- Crosswalk the Devotional - January 6, 20 Prayers to Keep God First in the New Year, When the Resolutions Fail - New Year Devotional - January 7, 32 Uplifting Quotes for When Your Spirits Are in Their Darkest Valley, 5 Things a Wife Really Needs (But Doesn’t Know How to Ask For), Why We Need to Look to God after National Calamity, 5 Things Christians Should Know about QAnon. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Written by Joseph Ho, 3rd June 2015 The true acceptance as sons and daughters of God is through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. That’s my basic premise, which would avoid a lot of confusion if people bought this. Pentecostals, however, tend to take a different approach. When a person “asks Jesus into their heart,” to use a colloquialism, the Holy Spirit indwells that person. Note that the first question asked linked together the Holy Spirit and baptism. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?” (1 Corinthians 12:16-17), Just because a person lacks one gifting (for example, speaking in tongues) does not mean they have not been gifted with the Spirit. Mark 1:8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Two Different Uses. So it’s an empowering for global Christ-exalting effectiveness. It’s the covenant promise of prophetic power: you’re going to speak with extraordinary power. By James M. Rochford. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Note again that this passage distinguishes water baptism from Holy Spirit baptism, though the same people received both (10:47f). Jesus pointed to a day when the disciples would experience an outpouring of the Holy Spirit unlike anything they had known up until that moment. Evangelicals point to verses such as 1 Corinthians 12:13 as evidence that all believers experience this baptism. A study of Acts 1:3-8 shows the following points about Holy Spirit baptism: It was promised to only a few; it was never a command, but a promise. Therefore, all the references to the baptism with the Holy Spirit before the Day of Pentecost are prophetic in nature. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was predicted by John the Baptist in Luke 3:16: “I baptize you with water. It is the “evidential sign that such a baptism had indeed taken place.”6 The Spirit came on them after the laying of the hands (Romans 8). Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a free gift from God and does not come with all the hoops to jump through that you have added. Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. This baptism of the Holy Spirit was only possible because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, thus cleansing the believer of sin. “And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. I think it would be a mistake to limit baptism in, by, or with the Holy Spirit to a single second event after conversion. One of the most commonly confusing topics for Christians is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In other words, it’s conversion. They are two separate baptisms. My understanding of baptism with the Holy Spirit is that Paul uses a form of this phrase to refer to what happens at the new birth. You will receive extraordinary power for Christ-exalting ministry. Holy Spirit baptism is the winnowing fork, separating the wheat and the chaff. Do all interpret?” (1 Corinthians 12:29-30, emphasis mine). (Galatians 5:22) What a wonderful thought and promise! In Acts 2:38 Peter says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. If somebody is really seeking and wants Holy Spirit baptism, Jesus IS NOT GOING TO GIVE THEM A SNAKE. It’s part of Christian experience. That is to say, the Holy Spirit dwells in Jesus’ human nature from the beginning. Alyssa Roat studied writing, theology, and the Bible at Taylor University. Notice that when the baptism with the Spirit happens in Acts 2:4, Luke says, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” The effect of that filling was a powerful and even miraculous testimony to the truth of Christ that resulted in 3,000 people being converted (Acts 2:41). The element in Holy Spirit baptism is, of course, the Holy Spirit. Can you explain what the Bible means by the ‘baptism of the Spirit’ as it relates to both (1) our initial salvation experience, and then (2) whether or not we are to expect or seek after subsequent baptisms of the Spirit later in the Christian life?”. The baptism of the Spirit is an “immersion of the Spirit.” When you are baptized with the Holy Spirit, you will receive strength, power and boldness from God to accomplish your work and overcome sin in your own life. I think Luke sees the apostles as genuine born-again believers before this promised baptism happens to them. The Holy Spirit comes to do a new work in equipping Jesus for his public ministry, according to Luke 4:18–19. The Greek word for baptism—baptizo—means “to dip” or “to immerse.” This points to the traditional act of baptism, the immersion in water. He is the one who baptizes those who are destined to be God’s children. So while water baptism is important, baptism of the Holy Spirit is the true marker of saving faith. Evangelicals also disagree with Pentecostals on the necessity of speaking in tongues. I need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”. “Hello, Pastor John! John Piper joins me over the phone for today’s question, an important one. I’m not arguing that there’s any conflict. The Holy Spirit is Received at Baptism Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is not to be repeated . It is considered an event in which the Christian receives the Spirit’s power in a new way, enabling them to more readily partake in miracles and spiritual gifts. “Are all apostles?” Paul asks. Speaking of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, John the Baptist preaches that Jesus “will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Luke 3:16). That’s the language of Luke 24:49, where he tells them, “Wait in Jerusalem till you are clothed with power from on high.”