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)
