The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Introduction

Yet another ministry of the Holy Spirit distinctive to the local church era is baptizing those who believe. John the Baptist prophesied such baptism, not Old Testament prophets.

Matthew 3:11 KJV 1900

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion surrounding this ministry of the Holy Spirit. Let’s start there.

Confusion Concerning the Spirit’s Baptizing

Why the confusion?

Most of the confusion starts with how people view and interpret the church as the body of Christ. Regrettably, the majority of Bible teachers today teach a universal church concept. As you know, I am not one of those in that camp. I contend that each use of the word “ekklesia” is in the context of a local body of believers and, as such, is a constant reference to a local church, not a universal one. This misconceived interpretation of a universal church has led to a false interpretation of what we know as the body of Christ. Consequently, those who hold a universal church concept also carry a universal body of Christ view as well. To better understand this confusion, let’s consider the context in which the phrase “body of Christ” is used or inferred.

Romans 12:3–8 KJV 1900

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Note the key verse is verse 5.

Romans 12:5 KJV 1900

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

A quick exegetical study of this verse reveals what we already know and understand. The word “body” literally means the entire physical makeup of a person, which contains each physical instrument of the body both inwardly and outwardly. Thus, in this context, the church is the “body” of Christ.

Here is another passage concerning the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:24–27 KJV 1900

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Again, the key verse is verse 27. Just like in Romans 12:5, the word “body” has the same Greek word in the original manuscripts as found here. And, once again, it is used in a very similar context, stating that the church is the body of Christ.

Other passages which use the term “body of Christ” or something similar are...

Ephesians 1:22–23 KJV 1900

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 4:11–16 KJV 1900

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Colossians 1:24 KJV 1900

24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Colossians 2:16–19 KJV 1900

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Now, consider again my initial statement. Confusion about the Spirit’s baptism rests on how you interpret the local church as the body of Christ. If you hold to a universal church concept, you automatically have to accept that this mystic universal church is the body of Christ. However, to take such a view, in my own opinion based on my own personal study of Scripture, you must completely ignore the facts of the word “ekklesia” and the context in which it is predominately used.

Let me explain.

The word “ekklesia” is a compound word with two parts. It contains a Greek prefix and a Greek verb. The prefix is “ek” meaning “out of.” The verb is “kaleos” meaning “to call.” Thus, it means “to call out of.”

Additionally, this word was historically used in one context and one context only. Within Greek and Roman societies, this word was used exclusively for any body of citizens who were called out of their respective town, city, or state and who gathered together in one place to decide and discuss the state of affairs in their respective localities. It has no other use outside of this.

Consequently, when Christ used the word “ekklesia,” which translated as “church,” He was referring to the body of believers that were called out of Israel at that time, of which He would establish a new instrument to reach the world. Such a body of called-out believers would be empowered by Him to the point that the gates of Hell would not be able to prevail or stop it.

Thus, as you continue studying the entire New Testament from that moment on, you find the word “ekklesia” or “church” used in the context of a local body of called-out believers from a particular locality.

Here are some examples.

Romans 12:5 KJV 1900

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Compared to...

Romans 1:7 KJV 1900

7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is another example.

1 Corinthians 12:27 KJV 1900

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV 1900

2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Again, here is an example.

Ephesians 1:23 KJV 1900

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 1:1 KJV 1900

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

One last example to solidify my point.

Colossians 1:24 KJV 1900

24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Colossians 1:2 KJV 1900

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let me note this last verse.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 KJV 1900

1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

My point is simple. Every verse listing the word “church” is in the context of a local body of believers in a specific locality. I could continue this argument all day, but we don’t have that time. So, let it suffice that the word “ekklesia” or “church” is not used for a mystical, universal body of believers. Instead, it is used in a local context. Consequently, the body of Christ must be each local church with Christ as its Head, and we, who are members of that local church, His feet, hands, and arms. Additionally, in each place where the local church is referenced as the body of Christ, the emphasis is on serving Christ using the spiritual gifts and abilities He has given us.

