What
is the Baptism of the Holy Ghost?
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost
is the promise of Jesus Christ that
He would fill us with His Spirit,
giving us power to be His witnesses,
to overcome our flesh, and to make
it to heaven.
Col. 1:27 says it very simply:
"Christ in you, the hope of glory."
References:
II Cor. 3:17,18 "The Lord is that
Spirit"
I John 3:24 "He abideth in us"
What
the Bible says about the Promise:
- Joel 2:28-29 (Acts 2:16-18)
"I will pour out my Spirit upon
all flesh"
- Isaiah 28:11-12 "with stammering
lips and another tongue will
he speak"
- Isaiah 59:20-21 Deliverance
will be from the Lord
- Matthew 3:11 "He shall baptize
you with the Holy Ghost, and
with fire"
- Matthew 28:20 "I am with
you always even unto the end
of the world"
- John 14:26 "the Comforter,
which is the Holy Ghost . .
. Father will send"
- John 15:26 "the Comforter
. . . whom I will send"
- John 16:7 "the Comforter
. . . I will send Him"
- John 20:22 "Receive ye the
Holy Ghost"
- Acts 2:38-39 "Ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost"
- Gal. 3:13-18, esp. 14 "we
might receive the promise"
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost
is a very important New Testament
experience.
Why
is the term "Baptism" used?
Baptism means to totally immerse,
plunge, or dip. Using this
definition to be baptized in the
Holy Ghost means to be completely
immersed in the Spirit of God.
We can be likened to an empty container
in need of God's spirit. As
an empty glass gets filled with
water when submerged, so are we
filled with His Spirit. "Baptism"
as used in Acts 1:5, "filled" as
used in Acts 2:4, "gift" as used
in Acts 2:38, and "received" as
used in Acts 8:17 are interchangeable
terms .
Why
is the term "Ghost" used?
The term Ghost is actually interchangeable
with Spirit. You can find
both listed in the King James Version
of the Bible (Ghost: Acts 1:5, Acts
2:38-39; Spirit: John 3:5, Acts
2:17-18). Jesus, being a man,
was composed of body, soul, and
spirit. When He died, his
body was separated from His spirit.
His flesh had to taste of death.
At His resurrection, His spirit
was reunited with His body and glorified.
Today, He freely gives His spirit
to those that are obedient to His
Word (Acts 5:32).
Why
is the term "Holy" used?
God is holy. There is no
other attribute of God that is talked
about as much in the Bible as God's
holiness.
I Peter 1:16 says, "Be ye holy,
for I am holy" (Lev. 20:26).
The root meaning of the word "holy"
is to be "separated," to be without
sin. Because God is holy and
above sin, He is the only one that
can help us to overcome sin.
Without receiving the Holy Ghost,
it is impossible for us to be holy.
It also tells us what we are
supposed to be when we receive the
Holy Ghost.
Is
the Baptism of the Holy Ghost necessary?
- John 3:5 Jesus said, "Except
a man be born of the water and
of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom
of God."
- Rom. 14:17 "For the Kingdom
of God is . . . righteousness,
and peace, and joy in the Holy
Ghost ."
- Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4 Jesus
commanded his
disciples to tarry in Jerusalem
for the Holy Ghost (also John
20:22).
- Romans 8:9 "But ye are not
in the flesh, but in the Spirit,
if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you. Now if any
man have not the Spirit of Christ,
he is none of His."
- The Feast of Tabernacles
was a feast that was a yearly
reminder of the Israelites'
bondage and deliverance (salvation)
from Egypt. An elaborate
ritual occurred on the last
day of the Feast of Tabernacles,
at which the priest circled
the altar seven times before
kindling the sacrifices and
the Psalms 113-118 were sung.
It was a feast of joy and salvation.
Isaiah 12:3 says, "With joy
shall ye draw water out of the
wells of salvation
." (See also John 4:10-14
- Jesus was speaking to "Whosoever").
When this last song of praise
ended, Jesus stood up and said
(in John 7:37-39), "If any man
thirst, let him come unto me,
and drink. He that believeth
on me, as the scripture hath
said, out of his belly shall
flow rivers of living water.
(But this spake he of the Spirit,
which they that believe on him
should receive: for the Holy
Ghost was not yet given; because
that Jesus was not yet glorified)."
Jesus speaking this
at this time directly connected
the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
with salvation.
- 1 Cor. 12:3 "No man can
say that Jesus is the Lord,
but by the Holy Ghost
."
- Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive
power , after
that the Holy Ghost is come
unto you; and ye shall be witnesses
unto me".
- 1 Cor. 6:11 "But ye are
washed, but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus, and
by the Spirit of our God "
- 1 Cor. 12:13 "For by
one Spirit
are we baptized into one body."
- Eph. 1:13-14 "Ye were sealed
with the Holy Spirit of promise,
which is the earnest of our
inheritance until the redemption
of the purchased possession."
- Titus 3:5 ".. He saved us,
by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost
."
- Mark 16:16 "He that believeth
and is baptized
shall be saved." (1
Peter 3:21)
- Col 1:27 "Christ in you,
the Hope of Glory."
Who
can receive the Holy Ghost?
- Acts 5:32 "And we are witnesses
of these things; and so is also
the Holy Ghost, whom God hath
given to them that obey
Him "
- Matt. 18:2 Those that come
as little children can receive
the Holy Ghost.
- Heb. 11:6, Mark 16:16, Acts
16:30-33 Those that believe
(have faith) can receive the
Holy Ghost.
- II Peter 3:9 "The Lord is
not slack concerning his promise,
. . . but is long suffering
to us-ward, not willing that
any should perish, but that
all should come to repentance."
Those who repent can receive
the Holy Ghost (Also Acts 2:38,
Acts 3:19, II Cor. 6:16-7:1).
- Acts 2:38 "Repent, and be
baptized everyone of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost." Mark 16:16
"He that believeth, and is baptized
, shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned."
Those that are baptized can
receive the Holy Ghost.
Some do receive the Holy Ghost
without being baptized first
(i.e. Acts 10:44-48).
- Luke 11:9-13, Heb 4:16 Those
that boldly ask Him, can receive
the Holy Ghost.
- Acts 17:27 Those that feel
after Him, and find Him , can
receive the Holy Ghost.
- Psalm 81:10 Those that open
their mouth can receive the
Holy Ghost.
- Psalm 22:3 He inhabits the
praises of His people.
When
did the first Baptism of the Holy
Ghost take place?
The first Baptism of the Holy
Ghost took place on the Day of Pentecost
(Acts 1:4-5, 2:1-4).
Why
did the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
occur on the Day of Pentecost?
The Day of Pentecost was the
completion of the feast of weeks,
which was synonymous with the Israelites'
deliverance (salvation) from Egypt.
Two loaves of bread were waved,
which speak of the fact His plan
of salvation was provided for both
Jews and Gentiles.
The Day of Pentecost was a feast
day that commemorated the giving
of the law on Mount Sinai in the
Old Testament. The law was
written on stone. In the New
Testament the law was written on
men's hearts when He filled them
with His Spirit. In the Old
Testament, it was prophesied that
He would write His laws on the "inward
parts" and in their "hearts" (Jer.
31:31-33, Heb 8:7-13). All
that entered into this New Covenant
would know the Lord personally (Jer.
31:31-34).
The Day of Pentecost marked the
beginning of the Old Covenant and
the New Covenant. The Holy
Ghost experience is the essence
of the New Covenant replacing the
Old Covenant of the law (II Cor.
3:3-18). The New Covenant is established
on better promises (Heb. 8:6).
Did
people have the Holy Ghost before
the coming of Jesus Christ?
- Luke 1:15 John the Baptist
did
- Genesis 41:38 Joseph did
- Exodus 31:2,3; 35:31 Bezaleel
did
- Luke 1:41, 67 Elizabeth
and Zacharias, John the Baptist's
parents did
- In most cases the scriptures
describe the Holy Ghost or Spirit
of God coming upon, or moving
upon people.
