Baptism of the Spirit

If you have been a Christian for a significant length of time, you more than likely have heard of someone talking about being baptized with the Holy Ghost. They may tell you how they spoke in tongues of angels. How they broke out in holy laughter.

Since there is much mystery about the Holy Spirit, many strange teachings have come about as a result. We as humans are creatures of excess. Like a pendulum, we can believe strange teachings on one hand as well as being too conservative on the other hand.

Doctrines like this need to be handled carefully because our enemy Satan uses excess to divide churches.

My desire in talking about the baptism of the Spirit this morning will not be exhaustive. I hope to give some structure and helpful guidance to this wonderful doctrine.

Our passage reveals 3 facts about baptism. First, let’s look at the baptism of fire. Second, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, how does this look like for us today?

I hope to flesh this out with 3 facts about spiritual baptism in our passage. First, let’s look at the baptism of fire. Second, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, how does this look like for us today?

The Pentecostals and charismatics often talk about bringing down the fire from heaven. While their motives may be good, I believe they are in error when they point to a text like we have today as their proof text.

Starting in (15), the crowds in anticipation of the coming Messiah were starting to think that John was the promised one. John would have none of this talk. He plainly states that he is not the Messiah. But the one they should in fact expect is one who is mightier than him.

John reveals his humility in declaring that he is not worthy of even being the slave to untie the sandals of the Christ.

John seeks no glory for himself as the one who is preparing the way for Jesus. John states in the Apostle John’s gospel 3:30 “I must decrease, he must increase.” This should be a good example for all of us who preach and teach that we are always pointing to Jesus and how great and mighty he is. And how lowly we are as sinners saved by the grace of God.

John then goes on to say that the Christ will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Some have interpreted this “fire” to speaking in tongues like at Pentecost where what appeared “like” fire rested on the apostles. Others think this means God is a refining fire that purifies us. While God does this in his people in making us more like Jesus, this is not the meaning of baptism with fire.

Our charismatic friends would point to this text and say that this clearly reveals tongues come as a gift with the baptism of fire. But does it say that? What do we do with Paul’s teaching in where he asks “Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? Do all have gifts of healing?” Meaning the answer is of course not. So the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire cannot mean that you must speak in tongues.

So what is it then? What helps us to understand what the intent of the author is to understand the context. How does Luke used the term “fire” in this chapter? (9) has trees that do not bear good fruit are cut down and thrown into the “fire”. (17) speaks of the one who will come and separate the wheat from the chaff and burn the chaff in unquenchable “fire”.

The context of the use of “fire” is about judgement. So I am convinced that to be baptized with fire is to be cast into hell by Christ for rebelling against his way of salvation from sin’s debt. You do not want to be baptized with fire.

Now, what does it then mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit?

The first time we see talk of a Holy Spirit baptism was first prophesied by the prophet Joel in that the Lord will have pity on his people and will one day “pour” out his Spirit on all flesh. They will prophesy, dream dreams and see visions.

Our charismatic friends would point to this text and say that these gifts are the outward signs of what it means to be baptized by the Spirit. If this is so, what do we do with Paul’s teaching in where he asks “Do all speak with tongues? Do all prophecy? Do all have gifts of healing?” Meaning the answer is of course not. So the baptism of the Holy Spirit cannot mean that you must speak in tongues, or prophesy or have visions of the Lord.

Some would quote in that to be baptized with the Spirit is that you are now regenerated, or born again and now in Christ. This would have been the camp I was in. If this is the case, what do we say about all the OT saints? Are we to say they were not of the faith? Are we to say that the apostles were not regenerate until Pentecost? Of course not.

One Body with Many Members

What then does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? It obviously begins with Pentecost where the church age was birthed. Jesus says in , that the disciples were to wait in Jerusalem until the promise of the Father is fulfilled. Where the Holy Spirit will “baptize” you not many days from now. Paul refers to this baptism with the Spirit to be our union in the body of Christ in , .

[12] For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. [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.

To be baptized with the Holy Spirit is a new work of God in establishing the new covenant. You are unified to Jesus as his body and you “experience” supernatural power of the Spirit. In the Old Covenant, the Spirit worked in power but was limited to a few individuals in history and only with Israel. However, with the New Covenant, the Spirit would be poured on all flesh. Jews and Gentiles alike.

This graph from Wayne Grudem is helpful I believe. The thin grey line on the left points to the experience of the Spirit in the old covenant. The dotted lines indicate the supernatural work that the Spirit did even prior to Pentecost. The cross and gap after is leading up to the ascension of Christ and the command to wait in Jerusalem. After Pentecost there is a much greater work of the Spirit in the people of God indicated by the thick grey line. All believers now experience this supernatural power.

This is a metaphor to help us get a visual picture of who the Messiah is. Prophet, Priest and King. Those who truly repent and believe in the Messiah will be baptized with the Holy Spirit and brought into the Kingdom of Heaven. The Good Shepherd who gathers in the lost sheep into the sheepfold where he nurtures and keeps them safe from the evil one.

