The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
My friends, many honest and sincere people are confused about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. So confused are many people that when the Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit , they think only of the baptism of the Holy Spirit; or, when the Bible speaks of baptism some think only of the Holy Spirit baptism. What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? A few important questions will enable us to better under-stand this subject.
1. Who was the administrator of Holy Spirit baptism?
2. To whom was the baptism of the Holy Spirit promised?
3. Who were baptized with the Holy Spirit?
4. Why were they baptized with the Holy Spirit?
5. May we expect the baptism of the Holy Spirit today?
Christ, Administrator of Holy Spirit Baptism The Holy Spirit was never given as a command to be administered by man, neither to be obeyed by man. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was a promise to be received by certain men chosen for a certain purpose. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was immediate and direct from God, bear-ing directly upon the spirit of man, resulting in the human mind being completely subject to the dictates of the Divine Mind in revealing all truth. In the beginning, the Holy Spirit was an agent of the Father and Son, depending upon them for right of action.
In regards to the baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit, the62Biblemost emphatically declares that Christ, the Son, was the administrator. John, the immerser, said: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire" (Matthew 3:11).
Christ, not man, therefore, was the administrator of baptism of the Holy Spirit. John, the Baptist, could and did baptize in water; but Christ, and only Christ, could baptize with the Holy Spirit. It was Christ, the Son, in his farewell message to his apostles, who commanded them to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Luke reveals that Christ commanded the apostles to tarry in the city until they were clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49).
From John's prophecy we observe his specific prediction as to the identity of the administrator of the baptism of the Holy Spirit; that being Christ himself. John spoke to a mixed audience, including disciples and sinners, the wheat and chaff, therefore, he not only spoke of the baptism of the Holy Spirit but he spoke of the baptism of fire, which I shall discuss later. One fundamental thing should be understood now, however John did not mean to include all disciples, with reference to being baptized in the Holy Spirit; neither did he mean that all of the multitude, which heard him, would receive the baptism of fire. He simply made a prophetic declaration, regarding these matters, to the multitude that heard him.
1. Who?--The Apostles! The logical question now in order is, who was baptized with the Holy Spirit? There can be no doubt about the identity of those who were promised the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This promise was made to the apostles. The very nature of the baptism of the Holy Spirit will bear evidence of this fact.
The apostles were chosen ambassadors of Christ, to be guided by the Holy Spirit, revealing to them all truth (2 Corinthians 5:18-20; John 16:13). In order for them to reveal all truth, and nothing but the truth, there was the necessity of complete possession of their speech and their writings , being completely endued by the Holy Spirit, or baptized with the Holy Spirit. God entrusted these men, the apostles, with the mysteries of the gospel and kingdom of God , baptizing them with the Holy Spirit, having ordained them unto this great mission. "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (John 15:16).
Promise Limited
Jesus himself did not promise the baptism of the Holy Spirit to all the world; neither did he promise it to all his disciples, but only to his apostles. In giving His commission to them He said, "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).
Just before Christ ascended to the Father, He referred to the very prophecy of John and applied it to His apostles. Hear him: "And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem , but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:4-5).
To be more specific, as to the identity of those who should receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we need only to read Acts 1:2, where the identity is definitely narrowed to the apostles: "...he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen." Notice: He "gave commandment unto the apostles," the record reveals.
Not Many Days Hence
Another fact, indicating that all disciples for all time to come would not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, was the setting of the time when the baptism of the Holy Spirit should be received: "Not many days hence," Jesus said. "Not many days hence," my friends, does not mean 1900 years hence. The days of the fulfillment are fully stated in the Bible. We need only to read the remaining part of the first chapter and the second chapter of Acts to learn that "not many days hence" was the first Pentecost, as already pointed out from the scriptures, after the Lord's resurrection from the dead.
Not 120 Disciples
It is believed by many religious leaders that the baptism of the Holy Spirit came upon the one hundred and twenty disciples gathered in Jerusalem, but a careful and honest analysis of the scriptures will refute this false conclusion.
In the first place, the promise of the baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit was never made to anyone, except to the apostles. It is true that John, the Baptist, did not specify all who were to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He did say that some, whom he had baptized in water, would be baptized in the Holy Spirit, but He made it known that he could not administer Holy Spirit baptism. Christ only could baptize with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). We need only to consult the scripture further to identify those who were to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This promise was only to the apostles. They did receive the baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit.
