True freedom comes from humbling ourselves before God, recognizing His power over judgment and mercy. The lessons from plagues on Egypt in Exodus 10–11, the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world” in John 1 and the end-times redemption of Egypt in Isaiah 19–20 invite us to leave darkness behind, trust the Creator over worldly powers, and embrace the transformative journey from bondage to new life. It’s an invitation to reflect, turn to our Savior and walk in His light.
The phrase similar to “baptism for repentance for forgiveness of sin” is repeated several times in the Gospels and by Peter in the temple on Shavu’ot (Pentecost). This is not a “warm and fuzzy” message we receive from Yokhanan (John the Baptist). However this isn’t God’s way of finding people inconvenient but a call to true repentance and to become true sons of God.
Paul went from Corinth in Greece to Ephesus in modern-day Turkey. In Ephesus, Priscilla, Aquilla and he met Apollos of Alexander, a biblically strong speaker and debater. Apollos becomes a power preacher about the Messiah, and with the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” he and 11 other believers there become complete. In this story we explore the meanings of “baptism of Yokhanan” and “baptism of the Spirit.”