Or do you not know
that as many of us
as were baptized into
Christ Jesus were
baptized into His
death?
Therefore we were
buried with Him
through baptism into
death,
that just as Christ
was raised from
the dead by the glory
of the Father
even so we also should
walk in
newness of life.
Romans 6: 3–4
It
imperative that we investigate the Scriptures on this subject about the baptism
of the Holy Spirit and what is reveals to us by God. If one would take time to
find all the Scriptures in regards to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they
would find that this mentioned only seven times. Without delving deeply into
baptism or infant baptism and leave that discussion for another time we must
come understand the word “baptism.” “βαπτίζω” or transliterated, “baptizo,” is
defined: to make overwhelmed; i.e., fully wet, used only in the New Testament
of ceremonial ablution, especially of Christian ordinance; baptism. Baptize
means to baptize and is used of washing oneself (Luke 11:38), or the rite
performed by John the Baptist who called upon the people to repent that they
might receive remission of sins. (Strong’s Dictionary, 2001, #907, p. 1006).
Baptism separate from the baptism of Jesus Christ identified that a person
enjoined to Jesus Christ and were believers. Their identification was now with
Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptized in the “Name” would
identify that a person was bound to or became the property of the one in whose
name, they were baptized. The other cognates of baptzo, are baptisma, a process
of immersion, submersion and emergence, baptismos, a ceremonial washing of
articles, baptistes, used only in the Synoptics, and of John the Baptist,
bapto, to overwhelm, to cover fully with a fluid, to dip, to moisten, to stain.
(Strong’s Dictionary, 2001; #908,909,910, and, 911; p. 1006). These definitions
should help us to understand baptism and now we must apply that understanding
to our subject; baptism of the Holy Spirit and what the Bible reveals.
John the
Baptist’ act of baptism is the first the Bible uses or mentioned the word,
“baptism.” There can be no doubt that John’s baptism was a sign, or public
acknowledgement of one’s repentance of their sins. Baptism recognized that
need; “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Matthew 3:2,11). The Jews
were award from their Scriptures that the time for the Messiah to appear was at
hand, and that there would be one preparing the way (verse 3), and they
believed John’s message and that the kingdom was at hand. Water baptism was a
public demonstration in preparation for the coming Messiah.
The baptism
of John the Baptist was not the same as baptism practiced later in the Church.
In fact, when some of the Pharisees, and Sadducees, came to him to be baptized,
John the Baptist refused to baptize them and said: “But when he saw many of
the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of
vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits
worthy of repentance, and do not thing to slay to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham
as our father.’ For I say to that God is able to raise up children to Abraham
from these stones’” (Matthew 3: 7–9). A person must demonstrate their true
repentance before baptized, as baptism is a public declaration of one’s belief
in God and His promises, those promises given to the Jews beforehand. To come
to baptism one must come in faith looking forward to the coming of the Messiah.
John the Baptist’ baptism did not impart any power or some supernatural gift as
taught by such as the Bethel Church of Redding, no, only those who are
believers and showed evidence of their repentance and faith in the Messiah were
baptized. Baptism must occur as a public demonstration of their faith and water
baptism identifies a person publicly as a believer in Jesus Christ, His death,
burial, and resurrection. The opening Scripture declares this fact. And yet,
baptism in Jesus Christ is demonstrated by your faith in baptism and God’s
promises in the newness of your life, how you walk, talk, dress, and how you
worship God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.
A person
further identifies this fact of salvation by not only baptism; it is by joining
the local Church. Some would rather stay at home and watch some preacher on TV.
This is not identifying with others saved, and showing love for them, it is not
a demonstration of a new life. We are to repent of our sins if we are to expect
the Holy Spirit to indwell us: “The Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let
every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). The
word “gift” is singular, not plural, for you receive “One,” the Holy Spirit for
He is the gift and He imparts to God’s children the “gifts” of the Holy Spirit
found in Galatians 5:22. Added to this is that if those fruits are evidenced in
your life you have crucified the flesh with all its passions and desires and
live in the Spirit, those gifts mentioned in verse 22, and walk in the Spirit
for you are filled to do so by the Holy Spirit. Baptism because of your
repentance, and if so done you will receive the Holy Spirit, verse 41, and
added to the church, verses 44–47. The record is plain and clear that a person
receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit when saved. The Baptism of the Holy
Spirit is an act of God and the believer indwelt by the Holy Spirit; and
identified in your life that this is true and identified with the body of Jesus
Christ, His church. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new”
(2Corinthians 5:17).
Therefore
Come out
from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do no touch
what is unclean,
And I will receive you. I will be a
Father to
you, and you shall
Be My sons and daughters, says
The LORD
Almighty
2Corinthians 6:17; (cf. Isaiah 52:
11; 2Samuel 7:14)
Receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22)
Richard L. Crumb
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