Before Christ left the earth, He told the apostles He would send them the Holy Spirit to bring to their remembrance the things He had taught them and to guide them into all truth (John 14:26; John 16:26; John 16:7-15). To know the identity of those who did receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we need only to read the account of its administration. The record is found in Acts, beginning with verse 1 , chapter 1. Hear it! Are you listening?
"The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he sheaved himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them ," (Now notice: with whom? "With them," the apostles) "commanded them" (charged whom? He charged "them ," the apostles) "that they should not depart from Jerusalem , but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye . . ." (but, "ye" . . . whom? we ask. The apostles , unquestionably!) "ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they," ("they," whom? The apostles!) "They therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father bath put in his own power. But ye" ("ye," whom? we ask. The apostles, of course) "ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:1-8).
After this specific promise of the Holy Spirit to the apostles, Christ ascended to the Father in heaven.
Now, as absolute evidence that the Lord fulfilled this promise of the Holy Spirit to the apostles, we read the ac-count of the administration of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Beginning with the last verse of Acts , 1 st chapter , and continuing through Acts 2:4, we read:
"And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they" (May we pause and emphasize the question, who were "they"? Who is the antecedent of "they" in this verse? There is but one answer; the apostles!) "They" (the apostles) were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they" (Again we pause and in-quire, who were "they"? The antecedent of they can only be the apostles) "they," (the apostles), "were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 1:26; Acts 2:1-4). Surely, the identity of the apostles in this text can not be mistaken!
Ladies and gentlemen, there can be no doubt about it! The apostles only were they who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on this day, the first Pentecost after the Lord's resurrection from the dead. They waited in Jerusalem, as they were commanded, until Jesus fulfilled his promise to them, by baptizing them in the Holy Spirit.
Multitude, 120 Not Present The multitude, including the 120 disciples, was not even present when the baptism of the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles. In verse 6 of Acts 2, it is revealed: "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them" (and again I emphasize "them," the apostles) "speak in his own language." As evidence that the multitude did include the 120 disciples, we need only to read Acts 1:15. The revised version definitely states, "the company of per-sons was in all about a hundred and twenty." Of the multitude it was said, "and they were all amazed and mar-velled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in his own language wherein we were born?"
My friends, don't you know that such questions as those of Acts 1:15 would not have been asked of the 120? Were the 120 all Galileans? Why was the multitude amazed? Obviously, because they were listening to twelve men, who were baptized with the Holy Spirit, speak God's word which was heard and understood in at least sixteen languages of different nations. The multitude "came together" and were amazed as they listened!
Carrying out this divine purpose, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the record reveals: "But Peter, standing up with the eleven," (May I pause and ask, standing up with whom? Does the Bible say, "But Peter standing up with the 120"? No, my friends, the 120 did not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the apostles, for it was not God's purpose that they should receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit! This is what the word of God says: Hear it! Are you listening? "But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke forth unto them" (Acts 2:14). Peter stood up with the other apostles who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You do under-stand that, don't you!
Fulfillment of Prophecy
Having been accused of being drunk, because the multitude did not understand the purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the apostle answered the critics by quoting the prophecy of Joel to confirm the fact that they were endued with the Holy Spirit.
"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: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy" (Acts 2:17-21).
The apostle said: "This is that which hath been spoken through the Prophet Joel." He plainly says, "this is that. . ." "These are not drunken . . . but this is that which hath been spoken through the Prophet Joel." Some men claim the same baptism of the Holy Spirit is being administered on men and women today. They have misunderstood the prophecy of Joel and do not get the full import of Peter's application of the prophecy.
There is no baptism of the Holy Spirit administered to-day. Peter concluded that the "last days" are here; the last dispensation, that of Christ and divine revelation. The gospel is now to be proclaimed to all men of all nations , by those whom God hath ordained as His ambassadors.
Objection: "All Flesh" But an objection is raised, declaring, "Did not Joel say, 'I will pour forth of my Spirit on all flesh' meaning all men and women of the earth?" The prophet did say, "I will pour forth of my Sprit upon all flesh," but surely we must understand the meaning of "all flesh."
In the first place, "all flesh" could not literally mean all flesh. Paul, by the Holy Spirit, says, "All flesh is not the same flesh but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes" (1 Corinthians 15:39). Surely, we would agree the bap-tism of the Holy Spirit was not promised to the animals. But, someone suggests, "all flesh" means all "human flesh." That, my friend, is no better; for "all human flesh" would include the drunkard, the fornicator, the reprobate and all sinners. Surely, no responsible person would advocate the theory, that all human beings are to receive the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit. Then the statement, "all flesh ," must have a definite application, its meaning being that all races, both Jew and Gentile.
