The Truth about the Holy Spirit Baptism
By Eddie Jones
The word “baptism” means total immersion or to become engulfed by. Greek-English Lexicon. To be baptized with the Holy Spirit is to be totally immersed or engulfed by the Spirit of God. This is something to be thrilled about! The terms, “baptized with the Holy Ghost,” “filled with the Holy Spirit,” and “gift of the Holy Ghost,” are synonymous terms used in the Acts of the Apostles. (See Acts 1:5, 2:4, 38.) Also the terms “Holy Spirit” and “Holy Ghost” mean the same. The Hebrew “ruach,” and Greek “pneuma” is the same for both “Spirit” and “Ghost.” Fausset’s Bible Dictionary.
Everyone who has felt the Spirit of God has not necessarily received the Holy Ghost Baptism. The disciples had experienced the presence of the Lord with them before they were filled with the Holy Ghost. Jesus said, “Ye know him; for he dwelleth WITH you, and shall be IN you.” John 14:17. The Samaritans had experienced great joy when they believed on the Lord. But they did not receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost until later. Acts 8:6-16.
HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM PROMISED
God spoke through Old Testament prophets about the coming baptism of the Holy Spirit. “It shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh …”Joel 2:28. Isaiah prophesied, “With stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest … and this is the refreshing.” Is. 28:11, 12. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you …” Eze. 36:26.
John preached, “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.” Matt. 3:11.
Jesus confirmed the prophecies of the Old Testament and of John, and promised the Holy Spirit Baptism to all believers. He said, “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 (R.V. from within) 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) John 7:37-39. (Also see John 16:7, 14:26.) “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day . . . And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:46-49. Jesus COMMANDED that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father. He said, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:4, 5. Also Jesus said, “And these signs shall follow them that believe … they shall speak with new tongues.” Mark 16:17.
HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM EXPERIENCED
“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. 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.” Acts 2:1-4. The initial outpouring of the Holy Ghost, upon the 120 disciples, was witnessed by devout Jews, out of every nation. They said one to another, “Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? What meaneth this?” Others mocked and said, “These men are full of new wine.” Acts 2:6-13. Then Peter preached, “These are not drunken, as ye suppose …But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh . . . Having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” Acts 2:15-33.
Cornelius and his household experienced the baptism of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in tongues. While Peter preached the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. “They of the circumcision (Jews) which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. FOR THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK WITH TONGUES, and magnify God … Acts 10:44-48.
Paul asked the question to believers at Ephesus, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” And they said unto him, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” After Paul had preached Christ unto them he rebaptized them in the Name of the Lord Jesus. “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” Acts 19:1-6.
History also proves that the baptism of the Holy Spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues has not ceased to be a Biblical experience among believers today, and is now the fastest growing stream of Christianity.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 1973 Edition, Vol. 22, p. 75 The accounts in Acts indicate that in the beginning of the Christian church the phenomenon (tongue-speaking) reappeared wherever conversion and commitment to Christianity occurred During later church history, glossolalia (speaking in tongues) occurred among the mendicant friars of the 13th century, little prophets of Cevennes, the Camisards, the Jansenists, and the Irvingites. Tongues were found also among the early Quakers, as well as among the converts of John Wesley and George Whitefield. In modern times glossolalia has been found chiefly among Holiness and Pentecostal groups.
Newsweek, June 25, 1973, p. 80 The Pentecostal phenomenon has spread with surprising speed through all of the world’s major Christian churches.
The Los Angeles Times, Sun., Jan. 11, 1976, Vol XCV, p. 1 Pentecostalism church historian, Martin Marty calls it a “people’s religion” is now the fastest growing stream of Christianity. In many third World developing countries, it is already the dominant stream.
In addition to tongue-speaking, the Bible teaches that the fruit of the Spirit will also follow believers baptized with the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Gal. 5:22,23. Jesus said, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matt. 7:20. No Christian’s life is complete without the baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the outward evidence of speaking in tongues, followed by the inward manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit.
HOW TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM
1. The first step is faith. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to all who believe on Him as the Scripture has said. John 7:38,39. Peter said, “The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Act 2:39. Remove all doubt and confusion created by false theories and ideas of men, and believe that God is willing to baptize you with the Holy Spirit. “Be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is . . . BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.” Ep. 5:17,18.
2. The next step is obedience. God gives the Holy Ghost to them that obey Him. Acts 5:32. The question was asked on the day of Pentecost, “What shall we do?” Then Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38.
a. Repentance is of utmost importance because your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. If any man defile the temple (body) of God, him shall God destroy. 1 Cor. 3:16,17. So God commandeth all men everywhere to REPENT. Acts 17:30. Jesus said, “Except ye REPENT, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3. Any Pentecostal or Charismatic experience without true repentance will not result in the Biblical Holy Spirit Baptism.
b. Following repentance, it becomes necessary for your sins to be remitted with water baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ. Jesus commissioned that repentance and REMISSION OF SINS should be preached IN HIS NAME. Luke 24:47. Peter preached water baptism in the Name-of JESUS CHRIST for the REMISSION OF SINS. Acts 2:38. Paul REBAPTIZED converts at Ephesus in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 19:5. Peter COMMANDED the Gentiles at Caesarea to be baptized with water in the Name of the Lord. (R.V., Weymouth, Vulgate, “Name of Jesus Christ.”) Acts 10:47,48.
If you desire to have your sins remitted and receive the Holy Spirit Baptism evidenced by speaking in tongues, I urge you to believe God and obey His word.
IMPORTANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM
The Holy Spirit Baptism is essential to complete the “new birth” into the Kingdom of God. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” John 3:5. Paul said to Titus, “According to His mercy He saved us, (how?) by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5. (Also see John 1:12,13, Acts 2:38.)
It is impossible to please God without the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “That which is born of flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6. Paul said, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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.” Ro. 8:8, 9. (Also see 2 Car. 13:5, Gal. 1:8.)
The baptism of the Holy Ghost is needed to fill the deepest desire of the heart. Paul said, “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Ro. 5:5. Again he said, “The Kingdom of God is … righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Ro. 14:17. (Also see Is. 28:11, 12.)
It takes the Holy Spirit Baptism to change a person’s heart and give him strength to walk in newness of life. “A new heart also will I give you . . .” Eze. 36:26. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17. ” . We also shall walk in newness of life.” Ro. 6:4. (Also see Zec. 4:6, Gal. 2:20, 2 Tim. 1:7.)
The baptism of the Holy Ghost gives a believer the needed power to witness. Jesus said, “Ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be WITNESSES unto me …” Acts 1:8. (Also see Luke 24:49.)
The Holy Spirit Baptism is required to be ready for the rapture of the church. “If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Ro. 8:11. The Bible states that it is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY. Co. 1:27. (Also see John 3:5, Ro. 8:9, Gal. 4:6,7, 1 Thes. 4:16, 2 Thes. 1:7-10.)
Honest hearts, receive the truth today and be transformed by the wonderful power of God! Don’t stop short of the complete Biblical plan of salvation. Experience the exciting baptism of the Holy Spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues!
This pamphlet The Truth about the Holy Spirit Baptism written by Eddie Jones is published by Know the Truth Literature.