- Numbers 11:17-25 The
Spirit was put upon the
seventy elders
- Numbers 24:2 The Spirit
of God came upon Balaam
- Judges 3:9,10 The Spirit
of the LORD came upon Othniel
- Judges 6:34 . . . upon
Gideon
- Judges 11:29 . . . upon
Jephthah
- I Samuel 11:6 . . .
upon Saul
- II Chr. 15:1 . . . upon
Azariah
- II Chr. 24:20 . . .
upon Zechariah
- Peter described it:
II Peter 1:21 "For the prophecy
came not in old time by the
will of man: but holy
men spake as they were moved
upon by the Holy Ghost."
Conclusion: We must conclude
that the Spirit of God was in various
Old Testament characters. Not everyone
in the Old Testament had His Spirit.
Those that had His Spirit received
it for some specific purpose.
How
is the Spirit (of God) that John
the Baptist and other Old Testament
people received different from what
we can receive today?
- Everything in the gospels
pertaining to the Baptism of
the Holy Ghost and salvation
is future tense:
- John the Baptist pointed
to Jesus: Matthew
3:11 "I indeed baptize you
with water unto repentance:
but He that cometh after
me is mightier than I, whose
shoes I am not worthy to
bear: He shall baptize
you with the Holy Ghost,
and with fire." A
special sign was given to
John to show him that Jesus
was the one who would baptize
with the Holy Ghost (John
1:33).
- Jesus said that he would
have to go away before the
Comforter would come:
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."
- John 7:38,39 "The Holy
Ghost was not yet given."
- Before Jesus ascended
into Heaven, He told His
disciples to go to Jerusalem
to receive the Holy Ghost
(Matt 16:18, Luke 24:47-49).
- The great heroes of the
faith in Hebrews 11 did not
receive the promise (Heb. 11:39,40).
- On the Day of Pentecost,
they that received the Holy
Ghost spoke in tongues (See
also Acts 10:45-46, 19:6).
John the Baptist or any of the
Old Testament saints did not
speak in tongues when they received
the Holy Ghost. They
had something different
.
- Matthew 11:11 "Verily, I
say unto you, Among them that
are born of women there hath
not risen a greater than John
the Baptist notwithstanding,
he that is least in the kingdom
of heaven is greater than he
." (Luke 7:28)
- What we have is greater--
I Peter 1:12 "Unto whom it was
revealed, that not unto themselves,
but unto us they did minister
the things, which are now reported
unto you by them that have preached
the gospel unto you with the
Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven;
which thing the angels desire
to look into."
- Since the day of Pentecost,
the Holy Ghost was given not
only to fill people, but to
make them a member of the body
of Christ (I Cor. 12:3) "For
by one Spirit are we all baptized
into one body."
- Jesus had to die on the
cross before His church (bride)
could come into existence:
- Paul spoke of a great
mystery, Eph 5:32 "This
is a great mystery: but
I speak concerning Christ
and the church." Adam
is a type of Christ and
Eve is a type of the New
Testament Church (Romans
5:14; Eph. 5:26-32).
- Gen. 2:21-24 As Adam's
bride was taken from his
side, Jesus' bride came
from His side.
John 19:34 The blood and
water that poured from His
side on the cross gave birth
to the New Testament church.
- The Holy Spirit is given
to abide with us permanently
(John 14:16). It is the
earnest of
our inheritance (Eph. 1:13,14).
By giving us His Spirit, Jesus
is showing us the seriousness
of His intent to be in us through
out eternity, if we so desire.
- It was Jesus' duty to baptize
with the Holy Ghost (Mark 1:8)--No
one else could give it.
What
is the evidence of receiving the
Holy Ghost?
There is both an external and
internal evidence that a person
has received the Holy Ghost.
(a) The common external
evidence that occurred every time
someone received the Holy Ghost
was that they spoke in Tongues.
Jesus had prophesied about it in
Mark 16:17 "And these signs shall
follow them that believe . . . they
shall speak with new tongues," saying
that there would be a definite sign
following those that believed.
