Understanding Baptism and the Holy Spirit

Understanding Baptism and the Holy Spirit

Or, “Understanding the Baptism in the Holy Spirit”

This video is my newest update on this issue** everything else written underneath the video is OLD, outdated, and do not accurately represent what I believe on this issue. Watch the video! 

The “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” is oftentimes a commonly misunderstood concept. To mainstream evangelicals, this baptism usually refers to the point of conversion, where the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to those who have come to be in Christ. On the other hand, those of a charismatic background may think that this baptism refers to the empowering of the Holy Spirit as a post-conversion event, usually accompanied with spiritual gifts. Oftentimes this so-called “controversial” topic brings forth debate, yet, it really isn’t controversial at all. This article will present to you – with solid biblical evidence – what the Lord’s baptism means.

To begin with, the reason why all the controversy is absolutely unnecessary and unneeded is because oftentimes both sides of the spectrum think that baptism related with the Holy Spirit is meant to be referred to the same thing – whereas that is not true! There are two types of supernatural baptisms which are not in conflict with each other, and inasmuch as how that may sound wrong, that is solidly presented in the infallible Word of God! The Coming of the Holy Spirit, with reference to Acts 2, written by physician Luke, refers to (1) divine empowerment of the Spirit. On the other hand, consistent within Pauline writings, baptism refers to (2) the point of conversion. Yet, this article will firstly proceed on talking about baptism in accordance to what Paul meant. Lastly, four criteria will be provided to distinguish the differences between the two types of baptisms: (A) Baptizer, (B) Subject one is baptized into, (C) Significance, (D) Event.

(2) Holy Spirit’s Baptism

In Saul of Tarsus’ epistles to Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome, he was consistent in his definition of baptism related with the Holy Spirit. So, what did Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Ephesians 4:4-6, and Romans 6:1-11?

Let’s begin with 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. “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. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body (that is, Jesus Christ’s)—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” Using the criteria mentioned above, the baptizer mentioned in the passage is the (A) Holy Spirit, and we are baptized into (B) Jesus Christ.

The next question is, what does it mean to be baptized into Christ? The passage in Romans 6 gives us a clear answer. It is written: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ... For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him… So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (6:3-11) To be baptized into Christ, in other words, to have died with Christ, signifies that we are (C) new creations in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17), and thus this baptism refers to (D) the point of conversion – which is also known as the baptism in/into the Name of Jesus Christ! When one is saved – which the person will believe with one’s heart that Jesus is Savior and confess with one’s mouth that He is Lord (Romans 10:9), and that statement comes from the indwelling of Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 John 4:2) – that person is new in Christ and is part of His body. This is why Ephesians 4:5 writes that there is one body (that of Christ), one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism – which also refers to the point of conversion. Thus, whenever Paul mentions about baptism into Christ he is referring to conversion (1 Corinthians 1:13; Galatians 3:27) there is consistency with the Pauline writings in regard to baptism.

When one is saved in Christ, the Holy Spirit – who baptizes the person into Christ – will indwell in that person. We can see that from Acts 2:38, which states that when one is baptized in the Name of Jesus, they will receive the gift, the indwelling, of the Holy Spirit.

(1)  Baptism in (into) the Spirit

People (likely conservative evangelicals and definitely cessationists) who do not believe in the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” as a post-conversion event would likely attempt to interpret Acts 2:1-13 based on what I wrote above, that is, the Spirit of the Lord comes down at one’s conversion. Yes, the Spirit does come upon one when one believes in Christ as one's Lord and Savior. Yet, the problem this flawed interpretation is that Christ’s disciples were clearly saved before Acts 2, and the Holy Spirit had indwelled in them (John 20:22)! If the criminal on the cross next to Christ was declared with: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), obviously he was a believer! Thus, because Christ had died for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) as His grace brings salvation to all people (Titus 2:11), it is factual to say that the believers of Christ, His disciples, were saved too. And with that being mentioned, what took place in Acts 2:1-13, foretold by Christ in Acts 1:4-5, was indubitably a post-conversion event. In fact, even when Christ said: “you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now”, the hearers (disciples) were saved and were already Christians. They have been converted. Therefore, it is impossible for that argument to stand.

But in order to understand the baptism in the Holy Spirit to the fullest extent, we must go back to what Christ said in the Gospels because Christ is also consistent with His language. When Christ said in Acts 1:4-5 that His disciples will be baptized in the Spirit – not in/into His Name or His Body – it should be consistent in the Gospels as well, and that is proven as true as we see this consistency in each Gospel account.

Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, and John 1:33 are all versed exactly the same as Acts 1:4-5 – which states that (A) Christ will baptize us in the (B) Holy Spirit. Most modern English versions translate those verses with “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit”, but in Greek and literal translations, such as the ASV, the ‘with’ is actually ‘in’ ("en" – in Greek).

