In John 3:1-6, Jesus emphasizes the reality and importance of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Here’s why! (Includes Terry Modica’s personal testimony.)
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Video Excerpt:
In John 3:1-6 we read about a Pharisee named Nicodemus. He was a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi we know that you are a teacher who has come from God for no one can do these signs (the miracles) that you are doing unless God is with him. Jesus answered him and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you”, and whenever Jesus says, “Amen, amen, I say to you,” he is saying, “Everything that I say to you is true, but this I want you to pay special close attention to. This rises above other truths as important to know, embrace and live by.”
Jesus says, “Amen, amen, I say to you”, not just to Nicodemus, but to you my friend. “No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”…
Notice that Jesus is separating the water Baptism from the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. He’s not combining them as one event. Yes, we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit as well as God the Father and Jesus the Son when we are baptized with water, but it is not one event that turns the power of God on in our lives. It is not one event that helps us live the holy life…. It is when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, if when we are born again of the Spirit that our lives change and dramatically.
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