05. Holy Ghost Baptism

SERMON 5 HOLY GHOST BAPTISM .................Was:.............................................Is Not: a promise (Joel 2:28; Matthew 3:11),...........................A command

to certain individuals (Acts 1:5; Acts 11:3) .......... for all men

in a few days (Acts 1:5).........................................for all time

to make witnesses (Acts 1:8). ................................to regenerate

miraculous (Acts 2:1-8)..........................................for good feelings

seen and heard (Acts 2:33)......................................better felt than told to confirm the word (Hebrews 2:1-4).............................to save from sin

Perhaps no other subject in the Bible is preached upon and talked about so much as Holy Ghost Baptism. Yet no other subject is less understood.

Many times preachers, in meetings, will earnestly pray for Holy Ghost baptism, when they don't know what Holy Ghost baptism is, nor what it is for. Neither do they expect God to answer their prayers. Should it be possible for God to answer their prayer, and should Holy Ghost baptism put them to speaking with different tongues, or languages, as it did in the days of the apostles, or should it enable them to perform miracles as it once did, few would be left at their big meeting after their prayer to perform the miraculous demonstrations that followed those who had it in the long ago.

If you will notice the diagram you will see that Holy Ghost baptism was a promise, and not a command. In as much as water baptism is a command that must be obeyed, and Holy Ghost baptism a promise given, we see the difference between the two. We also notice that Holy Ghost baptism was to certain individuals, and water baptism is to all the world. “Teach all nations baptizing them:” so taught the Son of God (Matthew 28:19).

Holy Ghost baptism was limited to a few days. Water baptism is for all time. Holy Ghost baptism was to make witnesses, was not to regenerate. But water baptism is called the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:3-5). Holy Ghost baptism is miraculous, and is not for good feelings. Water baptism is administrated by the preacher and is not miraculous. Holy Ghost baptism was both seen and heard, and is not better felt than told. Holy Ghost baptism was to confirm the truth, and never to save people from their sins; for the apostles, on Pentecost got Holy Ghost baptism long after their salvation and Cornelius got it before Peter told him what he must do to be saved. Peter was convinced that God had accepted the Gentiles when the Holy Ghost fell on the home of Cornelius. He then told him words whereby he and all his house should be saved (Acts 11:14). We conclude. the Bible being our guide, that Holy Ghost baptism was never given at any time, nor to any people to teach them what they must do to be saved.

During the period in which Holy Ghost baptism was given we had no New Testament written. All that was known of the plan of salvation was in the living apostles. But the Spirit was to guide them into all truth, and bring all things to their remembrance that Christ had taught them. The Spirit was not only to work through the truth in convincing the world of sin and judgment (John 16:7-12), but the Spirit was also to confirm the truth when it was spoken and written, by signs following (See Mark 16:16-20; Hebrews 2:1-4). Since the truth was fully preached, and as much preached as God deemed proper, and was confirmed by miraculous power which was the result of Holy Ghost baptism, there has been no Holy Ghost baptism from that day to the present time.

I am writing a deed. I can continue to reveal and write on that deed until it is complete. After deed is completed it is confirmed by the seal of the state, and no one can add to or take from said deed. I can write another deed and put the seal of the state on it, but cannot put the seal of the state the second time on the same deed. So it is of the word of God. It was written and the seal of heaven was placed on it by miraculous power resulting from Holy Ghost baptism. Those who claim to get Holy Ghost baptism in our time must get it to confirm another deed, or gospel, as God's gospel is already confirmed. But if they preach another gospel Paul says let them be accursed (Galatians 1:7). So we are forced to conclude that all the so called Holy Ghost baptism, and the performing of miracles, and speaking with tongues in our time, are deceptive and come from the devil, as we have no promise of such coming from God.

All of God's laws in the past have been established and confirmed by miraculous power, but as soon as said miraculous power had filled its mission it was then set aside and God's law of perpetuation continued. When God created Adam and Eve it required miraculous power, but after creation God gave them the natural law of reproduction, and said, “Multiply and fill the earth.” So all children are brought into this world by God's law of reproduction, not by miraculous power. When God created the first grain of corn it required miraculous power; but he placed in that grain the germ of vegetable life, and now all corn comes according to God's law of vegetation, not according to miraculous power. So it is with the church. On the day of Pentecost the church was brought into spiritual existence by Holy Ghost baptism, and the truth was confirmed by miraculous power. But after the truth was established and continues, the confirmation remains, and every time we preach the same gospel which has been confirmed by miraculous power it is not necessary to confirm it again by Holy Ghost baptism.

In the early age of the church where the truth was being revealed and taught, the Holy Spirit had power and gave gifts to men. In the twelfth chapter of First Corinthians Paul mentions nine different gifts that were given to men by the Holy Ghost. In the thirty-first verse of same chapter he taught them to covet earnestly the best gifts, yet he promised to show them a more excellent way. In 1 Corinthians 13:8 he shows that prophecies, tongues, and knowledge, meaning supernatural knowledge, shall all cease. These were direct I gifts of the Holy Ghost, as taught in the twelfth chapter. But when were they to cease? Paul taught that they were only given in part till that which was perfect was come. But did that which was perfect ever come? When all the apostles had completed all the revelation God intended the world should have in the new dispensation it was then come. It was then called “The Faith” which was once for all (Revelation 5) delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). It was called the “Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:2) . “The perfect law of liberty” James calls it. It was then that the perfect scheme of redemption was completed. A spiritual law was put in operation through which all people could be saved.

This law is the gospel which is God's power to salvation (Romans 1:16). When people will hear the gospel as taught in Romans 10:17, and believe that Jesus is the Son of God as taught in Acts 16:31, and forsake, or repent of their sins as taught in Acts 2:38, and confess the Son of God as taught in Romans 10:8-10, and be baptized and wash away their sins as taught in Acts 22:16, the spiritual law is in operation, and the church is reproducing herself as the descendants of Adam and Eve are in their natural law of reproduction. It is as absurd to talk about Holy Ghost baptism in its miraculous Dower today as it is to claim that God is still making men and women as he did Adam and Eve in the beginning.

New Testament Baptism: