The Mystery Of The Baptism In The Holy Spirit
Part 1
By Fred Handschumacher
The most important event after Christ's Crucifixion, resurrection and ascension is the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Christians believe this event marked the birth of the New Testament Church and forever changed the way the human race relates with God. Before the Crucifixion, Jesus taught his disciples about these things. He gave them a brief glimpse into the future, and the blessings to follow. From the opening pages of the Bible until the Crucifixion of Christ man's relationship with God was limited. As a result of Pentecost this relationship now reaches into the most holy place (Hebrews 10:18-20). The success of this new Divine relationship rests with us. Jesus Christ completed all the spiritual work (John 19:30) and left the choice to enter in up to us.
In this study, we'll discover why Jesus considered these future changes important. As in other writings, I would like to just focus on the many blessings Jesus taught. However, it's needful to also talk about the objections and distortions. Jesus used this method of teaching during his earthly ministry. He endured the constant verbal abuse of the Pharisees who didn't like his teaching. Jesus used these negative contrasts as illustrations. There are two sides in this debate--and both sides perpetrate wrong ideas and cause much confusion in the church concerning the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. .
Historical Background
Many decades ago the term "Full Gospel" was birthed. Some dislike this term because of what it implies. The reader should know that I'm not fond of things that divide the church. Denominational names and clergy-laity titles and religious offices top my list. Many practices split the communion of Christ's body into two classes: The spiritual elite and the common believer. Yet, because of the different churches, movements, denominations and para-church ministries existing under the name of Christ, some method of identifying different beliefs is needful. There are various "theologies" within Orthodox Christianity. Over the centuries, a naming convention has evolved so that we can know the nature of the differences. For example, the church is divided into two main branches: Protestant and Catholic. I'm not identified with the Catholics for several reasons. Yet, this branch makes up approximately 60 percent of what's called "Christian". When Hollywood makes a movie and portrays Christianity in it's story line, Catholicism is nearly always the choice. The remaining 40 percent are in the Protestant camp. The Protestant's are a very diverse group with Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Pentecostal, and Charismatic being among the most prominent.
Since the Middle Ages (1000 through approx. 1600 AD), God has been restoring the original intent of his Word. History shows this to be a slow and painful process beginning with the efforts of men such as John Wycliff (1382) and Martin Luther (1530). Luther's work is important because it restored the revelation of Saint Paul (the Pauline Revelation) and the doctrine of "Justification by faith". The early "Protestant" movement began in Europe. America as we know it today didn't exist. For the next 400 years, the newly discovered Pauline doctrines would provide the foundation for much controversy and infighting between its followers (called Protestants) and the Roman church of the time.
Around 1885-1900 God revealed another truth in the Holy Scriptures to some early students of the Bible. Like Luther's teachings on "Justification by faith", this discovery isn't very popular with the religious establishment. It's known as "The Baptism in the Holy Spirit". Initially, the belief was studied, discussed and practiced within a small group of early believers. However, God didn't want it to stay private. The belief gained prominence during the "Asuza Street Revival" that began on April 9, 1906 in Los Angeles, CA. At the center of this revival was a black Baptist preacher by the name of William Seymour. It began what was known as the "Pentecostal" movement. Yet, it's no longer a movement, but a major international denomination. The Pentecostals were the "early pioneers" of this New Testament belief. Yet, the "Baptism in the Holy Spirit" is not something limited only to this group. The news spread into mainline denominational churches and caused great controversy between 1950 and 1980. It radically changed my life as a member of the Baptist church in 1972. It was responsible for creating many new churches and movements not associated with Pentecostals. It radically changed many church congregations by making them aware of this previously unknown administration of the Holy Spirit. For example, I believe and teach the principles of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit because John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, Saint Peter and Saint Paul taught its truths in the New Testament. Yet, I'm not associated with the Pentecostal denomination.
The term "Full Gospel" describes believers in Christ who embrace his teachings about the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit and the rule of God associated with these things. When a Christian claims to be "Full Gospel" this is what they believe. Full Gospel teaching is associated with the topic of "speaking in tongues", covered in another study. Don't confuse the "Full Gospel" group label with some kind of "elitist religious club" meant for only a few. It's nothing like that--even if some Christians act that way. Any believer can and should walk in these truths because our Lord taught them and shed his blood to make it all possible. When I embraced these things years ago in the Baptist church, I wasn't trying to become a Pentecostal. I believed it because it's taught in the New Testament.