When Joel made the prophecy, the Jew and Gentile were separate peoples. The Gentiles were separate from the covenant of promise. Paul wrote, "Wherefore, remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:11-12).
Even the Old Law, which was to be abolished, was a barrier between Jew and Gentile. Hear the apostle! Are you listening? "For he is our peace, who bath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:14-18).
Also, the inspired apostle wrote, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all tres-passes Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled prin-cipalities and powers he made a shew of them openly, tri-umphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:13-15).
All Flesh Not All Jews And Gentiles
We are not to conclude, however, that "all flesh" means all Jews and Gentiles. As already pointed out, that would include all sinners. There can be but one answer; that is, the promise was given to representatives of both Jews and Gentiles.
The prophecy of Joel was the promise of the miraculous out-pouring, or gift, of the Holy Spirit upon "all flesh ," representatives of both Jews and Gentiles.
The baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit was administered to the Jews, as we have discussed from the second chapter of Acts, on the day of Pentecost, while the special miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit was administered to the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-47). "All flesh" therefore has received the miraculous administration of the Holy Spirit.
One Baptism Water Baptism The Holy Spirit, having been sent to this world the gos-pel of Christ, which was confirmed by the mighty works of the Spirit, will abide perpetually in that same gospel, which was proclaimed on Pentecost and at the house of Cornelius , to save the world.
Today, there is only one baptism. Hear the Spirit, through the apostle! "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). Language could not be plainer. One baptism! The same Spirit, in the same book, chapter and verse, who said there is one Lord, declared there is one baptism! That one baptism is water baptism. Jesus said, "Go ye, there-fore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). According to Mark, He said, ". . . Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16). Peter commanded, ". . . Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).
Saul was commanded, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Later, Paul wrote , by the Spirit, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4).
Peter, by the Spirit, wrote, ". . . Wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure where-unto even baptism doth also now save us . . ." (1 Peter 3:20-21). Jesus declared, ". . . Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).
Philip preached the gospel to the man of Ethiopia, "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:36-39).
"One baptism;" WATER BAPTISM! Surely, there can be no doubt of it. There is "one baptism" today (Ephesians 4:5), and that is water baptism.
Holy Spirit baptism is one, water baptism is one, and the baptism of fire is one. One plus one, plus one, equals three. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is in the past, Christ having fulfilled his promise to the apostles. The baptism of fire is yet future, baptism of fire in hell for the unsaved (Matthew 3:11-12). Three minus two equals one, therefore, "one baptism," water baptism. There were two, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of water (Acts 2:2-8; Acts 2:38; Acts 2:41), but today there is "one"!
There can be no denial of the fact that the inspired apostle declared that there is "one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). Ob-serve the key word, "is," in the text. It is present tense. Today, now and until Christ comes, since the day of Pentecost, including the day Paul wrote those words to the church at Ephesus, there is "one baptism;" baptism in water, "for remission of sins," to "wash away thy sins ," which puts a believer into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4).
Baptism of Fire The baptism of fire was promised in Matthew 3:11-12, with Christ as the administrator; with hell fire the element and future punishment as its purpose. Verse 1.2 of this text leaves us no doubt that the baptism with fire will occur when the righteous are separated from the unrighteous. In Palestine the Jews often used a fan in separating the chaff from the wheat. But when Christ comes again "he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
I have heard honest people pray for the baptism of fire, but, my friends, you don't want the baptism of fire! It is yet future and will be punishment of the wicked in hell. When our Lord comes he will thoroughly purge by separating the wheat from the chaff and he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire!
The baptism of fire will be administered by the Lord when he comes again. The wicked, ungodly, and disobedient will be banished from the presence of the Lord, baptized in fire, to be punished throughout eternity.
Jesus, himself, declared: "So shall it be at the end of the world, the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:49-50).
We plead with all eternity bound souls to so live and die that you may avoid the baptism of fire! Obey the gospel revealed in the New Testament, proclaimed by men who were baptized with the Holy Spirit. Be baptized into Christ; be born again, and live a faithful consecrated, Christian life that it may be well with your soul!
QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION 1. To whom was the baptism of the Holy Spirit promised?
2. Who was administrator of Holy Spirit baptism?
3. For what purpose was the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
4. When was the baptism of the Holy Spirit administered?
5. Who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
6. What was the meaning of "speaking in tongues"?
7. What is the meaning of "all flesh"?
8. Have both Jews and Gentiles received the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit?