Holy Spirit -18- What is the relation of baptism of the Holy Spirit and salvation?

3. What is the relation of baptism of the Holy Spirit and salvation?

Answer: Baptism was a prelude to salvation’s being offered to a people, a sign manual from God that people could call upon the name of the Lord unto the salvation of their souls. Baptism of the Spirit was promised by the Lord through Joel the prophet (Joel 2:28-30), and the promise was made that "it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered," or as Peter, in Acts, second chapter, expressed it, "shall be saved." That Jewish Christians so understood this to be the significance of the promise is evident from Peter’s remark to the six Jewish brethren who accompanied him to the house of Cornelius. "Who can forbid water that these should not be baptized, seeing that they have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?" (Acts 10:47-48); and, likewise, the same, clear intimation of their understanding is shown by the brethren at Jerusalem, when Peter was called "on the carpet" by them for going in unto the Gentiles. After Peter had rehearsed the matter of the conversion of Cornelius’ household, and asserted that God gave them the "like gift" as "unto us at the beginning," they were completely satisfied, "Then held they their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also granted unto the Gentiles repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18) . The baptism in the Spirit was not to convert but was a necessary prelude for them to know that the gospel should be preached. This is shown by the fact that the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles before Peter delivered his message, "As I began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning" (Acts 11:15). Remember that in order to be saved men must call on the Lord, but in order to call on him they must believe, but in order to believe they must hear the gospel (Romans 10:13; Romans 10:17). Peter had not preached, they had not heard, and therefore had not believed, 90 their baptism in the Spirit did not save them-it only made for the opening up of the door of faith to them. Since that hour, there has been no people who needed a baptism of the Spirit, as the door of faith has never been closed to any nation, tribe, or tongue.