An Observation From The Life Of D.L Moody
Dwight L. Moody was a popular American Evangelist during the years 1837-1899.
During my early years as a Baptist, I read books by Moody and his disciple, R.A. Torrey. Years later, Moody's evangelistic work resulted in the establishment of the "Moody Bible Institute" and its publication arm known as "Moody Press". Today, his followers are firmly in the fundamentalist Christian camp and are typically "cessationists". Simply understood, a cessationist is a Christian that generally believes the gifts of the Holy Spirit "ceased" when the Bible became available in print. This is a popular, yet false belief. Unfortunately, it also affects our subject of Holy Spirit Baptism. Some of the most adament cessationists are found in the group that has its roots in Moody's ministry. It includes many of my fellow Baptist believers and theologians.
As I read about the life of D.L. Moody in his own words, I was surprised to learn that he was not a cessationist. Moody writes that he was originally approached by two Christian women who wanted to pray for him to receive the Holy Spirit's power. He allowed them to pray for him, yet nothing immediately happened. Moody wrote that several months later he was walking down the street--when all of a sudden he was overwhelmed with unspeakable joy. The experience was so over-powering that he got off the street and out of public view. He said the intensity of the joy was such that he thought he was dying. This experience is common with Holy Spirit baptism. I discovered that, unlike his future followers, Moody never spoke against the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. He adamantly supported the teaching of it. In one situation, Moody and Torrey was talking about a gathering of church leaders who were talking negatively about this experience. I was able to locate a direct quote of what was said.
R. A. Torrey wrote:
"Once he had some teachers at Northfield, fine men all of them, but they did
not believe in a definite Baptism with the Holy Ghost for the individual. They
believed that every child of God was baptized with the Holy Ghost, and they
did not believe in any special Baptism with the Holy Ghost for the individual.
Mr. Moody came to me and said, "Torrey, will you come up to my house after
the meeting tonight and I will get these men to come, and I want you to talk
this thing out with them." Of course I readily consented, and Mr. Moody and
I talked for a long time, but they did not altogether see eye to eye with us.
And when they went, Mr. Moody signaled me to remain for a few minutes.
Mr. Moody sat there with his chin on his breast, as he often sat when in deep
thought; then he looked up and said, "Oh, why will they split hairs? Why
don't they see that this is just the one thing that they themselves need? They
are good teachers, they are wonderful teachers, and I am so glad to have them
here; but why will they not see that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is just
the one touch that they themselves need?"
I found his comments interesting because the modern day followers of Moody oppose the teaching of Holy Spirit baptism with a hostility that he never had. It's amazing how unscriptural religious traditions can overwhelm such an important Biblical truth.
What Did Jesus Teach?
Jesus taught his disciples about a future event following his death, resurrection and ascension. This event was given great importance in his teachings.
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16:7-8)
Jesus' used the term "Comforter" to mean the Holy Spirit. In the KJV of the Bible the name "Holy Spirit" is referred to as "Holy Ghost". The Comforter, Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost are one of the same. The Holy Spirit actually has many names in Scripture such as: Spirit of Christ, Spirit of truth, Spirit of the Father and Spirit of the Lord. These are all talking about the same "Third person of the Trinity".
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14:16-17)
Jesus taught his disciples that the future role of the Holy Spirit is to "be in you". Historically, this hadn't happened. Jesus explains that the Holy Spirit "dwelled with you", but shortly he's going to be "in you" and things will be different. I'm sure they didn't understand at the time what all this meant.
Because of the efforts of some theologians to discredit this teaching, it's necessary to see the Divine thread that starts with the accounts of Mark and Luke--and continues through the teachings of Christ and into the book of Acts. Saint Paul is careful to continue this thread into his epistles to the Corinthians and Ephesians. Some try to say that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is only for the Jews, or that what Jesus taught isn't the same as what happened at Pentecost--and later to the Gentiles. Let's take a look at this Scriptural trail of evidence.
