Baptism of the Holy Spirit
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Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Christine Kanis
Liberty University Online - BIBL 364-D12
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
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Baptism of the Holy Spirit is often a common debate among denominations in the church.
The Bible is clear about it; the apostle Paul used it as one of his main arguments to prove that we
are all united in Christ. It’s an experience separate from salvation. Once we call upon and give
our lives to Christ, the Holy Spirit comes and baptizes us with a new boldness and signs,
including speaking in tongues. Our pastors and elders can water baptize us and that is an outward
expression of faith, displaying our burial and resurrection with Christ. Being baptized in the
Spirit, comes with fire, it comes with a newness to do what Christ has called us to do.
We see multiple times throughout the book of Acts that many disciples were filled with the Spirit
and continued preaching the gospel regardless of their circumstances. Paul says that one Spirit
baptizes us all.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is an empowering for service that takes place in the life of
the Christian. In it we are immersed in the Spirit's life and power. Acts 1:5 states, “John baptized
with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
“For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy
Spirit” (Acts 1:5). This promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4); for the first
time, the Holy Spirit permanently indwelt people, and the church had begun. When Jesus has his
ministry on earth, He was filled with the Spirit. We are told in Romans 8:11 that the same Spirit
that raised Jesus Christ from the grave dwells inside of us. We are empowered through the Spirit
to receive the mystery of heaven. Through us, the Holy Spirit preforms healings and miracles.
We are also given gifts from Baptism of the Holy Spirit such as speaking and tongues and
prophesying. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “But we have all been baptized into one body by one
Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.” We are all baptized into the same Spirit. We are baptized
into the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is what makes us a unified church. It doesn’t
matter what race, ethnicity, occupation or economic status, when God the Father sees us, He sees
us as His beloved Son.
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It is impossible to follow God unless the Spirit doesn’t lead us. And the only way to be
led by the Spirit is to follow God's command to be filled by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Hebrews
13:8 tells us that, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.” If Jesus is the same today as
He was 2,000 years ago, His miracle working power has never been expelled from this earth.
When He sent His Spirit to dwell within us, He sent us the helper to execute Kingdom work here
on earth. John the Baptist had led the Jewish people by telling them to repent and receive
forgiveness and be baptized (Luke 3:3). But John made it clear that the Messiah was coming
soon and would baptize the people not merely in water but in the Holy Spirit. In Luke 3:16 he
says, “I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose
sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Jesus
said in Acts 1:5, “This is going to happen in just a few days — you will be baptized with the
Holy Spirit. John immersed you in water; I am going to immerse you in the Holy Spirit. John
drenched you in water; I am going to drench you in the Holy Spirit. This is the fourth thing you
need in order to be effective instruments of my life in the world. You need to be baptized in the
Holy Spirit.”
When the Day of Pentecost came here is what happened, “ they were all together in one
place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all
the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and
resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4). This scripture in verse four shows
us that the disciples were filled with the Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes with fire, we are
empowered to operate ministry the way Jesus did! The Baptism of the Holy Spirit came so fierce
people were calling the disciples drunk but Peter preached to them in Acts 2:17, This is what was
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spoken by the prophet Joel: “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out
my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.”
Jesus said in Acts 1:4, “Wait for the promise of the Father,” He was saying, “Wait till the
promise of Joel 2 is fulfilled.” The disciples were experiencing the promise of the Father. We
also see this in Acts 2:32-33. Peter goes on and says, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we
are all witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the
Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.”
Jesus poured out His Spirit on the disciples after He enters into heaven, this was promised
from the Father. All that the Jews were seeing and hearing at Pentecost such as the rushing wind,
the tongues of fire, the speaking in other languages, the prophetic praise and exultation were all
sent from Jesus as a promise from the Father. These were all the signs that accompanied the
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
We continually see power testimonies of the disciples speaking with boldness regardless
of their situations or circumstances.
▪
In Acts 4:8 Peter is again filled with the Holy Spirit and speaks with such power that the
Jewish leaders were amazed at his boldness in spite of his being relatively uneducated (4:13).
▪
In Acts 4:31 other disciples were praying and the place where they were was shaken and
they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. The effect of their fullness was that they spoke the Word
of God with extraordinary boldness and power.
▪
In Acts 6 Stephen is full of faith and the Holy Spirit (v. 5). And Luke tells us in verse 8
that he was therefore full of power and did wonders and signs among the people
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In Acts 9:17 Paul is filled with the Holy Spirit at his conversion and the result was that he
spoke with such power to the Jews (9:22).
