01.01. Baptism with the Holy Spirit
What Baptism with the Holy Spirit Really Is The Ministry of the Holy Spirit CHAPTER I. BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT What Baptism with the Holy Spirit Really Is
“For John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5).
“Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:17).
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message” (Acts 10:44).
“They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them” (Acts 19:5-6).
John the Baptist foretold the baptism with the Holy Spirit before Jesus began His public ministry when he said of Jesus, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). This promise, however, was not realized until the beginning of the apostles’ ministry at Pentecost. At that time no one would have believed that almost 2,000 years later this blessed truth would become a source of contention and disharmony in the church-which is indeed tragic.
Some Christians today hold that baptism with the Holy Spirit is the same as water baptism because “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit” in John 3:5 can be translated as “unless one is born of water, that is, of the Spirit.” Others insist firmly that every believer, following his new birth, must also be baptized with the Holy Spirit, just as were the apostles at Pentecost, or the twelve disciples at Ephesus. Otherwise, they say, he is not saved. That is a terrifying heresy! Salvation comes by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. There are others who feel that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is the believer’s first of many experiences of being filled with the Holy Spirit. In fact, there are so many diverse opinions that it is practically impossible for the brothers and sisters who desire spiritual growth to decide where the truth lies. Therefore, to “those who love His appearing,” and hopefully without seeming to be presumptuous, I will share my understanding of the matter as given by God’s grace. To understand any idea, it is helpful to start from the beginning, in this case with the word “baptism.”