My Journey to Life, Step 16—Baptism

10. Do we receive the Holy Spirit at our baptism, as Jesus did?

A dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit alighted on Jesus at His baptism. The dove represented a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit that anointed Jesus for the mission God had assigned Him. His experience demonstrates that water baptism and Spirit baptism belong together. A baptism void of the reception of the Spirit of God is incomplete. JTL16 12.1

Today, when we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we are also dedicated to the task of spreading the gospel, first to our family and friends, then wherever the Spirit provides opportunity. JTL16 12.2

The Holy Spirit prepares us for this ministry by purifying our hearts from sin and then helping us identify our spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are talents and aptitudes that enable the believer to serve the church and witness to those who have not yet accepted Christ. These gifts conferred by the Spirit on the baptized believer builds up the body so that it may reach “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13). JTL16 12.3