BAPTISM AND FULLNESS:

UNDERSTANDING THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

by Venerable Dr. I. U. Ibeme:   www.geocities.com/ifeogo

 

The Church has always agreed that the believer at conversion is regenerated and indwelled by the Holy Spirit. However at various ages of the Church the further walk of the believer with the Holy Spirit has been understood in different terms and to varying extents by different groups of Christians. Some had thought the further work of the Holy Spirit should be called perfection, others say it should be sanctification, others Spirit baptism, others Spirit fullness, others still Spirit infilling or Spirit release. Some think it is only for moral growth, others say it is only for manifestation of power. While some think this further work of the Spirit is a continuous work of grace initiated at conversion, others insist it is a second work of grace distinct from conversion grace. Some of these views could be quite difficult to teach if we are to follow the plain teachings of the Scriptures.

It is better to study the Scriptures rather than the views. Does our fellowship with the Holy Spirit have an INITIATION (Beginning) and a PERFECTION (Completion)? If so, to which does each of these belong: New birth, Regeneration, Perfection, Spirit Indwelling, Spirit Baptism/Sealing, and Spirit fullness/infilling/filling? The Scriptures teach that having been saved believers are still being saved (2Cor. 1:10); having been translated (Col. 1:13) believers still need to be transformed (Rom. 12:2); having been born anew believers still need to be mature; having died to sin (Col. 3:3) they still need to mortify sin (Col. 3:5). Note that the initiation experience is past, once, permanent and same for all believers (1Cor. 12:13; Rom. 8:9; 1 John 2:27a) but must lead to the perfection experience which is repetitively continuous, progressive and variable depending on our walk with God (Acts 4:8,31). Baptism means covenant-bond initiation into union with Christ. Being Filled means being replete to overflowing with the Spirit’s power.

In the Scriptures Spirit Fullness is common to both the Old and New Covenants.

O.T. (For only Spiritual Gifts, operating from their outside) Exd. 28:3; 31:3; 35:31,35; Deut. 34:9; Micah 3:8; Luke 1:15,41,67; 2:40; 4:1; 1Sam. 10:6,10; 19:23; 2Sam. 23:2; 2Chron. 15:1; Ezek. 11:5; Notice Num. 11:26-29; also Samson in Jdg. 14:6; and Saul in 1Sam 19:20-24.

N.T. (For Spiritual Gifts and Fruit, operating from our inside) Acts 2:4; 4:8,31; 6:3,5,8; 7:55; 9:17; 10:44-46; 11:24; 13:9,52; 15:14; 2Cor. 7:4; Eph. 3:19; 5:18-20; Phil. 1:11; Col. 1:9.

On the other hand, Spirit Baptism is a promise peculiar to the New Covenant alone. (FOR THE SPIRIT’S PERMANENT INDWELLING AND SEAL) Joel 2:28; Ezek. 36:25-27; Jer. 31:31-34; Matt. 3:11,12; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; John 14:16-18; Acts 1:4,5; 2:1-3,17,18,33; 11:15-17; 1Cor. 12:13; 1John 3:9.

          What shall we say then?

 

(1.) Holy Spirit Baptism concerns the NEWBIRTH John 3:3,5, Regeneration Tit 3:5, Separation 1Cor. 6:11, Indwelling Rom 8:9, Conversion Acts 2:38,39, Union with Christ 1Cor. 12:13, Adoption authority John 1:12, Sealing Eph. 1:13. These are works of the Spirit peculiar to the New Covenant. On the other hand:

 

(2.) Holy Spirit Fullness concerns the NEWLIFE Gal 2:20, Perfection Eph. 4:13, Sanctification 1Thes. 4:7,8, Out-flowing John 4:14; 7:38, Consecration Gal 5:24,25, Communion with Christ Rom 8:16, Manifestation of power Acts 2:4; 4:8,31; (Note Jdg. 14:6: 1Sam. 19:20-24), Leading Rom. 8:14.

 

To be sure, what is commonly called ‘Baptism of the Spirit’ today, fits better with what the Scriptures call ‘Fullness of the Spirit’. At Spirit baptism Christ used the deposit of the Holy Spirit to regenerate/initiate us into His Body (1Cor 12:13) and indwell us. In the subsequent fullness of the Spirit we are moved to use the power-surge of the Holy Spirit to serve God and demonstrate that we are in union with Christ. The seed is planted at Spirit baptism but the fruit is born through being filled. At Spirit Baptism the believer gets all of the Holy Spirit; during the Spirit Fullness the Holy Spirit gets all of the believer. Spirit Baptism binds us to Christ; Spirit Fullness builds us up in Christ. Today when the Spirit comes/falls on us, we receive Him for Baptism and/or Fullness.

The Scriptures remind all true believers that they have been baptised/sealed with the Spirit into Christ (1Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13). On the basis of this, believers are warned not to grieve the Spirit (Eph. 4:30) but urged to ALWAYS be led by and BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (Eph. 5:18-20). So every believer must always be led and necessarily be filled. 

 

How could those indwelled be continually filled?

(1.) Through praying for oneself, Acts 4:29-31; Luke 11:13;

(2.) Through imbibing the Word of God, Col 3:16; 

(3.) Through being prayed for, Col. 1:9-12; Eph. 3:14-19; 

(4.) By acting in obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:4; 4:8; Mark 13:11.

 

How does one know he/she is filled?

(1.) Manifestation of the Gifts, Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 13:9-11; Col. 1:9;

(2.) Demonstration of the Fruit, Acts 13:52; Col. 1:10; 

(3.) Experience of the Power, Acts 4:31; Col. 1:11.

(4.) Conformity to the Word, 1John 2:27; 3:24.

 

BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT Always. (Eph 5:18)

 

COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF SPIRIT BAPTISM AND FULLNESS

In this tabular study, we shall compare and contrast the meaning and effect of Spirit Baptism versus Spirit Fullness. It is hoped that such comparison would widen our understanding and enable us take fuller advantage of the grace of God through the work of the Holy Sprit.