Hence, Acts 2:1-13 is the significance of this type of supernatural baptism. Those who are baptized by Christ in the Spirit are (C) divinely and supernaturally empowered to be witnesses to the ends of the earth for Christ and His Everlasting Kingdom (1:7-8) – just as how the Messiah Jesus Christ was in the power of the Spirit as He began His ministry in Galilee after being tempted (Luke 4:14). The example in Acts depicts the coming of the Spirit alongside spiritual gifts, predominantly with tongues and prophesy. Yet, I personally believe that the baptism of the Spirit will be accompanied with spiritual gifts but not necessarily with tongues, as in how some Pentecostals may think that tongues is the sign of experiencing this baptism. This is stated because apart from tongues, I believe that Peter and the early apostles were spiritually empowered with the spiritual gift of faith as well (1 Corinthians 12:9), evident from how they were boldly proclaiming the Good News of Christ and performing signs and wonders.

Nonetheless, the event (D) is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Yet, I do not believe this baptism is purely a one-time experience for us nowadays, because there is a colossal difference in terms of its impact in Acts 2 and its impact today. When Christ baptized His apostles into the Spirit 2000 years ago, it was massively impactful and significant because it was the sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit onto the Church. It was a one-time thing. Yet, in today’s context, because the Spirit has been poured out to all, I would say that when we experience divine fillings and empowerments of the Holy Spirit, especially when it has the biblically mentioned characteristics, it is still technically categorized as the baptism in the Spirit, but not to the extent of Acts 2.

Lastly, if you look into Acts 8:14-17, it is written that the believers in Samaria had already been baptized into the Name of the Lord Jesus (8:16), which signified that they were saved and the Spirit of the Lord was already indwelling in them for they have died with Christ and it is Christ who now lives in them. Yet, when the apostles laid their hands on them, the Spirit came upon them (8:17). This part of Scripture is key evidence to show that the baptism in the Spirit as a post-conversion event that did not only take place on the apostles – which is proof that the same baptism in the Spirit takes place to the church to this day (despite its significance is still different from that in Acts 2 on the first apostles of Christ).

Can one be baptized into Christ and the Spirit at the same time?

If you look into Acts 10:1-11:18, you’ll see that the gentiles simultaneously received the baptism in Christ as well as the baptism in the Spirit. This is also further evident from Peter’s report to the Jerusalem church in Acts 11:1-18 and Acts 19:1-6.

In Acts 10:44-48, the Holy Spirit was poured out onto the Gentiles while Peter preached the Good News, and they began to speak in tongues – signifying the baptism in the Spirit. Yet, while they were filled with the Spirit, Peter commanded them to be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, marking their conversion into the Body of Christ. In fact, even though Cornelius and perhaps those closely associated with him (such as the devout soldier whom he sent for Peter – Acts 10:7) feared the Lord and prayed continually to Him (10:2), that did not mean they were Christian. The entire story of Acts 10 was to evoke how the Gentiles can be Christian like the Jews – as it is written in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

In apostle Peter’s report to the church in Jerusalem (Acts 11:1-11), we have clearer evidence which shows that the Gentiles were not saved even when the angel of the Lord spoke to Cornelius. In Acts 11:14, Peter recounts Cornelius’ encounter with the angel: “And he (Cornelius) told us (the apostles) how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’” And his report signifies that Cornelius was not saved despite his good intentions and desire to seek the Lord. In verse 15, Peter continues by saying: “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.” Thus, from Acts 11:14-15 we can see that Cornelius and his household were saved only when Peter preached to them in Acts 10:9-33 – indicating that as they were baptized into Christ, they also received the baptism in the Spirit as they spoke in tongues (Acts 10:45-46). Furthermore, in Acts 19, the disciples of John the Baptist and not of Christ also received the baptism in Holy Spirit when they were baptized into the Name of Jesus Christ.

So, since concrete biblical examples which shows that one can be baptized into Christ and baptized into the Spirit simultaneously, we have no reason to believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit cannot take place simultaneously at conversion. But at the same time, there is also biblical evidence to guarantee that it may not take place simultaneously.

Summary

Conclusion:

All in all, there are 2 types of spiritual baptisms – one conducted by the Spirit into Christ, and the other by Christ into the Spirit. The infallible, inerrant, and incorrupt Word of God has clearly distinguished these 2 types of baptisms and they are never meant to be converged or mistaken as one. For some of you, baptism in the Holy Spirit (or “Baptism of the Holy Spirit”, as to how it is usually unbiblically phrased) may sound sketchy, especially if you have not heard or experienced it before. But we should not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19), rather, test every spirit (1 John 4:1). Let us not fear an experience that is purely biblical and meant for our own good, as God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). Therefore, I pray that you will understand what baptism means in its different biblical contexts. And more importantly, just as how Paul wrote that we should desire spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31), I earnestly pray that we would desire to be constantly filled with the supernatural presence of the Holy Spirit so that we would be His witnesses and demonstrate the supernatural lifestyle of heaven on earth. Let us also remember that the baptism in the Spirit is the Lord’s act of empowerment. It is biblically proven that this baptism could take place through the laying of hands (Acts 8:17, 19:6; 1 Timothy 4:14 cf. Acts 19:6; 2 Timothy 1:6-7). But inasmuch as we are called to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), we must not forget to try our utmost best in conducting ourselves in a manner that worthy of the Gospel (Philippians 1:27) and controlling our bodies in a way that is holy and honorable (1 Thessalonians 4:4) – as vessels of honorable use (2 Timothy 2:21) for Christ and His Eternal Kingdom.


PS: Compare this article with other Christian apologetical websites regarding the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit".