September 22, 2013

Man needs the assistance of the Holy Spirit to “free himself from the rage of the carnal passions” and become “filled with the eternal bounty”

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’)