Read the actual following occurrences
where people received the Holy Ghost
and note what the obvious evidence
was "Speaking in tongues."
Acts 1-2, esp. Acts 2:4 "speak with
other tongues" (Jews: 120 disciples
including Mary the mother of Jesus,
and several women Acts 1:12-26).
Acts 2:33 "which ye now see and
hear "
Acts 10:44-48 "speak with tongues"
(Gentiles)--How did they know that
they had received the Holy Ghost?
Acts 10:46 (Also
Acts 11:15-17 "the like gift")
Acts 19:1-6 "spake with tongues"
(Ephesians)
John 3:8 states that the pouring
out of the Holy Ghost would be invisible,
yet seen and heard.
The Bible does not state that the
Apostle Paul spoke in tongues when
he received the Holy Ghost, but
it does state that he spoke in tongues
and understood the differences between
the different types of tongues
(I Cor. 12, 13, 14; esp. I Cor.
14:18).
II Cor 13:1, Matt. 18:16, and Deut.
19:5 state that in order for a doctrine
to be established that two or three
witness have to say the same thing.
Obviously from the above, we have
many witnesses to the fact that
speaking in tongues is the initial
evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost.
(b) The common internal evidence
is the transformation that takes
place inside a person: They
receive power, strength, joy, the
fruits of the spirit (Gal. 5:22-23),
etc. The transformation reflects
the abiding presence of God in a
person's life and in many cases
cannot be immediately observed.
Because of this it is not a significant
indicator of the receiving of the
Holy Ghost.
Did
everyone in the New Testament speak
in tongues when they received the
Holy Ghost?
Everyone in the New Testament
spoke in tongues when they received
the Holy Ghost. The only group
of people where it could be questionable
is the Samaritans in Acts 8:5-25.
Philip went to the Samaritans.
They listened to him, saw miracles,
had great joy, believed his message,
and were baptized in the name of
Jesus. Since signs and miracles
were already evident (v. 6), that
which took place when they received
the Holy Ghost must have been far
more wonderful and powerful.
If nothing supernatural had taken
place, Simon would not have wanted
to buy the power of laying on of
hands to receive the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8 was probably written to
show us that receiving the Holy
Ghost was a separate experience
from miracles, great emotion, believing,
repenting, and being baptized in
the Name of Jesus, and that salvation
could not be attained without the
receiving of the Holy Ghost.
When
you speak in tongues, who is speaking?
Matthew 10:20 "For it is not
ye that speak, but the Spirit of
your Father which speaketh in you."
Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities: for
we know not what we should pray
for as we ought: but the Spirit
itself maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered."
Acts 2:4 "as the spirit of God
gives utterance"
What
is "speaking in tongues"?
Those who speak in tongues speak
in a real language
, although they themselves
may not understand what they are
saying. Many times observers
have been able to recognize the
languages. In Acts 2, foreign
Jews were amazed because the Galilean
Jews were able to speak their languages.
That was the evidence to them that
a miracle was taking place. I Cor.
14:21-22 says that tongues are "a
sign for them that believe not."
The language can be either human
or angelic in nature (1 Cor. 13:1).
Some people try to say that tongues
were given to the 120 in Acts 2
to propagate the gospel to foreign
Jews. If that is so, why did Peter
have to get up and preach to them
immediately after they had heard
the 120?
Then, why did God have the Gentiles
and Ephesian Jews in Acts 10 and
19 respectively speak in tongues?
Why are millions today speaking
in tongues?
Why
are "tongues" used as the initial
evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost?
- God is Sovereign.
He can do what He wants (Is
40:13-14, I Cor. 1:25-29).
- The words we speak express
our inner self (Matthew 12:34).
- Speaking in tongues symbolizes
God's complete control of the
believer. He is able to
conquer the unconquerable.
The tongue is a little member
that controls the whole body
like the rudder of a ship (James
3:8, Rom 6:13).
- Without a genuine proof
that we have received the Holy
Ghost, what assurance beyond
our own feelings could we have
that we have got the Holy Ghost?
People that believe in unconditional
eternal security say that a
person that sins never really
received the Holy Ghost or was
converted in the first place.
When church "leaders" or "pillars"
fall in sin, this leads many
to wonder if their own conversion
was genuine.
- At Pentecost God reversed
the sign of judgment of tongues
at Babel, and the Door of Salvation
opened to all nations.
- It fulfills prophesy (Is
28:11-12).
- It fulfills promises (Mk
16:15 -18, Acts 1:8).
- The Baptism of water and
Spirit constitutes the new birth
(John 3:3-7). As the cry
of a baby removes all doubt
of its birth, Jesus said a sound
would accompany every birth
of the Spirit (John 3:8).
- God is able. He made
a donkey to talk (Num. 22:28-35),
a deaf and dumb man to talk
(Mark 7:31-37), people to permanently
change their language (Gen 11:7-9),
and He could make rocks to cry
out (Luke 19:40). Why
can't He get someone to speak
in a foreign language?
Is
the "gift of the Holy Ghost" the
same as the nine spiritual "gifts"
that are talked about in I Cor.
12, 13, 14?
The word "gift" is expressed
with a different Greek word when
referring to the initial
baptism of the Holy Ghost - "Dorea."
When the "gift"
denotes any of the nine spiritual
gifts including the Gift of tongues,
the word "charisma"
is used. The Bible
purposely makes a distinction between
these words.
What
is the most common error concerning
Speaking in Tongues?
The most common error concerning
"speaking in tongues" is that people
think that there is only one type
of "Speaking in Tongues"--but there
are actually three types .
The Bible makes the distinction
and addresses the issue of spiritual
gifts in the Book of Corinthians
to people that had already received
the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues.
Everyone must experience the speaking
in tongues that is connected to
the initial evidence of receiving
the Holy Ghost (1st type) and they
must develop their prayer language
(second type). The third type
of speaking in tongues is not necessary
for salvation, but definitely beneficial
and should be sought by everyone.
If the three types are confused
and all are thought to be unnecessary,
a serious mistake could be made:
a person could be kept from receiving
an essential part of salvation--the
Holy Ghost.
Satan is trying to de-emphasize
speaking in tongues to keep people
from receiving the Holy Ghost.
He has tried to distort what Paul
was talking about concerning the
spiritual gifts to the point that
he was saying that Paul was telling
people not to speak in tongues.
Reading the entire chapter (Cor.
14) can easily show you Paul's true
feelings on speaking in tongues,
that he spoke in tongues, and that
there was a proper way to use them.
According
to I Cor. 13:8-10, are tongues to
cease in this age?
The "ceasing of tongues" in I
Cor. 13:8-10 does not refer to this
age. In fact the verses point out
that if tongues cease, knowledge
and prophecy (preaching and teaching)
will also cease. That which is perfect
is Jesus, and He has not returned
yet.
The gift of tongues spoke about
in I Cor. 12 - 14 is for the Church
today. Why would God give them only
to take them away?
Does the
devil have the ability to produce
tongues?
Satan has power to perform miracles
and he often tries to imitate God's
work (Ex. 7:10-12, Rev. 13:2, 11-15)
(i.e. in one type of Yoga (Hinduism),
people scream, contort their bodies,
go through crazy gymnastics, and
speak in a hideous tongue).
That facts that "tongues" of
the Devil exist is a proof of the
real Biblical tongues because for
everything that God has, the devil
has a counterfeit.
If people are seeking God, reading
the Bible, and praying to Jesus,
they don't have to worry about the
"tongues" of the devil.
Why didn't
the fire and wind repeat themselves
in further incidents of people receiving
the Holy Ghost?
The Bible uses the fire and wind
in much the same way that fire,
thunder, lightning, and an earthquake
was used at the giving of the Law
on Mount Sinai. It caught
people's attention. It was
a manifestation of His power.
Additional implications of the
wind and fire are:
- The wind is significant
with the breath of God in Gen.2:7,
John 3:8, 20:22, and Ezekiel
37:9.
