Baptism in the Spirit

***Ryan R*** · Jan 15th 2010, 09:01 PM

I'm looking for some information on what is meant by the term 'baptism in the spirit'.

I'm not looking to debate it's validity, I just want to know what the term implies.

Thanks in advance.

***The Mighty Sword*** · Jan 15th 2010, 09:33 PM

Luke tells us:

"I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

That's all I got on the issue.

**amazzin** · Jan 15th 2010, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by Ryan R

I'm looking for some information on what is meant by the term 'baptism in the spirit'.

I'm not looking to debate it's validity, I just want to know what the term implies.

Thanks in advance.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism with power that Jesus speaks of in Acts 4 to empower the believer with the anointing needed for ministry with the speaking in tongues as one of its evidence.

**Slug1** · Jan 15th 2010, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by amazzin

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism with power that Jesus speaks of in Acts 4 to empower the believer with the anointing needed for ministry with the speaking in tongues as one of its evidence.

It is also supported in Luke 4.

In v1 we have Jesus baptized by water and filled with the Holy Spirit: 1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into[a] the wilderness,

Then in v14 we see that Jesus returns in the power of the Holy Spirit. Not just filled but now in power: 14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.

Now He is empowered to do the ministry God planned for Him.

***Walstib*** · Jan 15th 2010, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by Ryan R

I'm not looking to debate it's validity, I just want to know what the term implies.

With this topic the two will be hard to separate. The term means different things to different people and this itself leads down that path.

You will not find baptism "in" the spirit mentioned in the bible to my knowledge. Nor "of" the Spirit. Closest I know of is "with" the Spirit (Matt 3:11) Though I know what you are asking I thought it worthwhile to point out.

Many will say it is an event at or post salvation that not everyone experiences. An empowering "filling" of the Holy Spirit often said to be witnessed by the speaking of tongues.

Some would agree but say it only was available to the apostles.

Many disagree with and say it is simply part of being regenerated and all experience it at the "time" of justification, no special secondary event called by that name. Leaving room for "fillings" that should be called something else.

The third would be where I am at now. I am sure there are more variations but those the main views I would think.

Who gets baptized with what fire being a point to ponder

**Twin2** · Jan 15th 2010, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by Walstib

With this topic the two will be hard to separate. The term means different things to different people and this itself leads down that path.

You will not find baptism "in" the spirit mentioned in the bible to my knowledge. Nor "of" the Spirit. Closest I know of is "with" the Spirit (Matt 3:11) Though I know what you are asking I thought it worthwhile to point out.

Many will say it is an event at or post salvation that not everyone experiences. An empowering "filling" of the Holy Spirit often said to be witnessed by the speaking of tongues.

Some would agree but say it only was available to the apostles.

Many disagree with and say it is simply part of being regenerated and all experience it at the "time" of justification, no special secondary event called by that name. Leaving room for "fillings" that should be called something else.

The third would be where I am at now. I am sure there are more variations but those the main views I would think.

Who gets baptized with what fire being a point to ponder

Who? Any believer who is living right and wants it, may seek and receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

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.)" John 7:38-39 KJV

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6

***Ryan R*** · Jan 15th 2010, 10:45 PM

Thanks for the answers so far. I would appreciate further elaboration in some areas.

I'm getting the idea that this is supposed to be an entirely separate event from baptism with water, is this correct?

If so, is there any correlation between the baptism with water and with the spirit?

Who does the baptising in the spirit (with water it's just another believer - is it the same with the spirit, or does it have to involve anyone else at all) and what's the point that would signify that someone was a candidate for being baptised in the spirit?

***Walstib*** · Jan 15th 2010, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by Twin2

Who? Any believer who is living right and wants it, may seek and receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

A very convincing argument that I have heard is that the "baptized with fire" people were those in the crowd that were on there way to hell. When John said those words there were both kinds of people (will be saved and will not be) in the audience.

Many will say this is the "as of fire" lightning from acts. While I understand I tend not to agree this was the context.

***Brother Mark*** · Jan 15th 2010, 11:11 PM

Acts uses the word baptized in the Holy Spirit and filled with the Holy Spirit interchangably. Then we see the command in Ephesians to be filled with the Spirit. IOW, it's not something that occurs only at water batism, though it may. And it occurs repeatedly. Peter was filled mulitiple times in Acts. How does one know he is filled with the Holy Spirit? He has power.

Acts 1:4-5
4 And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. "
NASB

Jesus promised the coming baptism in the verse above then says what the results will be a few verses later.

Acts 1:7-9
7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. "
NASB

So when the Holy Spirit comes "upon" a person (as compared to "in" a person which occurs at salvation) the person receives power to be a witness. In Acts 2, when this even occurred, we see a couple of things. First, the writer calls it "being filled". Second, the apostles' power to witness was greatly increased.

Acts 2:1-4

2 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
NASB

Acts 2:14

14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words.
NASB

Acts 2:22-23

22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know — 23 this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
NASB

The above verses are part of Peter witnessing strongly. This is the same Peter that 50 days prior had denied Christ.

