The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The following article was written by Robin W. Haley for the Gospel Preceptor;
http://www.gospelpreceptor.com/HaleyR01.htm

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Of tremendous interest and great confusion is the subject of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Although there could be a significant number of reasons for this, it seems to this writer that the simplest and perhaps the most accurate is a misunderstanding or misapplication of two or three passages of Scripture. This is not to say that there are only a few verses that pertain to this subject—far from it. However, if the foundation is faulty, the rest of the building will collapse. Let us consider the foundations for the misunderstanding of the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit.

First, the use of the term “baptize” in relation to the Holy Spirit is found but four times, these being in four parallel accounts of the same occasion: that of John the baptizer teaching about an upcoming event. Thus, John only actually taught this once. What he meant by what he said in these parallel passages will be examined presently.

Next, the term “baptism” and the Holy Spirit do not occur together! Wait! You mean that the Bible does not speak of Holy Spirit baptism? No, that is not what is meant, but rather that one will not find the phrase “Holy Spirit baptism” in any verse. Sadly, far too many think that “Holy Spirit baptism” is a rather common doctrine pertaining to believers in the New Testament. Not so.

So, how does the New Testament use the words “baptized” and the Holy Spirit together? Once with reference to Jesus’ water baptism; again the reference to what John said about his water baptism and a coming baptism; three references in the book of Acts that look to water, then mention the Holy Spirit; finally a reference in 1 Corinthians that speaks of something the Spirit does, not that one is baptized into the Holy Spirit.

The summary of this search is this: The use of these words regarding this subject is found only in what John said Jesus was going to do, in what Jesus said to His apostles, and in what one apostle said he remembered what Jesus said to him. These passages are: Mark 1:8; Acts 1:5; and Acts 11:16. They read as follows:

“I baptized you in water; But he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit” Mark 1:8.

“For John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence” Acts 1:5.

“And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit” Acts 11:16.

What then is the faulty foundation upon which so many want to build their doctrine of “Holy Spirit baptism for all believers”? I suggest, good reader, that it is the first of the three above: Mark 1:8 (and what some consider parallel passages). The-A-Number-One-Rule which most forget or do not even know is this: What is the context wherein a passage is found? When kept within proper context, even difficult Bible passages are easier to understand. This “Holy Spirit baptism” passage is not hard to understand.

As we read from the beginning of this first chapter of Mark (please read the first eight verses), we learn that, according to the prophet Isaiah, John was sent by God to preach to a certain group. Who was this? His people Israel. Now, to whom was John speaking when he made reference to what Jesus would do? Verse five tells us it was “all the country of Judea, and all they of Jerusalem.” These were Jews, not Christians. It would seem, if we were to stop here, that Jesus would baptize in the Holy Spirit all penitent Jews who were baptized of John in water. As we read through the rest of the New Testament, we see that that did not happen. So, John said Jesus would do something that never happened. Was John wrong? Did he lie? Did Jesus not do what He was supposed to do? If we have confidence in the Bible as God’s word, we know that these things could not be true. So, what does John mean by what he said to this crowd of penitent Jews? Since this context does not speak of nor to Christians, this baptism in the Holy Spirit is certainly not what is claimed by people today.

This brings us to Jesus’ promise made to His apostles. You see, He used the same words, and referred back to what John had preached. We find this in only one place: Acts 1:5. Read it again: “For John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.” This is Jesus speaking to His apostles after His resurrection from the dead. Did Jesus mean what He said? Did He lie to His apostles? No, we know that being the Son of God, He would not, could not do such. So, did the apostles ever receive this baptism? Indeed they did, and we find it recorded in the first four verses of Acts chapter two. “And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Who were these that “were all together in one place”? The verse just prior to this event tells us: “And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” The eleven and Matthias makes twelve—the twelve apostles of Christ.

John the baptizer told the nation of Israel that there was a special baptism coming to them. Jesus applied this promise to His apostles. The writer of Acts (Luke) tells us that this promise was applied to the apostles when they were together on the day of Pentecost. This baptism was a promise to them alone and was never given to any other. Such wording and promise will never be found in the Bible referring to any other. No one ever was promised this. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was never mentioned as applying to any other anywhere in the New Testament. We must therefore conclude that what John was saying to the nation of Israel, was meant to be understood as a general statement of what God had planned as a special relationship He was to enact with His people through His Spirit. This was accomplished through the agency of the apostles of Christ.

Finally, let us consider why Jesus made this promise to His apostles. The answer to this is found in three chapters of the gospel of John (14-16) where Jesus is explaining the work He has lined up for these men. Please read and consider John 14:16-18. Jesus told them He would not leave them alone, the Holy Spirit would come to them. Verse 26 reaffirms that the Holy Spirit is coming to them. In John 15:26-27, Jesus again tells them the Holy Spirit is the Comforter Who is coming to them. He is the spirit of Truth and will teach them. They—the apostles—are to be Christ’s witnesses and only a certain few can fill the qualification to be a witness. “Of the men therefore that have com-panied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection” (Acts 1:21,22).

Now we come to John 6:7-11. Jesus tells them that when the Holy Spirit comes to them, He will—through them—convict the world with respect to sin, righteousness, and judgment. This was to be done through their preaching and teaching (and the record of such teaching found within the Bible. This is why Luke refers to “the apostles’ doctrine” in Acts 2.42. Now read John 16: 13-15. Again, Jesus makes clear that the Holy Spirit was going to teach them and cause them to remember all that Jesus taught them. The Spirit was not going to create doctrine, but deliver what Christ decreed from Heaven to them.

Here is the conclusion of this whole matter: John said that Jesus was to baptize with the Holy Spirit. Jesus applied this promise to His apostles and to no others. This promise was fulfilled as recorded in Acts two and was never repeated.

Friends, the apostles are gone and no one took their place. They finished the work Jesus gave them to do. They were guided into all the truth through Holy Spirit baptism. There was never a baptism of the Holy Spirit upon anyone other than the apostles, and there is none now.