Two Chosen Vessels
God chooses individuals for specific roles based on their preparation and qualifications, and Baptism in the Spirit is the important baptism for the Church age.
G.W. North emphasizes the distinct paths of Peter and Paul in their ministries, illustrating how their unique backgrounds shaped their understanding and approach to preaching the Gospel. Peter, rooted in Jewish tradition, struggled to fully embrace the new covenant, while Paul, with his liberal upbringing, quickly recognized the significance of the Gospel for the Gentiles. North argues that God's choice of Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles was intentional, as it aligned with His purpose for the early Church. He highlights the importance of spiritual baptism over water baptism, asserting that God's desire is for believers to be immersed in the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, North calls for a deeper understanding of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church.
Text
It is profoundly true that if a man be promoted to public preaching, his own personal experience will affect his whole ministry of the things of God to others. Peter, the apostle to the Circumcision, came to Christ in a totally different way from Paul, and entered into understanding of the things of Christ in the reverse order from Paul, the apostle to the Uncircumcision. These men were complete opposites, each destined to play a vital role in the founding and raising up of the early Church.
From a reading of the New Testament it seems that Peter could never quite break free from his Jewish heredity and traditional background. On the other hand Paul instantly saw and counted all Jewish traditionalism to be but loss. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why God, in His foreknowledge, chose Paul to be the apostle to the Gentiles; his more liberal background of training in Tarsus was better preparation for his later ministry than the fishing grounds of orthodox Galilee, where Peter had spent his days.
This indeed could quite easily have been the reason, and if so it is not without precedent in the history of the Jews. The patriarch Joseph, for instance, spent years of preparatory training in a foreign land before he was allowed of God to minister to His people in Egypt. But however true that may be, it is at least observable from scripture that upon occasions Paul refrained from baptising people in water, but evidently insisted that everyone to whom he ministered must experience the reality of which it is but a representation.
The Purpose of God
Accepting the indisputable truth of the evidence as facts, it emerges that:
(1) it is God's greatest desire to baptise people in the Holy Ghost, and
(2) if the ratio be adhered to, then obviously God regards speedy Baptism in the Spirit to be of far more importance than hasty baptism in water, for the differential is markedly two to one in favour of Baptism in the Spirit;
(3) since God means what He records in scripture, then the important baptism for the Church age is that which immerses the spirits of men in the Spirit of God.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction
- A. Personal experience affects ministry
- B. Peter and Paul's differing backgrounds
- II. Peter's Background
- A. Jewish heredity and traditional background
- B. Preparation for ministry in Galilee
- III. Paul's Background
- A. Liberal background of training in Tarsus
- B. Preparation for ministry to Gentiles
- IV. The Purpose of God
- A. Desire to baptise in the Holy Ghost
- B. Importance of Baptism in the Spirit
Key Quotes
“God means what He records in scripture, then the important baptism for the Church age is that which immerses the spirits of men in the Spirit of God.” — G.W. North
“It is profoundly true that if a man be promoted to public preaching, his own personal experience will affect his whole ministry of the things of God to others.” — G.W. North
Application Points
- We should be aware of how our personal experiences and backgrounds may affect our ministry and relationships with others.
- God desires to baptise people in the Holy Ghost, and we should prioritize Baptism in the Spirit in our lives and ministries.
- Our qualifications and preparation can determine our effectiveness in ministry, and we should strive to develop the necessary skills and character for our roles.