Holy Spirit Baptism

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There are seven passages in the New Testament that speaks about Spirit Baptism.

1.     Matthew 3:10-12

2.     Mark 1:8

3.     Luke 3:16,17

4.     John 1:33

5.     Acts 1:4,5

6.     Acts 11

7.     1 Corinthians 12:13

Matthew 3:10-12 (Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16, 17)

Matthew 3:10-12: 10 “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for 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. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

We see two kinds of people here. One kind is represented by the “good tree” imagery. They bear good fruit. There are also trees that do not bear good fruit. They are the wicked, unbelieving people. John the Baptist mentions about two baptisms, namely, baptism with fire and baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Baptism with fire:

·       The chaff is thrown into the unquenchable fire. This is the baptism with fire. Baptism in fire means the eternal judgment of unbelievers. Verse 8 and 12 supports this.

·       When is baptism by fire? At the Last Judgment.

·       Who will suffer baptism with fire? All trees that does not bear good fruit. All the chaff will be burned with fire. Unbelievers throughout the ages will suffer this. Unbelieving sinners who lived in the Old Testament era will also suffer baptism with fire.  

·       There is no separate baptism for Old Testament unbelievers. There exists no dispensational distinction.

Holy Spirit Baptism:

·       Gathering the wheat into the barn is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

·       When did the baptism of the Holy Spirit take place? On the day of Pentecost (Acts 1: 4,5)

·       Who all are involved in the baptism of the Holy Spirit? All the good trees. All unbelievers, regardless of dispensations, participate in the baptism of fire, while all believers (wheat) share in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, regardless of their time of living.

·       There is no separate baptism for Old Testament believers. There exists no dispensational distinction.

Acts 1:4, 5

Acts 1:4,5: “4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”·    Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father.

  • The baptism of the Holy Spirit was a historical event that has to take place in Jerusalem.
  • The timing of its fulfilment is mentioned: ‘a few days from now’. It must have happened a few days after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  • Jesus’ disciples were therefore asked to wait in Jerusalem for its fulfilment.
  • The commandment to ‘wait’ for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit has not been repeated to any other group of believers at any other time.
  • Just as our Lord had said, it was fulfilled in Jerusalem (Acts 2).

Acts 11:15, 16

Acts 11:15, 16: 15“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”

We read that the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles. The promise of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is once again recalled. But was this the baptism of the Holy Spirit? The answer is No.

“the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning”

  • Many people have misunderstood that this is a repetition of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They then teach that the baptism of the Holy Spirit took place at least twice. That's wrong. We need to understand a few things:
  • Jesus Christ said that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was to take place in Jerusalem (Acts 1: 4, 5). The Lord didn’t say that it would take place in Samaria or in the house of Cornelius.
  • On the day of Pentecost, at the time of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we read that they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 4). Similarly, in Acts 11, Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles and they were filled.
  • When baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred, the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit. But it is erroneous to say that baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs whenever and wherever the filling of the Holy Spirit take place.

“I remembered the word of the Lord”

  • Many argue that the baptism of the Holy Spirit took place at the house of Cornelius because it is mentioned that Peter remembered the word of the Lord when the Holy Spirit came on Cornelius. But that is incorrect.
  • The “word of the Lord” which Peter recalled was that of Acts 1:4, 5.
  • What was that ‘word’? Jesus Christ said that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was the promise of the Father and that it should take place in Jerusalem, and that it should take place before long. This is the word that Peter recalled.
  • When we remember something (or someone), that does not mean that it is fulfilled at the time of our remembrance. At Lord’s Supper, we "remember" the death of our Lord. But does the Lord die every time the bread is broken and we remember him? No.

Peter remembered the word of the Lord: its purpose

  • With respect to the Samaritans (Acts 8:16), Gentiles (Acts 10, 11), and some of John the Baptist's disciples (Acts 19), we see the coming of the Holy Spirit with signs.
  • It was never the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It was that the Holy Spirit came upon them with some signs.
  • The signs which Peter saw (Acts 10:45, 46; Acts 11:15, 16) were the ones that was seen at the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2.
  • The reason that the signs were repeated was so that Peter may recall the Acts 2 events. God want Peter to know that it was pleasing to Him to include Samaritans and Gentiles in His people.
God reminded Peter that those who were saved from the Gentiles had a part in that baptism of the Holy Spirit that took place on the day of Pentecost.

1 Corinthians 12:13

1 Corinthians 12:13: “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

·       This passage states the purpose of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit: to make the redeemed ONE BODY.

·       The tense of the phrase: ‘we have all been baptised’ is the aorist tense in Greek language which is used when we want to refer to a one-time event, the effects of which continue.

