BOG: The Baptism of the Spirit

​Thoughts on Davidic Kingship.

Last week we considered the Baptism of Fire and saw that it is a test of loyalty/a trial of faith.  This week we’ll move onto our next concept under being Born of God - the Baptism of the Spirit.  In the scriptures, we see these two concepts spoken together - the Baptism of Fire and the Spirit - Matt. 3:11. Once a person commits to living the Law and then grows in living by the truth of the Spirit, at some point a person becomes so filled with the Spirit that they are no longer influenced by their carnal nature.  They literally become a new creation of the Holy Spirit.​

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The Process of Perfection
Our Process of Perfection looks like this:

                                                                     Individual Salvation
                                                                             Born Again
​                                                       (Redemption / Sanctification)
          Born of the Blood / Born of the Water > Keeps the Commandments > Born of God/Spirit

                                                                       Married Exaltation
                                                                     Going Onto Perfection
                           Becoming Perfect > Reaches the Full Stature of Messiah > Sees God the Son

The Baptism of the Spirit
In a previous post, we saw that following the Light of Messiah, our conscience, led us to the Law, and that by living the Law, which is God’s truth brought us to the Spirit. As a person continues to seek and obtain knowledge and live all truth through the Spirit, they become so filled with the Spirit and live by the Spirit in all that they do that they are purged of their fallen and carnal nature. This state of being purged of one’s carnal nature is the end result of the Baptism of the Spirit. So this process looks like this.​

-	Baptism of the Spirit

Following the Light of Messiah ​>

Living the Law ​>

Growing in Truth and Spirit ​>

Receiving and Living a Fullness of Truth through the Spirit ​>

Purged of Carnal Nature

Purging of One’s Carnal Nature
In the scripture, we see this concept of living the truth and being filled with the Spirit that we are changed from our carnal nature to a state of righteousness, putting off the natural man and becoming a saint, to have a full purity of heart and righteous actions and no longer sin and are purged of our fallen and carnal nature. John wrote,

“Whosoever is born of God doth not continue in sin; for the Spirit of God remaineth in him, and he cannot continue in sin because he is born of God, having received that holy Spirit of promise.” 
​1 John 3:9 


The Process of Perfection and Sin
A primary theme of the Process of Perfection is a graduated series of steps of overcoming sin to achieve perfection.  When we accepted Yeshua as the Savior of Humanity, we received Redemption from Universal Sin (Adam and Eve’s transgression) and agreed to live God’s basic law.  When we are Sanctified and commit to living the Laws of Sanctification in the Torah and are Baptized of the Spirit, we overcome Personal Sin.  And finally, when we commit to living the Higher Law of Exaltation, we overcome the behaviors of Inherited Sin.  So this is what our summary looks here.​​

The Process of Perfection	Categories of Sin
Redemption	Universal Sin
Sanctification	Personal Sin
Exaltation	Inherited Sin

Dr. Gileadi explains, "Those who reach this second level of blessedness (Exaltation) are freed from iniquity (Inherited Sin) as well as sin (Personal Sin). While we often lump "sins and iniquities" together as though they are the same thing, there is a significant difference between the two. Those on the Zion/Jerusalem level, for example, receive God's forgiveness of their sins (Personal Sin) but must still overcome their iniquities (Inherited Sin)." (Isaiah Decoded, p.173)


A Confirmation from the Spirit
In our next post, we'll consider a tangible manifestation from the Spirit that confirms we have attained the state of being Born of God.  This manifestation attests to the recipient that they have overcome personal sin, have become a new creation of the Spirit and are Born of God.

Notice:  My next post will be in two weeks as I will be observing Shavuot next week.