Matthew 3:11

DISCOURSE: 1283
THE BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT

Matthew 3:11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

IT is ignorantly imagined, that they who are most enlightened with the knowledge of Christ, and are most zealous in bringing others to an acquaintance with him, must of necessity be puffed up with pride, and be filled with a high conceit of their superiority to others. But none ever surpassed the Apostle Paul either in zeal or knowledge; yet none ever manifested more deep humility, since language could not even afford him words whereby sufficiently to express the low sense he had of himself before God: he calls himself “less than the least of all saints.” Another eminent example of humility is exhibited in the conduct of John the Baptist, who, though faithful in the highest degree as a preacher of righteousness, never sought his own glory, but invariably directed the eyes of his followers to Christ, in comparison of whom he accounted himself unworthy of the smallest regard. His expressions before us lead us to consider,

I. The transcendent dignity of Christ—

Christ, in a civil view, was not at all superior to John, yea, perhaps inferior, inasmuch as the son of a carpenter might be reckoned inferior in rank to the son of a priest: nevertheless he was, in other points of view, infinitely superior:

1. In his person—

[The person of John might well be considered as dignified in no common degree. He was the subject of prophecy many hundred years before he came into the world [Note: Isaiah 40:3.Malachi 3:1.]: his formation in the womb was announced by an angel from heaven, and that too at a period when his parents, according to the common course of nature, could entertain no hope of having any progeny. He was filled with the Holy Ghost even from his very birth; and was ushered into the world with the restoration of prophecy, after that gift had been withdrawn from the church almost four hundred years. But in all these respects Christ was far greater than he: Christ had been the subject of prophecy from the very foundation of the world: his work and offices had been exhibited to the world in numberless types and prophecies during the space of four thousand years. His body was formed, not merely in a preternatural, but in a supernatural way, by the immediate agency of the Holy Ghost, who created it in the womb of a virgin; by which means he was not merely holy, but spotless, without the smallest taint of that corruption, which every child of Adam inherits. Without noticing the songs with which the heavenly choir celebrated the tidings of his birth, or any of those miraculous circumstances which pointed him out to the Eastern Magi, we see already how far superior he was to John, even in those things wherein John surpassed all other men.

But what must we say, when to this we add, that he was God, “God manifest in the flesh,” “God over all, blessed for ever?” Then all comparison must cease: and the expressions used by John, instead of appearing exaggerated, will be acknowledged to be infinitely below the truth: though the loosing of the sandals, and carrying them to the bath, was deemed too mean an employment for a Hebrew servant, or for any but a slave [Note: See Gill on the place.], yet John accounted it far too high an honour for him to render such a service to that glorious person, whose advent he announced.]

2. In his office—

[John was a prophet of the most high God, yea, “more than a prophet.” He had the distinguished honour of being the forerunner of the Messiah, who should prepare his way, and point him out to the people, being himself divinely instructed how to distinguish him from all others who should attend his ministrations. Hence our Lord himself declares respecting him, that there “never had been a greater person born of woman than John the Baptist;” but glorious as he was, Jesus far excelled him in glory. Jesus was the great prophet, to whom Moses and all the prophets gave testimony, and to whose directions all were commanded to submit. He was the Messiah himself, the very “Lamb of God that was to take away the sins of the world,” of whom “John himself needed to be baptized,” and by whom alone John himself could be saved. Surely then the words of John respecting him were not an unmeaning hyperbole, the offspring of affectation and the footstool of vanity, but they were the words of truth and soberness; for though John was like the morning star, yet he was altogether eclipsed as soon as ever the Sun of Righteousness arose.]

The superiority of Jesus will still further appear while we consider,

II.

The baptism he administered—

Jesus never administered the baptism of water to any: but to him was committed the work of baptizing with the Holy Ghost—
[Though the Church had from the beginning received, in some measure, the communications of God’s Spirit, yet, “till Christ was glorified, the Holy Ghost was not given” in a very genera or abundant manner: it was reserved for Christ to send him down, in order that, through the Spirit’s testimony, his own divine mission might be established beyond a possibility of doubt. Accordingly, a few days after his ascension, he fulfilled his promise, and sent down the Spirit upon his waiting disciples, causing it to rest upon them visibly, in the shape of cloven tongues of fire. And when, on another occasion, he poured out the Spirit upon Cornelius and his company, Peter particularly called to mind this declaration, which John the Baptist had made to the infant Church, and acknowledged it to be a glorious completion of his prophecy [Note: Acts 11:16.]

