Class: Baptism of the Holy Spirit

 

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Baptism of the Spirit 

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • December 6, In the year of our Lord, 2015

  1. The Purpose of Holy Spirit Baptism 
    1. In Joel 2, the Old Testament prophesied of this wonderful event:

      28 “And it shall come to pass afterward
      That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
      Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
      Your old men shall dream dreams,
      Your young men shall see visions.
      29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
      I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
      30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
      Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
      31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
      And the moon into blood,
      Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
      32 And it shall come to pass
      That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
      Shall be saved.
      For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance,
      As the Lord has said,
      Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.
      (Joel 2.28–32)

      1. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was a sign from God
        1. that He approves of all people,
        2. all people can now be a part of His family:
          1. on all flesh
          2. sons and daughters
          3. old and young men
          4. servants.
        3. The Book of Acts shows how the apostles, especially Peter,
          1. argued that God accepts both Jews and Gentiles, and
          2. Peter bases his argument upon the baptism of the Holy Spirit,

            44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days (Acts 10.44–48).

            15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, “John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God? 18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life” (Acts 11.15–18).

            6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ {NU-Text and M-Text omit Christ.} we shall be saved in the same manner as they” (Acts 15.6–11).

      2. Also the baptism of the Spirit gave the apostles
        1. the ability to receive divine communication—
        2. prophesy, dreams and visions, and
        3. to pass on miraculous gifts.
    2. John indicated
      1. that when Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit,
      2. that demonstrated His divine authority,

        11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” {M-Text omits and fire.} (Matt 3.11).

        15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3.15–16).

        26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” 28 These things were done in Bethabara {NU-Text and M-Text read Bethany.} beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” 32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God” (John 1.26–34).

    3. Jesus assured the apostles they would have power, which came with Holy Spirit baptism,

      1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” … 8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me {NU-Text reads My witnesses.} in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1.1–5, 8).
    4. Only the apostles received power to give power to others,

      3 “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of faith {NU-Text reads grace.} and power, did great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6.3–8).

      13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8.13–19).

      49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem {NU-Text omits of Jerusalem.} until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24.49).

      28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt 19.28).

  2. The Fulfillment
    1. Upon the apostles,

      1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord {NU-Text reads together.} in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2.1–4).

      1. Notice they were not praying to receive Spirit-baptism.
      2. They were waiting as instructed (1.4).
    2. Consider Peter’s defense that shows it was only the 12, not the 120,

      15 “For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

      17 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
      That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
      Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
      Your young men shall see visions,
      Your old men shall dream dreams.
      18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
      I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
      And they shall prophesy.”
      (Acts 2.15–18).

      1. Peter states that this is the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy.
      2. He said further,

        33 “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2.33).
      3. Later the Lord added Paul as an apostle,

        17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, {M-Text omits Jesus.} who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9.17).
    3. Upon the Gentiles,

      44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (Acts 10.44–47).

      1. Peter said nothing of believers receiving Spirit-baptism during his sermon.
      2. It was strictly a divine act without any human response.
        1. Holy Spirit-baptism differed from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
        2. Spirit-baptism was not connected with the apostles salvation,
          1. nor family and friends of Cornelius’ salvation, for
          2. the latter group still had not been baptized for the remission of sins (10.48; 2.38).
        3. Jesus baptized with the Spirit for reasons other than salvation.
        4. The indwelling of the Spirit is a blessing of salvation (Gal 4.6; et al.).
    4. Here we find the total fulfillment of the promise of the Lord.
      1. All flesh received Spirit-baptism
        1. to show God’s acceptance of anyone
        2. who seeks righteousness (10.34–35).
      2. It took such a miracle
        1. to persuade the Jews
        2. of God’s acceptance of the Gentiles (Acts 10.45; 11.1–3, 18; 15.7–9).
  3. The Limit of the Purpose and Fulfillment of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit 
    1. The baptism of the Holy Spirit
      1. was a promise to receive,
      2. not a commandment to keep.
    2. Notice the exclusive wording of Acts 1.1–5.
    3. The events of Pentecost and at Cornelius’ house
      1. were infrequent occurrences—Acts 11.15–17.
        1. Peter did not argue that what happened to Cornelius
        2. was what happened to all converts.
      2. Peter went back several years to Pentecost as a similar occurrence.
    4. The needs for Spirit-baptism were fulfilled:
      1. Sign of God’s granting repentance to the Gentiles.
        1. We have the testimony of the inspired writers concerning this fact,
        2. giving us sufficient evidence of God’s acceptance of Gentiles.
        3. Would further miraculous Spirit-baptisms convince the prejudiced?
      2. The apostles have completed the work of revelation, which was done by the power they received from Spirit-baptism.
      3. Having seen these things we now know that God gives the non-miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit to all obedient believers (Acts 5.32).
        1. God never intended the miraculous power of the Spirit to be upon all believers for all time (1Co 12.29–30; 13.8–10).
        2. His intention is
          1. that all believers have the seal of the Spirit as an earnest of their inheritance (Eph 1.13–14) and
          2. that they bear the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23),
          3. all of which are non-miraculous.
    5. Now there is only one baptism,

      4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Eph 4.4–5).

      1. There is still a need for the remission of sins and being in Christ.
        1. Water-baptism is for these things (Acts 2.38; Gal 3.27).
        2. Therefore water-baptism is still valid and needed today.
      2. Spirit-baptism and water-baptism are not the same.
        1. Acts 10.44–48
        2. Men administer water-baptism, Jesus administered Spirit-baptism.
      3. Paul wrote Ephesians after Spirit-baptism was already fulfilled.