JD Abshire

Baptism in and of the Holy Spirit is synonymous with the indwelling of and receiving the Holy Spirit as scripture will reveal. 
 
We know from scripture that the Comforter or Holy Spirit did not indwell but was “with” believers prior to the resurrection. Christ clearly stated this in John 14:17 “.......... for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

A bodily Indwelling of the Holy Spirit would not occur until after the resurrection. Christ declared this truth in John 16:7. “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.”

Believers who died prior to the resurrection did not possess the indwelling Holy Spirit. The pre and post resurrection disposition of these departed saints is explained in Ephesians 4:8-9 where he led captivity captive.

A careful study of the scripture shows that Christ never preached his death, burial and resurrection to the multitudes. Although he told the disciples they did not understand the meaning. (Mark 9:9-10; 32; 45, Luke 9:43-45, John 20:9) Simply, it was not a requirement for salvation. However, after the resurrection it became imperative.

After Christ’s resurrection there were obviously living believers who had previously come to a saving knowledge of the Lord through John the Baptist’s ministry and later through Christ’s personal ministry. These were baptized unto repentance and a belief that Jesus Christ is The Son of God, The Messiah. This is referred to as "John's baptism" The disciples themselves were among such believers who later received the Holy Spirit directly from The Lord (John 20:22).

Many in Samaria came to saving faith most likely as a result of Christ’s ministry first hand or through testimony of the unnamed woman at the well of Sychar. (John 4:6-41).

In fulfillment of The Lord’s commissioning in Acts 1:8, the apostles went to Samaria after hearing that the Samaritans had received the Word of God. (Acts 8:14-16.)

v. 14 “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:”
v. 15 “Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:”
v.16 “(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)”
v.17 “Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”

In v. 16 “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” is the same as “John’s baptism”. Very simply these could not be indwelled until after the resurrection.This is also proof that in this post resurrection era true salvation requires that one believe in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection in order to receive the Holy Spirit, not just in the name of Jesus Christ.

 A very similar occurrence is found in Acts 19:2-6

v.2 “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.”
v.3 "And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.” 
v.4 "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."
v.5 "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
v.6 “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”

Further proof is found in Acts 10:34-44. Prior to Peter’s arrival at Cornelius’ home in Caesarea he and his family although chosen by God were unsaved. After hearing the Gospel, the Holy Spirit fell on them and they spoke in tongues while Peter was still preaching. 
Cornelius and his family were immediately “gifted” with the ability to speak in tongues. There was no lapse in time or additional steps necessary. Acts 2:4

December 17 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The baptism of the Holy Spirit may be defined as that work whereby the Spirit of God places the believer into union with Christ and into union with other believers in the body of Christ at the mome...

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July 01 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Anthony Clinton Teacher in China

The Baptism into the Holy Spirit is a vastly different experience to being Born of the Holy Spirit. Firstly because one comes by the function of the Holy Spirit the other was to come by the second person of the trinity, The Son of God.
1Cor 12:13, and John 3:8, is the operation of the Holy Spirit giving the born again experience to believers. So what is the difference? John 1:33 tells us Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit while 1Cor 12:13 says the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the Body of Christ. This distinction can be clearly seen in Acts 8. The wind of the Holy Spirit was giving birth to the Samaritans as they believed in Christ and were baptized. They were Baptized by One Spirit into the Body of Christ. Now as yet the Apostles had not heard of the rebirths of those believers and eventually they heard of it and came down to Samaria and laid hands upon them to receive the second experience, called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. So they were first Baptized into the Body of Christ by believing the Word Preached by the Evangelist Philip and then they were baptized in the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the apostles hands.

Act 8:14.The apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had received the word of God, so they sent Peter and John to them. 
Act 8:15.When they arrived, they prayed for the believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 
Act 8:16.For the Holy Spirit had not yet come down on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 
Act 8:17.Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 

This is very important to note because it is clear that when the Holy Spirit gives birth to a person anywhere on the planet they don’t need anyone to lay hands upon them ever. But often the gifts imparted to leadership grant them special faith to lay hands upon Christians to receive the second experience called “The Baptism In The Holy Spirit”.
John 1:10-13 show that the rebirth performed by the Holy Spirit had already happened to the apostles before Pentecost. When Jesus told them to wait for the promise of the Father, they were already his children. But that does not mean because they were born again they have this second powerful experience automatically. With some they did receive it almost at the same time as their rebirth but the Samaritans and other’s received it well after they were born again.
The evidence for the second experience was the gifts of the Spirit and they were promised with that second experience called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit to all that God called near and far.
Act 2:39.For God's promise was made to you and your children, and to all who are far away---all whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

 The promise made to all of believers but why is it a fact that though many are born again they do not have the second experience? Well faith comes by hearing Bible Truth and if some believe false teachings about it, they will doubt it and never experience it. All the blessings available in the New Covenant can be received by those Christians who truly exercise faith. 
Luk 11:13 As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Note that Jesus taught that those who continually ask, seek, and knock, will experience the Holy Spirit second experience. Firstly in this Scripture it says “How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to you who ask” So it is Born again Children of God that ask for the Holy Spirit. 
In summery the persons that are truly God’s children may ask to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit and the powerful gifts of the Holy Spirit will be evidenced. 
Act 1:8.But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

December 17 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Salem Markus Purba

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is teaching all of those who have been baptized of the water, to obey everything Jesus has commanded us (Matthew 28: 19-20) 

It is the fulfillment of the prophesy through prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36: 25-32).

July 09 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report