Baptized with the Holy Spirit

 

 

John the Baptist spoke of such:  “I indeed baptize you with water but one mightier than I is coming, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”. (Luke 3:16)

 

Jesus spoke of such:  “For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now”. (Acts 1:5)

 

Peter & Joel spoke of such: “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh”.

(Acts 2:16-17)  Notice that as Peter quotes Joel 2:28, he sees the event Jesus spoke of in Acts 1:5 - the baptism of the Holy Spirit - as the fulfillment of the prophesy that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh.

 

After this event on the day of Pentecost the scriptures never again speak of anyone being baptized with the Holy Spirit. Consider the word “baptize”. It means to be whelmed, covered, and submerged, as when we are baptized with water. When we are baptized with water we are not filled with water, and likewise being baptized with the Holy Spirit doesn't mean we are filled with the Spirit. John, Peter, and Joel said that all were to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost it happened. All flesh, as the Word says, was baptized with the Holy Spirit.

 

This truth is further taught by Jesus in John 16:7-8, “And when he is come” - the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit - “he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment”. The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, was to reprove the world, all people, not just believers.

 

Again, this truth is taught by Paul in Acts 17:27-28, “they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being”. All men everywhere can find the Lord, for they are baptized in His Spirit - living, moving, and having their being in Him.

 

Peter began to realize this truth in Acts 10:44-47, “while Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles was also poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we”. He saw that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles as well as the Jews - this he confirmed in Acts 11:15-17.

 

Now all flesh - being baptized in and reproved by the Holy Spirit - has an obligation to be filled with - to receive - the Holy Spirit. The only way to receive the Holy Spirit is through Jesus the Christ. Having God all around you is not enough. He desires to dwell in you. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)