This baptism infinitely surpassed that of John—
[John baptized with water those who were penitent, testifying to them that they should believe on him who was to come after him [Note: Acts 19:4.]: but Jesus, by the baptism which he administers, makes men both penitent and believing. John, in applying water to the body, even if he had immersed his followers ten thousand times, could do no more than cleanse the outward body; he could not reach the mind; he could not affect the soul; he could not in any degree change the character of his disciples. But the Spirit, with which Jesus baptized, acted with the powerful energy of “fire.” This was no sooner poured out than it penetrated the inmost recesses of the soul, and, like a furnace, purged away the dross which was there concealed. What a change it effected in the characters of men may be seen by its operations on the day of Pentecost: how was the lion instantly transformed into a lamb! and how did the noxious qualities, which had so lately rendered men like incarnate fiends, immediately subside and disappear! And such are the effects which it invariably produces wheresoever it is bestowed.]

Infer—
1.

How awfully are they mistaken who rest in the outward form of baptism!

[I would on no account depreciate baptism, or detract in the least from its importance. It is necessary for all who embrace the faith of Christ: and is replete with blessings to all who receive it aright. Even the outward ministration of it gives us a title to the blessings of the Christian covenant, exactly as circumcision gave to the Jews a title to “the adoption” of sons, and to “the promises” which God had made to his people [Note: Romans 9:4.]. But if we receive it not aright, we are still, like Simon Magus, “in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity [Note: Acts 8:13; Acts 8:18.].” To receive any saving benefit (for, if it be rightly received, “baptism does save us [Note: 1 Peter 3:21.]”) we must have not only the sign, but the thing signified, a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness; or, in other words, we must be “baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” For the truth of this I will even appeal to the consciences of the ungodly themselves. Who does not feel at times that he needs somewhat more than he has ever yet received, in order to fit him for death and judgment? There is in every man at times, I say, this conviction: and this which is so wanted, is the very gift which Christ alone can bestow, namely, the baptism of the Spirit, as contrasted with, and superadded to, the baptism of water: it is “the renewing of the Holy Ghost” superadded to “the washing of regeneration [Note: Titus 3:5.].” If we have received this spiritual baptism, it will infallibly discover itself by its effects upon our heart and life. “As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ [Note: Galatians 3:27.],” seeking daily to be clothed with his righteousness, and to be transformed into his image. So also, if we have been “baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body,” with the holy Apostles and the primitive saints, we shall have been “made to drink into one spirit with them [Note: 1 Corinthians 12:13.].” “Now it is easy to see whether such a change have been wrought upon our heart and life, by our being altogether like-minded with them: and I wish you all to judge yourselves, that you may not be judged of the Lord.”

It is easy to put this off with a sneer: but we cannot change that declaration of God, that, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his [Note: Romans 8:9.];” or that, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God [Note: John 3:5.]: and, if we will brave those explicit declarations, we shall find ere long, “whose word shall stand, whether ours or God’s.”]

2. What rich encouragement does the Gospel afford to drooping contrite souls!

[It is by the Gospel that Christ communicates this blessing to mankind. See this exemplified in the instance of Cornelius. Peter, in preaching to him, said, “To Christ give all the prophets witness, that whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Then we are told, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word [Note: Acts 10:43.].” Now to you also do I make the same blessed declaration, that “all who believe in Christ shall be justified from all things.” O that God might bear the same testimony to it at this time, by sending to you the Holy Ghost in rich abundance! What joy that event would occasion, you may see in the effect produced on all the college of Apostles at Jerusalem, at the recital of it in reference to Cornelius: “They glorified God, saying, Then hath God unto the Gentiles granted repentance unto life [Note: Acts 11:15.].” Yes, my dear brethren, “Repentance,” “repentance unto life,” would infallibly accompany the gift of the Holy Spirit to your souls. And is not that worth seeking? You are sure to repent sooner or later: and how much better is it to repent on earth, than to repent in hell; to have “repentance unto life,” than “repentance that shall be eternally to be repented of!” Go then to the Lord Jesus for this heavenly baptism. The baptism of water you are to receive but once: bat the baptism of the Spirit you are to be receiving every day and hour. St. Paul speaks of “supplies of the Spirit of Jesus Christ [Note: Philippians 1:19.],” which you are to be continually receiving: and it is the very office of Christ to impart them to you. The Lord grant, that you may all now “be filled with the Spirit [Note: Ephesians 5:19.],” and that, having him poured out abundantly upon you, you may possess also, in the richest abundance, all his attendant blessings both of grace and glory [Note: Titus 3:6.]!