What is the Baptism “in” or “by” the Spirit?

 

 

A. What is it?

 

     Some say it is essential to salvation while others say it is not. Some say it is the same as being “filled” with the Spirit while others say it is different. Some say it occurs at salvation while others say it occurs after salvation. Some say it was a one time historical event while others say it is a reoccurring personal experience. Some say it is being placed in the body of Christ at salvation while others deny that. Some say it is essential for spiritual maturity while others say it has nothing to do with Christian growth. Some say it is necessary to live above sin while others say no one lives above sin.

 

 

B. What Does the Bible Say it is?

 

    When this subject is studied in the New Testament there is a very striking fact that is immediately seen. All references to this “baptism” before Pentecost are spoken of as unfulfilled and yet in the future.

 

 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:

 

Mark 1:8  I indeed have baptized you with water: but he SHALL baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

 

Luke 3:16  John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he SHALL baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

 

Acts 1:4-5  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

     For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

 

   All these passages demand that the “baptism” did not happen prior to Acts 1:4-5. Acts 1:4-5 pinpoints the exact place and time where it would happen. The place is pinpointed by the words “they should not depart from Jerusalem, but  wait for the promise.”  The time is restricted by the words “not many days hence.”

 

     Hence, there were no pre-conditions to receive this promise other than to “wait” at a specified place for a specified time. The promise was certain and predicted to occur at this place and at such a time. It was “not many days hence” when they were assembled in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost that such a “promise” was fulfilled:

 

Acts 2:1-2 ¶ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

    And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

 

    If what occurred is the baptism in the Spirit then the very description of this baptism excludes the idea that it refers to any placement in the body of Christ or is connected to salvation in any way.  

     For example, the very choice of language Luke uses is precise and instructive. He says that this “rushing wind” actually “FILLED all  the house where they were sitting.”  Hence, there was a complete literal IMMERSION in this “wind”.  This fits the promise of a “baptism” as the word  “baptism” means to “immerse.”

   However, this immersion was not the only thing that happened as Luke goes on to describe:

 

Acts 1:3-4  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

     And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

      There was the appearance of “cloven tongues like as of fire” that “sat upon each of them.”  This excludes application to the believer at salvation or to the believer after salvation. No such thing is occurring today whether at or after salvation and yet this characterized the fulfillment of promise of this baptism.

      Also, they were “all filled with the Holy Ghost” and in addition to all the above they “began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

     Luke also is very careful to define the exact nature of this Pentecostal gift of tongues. Three times he describes this phenomena in such clear language that even a child could not misunderstand what was the exact nature of this gift:

 

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language……And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?……Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (vv. 6,8,11)

 

   

     Hence, from these scriptures we can safely conclude the following facts: (1) The promised baptism was not intended to be fulfilled prior to Pentecost nor anywhere but in Jerusalem. (2) The Pentecostal event was a literal “baptism” or “immersion” in what sounded like a “rushing mighty wind.” (3) All who participated in this baptism also had the visible appearance of tongues of fire sitting upon them and (4) All who were baptized in this room also were “filled” with the Spirit and (5) they were given the supernatural ability to speak the things of God in foreign human languages without previous study of those languages.

 

   Neither the Protestant view (baptism in the body of Christ at salvation) or the modern Pentecostal movement measure up to these Biblical phenomena. There has never been anyone since Pentecost where the Holy Spirit came upon them with the “SOUND” of a mighty rushing wind nor has anyone since that time ever reported seeing “cloven tongues like as unto fire” sitting upon all who are baptized. Modern Pentecostals speak in an ecstatic language but never in understandable foreign dialects as described here.  The modern Pentecostal ecstatic language is commonly found in other non-Christian world religions and cults (Mormon apostles, Hindu’s and Buddhist monks, mind religions, etc.)

    Furthermore, after Pentecost, nowhere do the Scriptures command anyone to be thus baptized or to wait for it at any place. The only reference to this promise is found in Acts 10-11 and there it is treated as something that had no occurrence other than “at the beginning” on Pentecost :

 

“And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us AT THE BEGINNING.” – Acts 11:16

 

   This passage by Peter gives a lot of insight into the nature of this baptism.  It was not something repeated over and over again to individuals at their salvation or after salvation. Had that been the case, Peter would have said that what happened to the house of Cornelius was something that had been reoccurring all along SINCE the beginning. However, the nearest reference point for such an event that he could remember was “at the beginning” or Pentecost.  Moreover, it is the very peculiar and extraordinary nature of this event that provided the defense for Peter going to the gentile house.

    In addition to this fact is the fact that nowhere in the New Testament after Pentecost are Christians instructed to wait for or to seek after  this baptism – not one single text even suggests such.

