Man cannot free himself from the onslaught of vain and
selfish desires save through the confirming grace of the Holy Spirit. That is
why it is said that baptism must be with the spirit, with water, and with fire—that
is, with the spirit of divine grace, the water of knowledge and life, and the
fire of the love of God. It is with this spirit, this water, and this fire that
man must be baptized, that he may partake of everlasting grace. For otherwise,
of what avail is it to be baptized with material water? No, this baptism with
water was a symbol of repentance and of seeking remission of sins.
But in the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh this symbol is no
longer required, for its reality, which is to be baptized with the spirit and
the love of God, has been established and realized.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Table talks
in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014
revised translation by the Baha’i World Centre)