Why is this important? As I stated, one’s interpretation of the Spirit’s baptism starts with understanding the local church and the body of Christ. Most who accept a universal church theory contend that the baptizing of the Holy Spirit is the action by which they are baptized into His body.

Another point of confusion is water baptism. As we know, water baptism is an ordinance given to the local church. Whenever a person believes in Christ accepting Him as their PERSONAL Savior, they are encouraged to take the first step of obedience - baptism through immersion into and out of water. However, an overemphasis on water baptism has obscured and, in some cases, obliterated this wonderful ministry of the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Spirit. Too often, the two baptisms are not distinguished, and the great truth of Spirit baptism is lost. For many, it becomes equated with water baptism. There is a big difference.

Another way the baptism of the Spirit is often confused is its association with some Pentecostal teachings. Pentecostals teach that the baptism of the Spirit is a “second blessing.” Additionally, they teach that the experience of speaking in tongues is outward evidence of a person having been baptized in the Spirit.

May I say that, in Scripture, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the filling of the Holy Spirit are two completely different ministries of the Spirit. An added confusion to the Spirit’s baptism is a false teaching concerning the filling of the Holy Spirit. There are many who teach a “filling-baptism” that comes after conversion and that certain believers can achieve such a supernatural experience. It considers baptism as an infilling for special power.

Now, the lack of clarity and the great amount of confusion often are innocent. They often come because people are true students of Scripture. Unfortunately, too often, these poorly studied and misguided misconceptions are promoted, and too many unlearned and laze believers fall for them. In doing so, they often miss one of the most important truths involving our union with Christ and how it becomes a solid basis for spiritual growth.

Characteristics of The Spirit’s Baptizing

Only Operates in this Dispensation

If you are unfamiliar with Dispensational Theology, let me introduce it as briefly as I can.

Dispensational theology is a system of interpreting the Bible that divides history into distinct periods, or dispensations, during which God interacts with humanity differently. It emphasizes a literal interpretation of Scripture and distinguishes between Israel and the local church.Key beliefs include:

Distinct dispensations: History is divided into 6 periods: innocence (time between creation and the fall of man), conscience (time from the fall of man until the law), law (time from the giving of the law until Christ’s first coming), grace (time from the first coming of Christ until the millennial kingdom and includes the time of the local church as God’s ordained institution), and the millennium.

Literal interpretation: The Bible is interpreted literally, including prophecies about Israel and the end times.

Israel and the Local Church: Israel and the local church are separate entities with distinct roles in God's plan.

Pre-tribulation rapture: Believers will be raptured before a seven-year tribulation period.

Millennial kingdom: Christ will reign on earth for a thousand years after the tribulation.

Dispensationalism is often compared to covenant theology, which emphasizes continuity between the Old and New Testaments. While both are evangelical perspectives, they differ in their interpretation of Israel's role and the timing of end-time events.

So when I say that this ministry of the Holy Spirit, His baptism, occurs in this dispensation, I mean that it is only for the age of grace, aka the local church age.

As for a timeline, this is how I see it.

Matthew 16:18 - Christ establishes the local church.

Matthew 16:18 KJV 1900

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

John 20:22 - Christ imparts His Spirit to His disciples.

John 20:22 KJV 1900

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Acts 1:4-5 - Christ promises the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost

Acts 1:4–5 KJV 1900

4 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. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Acts 2:1-6 - The disciples were baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit enabling them to demonstrate and affirm that they indeed had His Spirit within them and proved that they were baptized by Him.

Acts 2:1–6 KJV 1900

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

As we will see later, each person who believes receives the Holy Spirit and is baptized into God’s kingdom and family in that same moment. This thought brings us to our next point.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is...

Experienced by All Believers in this Dispensation

Three facts in Scripture support this. Let’s start with the Scriptural proof found in 1 Corinthians 12.

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 KJV 1900

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

We have already established that this was written for a local body of believers in a specific location. They were known as a church. God specifically states this church, like all other local churches, is the body of Christ. What is interesting about this local church, the church of Corinth, is that it was filled with believers in many different stages of their spiritual growth. As such, a variety of spiritual conditions existed in this church. There were carnal as well as spiritual believers. Yet, despite the carnality of some, they were “all baptized into one body.”