    Some may object and cite Ephesians 5:18 where Paul commands us to be “filled with the Spirit.”  However, the filling of the Spirit was a common experience both before and after Pentecost and therefore could hardly be what they were promised and had to wait for “not many days hence” in Jerusalem. Besides  there is a distinct difference between a “baptism” and a “filling.”  At a gas station what would you ask the attendant to do (1) immerse your tank with gas or (2) fill it with gas? Ephesians 5:18 makes it very clear that to be “filled” with the Spirit means to submit yourself to His controlling influence or power just as one who intoxicates himself with liquor is being submitted to the controlling powerful influence of alcohol. This command to submit is the common experience of all saints in all ages. The filling of the Spirit is attended with unction and power and is necessary for service. However, the “filling” is not the promise as that promise had no existence before Pentecost and all the Old Testament prophets were filled with the Spirit.

    Other Biblical evidence that this baptism in the Spirit was fulfilled on Pentecost and only repeated on the gentiles (in order that the Jews would accept them and not give them a second class membership) is the fact that after Pentecost the Bible says there is but “ONE baptism” for the Christian (Eph. 4:4).   Ephesians was written long after the day of Pentecost and thus the fact that Paul denies any other baptism but “one” forces us to choose between the Protestant/Pentecostal views and baptism in water.  That “one baptism” must be water baptism as that is the only baptism Jesus commanded “unto the end of the world” (Mt. 28:19-20).

     Every text of scripture BEFORE Pentecost points forward to the fulfillment while every text of scripture AFTER Pentecost points back. No present day professed Pentecostal experience matches the Pentecostal event. No one beyond Pentecost describes their event as one accompanied by the sound of a mighty wind with visible tongues of fire sitting upon the heads of all the baptized and the speaking in other known languages of this world without previous training. Let the one who claims this Biblical promise come forth and verify it through witnesses that their experience was identical to this Biblical fulfillment.

 

 

Who is the Baptizer?

    

    Another problem for the person who believes this is an ongoing repeatable experience is the confusion over who is doing what.  Some say that they were “baptized BY the Spirit” while others say they were “baptized IN the body of Christ.”  Just who is the administrator of this baptism and what is the element into which they are baptized?  What does the Bible say?

 

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:

 

Mark 1:8  I indeed have baptized you with water: but HE shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

 

Luke 3:16  John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: HE shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

 

     The Bible makes it very clear that the one administrating this baptism is “HE” or Christ.  Therefore, the Spirit baptizes no one. It is Christ who does this kind of baptizing.  The Holy Spirit is identified as the element into which they are being baptized. Hence, the idea that this is a baptism into the “body of Christ” is an error.  – “he shall baptize you in the Spirit”

    Some may object to this last statement due to I Corinthians 12:13. However, this text must be jerked out of its context in order to apply it such and then it is indirect contradiction to the promise as noted already above.

    The context in which I Corinthians 12:13 is placed is a context of the metaphor of the human body (I Cor. 12:12) being used to illustrate God’s design for the local church body (I Cor. 12:27). In particular this text is Paul’s response to those at Corinth who had argued over the proper administrator for water baptism (I Cor. 1:11-14). A division in the church body at Corinth had occurred over the administrator of water baptism. Some had bragged that their baptism was better because of what minister baptized them. Paul went on to systematically show that all ministers were working together under the leadership of God the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 3:1-10) and all were laborers together with God the Holy Spirit and therefore were working as “ONE” instead of many competing individuals.  He goes on to show how this cooperative effort by Paul, Peter and Apollos” was used by the Holy Spirit to build in Corinth one holy temple (church) where in the Holy Spirit dwelt (I Cor. 3:16).  When Paul comes back to the Spirit’s leadership role in the Church in regards to gifts (I Cor. 12), he simply reminds them of this very truth he had previously established in chapters 1-3. It was under the leadership of the Holy Spirit that all the members at Corinth were baptized into the Corinthian church body and thus made to partake “drink” into the indwelling presence of the Spirit in that body.  Each local church is “the body of Christ and members in particular” (I Cor. 12:27).  Each local church is a temple wherein the Holy Spirit dwells (I Cor. 3:16).  He indwells each believer but He also indwells each of His churches in a special sense. Peter tells the churches that each church is a “spiritual temple” built up by God the Holy Spirit (I Pet. 2:5).

     In John 4:1-2 it is said that Jesus baptized more disciples than John but then in parenthesis it is explained that Jesus actually never baptized anyone. His disciples baptized under His authority and direction. Jesus promised “another comfortor” who would take His place. So likewise, when the Holy Spirit took the place of Christ in the church, He also baptizes the converts into church membership (I Cor. 12:13) through His ordained servants (I Cor. 3:1-10). It is “by” or under the authority and direction of the Holy Spirit that the membership was added to the church through water baptism. Paul applies this directly to the church at Corinth (I Cor. 12:27) and to each and every New Testament Church.