. (1 Corinthians 12:12–13). All rights reserved. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Jesus floods us with the Holy Spirit. They use the same phrase in different ways. There. Article Images Copyright ©. They’re right to say that to have the Holy Spirit is to have a reality that one experiences. I say, “O God, I need a fresh baptism. Spiritual Growth and Christian Living Resources, 7 Toxic Attitudes to Let Go of This New Year, 3 Powerful Prayers for Coronavirus - For Those Sick and Those Worried, Prayers for Healing America and Turning to God, A Mathful God? Is it different...a second baptism? He’s saying, “When you receive the Holy Spirit, you will have power so that you can be my witnesses to the end of the world.” That’s the immediate description of what’s going to happen if you wait for the baptism. Baptism in the Holy Spirit: The Issue of Separability and Subsequence. It was never offered to all people but only to a few. When a person is immersed in water and then brought up again, it symbolizes that Christ died and was buried (the submersion) and then rose again (rising from the water). That’s the kind of thing that I think Jesus was saying: “I want you to know this experience as you head out to evangelize the world.” Let me give four quick bullet points of reasons why I think Luke and Jesus used the term that way. They’re right to say that to have the Holy Spirit is to have a reality that one experiences. Now, that experience may come in an unusual, decisive experience after conversion — a day, a week, a year, or a minute — followed by subsequent outpourings or fillings or baptisms of the Spirit periodically throughout life. I’m saying they use the same words in different ways. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a term used to describe a movement of the Spirit upon and/or within a believer usually, sometime after the person is saved. We cannot be gradually baptized in the Holy Ghost, just as we cannot be gradually baptized in water. That’s the stereotypical way of thinking about Western Christianity. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is considered a separate experience from both conversion and water baptism. You are a brother in Christ and with the love of Jesus I pray that you will come into a full revelation of his grace. People everywhere are hungry for experiential reality, not just doctrinal facts or historical facts, which are affirmed with the mind. One of these miracles involved Holy Spirit baptism. Baptism isn’t required to be saved; passages such as Acts 15 and Romans 4 make it clear that no external act is necessary for salvation. By that experience we are joined to the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 6:3, Galatians 3:27). She is the co-author of Dear Hero and has 200+ bylines in publications ranging from The Christian Communicator to Keys for Kids. Let me clarify each of those. That really is an oversimplification. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body” ( 1 Corinthians 12:13 ). I think the kind of filling and empowering that we receive in such experiences are needed again and again and again in the Christian life. It’s important that we clarify the meaning of biblical terms like “baptism in (or with) the Holy Spirit” because it is a biblical term. Here’s today’s question, sent anonymously to us from Berlin, Germany. This baptism with fire literally came true at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in Acts 2. The promise of Joel 2 is not the new-covenant promise of new birth. It’s becoming a Christian. “I believe in the forgiveness of sins.” Those words may have become stale or even cliché for some, but they represent the beauty and scandal of our confession. The implication of this rhetorical question, evangelicals say, is that it should be evident that not all speak in tongues—nor do they need to. The baptism of the Holy Spirit draws all of us together. Are all teachers? What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? The baptism of the Spirit refers to the new Believer’s incorporation into the body of Christ by a spiritual-organic union effected by the Holy Spirit. That’s the language of the Puritans. “Are all prophets? “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Seven New Testament passages speak of baptism of/in/with/by the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a crisis experience just as our initial conversion experience was. Second, Luke says that being baptized with the Spirit is a fulfillment of the promise of Joel 2 (“Wait for the promise”). I need a fresh anointing. Finally, fourth, Luke says that being baptized in the Spirit is being clothed with power from on high so that the message of Christ can be taken effectively to all the world. Most also are generally aware of the idea behind baptism of making a public declaration of dedication to Christ. It says he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and then he has an extraordinary power to deal with this magician there on the island (Acts 13:8–12). It may come in various ways and fillings and blessings throughout a lifetime that are just unpredictable and various. According to most Christian traditions, you will experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon conversion. I just finished a book by Allan Heaton Anderson, To the Ends of the Earth: Pentecostalism and the Transformation of World Christianity. He burns with the fiery holiness of the Triune God. Baptism in the Holy Spirit can be defined as: at the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit places a believer into permanent union with Christ and with other believers in the Body of Christ. Pentecostalism is usually defined as a movement in