The Baptism of the Holy Ghost

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost

INTRODUCTION This is a highly controversial issue among evangelicals and theologians and it is likely that this lesson will settle the issue!

I trust that this lesson will not confuse you, but rather that it will help to explain this most difficult and complex problem.

Notes are taken from messages and writings of L E. Maxwell, R. A. Torrey, E. Storie, Arthur Wallis, Ewan Harries, James Smith, J. O. Sanders, O. J. Smith and others. This problem has been used by Satan to divide Christians while the ministry of the Spirit is actually to draw Christians together.

This interpretation feels that the terms "Baptism of the Spirit," "Filling of the Spirit," "the gift of the Holy Ghost," "endued with the Spirit," are similar.

However, we believe that they are not the same. The words baptism and filling are opposite in meaning. Baptism is immersion into something. Filling is putting something into the individual. This theory stems from the story of Pentecost where in Acts 2:4 they were filled with the Holy Ghost and spake in tongues, also Acts 10:44-46. This can be explained by the fact that Pentecost was the opening of the dispensation of the Holy Spirit when everything occurred simultaneously.

In Acts 2:1-47, at Pentecost, those who spake in tongues were Jewish believers. In Acts 8:17, we have the acknowledging of the Samaritan believers. In Acts 10:44, the "dogs of the Gentiles" are publicly accepted by the Spirit. The fourth group was the disciples of John the Baptist, Acts 19:1-7. The Gospel was to be preached in

(1) Jerusalem

(2) Judaea

(3) Samaria and (4) To the world of Gentiles. The 4 experiences above correlate beautifully.

Pentecost was a transitional period that lasted several years from John the Baptist till at least Acts 19:1-41, when the 4 groups were properly assimilated.

We reject this explanation today for the transition was completed long ago.

This stand is based mostly on the experiences of great men of God like Moody, Torrey, Finney, etc., when they had definite experiences apart from conversion. Their proofs lie in such texts as Acts 8:15-16, which can be easily explained in the light of the transition period not being completed then. Acts 19:1-2.

However, now that the transition period from law to grace, from the dispensation of the Son to the dispensation of the Spirit is completed, this is not true.

It is very dangerous to attempt to build a doctrine on the experiences of men.

This is the attitude of many of the larger churches today, whereby they reject the doctrine and continue to ignore the teaching entirely.

They reject the outward manifestations like tongues and go to the extreme of practically rejecting the entire doctrine. This, too, is entirely wrong.

It is true that the prophetical passages like Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33 and Acts 1:5 were fulfilled at Pentecost.

However, we believe that in the light of verses like 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Ephesians 4:5, that the expression “baptism of the Holy Ghost" must have a present-day application to us, too.

This view confuses the "anointing of the Spirit" with "the baptism of the Spirit."

It says that in the special post-conversion experience that Jesus Himself will baptize the individual with the Holy Ghost.

It teaches that this baptism will occur when one has met the conditions of Psalms 45:7-8, which is loving righteousness and hating iniquity.

However, the passage refers to anointing and not baptism. Cf. Luke 4:18 and 1 Corinthians 12:13.

I believe that the only doctrinal statement on this subject is 1 Corinthians 12:13, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." The 5 prophecies of Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8. Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5, were looking forward to Pentecost and were completely fulfilled "not many days? later. The verb tense in 1 Corinthians 12:13 is in the past tense. It speaks of a completed experience. It is performed by the Holy Spirit at conversion. The baptism of the Holy Spirit for us today is the placing of the new convert into the invisible Body of Christ by the Spirit at conversion.

Nowhere in the Epistles are we exhorted to seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost, for it was a completed experience. We need not worry or bother about it.

We are exhorted to be "filled with the Spirit," "grieve not," "quench not" the Spirit ;" Acts 2:1-4, Pentecost was an experience to mark the initiation of a new dispensation. J. O. Sanders points out four facts from 1 Corinthians 12:13 :

Ephesians 4:5, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."

Some argue that there are at least two baptisms, water and spirit, and which is this? In the mind of God, 1 Corinthians 12:13, the Spirit baptism must be the true baptism.

Water baptism, a required sacrament of the Church, is an earthly sign that the 1 Corinthians 12:13 baptism has already transpired.

True Spirit baptism causes Ephesians 5:30 to come into being, "For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. " .

It is an initial work taking place at the time of salvation.

"All are baptized into one body," 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Peter 3:20-21; Titus 3:5.

Romans 6:3-11 is the only definition of baptism of the Spirit given in Scripture. In the one act of living faith in Christ, believers are:

CONCLUSION Colossians 2:10-12, by Spirit baptism we are complete in the new resurrected body. At Pentecost, the day that the Holy Spirit came to abide, the disciples were filled, baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost was a definite historical event never to be repeated. It was the day of enthronement of the Spirit, when He assumed all His various offices.

We are baptized by the Spirit at conversion. We need the anointing with power of Acts 1:8 for service and we need to be constantly filled with the Spirit.

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