|
<<previous |
next>> |
|
|
Paris Talks
|
Pages 81-83
|
|
THE TRUE MEANING OF BAPTISM BY WATER AND FIRE
November 9th
| |
1 |
In the Gospel according to St John, Christ has said:
`Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.'
[1]
The
priests have interpreted this into meaning that baptism
is necessary for salvation. In another Gospel it is said:
`He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with
fire'.
[2]
| |
2 |
Thus the water of baptism and the fire are one!
It cannot mean that the `water' spoken of is physical
water, for it is the direct opposite of `fire', and one
destroys the other. When in the Gospels, Christ speaks
of `water', He means that which causes life, for without
water no worldly creature can live--mineral, vegetable,
animal and man, one and all, depend upon water
for their very being. Yes, the latest scientific discoveries
prove to us that even mineral has some form of
life, and that it also needs water for its existence.
| |
3 |
Water is the cause of life, and when Christ speaks
of water, He is symbolizing that which is the cause of
Everlasting Life.
| |
4 |
This life-giving water of which He speaks is like
unto fire, for it is none other than the Love of God,
and this love means life to our souls.
| |
5 |
By the fire of the Love of God the veil is burnt which
separates us from the Heavenly Realities, and with
clear vision we are enabled to struggle onward and
upward, ever progressing in the paths of virtue and
holiness, and becoming the means of light to the
world.
| |
6 |
There is nothing greater or more blessed than the
Love of God! It gives healing to the sick, balm to the
wounded, joy and consolation to the whole world, and
through it alone can man attain Life Everlasting. The
essence of all religions is the Love of God, and it is the
foundation of all the sacred teachings.
| |
7 |
It was the Love of God that led Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, that strengthened Joseph in Egypt and gave to
Moses courage and patience.
| |
8 |
Through the Love of God, Christ was sent into the
world with His inspiring example of a perfect life of
self-sacrifice and devotion, bringing to men the message
of Eternal Life. It was the Love of God that gave
Muhammad power to bring the Arabs from a state of
animal degradation to a loftier state of existence.
| |
9 |
God's Love it was that sustained the Báb and brought
him to his supreme sacrifice, and made his bosom the
willing target for a thousand bullets.
| |
10 |
Finally, it was the Love of God that gave to the
East Bahá'u'lláh, and is now sending the light of His
teaching far into the West, and from Pole to Pole.
| |
11 |
Thus I exhort each of you, realizing its power and
beauty, to sacrifice all your thoughts, words and
actions to bring the knowledge of the Love of God
into every heart.
| |
|
Notes
1. [St John iii, 5.]
2. [St Matthew iii, 11.]
|
|
|
|