BAPTIZED IN THE SPIRIT



Mat. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:4-5; 11:16





  1. WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT IS BY UNDERSTANDING THE FOLLOWING CONCEPTS
    1. John's Analogy to Water Baptism Helps Us Understand
      1. John baptized
      2. John baptized in water
      3. Baptism in the Spirit is a figure of speech indicating power (Luke 24:49).
    2. Parallel Concepts in Luke 24 Helps Us Understand
      1. Both Luke 24 and Acts 1:4-5 mention the coming of the Spirit.
      2. Both Luke 24 and Acts 1:4-5 mention that the coming of the Spirit is the promise of the Father.
      3. Both Luke 24 and Acts 1:4-5 mention the coming of the Spirit would empower them to be faithful eyewitness.
    3. The Fulfillment of The Promise Helps Us Understand
      1. Power (Acts 2:1ff)
      2. Apostle bore witness (Acts 2:32).
      3. Fulfilled the promise of the Father (Acts 2:33)
    4. Three Basic Principles Help Us Understand
      1. Jesus is the only administrator (John 1:33). Therefore, could not be bestowed by the laying on of hands. Was not administered by the Holy Spirit.
      2. Baptism in the Spirit occurred on Pentecost (Acts 1:5). Any phenomenon found before Pentecost cannot be the baptism in the Spirit…. Any phenomenon after Pentecost identical to an event found before Pentecost cannot be the baptism in the Spirit.
      3. Examples of the baptism in the Spirit must be in accord with the one known example, Pentecost. If a proposed event contains more or less than that portrayed on Pentecost, it cannot be the baptism in the Spirit.


  2. AFTER 64 AD, ONLY ONE BAPTISM CONTINUED AMONG CHRISTIANS
    1. Paul declares only one existed in 64 AD (Eph. 4:4-6).
    2. The baptism that continued was water baptism (Mat. 28:18-20).


  3. BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT WAS NOT TO ACCOMPLISH
    1. Baptism in the Spirit was not to make them believers - were already believers in Christ before Pentecost (Mt 16:16-18).
    2. Baptism in the Spirit was not to fit them for water baptism - had already been baptized in water (Mt 3:11; Ac 1:26).
    3. Baptism in the Spirit was not to make them repent. John's baptism was preceded by repentance (Mk 1:4; Lk 3:3; Ac 19:4).
    4. Baptism in the Spirit was not to save them - were saved and out preaching salvation to the Jews for 3 1/2 years before Pentecost.
    5. Baptism in the Spirit was not to cleanse them. They were already clean (Jn 15:3). This was before Christ baptized them with the Holy Spirit.
    6. Baptism in the Spirit was not to put them into Christ - were already in Christ before Pentecost and exhorted to abide in Him (Jn 15:4-6).
    7. Baptism in the Spirit was not to bring them out of the world - were already "not of the world" (Jn 17:16). This was before Pentecost.
    8. Baptism in the Spirit was not to sanctify them. They were to be sanctified by the truth revealed through the Holy Spirit (Jn 17:17,19).
    9. Baptism in the Spirit was not to make them sinlessly perfect. The apostle John did not claim sinless perfection (1Jn 1:8-10).
    10. (Speaking from the viewpoint of the UPC who believe that Baptism in the Spirit is syn. with the gift of the Spirit) Baptism in the Spirit could not be unto the remission of sins, for the gift of the Spirit was to be received after receiving remission of sins in water baptism (Ac 2:38).


  4. PARTICULARS OF THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
    1. Baptism in the Spirit was administered by the Christ (Mt 3:11-12); therefore, could not be bestowed by the laying on of hands.
    2. Baptism in the Spirit was a promise (Ac 1:4-5)
    3. Baptism in the Spirit was promised unto the apostles (Ac 1:2-5; note the nouns and pronouns).
    4. Baptism in the Spirit came only upon the apostles on Pentecost.
      1. Note the nouns and pronouns (Ac 1:26-2:4)
      2. Came upon Galileans (Ac 2:7); angels called the apostles "Galileans" (Ac 1:9-11).
      3. Only "men" received (Ac 2:13).
    5. Peter stood with the "eleven" (Ac 2:14).
    6. Baptism in the Spirit is not the baptism of the Great Commission because the apostles administered it (Mt 28:18-19). Baptism in the Spirit never promised unto all the nations.