- The fire of the Spirit equates
to Matthew 3:11-12 to burn up
the chaff, the Golden Candlestick
)Rev 1:12-20, Matt 8:12), and
the burning bush (Heb 1:7; Exodus
3:1-15) and every manifestation
of God's glory up to and including
the Day of Pentecost.
The glory cloud on Mount Sinai
settled on the tabernacle in
the Desert. Later it appeared
when David was establishing
his tabernacle and when Solomon
dedicated his tabernacle.
Significantly there were 120
priests, trumpeters, and shewbread--a
type of the Day of Pentecost
where the glory cloud became
120 glory clouds
.
The number 120 signifies
the end of life in the flesh
and the beginning of life in
the Spirit (i.e. 120 years to
build Noahs Ark, 120 Jubilees
(120 X 50 = 6000 years), three
40 year periods in Moses's life,
three kings each reigning 40
years, and 120 people on the
day of Pentecost).
What is
the significance of the "laying
on of hands" in the receiving of
the Holy Ghost?
The laying on of hands is not
an absolute necessity in receiving
the Holy Ghost because some people
received the Holy Ghost without
it. Laying on of hands helps
a person demonstrate their submission
to God's plan and leadership, symbolizes
the bestowal of God's spirit, and
helps instill faith in the seeker.
What are
the benefits of having the Holy
Ghost?
- Titus 3:5, Eph. 1:13-14
The seal of our SALVATION
- John 14:26 Comforter = Counselor,
Helper, Advocate, Strength,
and Standby
- II Cor 5:17 Make us a new
creature
- I Cor 12:4-11, Acts 6:3,
11:22-24 Equips us for service
- Acts 1:8, Mark 16:17-18,
II Tim 1:7 Gives us power (Includes
power: to be a witness, to overcome
sin, and to be resurrected at
his coming Eph 1:13, 4:30, Rom.
8.11).
- II Cor. 3:18 Changes us
to be like Jesus
- John 16:13, Rom. 8:4 Gives
us direction and daily guidance
- Acts 13:52, Luke 24:52-53
Joy
- Ezek. 36:27 Helps us to
walk in His statutes
- John 3:5,8 Regeneration--the
new birth experience
- Romans 8:15, Gal. 4:5-6
Adoption--makes us sons of God
- Romans 8:5, II Cor 3:18
Holiness--we are changed into
His image
- II Cor. 3:18, I Peter 4:14
Glory
- Is 28:11-12, Matt. 11:28
Rest and refreshing
- Rom. 8:13 Mortify the deeds
of the Flesh
- Rom. 8:26 Receive Intercession
- I Cor 6:19 Makes us a Temple
of the Holy Ghost
- Eph. 2:20-22 Makes us a
habitation of God--The Holy
Temple, the one building, fitly
framed together.
- Gal. 3:13-18 Makes us recipients
of special blessings--heirs
of the Abrahamic Covenant.
- Eph. 2:18 Access to God
- I Cor. 6:11, I Peter 1:2
Sanctifies us.
- Titus 3:5 Renews our nature
- Rom. 8:16 Witness that we
are children of God
- I Cor. 12:3 Gives us ability
to say Jesus is Lord
- Rom. 8:26 Helps us to pray
- John 14:26 Will teach us
all things and remind us of
what He said
- John 16:7, 13, John 15:26
He will lead us to all truth
- I Cor. 12:13 Puts us into
the body of Christ
- II Tim 1:7 A sound mind
- Rom 8:26-27, Eph 2:18 Intercessor
- Gal 4:22-23, Rom 5:5,14:17,
I John 4:7-8,16, I Cor. 13:1-2
The nine fruits of the spirit
( love , joy,
peace, long suffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, and
temperance).
- Rom. 10:9-10, I Cor. 12:3
Gives us the ability to confess
that Jesus is Lord
- II Cor 3:17, Rom 8:15 Liberty
- Rom 14:17 His Kingdom gets
established in our hearts
- Rom 14:17, Rom 3:22 Righteousness
of God
- John 16:8 Reproves the world
- Luke 24:47-49 Endued
with power means clothed
with power--the believer receives
a Garment of Priestly Ministry