    However, the bottom line is the fact that I Corinthians 12:13 as understood by Protestants contradicts the promise of the Holy Spirit baptism. John says that Christ is the administrator while Paul is speaking of a baptism where the Holy Spirit is the administrator. John says that the Holy Spirit is the element into which they will be baptized whereas Paul is speaking of the “body” as the element into which they were baptized. The only remedy to this contradiction is to understand they are speaking of two different kinds of baptism. John is speaking of a spiritual baptism that has been completed  while Paul is speaking of water baptism that has been completed in the individual life of church members.

 

 

Who are the Baptized?

 

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:

 

Mark 1:8  I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall  baptize YOU with the Holy Ghost.

 

Luke 3:16  John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize YOU with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

 

      Here is the crux of the whole problem. Those who are baptized in the Spirit are not mere generic Christians.  Those He is making this promise to are the same ones that He gave the Great commission to. The Great Commission defines what kind of Christians He is promising the Baptism in the Spirit. The Great Commission Christians are those who are in harmony with Christ in regard to three areas. They are those who will “go” with the SAME gospel He preached and baptize with the SAME baptism He administered and teach the SAME faith and practice He commanded.  In other words, the Great Commission Christian is one who is LIKE FAITH AND ORDER with Christ in these three distinctives. Christ never authorized anyone to “go” with ANOTHER gospel as all other gospels are “accursed” (Gal. 1:6-9). Christ never authorized anyone to administer ANOTHER kind of baptism than what He both submitted to and authorized (Jn. 4:1-2) and Christ never authorized anyone to go teach ANOTHER faith and order.  Those He is addressing are UNIFIED in these three areas. Also, those He is addressing are members of the SAME kind of church that Jesus built.  This plural “you” is the church that Jesus built (Mt. 16:18) and promised to be with REPRODUCING AFTER ITS OWN KIND until the end of the age.

   What bearing do these factors have on the “baptism in the Spirit”?   The Church is also called the “temple of God” (I Cor. 3:16) and “the house of God” (I Tim. 3:15).  These metaphors were used of God’s Old Testament institution. When God finished building the first house of God (tabernacle) it was divinely accredited with the baptism of the Shekinah glory (Ex. 40:35). When God finished building the Temple it was baptized in the Shekinah glory (2 Chron. 7:3). When God predicted the building of the Millennial temple, upon its completion it was to be baptized in the Shekinah glory (Eze. 43:1-4).   This baptism occurred only ONCE in conjunction with each “house of God.”  This baptism in the Shekinah glory  was the divine accreditation that set it apart as His house and the special presence of His Person.  This baptism was accompanied by TEMPORARY miraculous manifestations. However, the ABIDING manifestation of His presence was TRUTH. It was from this House that He taught Israel the Word of God and the administration of the ordinances were performed.

    In Acts 2 the church as the new house of God was divinely accredited by the baptism in the Shekinah glory designating it as the new “house of God.”  Jesus told the Pharisees and Scribes shortly before His death that the presence of God would leave the temple (Mt. 23:38) and at His death this was signified by the ripping of the veil from top to bottom.  On the day of Pentecost, the glory of the Lord took His new residence in the church as the House of God. The repetition in Acts 10-11 was to demonstrate that this new house was not to be restricted to Jews only. The Gentiles were accredited by this baptism in the Spirit in order that Apostles and leaders would accept them into God’s new house.

    It is easy to identify the new house of God. It is the house that characterizes the three areas of SAMENESS found in the Great Commission. It’s abiding sign is the “Spirit of TRUTH” thus making it “the pillar and ground of TRUTH.”

 

 

Conclusion

 

    There is but “one baptism” today (Eph. 4:4) and it is baptism in water as the baptism in the Spirit has been accomplished. The fulfillment is in keeping with the past Old Testament application of this baptism to the House of God. Each  “house of God” received this baptism but once. It was a divine accreditation accompanied by temporary miraculous signs and wonders. However, the abiding evidence of this baptism was and still is divine guidance in “the truth.”  The “power” of the Holy Spirit was given the church to “witness” the truth of the gospel of Christ.  The presence of God the Holy Spirit is made manifest in the church of God as the “pillar and ground of the truth” (I Tim. 3:15).  The Holy Spirit’s abiding presence is as “the Spirit of truth” whose job is to lead His church into “all truth.”

      Modern Pentecostalism and the Roman Catholic Charismatic movements contradict the very purpose of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the emphasis of the Holy Spirit would not be Himself but Christ and the truth. These modern day movements emphasize the Spirit and sacrifice “truth” for the sake of unity around a common experience (tongues).  However, the kind of tongues practiced by these modern movements is the common ecstatic tongue shared by all non-Christian world religions and cults. The so-called modern “slain” in the Spirit and “baptism” by the Spirit has no relationship whatsoever to the Biblical baptism in the Spirit. Acts 2:1-11 clearly explains in detail the nature of the baptism in the Spirit and the nature of the gift of tongues. Let those who can claim this kind of experience come forth and verify it.  I have yet to hear anyone witness the characteristics found in Acts 2 which is the Pentecostal experience.