In Mark's account John the Baptist tells us that Jesus is the one who will "baptize with the Holy Spirit".
"And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." (Mark 1:7-8)
Luke records John the Baptist as teaching the same thing concerning Jesus, yet with something added:
"I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I am coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Luke 3:16)
Saint John records John the Baptist's statement in his account:
"And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." (John 1:33)
On the day he ascended (40 days after his resurrection), Jesus uses the same terminology when he told his disciples:
"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)
We should notice something new in Christ's statement. First, Jesus is referring us back to before the cross and the words of John the Baptist who said that Jesus is the one who will "baptize you with the Holy Ghost". However, Jesus adds something to this statement. He says "you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." The phrase, "not many days hence" is very important because in ten days, Pentecost arrives. Nothing of importance happens within the context of the phrase "not many days hence" except for the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. What happened to the Jewish disciples on this day is directly related to the terminology Jesus used when he said, "ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So Christ's words in Acts 1:4-5 is fulfilled in Acts 2:1-4 by the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell believers. This coming of the Holy Spirit is "the baptism in the Holy Spirit" that both John the Baptist and Jesus spoke about earlier. If you attempt to say it isn't the same thing--you have to deny what Scripture teaches.
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they 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 of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)
Notice we now have another term associated with "baptism with the Holy Spirit". This new term is "filled with the Holy Spirit". Again, some critics attempt to say that being "filled with the Holy Spirit" doesn't carry the same meaning as the "Baptism with the Holy Spirit". Yet, it directly links to both the words of John the Baptist and Jesus who referred to them as being the same.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter preaches to the Jews gathered in Jerusalem and attempts to describe the event that left many in confusion.
"For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 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: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:15-21)
The next major event occurs with the Gentiles (non-Jewish believers) at Cornelius' household. God gave Peter a vision. Under direct Divine command Peter, a Jew, traveled to Cornelius' house (a Gentile) in direct disobedience to the Mosaic Law.
"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts 10:44-47)
Peter uses two terms in this account to describe the "pouring out of the Spirit" upon the Gentiles. First, he calls it "the gift of the Holy Ghost", like he did on the day of Pentecost. Secondly, he refers to it as "receiving the Holy Ghost". Therefore, in these Scriptures we see the following terms used to describe the baptism with the Holy Spirit:
- Filled with the Holy Spirit
- The gift of the Holy Spirit
- Receiving the Holy Spirit
All these terms describe the same thing. They are used interchangeably in the New Testament Scriptures and can cause confusion if misunderstood. More importantly, they all link backward to the original words of John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ who equated all these things as meaning "baptized with the Holy Spirit".
Because of his disobedience to Jewish law, Peter was in a lot of trouble with his countrymen. He explained how God gave him a vision and a direct command to visit and eat a meal with the Gentiles at Cornelius' house. During his discourse, Peter gives us another insight--and more importantly, a continuation of the thread.
"And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?" (Acts 11:15-17)
In this passage, Peter continues the thread and calls what the Gentiles received as being the same thing as the "word of the Lord" which said, "John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost." Peter says that God gave the Gentiles "the like (same) gift as he did unto us (the Jews)". So, what the Gentiles received is the same "baptism with the Holy Spirit" that the Jews received at Pentecost.
The idea that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was only for Christ's disciples and the Jews is totally untrue. It's misinformation used by critics to confuse God's people. God gave His Spirit in the same way to the Gentiles.
We know that Saint Paul received the "baptism with the Holy Spirit" because of what was said to him after his "Damascus Road" experience by Ananias:
"And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 9:17)
We see another example that involves Saint Paul in this new administration of the Holy Spirit. Paul finds 12 disciples who had been baptized by John the Baptist. In this situation, he ministers the Holy Spirit to them in a way they had not previously received.
"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve." (Acts 19:1-7)
There are some important things to recognize here. Paul participated in this new administration of "receiving the Holy Spirit" and ministered it to certain disciples (through the laying on of hands) who claimed a relationship to John the Baptist. The Holy Spirit had already arrived on the day of Pentecost, yet these believing disciples hadn't "received" Him yet. Since the Holy Spirit is given to Jewish and Gentile believers alike, the fact that these disciples were Jewish isn't an issue here. These things compel us to ask some important questions that we'll look at later.
