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The Holy Spirit  /  The Mission of the Holy Spirit  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 4
Irenaeus ties “the baptism of our rebirth” directly to “these three articles,” and Chuck links that to Matthew 28 and then to Acts 2 and Acts 10 where the Spirit “leads them… to the water.” How does this Spirit ? Son ? Father sequence challenge typical evangelical narratives that separate conversion from baptism or treat baptism as a later symbol rather than part of “rebirth”?
Another way to ask: How does the idea that the Spirit leads people to baptism as part of “rebirth” challenge the common view that baptism is just a later symbol after you’re already saved?

Direct Answer The transcript presents baptism as the moment of “rebirth unto God” involving Father, Son, and Spirit together, not as a later add-on after conversion. Chuck’s Spirit ? Son ? Father sequence—seen in Acts—pushes against narratives that detach baptism from conversion, because he portrays the Spirit actively leading people into faith in Christ and “to the water” as part of salvation’s process.

Support from Transcript:

  • Irenaeus: “the baptism of our rebirth comes through these three articles, granting us rebirth unto God the Father through His Son by the Holy Spirit.”
  • He adds a sequence: Spirit-led people “are led to the Word… the Son… [who]… presents them to the Father.”
  • Chuck connects this to Jesus’ command: baptism “in the name of all three… exactly what Jesus said… Matthew 28.”
  • Chuck cites Acts: Spirit “poured out in Acts chapter 2… leads people through to faith in Christ.”
  • He adds Acts 10: the Spirit comes upon Cornelius’ household and “leads them to faith in Christ and to the water.”
Discussion Follow-ups If the Spirit leads people “to the water,” what does that imply about how we invite new believers to respond? How might this reshape how churches talk about forgiveness and “rebirth”?

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