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What is the difference between the baptism of John and the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

John 3:26-30 (NIV) “They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, that man [Jesus] who was with you on the other side of the Jordan - the one you testified about - look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.’ To this John replied, ‘A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.’”

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John the Baptist was the last prophetic forerunner of Jesus Christ. He prepared the coming of the Messiah by preaching to the crowds on repentance and baptizing them in the Jordan River. Upon the arrival of Christ, he submits to Jesus and tells his disciples, “He must increase; I must decrease.”

John the Baptist, as the last prophet of the Law, was the herald of the coming kingdom of heaven (Matthew 3:1; Luke 16:16). The focus of his teaching was repentance - the spiritual turning away from sin and ignorance and towards the living God. The fiery nature of John’s prophetic ministry pitted him against the entrenched religious-political system of the time (Matthew 3:7-8; Matthew 14:3).

When John told his disciples, “He must become greater; I must become less,” he was not just speaking about his personal ministry, but what his ministry embodied. Soon, mankind’s ability to connect with God would no longer depend on mere repentance and obedience to the Law, but on God’s grace and His empowering presence. It is for this reason that John states the following:

Matthew 3:11 (NIV) “‘‘I [John] baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful that I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.’”

Christ’s baptism - the baptism of the Holy Spirit - is a much greater baptism than John’s baptism of repentance. The baptism of repentance is merely turning from dead works. The baptism of the Holy Spirit (which certainly begins at repentance) is the conscious immersion into God’s presence and power. A greater reality, embodied in Christ, is now at hand (Matthew 3:2; Luke 9:2; Matthew 10:7).

Interestingly enough, Jesus comes to John in order to be baptized. John resists but Jesus tells him, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). John then consents and baptizes Jesus. Upon doing so, heaven is opened and the Spirit of God descends on Jesus. A voice sounds from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV) “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Jesus submits Himself to the baptism of John in order to reveal that He is the fulfillment of the Law. This fulfillment meant that Jesus embodied and would soon set aside the rules and regulations that prevented mankind from entering into the very presence of God (Matthew 5:17; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14). Because Jesus set aside these rules and regulations, humanity can now enter into God’s presence as glorified sons and daughters (Romans 8:30). Our moment of repentance rips open heaven and allows the flow of glory in and through our lives.

There is metaphoric significance in John the Baptist’s ministry, both for us as individuals and a corporate body. Our relationship with God only begins with our repentance. We have been immersed into the presence of God Himself, having obtained union with Him through Christ (Colossians 3:3; Ephesians 2:5-6; 1 Corinthians 6:17). Our repentance (the baptism of John) allows us to see God’s face, but the baptism of the Holy Spirit allows us to live in an experience of heaven (God’s reality) on earth. As we abide in His presence, our ability to perceive God’s reality increases, and our spiritual blindness decreases. We wake up to the God who is in all and through all things (Colossians 1:17).

There is an all-encompassing spiritual realignment happening in the corporate Body of Christ. Our understanding of the Word of God is maturing.. We are evolving from a Church preoccupied with repentance and sin to a Church driven by Presence. Our corporate experience of God no longer remains fixed at baptism of John (mere repentance and obedience). Through the Holy Spirit, we are exploring the depths of God’s love and grace. Today, ministry expressions that focus solely on repentance are decreasing in number while others that embody the fullness of God’s kingdom increase.

A quick look at the book of Acts reveals that this is perhaps God’s overarching intention for His Bride as we grow in intimacy with Him:

Acts 18:24 (NIV) “Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John…When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.”

Acts 19:1-6 (NIV) “While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ So Paul asked, ‘Then what baptism did you receive?’ ‘John’s baptism,’ they replied. Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.”

The case from the above passages is that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a superior reality and a distinguishing trademark of the kingdom of God. What incredible access we have to the depths of God’s heart! It is the glory that comes with the baptism of the Holy Spirit that allows Jesus Himself to say the following:

Matthew 10:11 (NIV) “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”