Acts 2:37-38

37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" 38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
NASB

One that is filled with the Holy Spirit will have power to do things he previously did not have power to do.

***Ryan R*** · Jan 15th 2010, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by Brother Mark

Acts uses the word baptized in the Holy Spirit and filled with the Holy Spirit interchangably. Then we see the command in Ephesians to be filled with the Spirit. IOW, it's not something that occurs only at water batism, though it may. And it occurs repeatedly. Peter was filled mulitiple times in Acts. How does one know he is filled with the Holy Spirit? He has power.

Acts 1:4-5
4 And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. "
NASB

Jesus promised the coming baptism in the verse above then says what the results will be a few verses later.

Acts 1:7-9
7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. "
NASB

So when the Holy Spirit comes "upon" a person (as compared to "in" a person which occurs at salvation) the person receives power to be a witness. In Acts 2, when this even occurred, we see a couple of things. First, the writer calls it "being filled". Second, the apostles' power to witness was greatly increased.

Acts 2:1-4

2 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
NASB

Acts 2:14

14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words.
NASB

Acts 2:22-23

22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know — 23 this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
NASB

The above verses are part of Peter witnessing strongly. This is the same Peter that 50 days prior had denied Christ.

Acts 2:37-38

37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" 38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
NASB

One that is filled with the Holy Spirit will have power to do things he previously did not have power to do.

Thanks Brother Mark. Interesting points.

Is what you are demonstrating here in line with what is typically being referred to when someone uses the term "baptising in the spirit"?

***Brother Mark*** · Jan 15th 2010, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by Ryan R

Thanks Brother Mark. Interesting points.

Is what you are demonstrating here in line with what is typically being referred to when someone uses the term "baptising in the spirit"?

It's what I believe scripture teaches concerning baptism of the Spirit. And yes, I think most people that hold to baptism of the Spirit believe that is what occured in Acts 2. Where some people get contentious I think, is on the gift of to*unges. And I mispelled it there to keep folks from doing a search and finding this thread. It might blow up just on that subject if we're not careful.

Some folks will tell you it was a one time event for the church. Others will tell you it's a one time event for a believer. Some, like me, will tell you that it occurs multiple times as it did with Peter in Acts. That's why Paul commands believers to be "filled with the Spirit" in Ephesians. Acts uses baptism of the Spirit and filling of the Spirit interchangeably, IMO.

***Ryan R*** · Jan 15th 2010, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by Brother Mark

It's what I believe scripture teaches concerning baptism of the Spirit. And yes, I think most people that hold to baptism of the Spirit believe that is what occured in Acts 2. Where some people get contentious I think, is on the gift of to*unges. And I mispelled it there to keep folks from doing a search and finding this thread. It might blow up just on that subject if we're not careful.

Some folks will tell you it was a one time event for the church. Others will tell you it's a one time event for a believer. Some, like me, will tell you that it occurs multiple times as it did with Peter in Acts. That's why Paul commands believers to be "filled with the Spirit" in Ephesians. Acts uses baptism of the Spirit and filling of the Spirit interchangeably, IMO.

Then I appreciate the misspell.

Without this thread becoming contentious, its partly the contentioius aspect I'm interested in. Is it just the manifestation of the above stated gift that is the general point of contention?

**Amos_with_goats** · Jan 16th 2010, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by Ryan R

Then I appreciate the misspell.

Without this thread becoming contentious, its partly the contentioius aspect I'm interested in. Is it just the manifestation of the above stated gift that is the general point of contention?

I believe the point of contention is the idea that there is a separate 'event' from the decsion to accept Christ that is 'required' before one would be fully a believer. ....................

**notuptome** · Jan 16th 2010, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by Brother Mark

Acts uses the word baptized in the Holy Spirit and filled with the Holy Spirit interchangably.

Are you comfortable with mistranslating the greek so as to make filling into baptism? I thought that was a pentacostal or charasmatic teaching.

Then we see the command in Ephesians to be filled with the Spirit. IOW, it's not something that occurs only at water batism, though it may. And it occurs repeatedly. Peter was filled mulitiple times in Acts. How does one know he is filled with the Holy Spirit? He has power.

Power is one evidence but one another evidence is the witness of the Holy Spirit with our spirit testifying that we are Christs. The Holy Spirits filling is present in His guiding our thoughts as we study His word. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we manifest the fruits of the Spirit. Gal 5:22-26

Titus 3:5 illustrates the Holy Spirit washing us and renewing us in our salvation experience.

One that is filled with the Holy Spirit will have power to do things he previously did not have power to do.

One could say without the Holy Spirit one can do nothing of eternal value.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

***Brother Mark*** · Jan 16th 2010, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by Ryan R

Then I appreciate the misspell.

Without this thread becoming contentious, its partly the contentioius aspect I'm interested in. Is it just the manifestation of the above stated gift that is the general point of contention?

Well, that makes it more contentious. But there is also some contention around it being a "second" event. I think it happens repeatedly in scriptures. But some think it's a one time event and see something different in being filled with the Holy Spirit and being baptized in the Holy Spirit.