What is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
It’s interesting that there is a controversy by some Christians about rather or not the baptism of the Holy Spirit is Biblical or not. Those that believe it is say they have a lot of scripture to say it is. Those that believe it’s not a biblical experience say they have scripture that say it’s not.
Who is right? What does the Bible really say about this?
Let’s start with the thought of those whom say it isn’t for today.
It seems that these people will go to 1 Corinthians 13 to prove their point.
1 Corinthians 13:8-12 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)
8. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10. but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
The part that I have placed in bold letters and the part I underlined is what I have heard used to prove its no longer for today. They have said that what is listed in “part” has been done away with because the “perfect” has come. They further argue that what is “perfect” is the canon of scripture which we call the “Holy Bible”. That took place at the council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.
(The Council of Nicaea, had Elders from all over the Roman Empire to discuss which of the writings were inspired. There was some controversy, but they finally agreed on what we now have as the Holy Bible, (however the Catholic Bible has a few more books included which is called the “Apocrypha”) The Elders excluded those writings that did not agree with what we cherish today as the Bible. But we have faith that God directed them and guided them to select the correct writings to add to the canon.)
Those that say, that the Bible is Perfect, so the “part” (v.10) has been done away with (vv.8-9). I do believe the Bible was perfect when the authors pinned each letter and that they were inspired by God.
My only objection is taking verses out of context to try and prove a point. I believe what Paul was saying to the Corinthian church is, when we all get to Heaven with Jesus, all will be “perfect” then. This was not a reference to the canon of scripture. Paul never even knew that a bunch of Elders would one day gather all the letters he wrote, and what others wrote, and place them together to form one book called the “Holy Bible“.
One other thing that some people do is call tongues a bunch of gibberish, no one understands it, but on the day of Pentecost they were understood by whose who heard. Since God knows everything, we are convinced that He understands every tongue that is ever spoken. Jesus said even the rocks could cry out to His glory and Romans says all creation groans (Romans 8:22). So we serve a God who hears everything and knows everything.
Now let us explore the other side of this issue.
There have been thousands upon thousands of Christians since the begging of the Church that have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Simply because they believed. Now Acts 19:1-6 really proves this point beyond a shadow of doubt. As we read it, we find they were baptized with John the Baptist thinking. So Paul starts there and preaches to them about what John meant. They believed him and were baptized unto Jesus. Which means they were saved. Verse 6 says Paul laid his hands on them and then the Holy Spirit come on them. When they were baptized unto Jesus they were saved, so why did Paul lay his hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit? Simple answer is there are two manifestations of Gods Grace, salvation when you are saved and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. If they needed it then, then we need Him now.
Acts 19:1-6 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)
1. And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2. He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
The next few verses show us that this experience is part of the New Covenant because Peter is quoting the prophet Joel in chapter 2 verse 28f. It starts on the day of Pentecost, when Peter is explaining it and the context is from then until the “Day of the Lord” which has not taken place yet. So that means the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is still happening today. The context of what Joel is speaking to is, what started on that day of Pentecost to the “Day of the Lord”. This means that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for the New Covenant times, which is also today.
Acts 2:1-12 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)
2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
What meaneth this indeed? Jesus spoke a lot about what the Holy Spirit would do for His people (Gospel of John). It was He that would establish the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:8,13; 12:24) that Jesus paid for with His blood. And it is still the Holy Spirit that is working in the Church and the world to fulfill God’s plan.
Continuing an Acts 2:16-21 (KJV) (Please read the whole chapter)
Peter says;
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Peter quotes Joel and says this will come to pass in the last days. So if we are living in the last days, then that means this experience still happens today. Untold millions have experienced what the apostles did on the day of Pentecost and serve God with enthusiasm every day.
Throughout the book of Acts (2:4; 2:11; 10:46; 19:1-7) we see people getting saved, which is the Holy Spirit coming to live in a person, and also a second work of filling them and they speak in tongues. Acts 19:1-7; 8:14-17 is a record of the two experience, getting saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:14-17 (ESV) (Please read the whole chapter)
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
They were saved because they had been baptized, you are only baptized after you are saved, then they laid their hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit. This is showing the two different works of “grace by the Holy Spirit”.
This filling is still going on today, if a person wants more of God, more of His presence and power to live the Christian life, to evangelize, to witness and to love Him more, then you need to ask the Father for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in
Luke 11:13 (ESV) (Please read the whole chapter)
13. “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!””
Tongues is a prayer language that is given by the Holy Spirit, Paul says in 1Corinthians 14:18 (I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:) if Paul did, why wouldn’t every Christian want to. The Holy Spirit is speaking through us to talk to Father God the perfect pray, especially when we don’t know how to pray for a specific issue.
One more instance to show it’s for today is;
Matthew 3:11 (ESV) (Please read the whole chapter)
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
But today as then, (Acts2:13) “Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine” or they will just say “it’s not for today”. I believe I have shown enough Biblical evidence for the reality of God still baptizing His people with His Holy Spirit. After all the prophecy of Joel is speaking of the last days (Joel 2:28-32). Peter says it started on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21). If Jesus thought they needed the baptism in the Holy Spirit then, how much more do we need it today?