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In Acts 11:24 Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit and faith
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In Acts 13:9 Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit as he spoke to Elymas the magician and
God gave him the power to pronounce Elymas blind (13:11).
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It’s impossible to have a ministry and not be led by the Holy Spirit. We cannot execute or
know what God wants us to do if the Spirit doesn’t lead us. Many people think speaking in
tongues and prophesying is just a part of the charismatic movement, however, God’s Word didn’t
tell us that only His disciples would receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is promised to every
believer and baptism of the Holy Spirit brings the fire and boldness we need to make a difference
in the world we live in!
In the world we live in today, it is hard to push through the demands of the secular world.
But through the power of the Holy Spirit we can continue to reach the lost, raise the dead and
preach the Gospel. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. His presence and power has
never been withdrawn from this earth. When we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it is an
outpouring for His Kingdom here on earth. We are given all the tools necessary to be bold
ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. We need a power beyond ourselves to go about ministry
here on earth, and Christ has made that available to us through His Spirit.
Bibliography
Arrington, French L. “The Indwelling, Baptism, and Infilling with the Holy Spirit: A
Differentiation of Terms.” Pneuma 3, no. 2 (Fall 1981): 1–10.
Walvoord, John F. “The Person of the Holy Spirit Part 7 The Work of the Holy Spirit in
Salvation.” Bibliotheca Sacra 98, no. 392 (October 1941): 422–446.
Terry, Bruce. “Baptized in One Spirit.” Restoration Quarterly 21, no. 4 (1978): 193–200.
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O’Neill, John C. “The Connection between Baptism and the Gift of the Spirit in Acts.” Journal
for the Study of the New Testament 63 (1996): 87–103.
Constable, Thomas L. “Notes on Acts.” Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes. (2014).
http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/acts.pdf.
Wood, Laurence W. “Exegetical-Theological Reflections on the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.”
Wesleyan Theological Journal 14, no. 2 (Fall 1979): 51–63.
Christine Kanis
BIBL 364-D12
Research Paper: Outline
Introduction
Baptism of the Holy Spirit is often a common debate among denominations in the church.
The Bible is clear about it, the apostle Paul used it as one of his main arguments to prove that we
are all united in Christ. It’s an experience separate from salvation. Once we call upon and give
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
7
our lives to Christ, the Holy Spirit comes and baptizes us with a new boldness and signs,
including speaking in tongues. Our pastors and elders can water baptize us and that is an outward
expression of faith, displaying our burial and resurrection with Christ. Being baptized in the
Spirit, comes with fire, it comes with a newness to do what Christ has called us to do.
We see multiple times throughout the book of Acts that many disciples were filled with the Spirit
and continued preaching the gospel regardless of their circumstances. Paul says that by one
Spirit, we are all baptized.
Thesis
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is an empowering for service that takes place in the life of
the Christian. In it we are immersed in the Spirit's life and power. Acts 1:5 states, “John baptized
with
[a]
water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
1. The fire of the Holy Spirit coming upon you
2. The Spirit falling upon all those who hear
3. Receiving it
The personality of the Holy Spirit
1. Deity
2. Placing faith in Him
The Trinity and what role the Holy Spirit plays
1. "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or
free – we were all given the one Spirit to drink." (1 Corinthians 12:13)
2. The Spirit unites the people of God by having baptized them all into the one body where
they have access to "the one Spirit to drink."
Gifts of the Spirit
1. Water and fire in Judaism
2. Luke 3:16 states, “John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water;
but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am, so much greater that I’m not even
worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and with fire.” I believe this as well answers all our questions about baptism
of the Holy Spirit and being baptized with water.
3. Spirit baptism after water baptism
4. Baptism is metaphor for overwhelming experience
Boldness in the Spirit
1. Testimonies of boldness from Saul, Philip and Stephen.
2. Those who the Spirit fell on throughout the book of acts that raised up the church in that
area
Why baptism in the Holy Spirit isn’t just a charismatic movement
1. Biblical explanation of baptism of Holy Spirit
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2. God’s call for it
3. Why the church should be doing this
Conclusion
In the world we live in today, it is hard to push through the demands of the secular world. But
through the power of the Holy Spirit we can continue to reach the lost, raise the dead and preach
the Gospel. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. His presence and power has never
been withdrawn from this earth. When we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it is an out
pouring for His Kingdom here on earth. We are given all the tools necessary to be bold
ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. We need a power beyond ourselves to go about ministry
here on earth, and Christ has made that available to us through His Spirit.
