esired that this institution of John should be used at that
time by all, He Himself conformed to it in order to awaken the people and
to complete the law of the former religion. Although the ablution of
repentance was the institution of John, it was in reality formerly
practiced in the religion of God.

Christ was not in need of baptism; but as at that time it was an
acceptable and praiseworthy action, and a sign of the glad tidings of the
Kingdom, therefore, He confirmed it. However, afterward He said the true
baptism is not with material water, but it must be with spirit and with
water. In this case water does not signify material water, for elsewhere
it is explicitly said baptism is with spirit and with fire, from which it
is clear that the reference is not to material fire and material water,
for baptism with fire is impossible.

Therefore, the spirit is the bounty of God, the water is knowledge and
life, and the fire is the love of God. For material water does not purify
the heart of man; no, it cleanses his body. But the heavenly water and
spirit, which are knowledge and life, make the human heart good and pure;
the heart which receives a portion of the bounty of the Spirit becomes
sanctified, good and pure--that is to say, the reality of man becomes
purified and sanctified from the impurities of the world of nature. These
natural impurities are evil qualities: anger, lust, worldliness, pride,
lying, hypocrisy, fraud, self-love, etc.

Man cannot free himself from the rage of the carnal passions except by the
help of the Holy Spirit. That is why He 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 Baha'u'llah 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.

20: THE NECESSITY OF BAPTISM

Question.--Is the ablution of baptism useful and necessary, or is it
useless and unnecessary? In the first case, if it is useful, why was it
abrogated? And in the second case, if it is usele