Man cannot free himself from the rage of the carnal passions
except by the help of the Holy Spirit. That is why He[Christ] says baptism with
the spirit, with water and with fire is necessary, and that it is
essential—that is to say, the spirit of divine bounty, the water of knowledge
and life, and the fire of the love of God. Man must be baptized with this
spirit, this water and this fire so as to become filled with the eternal
bounty. Otherwise, what is the use of baptizing with material water? No, this
baptism with water was a symbol of repentance, and of seeking forgiveness of
sins.
But in the cycle of Bahá’u’lláh there is no longer need of
this symbol; for its reality, which is to be baptized with the spirit and love
of God, is understood and established. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Some Answered Questions’)
