This Is the Spirit's Entry Now

“This Is the Spirit’s Entry Now” is a baptismal hymn written by Thomas E. Herbranson, a Lutheran pastor and hymn writer. The hymn focuses on the meaning and significance of baptism as the work of the Holy Spirit, marking the believer’s entrance into the life of faith and the community of Christ.

The hymn reflects the command of Christ in Matthew 28:19–20, where He instructs His disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is presented as an act of obedience to Christ’s command and a sign of belonging to Him.

Another key theme is repentance and the promise of forgiveness found in Acts 2:38, where Peter calls people to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. The hymn emphasizes that baptism is not merely symbolic but a means through which God grants grace and new life.

The message also connects with Romans 6:3–5, which teaches that believers are baptized into Christ’s death and raised to walk in newness of life. The hymn reflects this union with Christ, highlighting both the dying to sin and the rising to a new life of righteousness.

Additionally, the hymn draws on Titus 3:5–6, which speaks of the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This reinforces the understanding of baptism as a work of God’s mercy, not human effort, bringing spiritual rebirth and transformation.

“This Is the Spirit’s Entry Now” continues to be used in baptismal services, celebrating the beginning of the Christian life. Through its message, the hymn encourages believers to rejoice in God’s grace, recognizing baptism as the Spirit’s work of bringing them into faith and into the family of God.