Neither the gift of grace or of the Spirit do keep any from baptism.

BAPTISM (6)

Neither the gift of grace or of the Spirit do keep any from baptism.

That no measure of grace or of the gift of the Spirit are a sufficient reason to keep any from baptism may plainly be seen if you,

1. Consider, that baptism is from heaven, as you see in Matthew 21.25. Now what should keep us from obeying a heavenly command?

2. Consider, that the Lord Jesus had all grace and the Spirit without measure, as in John 3.24, and yet He was baptized in the River Jordan as you may see in Matthew 3.14-15. Is not Christ a good pattern for believers to follow?

3. Consider, that God has nowhere limited baptism to people having little grace, or little of the Spirit. No, on the contrary, has not God promised His Spirit that you may keep His ordinances and do them? “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” Ezekiel 11.19-20.

4. Consider, the Apostle makes receiving the Spirit an argument to encourage baptism. “Can any man forbid water, that these should be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” Acts 10.47. Now if you notice, these were baptized with the Spirit so that they spoke with tongues and prophesied; it was a great gift to prophesy and speak with tongues; such a measure of the Spirit is not enjoyed in our days, yet “he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” Acts 10.48.