·       So the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a one-time historical event, which took place on the Day of Pentecost. Its purpose was to make us all (without distinction) ONE BODY. All who believe in Christ are part of the body of Christ.

·       We must understand that when one believes in Christ, one participates in the baptism of the Holy Spirit that took place on the day of Pentecost.

·       Jesus died once. Jesus does not die when we believe. Our sins were forgiven at the cross of Christ. When we believe, we experience forgiveness.

·       Likewise, the baptism of the Holy Spirit does not take place when we believe.

The Cross of Christ and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The death of Jesus on the cross is ex post facto (retroactive). Old Testament people were redeemed through the death of Jesus Christ. Jesus will not come and die for each one separately. He came once and made atonement for sin. He bore the sins of the elects of the Old Testament age. He also made atonement for us who were not yet born when He died. We share in it by faith.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is as historic as the death of Jesus. It is a “once and for all” fulfilled event. It is a non-repeating event. The death of our Lord has to happen in Jerusalem. So does the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:4,5: “4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Baptism of the Holy Spirit was the promise of the Father and it had to occur in Jerusalem a few days after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was fulfilled at the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:33: “Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.”

Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured. The death of Christ, resurrection of Christ, ascension of Christ, Christ receiving the promise from the Father and ‘pouring it’ were all one-time historical events.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is something that happened only once in history. It is for all believers who lived after that event as well as for those who lived before. Just like the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

John 7:37-39

John 7:37-39: 37“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

  • This is a verse used by some to show that the Old Testament believers did not have Holy Spirit dwelling in them. But that is a mistaken teaching.
  • John 7:38, 39 speak of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that has to occur on the day of Pentecost. It was a one-time historical event.
  • The phrase "the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" is significant. The crucifixion, resurrection and glorification of Jesus Christ were one-time historical events and were for believers of all dispensations. In John 7:38, 39, John associates the baptism of the Holy Spirit with those one-time historical events.
  • Just as the Old Testament saints partake in the death and resurrection of Christ, so do they in the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16

John 14:16: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever”

  • This verse is used by some to teach that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit was not “forever” in Old Testament times and that the Holy Spirit came in on believers and then left them after some time. But their interpretation is wrong.
  • John 14:16 speaks of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that has to occur on the day of Pentecost.
  • The Lord died on the cross for the eternal forgiveness of his people. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was for the eternal dwelling of the Spirit in the redeemed people.
  • All those who were redeemed by the death of Christ on the cross were made one body by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
  • Therefore it is necessary to understand that the Old Testament saints experienced the eternal indwelling of the Holy Spirit, just as they experienced the eternal forgiveness (Romans 4:1-9; Acts 10:43).

Jesus Christ once came as a man to save sinners. The Holy Spirit once came down to dwell forever in those saved men and to make them one body. The coming of Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit were historical events. It will not be repeated. Saints of all dispensations will partake of its blessings.


Appendix: Indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

Romans 8:7-11: 7“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

·       Those who do not have the Spirit of God are unbelievers. They cannot please God. But Paul says that believers have the Spirit of God in them.

·       “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him”

·       “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you”

We can understand some truths:

·       The Old Testament saints were indwelt by the Holy Spirit because they belonged to Christ. They were redeemed by the blood of Christ.

·       The Old Testament saints were indwelt by the Spirit. They were not in the flesh but in the Spirit. God was pleased with the Old Testament saints.

·       Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead because ‘He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to their mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in them.’ This happens only to those who were indwelt by the Spirit.

·       The phrase “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you” implies that the glorious resurrection of believers is conditioned on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

1 Corinthians 12:3: “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.”

·       David calls Jesus Lord (Psalms 110:1). It is not possible without the Holy Spirit. Abraham hoped to see the day of Christ.

Galatians 5:22,23: “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

·       Old Testament believers bore the fruit of the Spirit. Loving God is one of the fruit of the Spirit.

John 3:5, 10: “5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God……10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?”

·       It is Holy Spirit who is the author of the new birth.

·       Old Testament saints experienced the new birth. No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born again and it is clearly stated that Old Testament saints will be present in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 8:11; Luke 13:28).

·       Jesus expected Nicodemus (an Old Testament teacher) to know of the new birth produced by the Holy Spirit.

Just like the New Testament believers, the saints of the Old Covenant age bore the fruit of the Spirit. It was impossible to produce the fruit of the Spirit without being indwelt by the Spirit. All true saints of the Old Testament were in the Spirit and they pleased God.

It is clear that the evangelicals who teach that Holy Spirit did not dwell in the Old Testament saints do not have a significant understanding of the operation and functions of the Holy Spirit.



Reference(s):

1.     Alexander George, http://maturityfoundation.blogspot.com/2011/07/anointing-baptism-filling-and-receiving.html

2.     Bible references were taken from English Standard Version (ESV)

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