These facts confirm what Jesus referred to as "baptized with the Holy Spirit" is directly related to the New Testament way of faith for both Jew and Gentile. It's something every believer should examine today.
What Is The Baptism In The Holy Spirit?
To properly understand this subject we have to look at four areas:
- The act of being "baptized" in the Spirit
- The result of being baptized in the Spirit
- The administration (or government) of the Holy Spirit
- The Holy Spirit's interaction between the believer and God
The word "baptize" as used in the term "baptism in the Holy Spirit" is the same Greek word "baptizo" used to describe New Testament water baptism. It means to "dip or completely submerge under water or a fluid". However, in this situation we aren't dipped or submerged in water, but into the Holy Spirit. It involves being totally consumed by the Spirit of God. It's the release of the power and attributes of the "Holy" Spirit of God into our lives. Jesus said:
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17)
Here, we see two results of Spirit baptism: Receiving power and getting a Divine Helper. God wants us to receive the Holy Spirit in this manner because it releases his power, not for our glorification, but to equip us as witnesses to Jesus. The suggestion here is that we cannot be the witnesses God wants us to be without receiving this power. Luke's gospel records Jesus' last words to his disciples just before he ascended back to heaven:
"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. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. (Luke 24:49-52)
It's important to note that "tarrying in Jerusalem" or the act of "tarrying" (waiting) for the Holy Spirit practiced by some traditional Pentecostals is no longer necessary. Jesus instructed his disciples to tarry because the Holy Spirit hadn't come. Yet, on the day of Pentecost He did come and we no longer have to tarry. The "gift of the Holy Spirit" is God's will and immediately available to anyone who asks (Luke 11:11-13). The baptism in the Holy Spirit is submitting to God's ways for the purpose of being "endued with power from on high".
The Government of the Holy Spirit
When the Holy Spirit arrived on the day of Pentecost, He introduced a whole new Divine governmental system for the believer. In the Old Testament, God's government operated through an external form of authority. God would "anoint" (place his Holy Spirit upon) a special leader and require his people, who did not have the Holy Spirit at that time, to submit to this person as His "Divine governmental representative". This is where the term, "touch not God's anointed" came from. It's an Old Testament principle. Abraham, Moses, Samuel, King Saul, King David and others are examples of this system of Divine government.
In the New Testament an entirely different system is established. Instead of "anointing" someone to lead God's people, God went around human weakness and limitations by placing the Holy Spirit directly inside his people who believe on Christ. In this way, God's government changes from an external form of authority to an internal one. This is what Jesus meant when he said:
"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21)
The kingdom of God came to indwell believers on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity represents the full power and authority of this Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is God. It's the same Holy Spirit that operated in the beginning at creation (Genesis 1:2-3). Yet, many modern day believers falsely place their faith in an Old Testament form of church government. Their leaders teach that it's the present day government of God. However, the New Testament Scriptural record does not support their claim. Many of the critics of the baptism in the Holy Spirit come from this Old Testament theological position.
Saint Paul tells us more about the Holy Spirit's new government that uniquely operates from within the believer:
"And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." (1 Cor 12:5-11)
This Scripture introduces us to the nine different expressions of the governmental rule of the Holy Spirit. Modern theology throws some of them out because it believes they no longer apply. They redefine the others to make them fit religious tradition. For example, Word of Knowledge, Word of Wisdom and Prophecy are redefined as meaning the sermon you hear on Sunday morning. This makes these unique supernatural gifts nonsensical and meaningless. Yet, if the Holy Spirit still indwells believers--His government expressed by these nine different "manifestations of the Spirit" are still valid. The nine manifestations are known as "the gifts of the Spirit". This topic is still at the forefront of hostile controversy in the church today. The gifts of the Spirit are:
- Word of wisdom
- Word of knowledge
- Faith
- Gifts of healing
- Working of miracles
- Prophecy
- Discerning of spirits
- Tongues
- Interpretation of tongues
The goal of this article is not to examine these gifts in detail. We only want to familiarize the reader with their existence so a proper study can be done at a later time.
Mystery Of The Baptism In The Holy Spirit (Pt. 2)
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