THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism.  Eph. 4:4, 5

 Given this verse, it is clear there is but one, single baptism.  Yet, the New Testament also teaches this: 

1.     A baptism in water, Acts 8:38

2.     A baptism in the Holy Spirit, Matt. 3:11

3.     A baptism into Jesus Christ, Rom. 6:3

So the question becomes:  Which is the one baptism?  We could say that the first two without the latter would be insufficient.  The one baptism must be the baptism into Christ— 

[F]or all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.—Gal. 3:27

We might also conclude this: 

• Water baptism is the earthly witness
• Holy Spirit is the heavenly witness

…of this great one baptism.

By these two witnesses—human and Divine—the wonderful spiritual truth of our union with Christ is established as fact.  By the Spirit we are first baptized into Christ, and then by Christ we are baptized with the Spirit. 

1.         The Implications 

Baptism into Christ carries several implications.  It implies: 

(1)  Death.  Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?—Rom. 6:3 

This is no mere figure of speech, but a spiritual reality.  Paul also said in Galatians 2:20—

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

(2)  Burial.  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.—Rom. 6:4

This is not referring simply to a burial in water, but into death, that is, into the death of Christ.  This “death to self” is essential so that your old nature can be buried and done away with.

(3)  Resurrection.  [H]aving been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.—Col. 2:12

There can be no resurrection without death first!  To be risen with Christ is the proof that we have died with Him.  Note Philippians 3:10 (in reverse order)—

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

(4)  Likeness.  [F]or all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.—Gal. 3:27

If we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.  Our likeness to His resurrection will just be according to the measure of our likeness in His death.

(5)  Unity.

By one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body.  All baptized into Christ are members of the one Body, and so are all one in Him.  We may not all say the same creeds or practice our worship in the same way, but all believers are one in Christ.

2.  Truths About Spirit Baptism

The baptism of the Holy Spirit, like conversion, is not experienced the same way by all believers.  To some, the assurance of salvation may come suddenly, to others it may be a gradual revelation.  Some can tell the very day and time when they received the promise of the Spirit.  Others can only say, “Once I was weak, now I am strong…”  And there are many believers who seem to be content to  know nothing at all about the present, personal and powerful working of the Spirit in their lives.

The following points represent the NT’s truth regarding this baptism—

The Baptizer

I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.—Matt. 3:11

To Him alone we must look for this mighty blessing.  This great gift to believers is the fruit of His humiliating and death. We are to seek Christ—more of Christ—and as we grow deeper in our relationship with Him; the blessing of the Spirit will come.

The Promise

“For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”—Acts 1:5

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”—Acts 2:38, 39

This is a promise just as much as the promise of salvation is.  And, moreover, this promise has been called the second part of salvation. It was not enough that the sons of Aaron were washed, they had to be anointed.

The Fulfillment

In Acts 2:16 we have a confirmation that the coming of the Holy Spirit into believers personally is a fulfillment of a prophecy from the OT prophet Joel.  It was a fulfillment of their own experience of salvation. 

The Necessity

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”  They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”—Acts 19:2

The need of this gift and the necessity of knowing that we have received it are plainly implied here.  We know that “No man can call Jesus Lord but by the Spirit,” but something different is meant here, and that something is vitally important to every believer.

[W]ould God that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!—Exodus 11:29

The Condition

You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.—Psalm 45:7

This love and hate is the fruit of an open, honest heart before God.  If God is loved with the whole heart, then sin will be hated just as strongly. 

“‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.  I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.—Ezek. 36:24—27

Separation and restoration preceded the holy sprinkling.

The Evidence

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned.—2 Cor. 6:4—6

The presence and power of the Holy Spirit is the insignia by which man is known to a believer.  If this is lacking he can speak as one not having authority, according to 2 Cor. 10:18—

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

The Result

Reading through the book of Acts, you can see the marvelous results of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Not only were they filled with the Spirit, they were clothed with power! 

3.         The Effects of the Baptism

When one is baptized in the Holy Spirit, there will be evidence to be seen.  There will be a deeper humility, because of a deeper sense of helplessness and unworthiness.  A more holy sobriety, because there will b e a keener consciousness of easily the Spirit may be grieved.  There will be that calm earnestness that flows out of a true and solemn heart, in which the living Word of God burns as a fire.  Not the enthusiasm of a pompous harangue of eloquent words, but the glowing respirations of a soul filled with the presence of the power of God.  This anointing is not put upon man’s flesh (our sinful nature), for that would only puff him up in pride, but upon the mitred head of the consecrated new creature in Christ. 

The Spirit was not given until Christ was glorified, and until we are prepared to glorify Him at any cost we will not experience this baptism of the Spirit.  This is, I believe, the main reason why so many believers have yet to experience it.  Christ is not yet exalted to throne of their heart.

Here is a partial list of some of the prominent results that are sure to follow this spiritual baptism—

Amazement

Acts 2:7—12.  When the Spirit fell, everybody who saw them were amazed and wondered what was going on.  Here was an event none could deny, but they couldn’t understand it either.  The natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10—16).  When a person is baptized in the Spirit, his speech and his preaching will not be with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.  If the Spirit is there, He will demonstrate His own presence. 

Glory to God

1 Peter 4:14 tells us that when the Spirit rests upon a believer, the believer will glorify Him.  Though the world may come against that believer, he will count it all joy for God is glorified in his life. 

Continual Fellowship

1 John 2:27 and John 14:6 indicates that the anointing (the Spirit) will always be with us and in us.  Our fellowship with the Father and the Son will be real and continual if we abide in full communion with the Holy Spirit.  In 1 Samuel 16:2 we read that the prophet anointed David and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David “from that day onward.” 

Holy Boldness

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.—Acts 4:13

“For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”—4:20

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.—Judges 6:30—34 

Powerful Testimony

Acts 4:31—33 indicates that along with the Holy Spirit, believers were filled with “great power” that enabled them to be more effective witnesses.  Our power for God will be in proportion as we are co-workers together with the Holy Spirit. 

Mighty Works

The Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson and he performed wonders, Judges 14:16.  When we are filled with the Spirit we also are capable of doing mighty works for God. 

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.—John 14:12—18

The Comforter has been given, the Holy Spirit has come, and mighty works of faith accompany those who have been baptized in the Spirit.