Spirit is a witness in us, guiding and strengthening us on the journey of faith, and guaranteeing our salvation until the day of perfection.
Reference: Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Romans 8:16, Ephesians 4:30.
5. Baptism of Fire (Sanctified).
Baptism by fire means that we will experience a purification process, which we often call sanctification. In this process, we are "purified" to be more similar to the image and character of Allah. This process also makes our hearts more sensitive to sin. Imagine God's word like a safety fence that keeps us from deviating to the left or to the right but keeps walking forward on the goal/target.
In the early stages of sanctification, the safety fence may still be wide. But, along with the purification of the heart by God and increasing sensitivity, we, the safety fence, is getting narrower, directing us more precisely to the goal, which is to be like Christ.
This purification process is not always easy, but the result is our character that is increasingly resembling Christ, and we are getting closer to God's will. This fire of sanctification makes us stronger in faith and more in harmony with God's truth.
Reference: Matthew 3:11, 1 Peter 1:6-7, Malachi 3:2-3, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 8:29, John 16:8, Hebrews 12:10-11.
How do we know that God has accepted our repentance and given the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Do self-introspection by using the following list:
* Character change (spirit fruit) Galatians 5:22-23 * Peace in the heart that we belong to God Romans 5:1, Romans 8 * The desire to live a holy and obedient life * Sensitive to the awareness of sin
Romans 8:5-6
John 16:8
* Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:7
* Guidance & guidance of the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:14
* Love for God and others
1 John 4:7-8