Christianity that thinks of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a second experience, usually after conversion, marked by speaking in tongues. To be clear, baptism in the Holy Spirit is not a sacrament but is believed to be related to the sacraments. This baptism can only come through Jesus, for he is the baptizer by fire. This means that when we ask, “What does the phrase ‘baptism in (or baptism with) the Holy Spirit’ mean?” we have to ask, “Are you talking about Paul’s use or Luke’s use as he quotes Jesus?” They’re not contradictory. That’s the language of Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Most Christians understand the concept of conversion, repenting of sin and pledging one’s life to Christ. * Action - Overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit. What are we to make of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Do all have gifts of healing? But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He is author of. That’s the stereotype, anyway, of what Pentecostalism means. Some call these occasions an anointing or filling with the Spirit. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”. But what about the baptism of the Holy Spirit? That’s what I think he means. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is offering hope to many parts of the world where the Church has been declining, in particular since the experience draws many young people back to the Church by giving them a zeal for holiness in their lives. He refutes bad teaching and reminds us of how simple it should be. At times in the Old Testament, certain individuals were empowered by the Holy Spirit for short periods of time for specific acts. They have great joy. Let’s look for some answers to these and other questions regarding baptism of the Holy Spirit. Do You Have to Pray in Tongues to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit? Now, I don’t think Jesus means that his disciples will be converted from unbelief to belief in this baptism that they’re supposed to wait for in Jerusalem. Here’s what Jesus says as Luke quotes him: And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”, He’s quoting John the Baptist from Luke 3:16, where John says, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. Whether you believe that it occurs at conversion or at some different time, we can all agree that the baptism of the Holy Spirit brings us closer to God and to other believers. Or that experience may come at the very moment of conversion followed by lifelong subsequent experiences of empowering in the Holy Spirit. - Acts 2:38. I think this emphasis on the experiential nature of the Spirit is precisely why the movement has been so globally dynamic and effective. The baptism of the Holy Spirit draws all of us together. 1 John 4:15 reads, “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God” (italics mine). It provides an inner power that becomes an outward force to bring the reality of Jesus Christ to others. Baptism by the Holy Spirit is a wondrously unique experience. So you can check it out for yourself. By default, it must be water baptism. The gifts of the Holy Spirit that accompany the baptism in the Holy Spirit as seen in the first century believers (1 Corinthians 12:4-10; 1 Corinthians 12:28) include signs and wonders such as the message of wisdom, the message of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, discerning of spirits, tongues and interpretation of tongues. When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells within you, leading and guiding you. I need a fresh filling. Now, I think virtually everyone agrees that Paul’s understanding here of baptism by the Spirit is the act by which the Spirit unites us to Jesus Christ and his body, the church. Chances are you won’t feel a drastic and radical change right away, but as you grow in your faith, you will learn to become more in tune with what many call “the still, small voice” of the Holy Spirit as He leads you deeper in faith and aligns your will with that of the Father’s. What Does 'Baptism of the Holy Spirit' Really Mean? Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. With His Spirit within us, we are able to uniquely commune with Him, even in ways we might not be able to without the Holy Spirit’s help (Romans 8:26-27). This is what it means to be a Christian: to be moved upon by the Holy Spirit in such a way that we are brought to faith and united to Jesus. That’s why Pentecostalism is succeeding the way it does, because they’re right on this. He says, “Wait for this baptism” (Acts 1:4–5), and then when he describes it in 2:4, he says, “They were filled with the Holy Spirit.” For him, these are overlapping realities, fullness and baptism. Some believe that this second baptism is necessary for salvation, while some don’t. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). You have Paul on Cyprus, and he’s about to speak. Fourth, the baptism of the Holy Spirit was absolutely necessary for effective Christian witness. It is an empowering experience. Now, I don’t think that’s the way Jesus and Luke are using this similar phrase in Acts 1:4–5. He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. The new Christian is now "in Christ". Rick Renner: Questions about The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” Interestingly, here Paul is speaking to “all,” that is, all the Christians, claiming they have all been baptized by the Holy Spirit. Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/digitalskillet. They’re not consistently the same in every season of the Christian life. Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Evangelicals disagree with this Pentecostal take, especially as it insinuates that some Christians have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and some have not. 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