Another interesting observation about the baptism of the Holy Spirit is that Scripture never says that an individual is to be baptized with the Spirit. Each instance indicates the same fact as this verse in 1 Corinthians: All believers are already baptized in the Spirit. Thus, they do not need to be baptized since it has already occurred at the time of their salvation.

Another Scriptural proof is Ephesians 4:5

Ephesians 4:5 KJV 1900

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Now, this verse does not indicate which baptism. Is this about water baptism or the Spirit’s baptism? I would contend that this speaks of the Spirit’s baptism. You might ask, “Why not water baptism?” I would argue that whether or not a person is properly baptized would not prevent them from being a part of God’s family. The only requirement for God’s family or His kingdom is belief. God rewards true belief. Those rewards include His Spirit indwelling us and the Spirit baptizing us into His family. By the way, the only way into God’s family is through one faith (belief) in one Lord, who is Jesus Christ, resulting in a one-time baptism of the Spirit.

Thus, Scripture provides three facts that prove that all believers in this dispensation experience the Spirit’s baptism. According to 1 Corinthians, all are baptized into one body, including carnal believers. The idea that all believers experience the baptism of the Spirit is accepted, and no believer is instructed to be baptized in the Spirit. Last, we are all of one Lord, faith, and baptism.

Another characteristic of the Spirit’s baptism is that it...

Occurs at Salvation and Is Not Repeated Thereafter

Nowhere in Scripture do we find a repeated baptism of the Holy Spirit. In fact, we just noted that in each instance, it is mentioned the assumption is that it already occurred. Thus, we can conclude that it occurs at salvation and is not repeated thereafter.

Consequences of the Spirit’s Baptism

We are Joined to Christ’s Body

The first consequence concerns our union with Christ Himself, affecting our responsibility to the local church.

There are several great truths about the body of Christ and a believer.

Romans 6:4 KJV 1900

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Note that as Christ was buried and raised from the dead, our faith in Christ means we are also risen with Him. This is a great truth stating that we have new spiritual and eternal life in Him.

1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV 1900

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Due to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we not only have a new life but also a new purpose. We are all part of a local church in which we can use our spiritual gifts to see others come to know Christ and help others grow in their own spiritual lives in Christ.

Thus, Christ's baptism not only joins us to His body, creating this wonderful union with Him, but it also serves as the basis for helping other believers and striving to maintain unity within the local church.

Ephesians 4:5 KJV 1900

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Another consequence is that His baptism...

Personifies Our Co-Crucifixion with Christ

Romans 6:1-10 is a lengthy passage about this very thing. The entire passage answers this one question. Since we are under grace and no longer under the law, is it okay to sin? The short answer is no. However, in the long answer, the Spirit utilizes the fact that we are baptized with Jesus Christ. As such, the baptism of the Holy Spirit becomes the actualization of our baptism in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Consequently, our old man is “crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Instead, we, through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, aka our baptism with Christ, frees us from sin and gives us a “newness of life” in which we can serve righteousness and not sin. Thus, it is not okay for us to sin; we are freed from sin, according to verse 7.

Another verse that corresponds with these verses in Romans 6 is Colossians 2:12.

Colossians 2:10–12 KJV 1900

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Here, we find the same principle. We can put off the body of the sins of the flesh because it has been cut off (circumcised). Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we are buried and risen with Christ and are able now to live a life completely different from the one before we placed our faith in God's operation of resurrection.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a profound and often misunderstood aspect of the Christian faith. It is a unique ministry of the Spirit that is specific to the age of grace, the church age. This baptism is not a subsequent experience after salvation but an integral part of the process.

When people believe in Christ, they are forgiven of their sins and baptized by the Holy Spirit, joining them to the body of Christ. This baptism signifies a spiritual death to sin and a resurrection to a new life in Christ. It empowers believers to live a life of righteousness and to fulfill their God-given purposes.

Understanding the true nature of the Spirit's baptism is crucial for a deeper walk with Christ. It reminds us of our union with Him and our calling to live a life that glorifies God.