This supernatural power of the Spirit empowers us to witness to neighbours, to convict us and overcome sin, and to defeat Satan’s trickery and attacks. If a sinner repents and believes in Christ as his Saviour, he is now baptized with the Spirit in the New Covenant. He/she is now part of the body of Christ and experiences true holy resurrection power of God in their lives.

To be gathered into Christ’s barn means you are forever kept until your faith becomes sight. The Holy Spirit you are baptized in confirms that your salvation is secure.

Over 10 years ago, I would go to the lake with my brother in his diesel truck. Even pulling his heavy boat he would pass no problem because it had been chipped. When I bought my diesel truck a year later it seemed lethargic and not as spunky as his. Then I added a chip and well, the smile on my face was so wide you could fit a banana in sideways. OT saints for the most part were like the original diesel truck. NT saints after being baptized with the Spirit is like being chipped.

On the other side, when the injectors are plugged you can experience loss of power. NT believers also experience lack of holy zeal when there is unconfessed sin. This is why we want to daily confess our sins and desire for others to speak into our lives where we have blindspots so that we continues to bear good fruit of the Spirit.

Remember that it is Jesus who will baptize you. When you look at the upcoming passages the Spirit descends on Jesus after he is baptized by John and then he resists Satan’s temptation and returns in the “power” of the Spirit to Galilee (4:14). The Spirit that baptized Jesus is the same that Jesus baptizes us in the new covenant. Pretty cool stuff eh?

[13] In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

While there is much more we could say, we will have to leave it there for now. How does this baptism of the Holy Spirit help us in this new covenant life?

The gospel which is the good news about Jesus will cost you. Luke writes that John the Baptist exhorted the crowd with this good news. To exhort is to encourage and urge the listener to continue their walk with Jesus faithfully. To correct and strengthen the faith of the weak.

John is proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and this gets him into hot water.

The Hatred of the World

John the Baptist was given to Zechariah and Elizabeth for the mission of preparing the way of the Messiah. But he was filled with the Holy Spirit even in the womb (1:15). In proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, it gets him into hot water.

[18] “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (ESV)

For those who see their sin for what it is and repent, the good news about Jesus is truly good news in being saved from their condemnation. But for the unrepentant, those who continue to love their sin, this message is repulsive. It exposes their sin for what it is before a holy God.

[18] “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (ESV)

But

So we see this played out with Herod. He is supposed to lead righteously with the authority he was given. But he abused his power and got rid of his wife in order to take his brother Philip’s wife as his own. This was incest and a despicable act before God. When confronted by John to repent, he needed to be silenced. This wouldn’t be good for business if this lunatic kept pointing out his love for sin.

John was imprisoned and would later lose his head for speaking truth to a hard hearted man.

Throughout church history, to be a follower of Christ meant certain hardship and trials. Many were martyred, stoned, beaten and imprisoned for being unified to Christ. In , you can read how the apostles were teaching in the public square to repent and believe the gospel. The high priest at the time had them imprisoned and charged them not to speak this way. The apostles responded that they obey God and not man. This cost them a thorough beating and then released. How did they respond? They rejoiced and praised God for suffering for the name of Jesus. And they kept on teaching and preaching the gospel.

To be baptized with the Spirit means that as a Christian, you are empowered by God himself to be bold and share the good news. But the Spirit also brings you comfort and healing when you suffer for his name’s sake. As we mature in our faith, the Spirit progressively makes us holier because He is holy in us. The fleeting pleasures of this world become repulsive like the odour of death. The beauty of Christ becomes like the sweet fragrance of life.

Remember Paul’s words that the baptism of the Spirit is that we are made one in the body of Christ. He gives us each other and spiritual gifts to build one another up. We are empowered by God to help one another mature in the faith. The Spirit of Christ dwells in us to fulfill the Great Commission. “I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”

If you are wondering whether you are truly experiencing this power of God, call out to God. Ask him to fill you with his Spirit to live the godly life you desire. Ask for increased love and grace for unbelievers so that you can share the gospel. This has helped me greatly. Give thanks to God for how he helps you.

Now as we turn our attention to the Lord’s Supper, let us be reminded of what the Lord has done for us. We have talked much about the new covenant power of the Spirit that lives in us who trust in Jesus as our Saviour. Let us remember how Jesus body was broken in our place by eating the bread of life. Let us remember the blood poured out of our Saviour on the cross in establishing this new covenant that we now enjoy.

Let us pause and reflect on the goodness and kindness of God in sending his Son to forgive our sins and promise us eternal life.

Fence off table. Children observe as this is no treat.

[23] For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Let us pause and reflect on the goodness and kindness of God in sending his Son to forgive our sins and promise us eternal life.

Fence off table. Children observe as this is no treat.

[25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (ESV)

[23] For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

[25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (ESV)

Let us pause and reflect on the goodness and kindness of God in sending his Son to forgive our sins and promise us eternal life.

Fence off table. Children observe as this is no treat.

[23] For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

[25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (ESV)

Baptism of the Spirit

Baptism of the Spirit.

Point #1 - Are we baptized with the Spirit and fire?

Point #2 - Baptism of the Spirit comes in the New Covenant.

Point #3 - The gospel is costly.