Is There A "Second Blessing" Or "Baptism Of The Holy Spirit?"

But you, beloved, building yourselves up

on the most holy faith, praying in the

Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God,

looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ

unto eternal life.

Jude 20–21

            Here once again the Trinity outlined for us, the Holy Spirit, God and Jesus Christ, all mentioned as part, of our most holy faith. This most holy faith in the Godhead and the promise of eternal life: a most gracious blessing for our lives, and an assurance for our hope. This doctrine of the Trinity while the foundation for our religion has had many who have attempted to explain each Person of the doctrine leading to error. The Holy Spirit is one such Person of the doctrine that has caused division in the Church. We need to examine what is taught, and use Scripture to define the truth, or the error.

            Within Christianity some Churches, pastors, teachers today teach that after a person becomes a believer, that is saved, there is a need for an additional experience in which the receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. A Second Blessing, so called, and this Second Blessing is accompanied by such things as: “speaking in tongues” a phenomena they proclaim is giving as proof that they are filled with the Holy Spirit and have received this Second Blessing. Within the Pentecostals, and the Charismatics this teaching of this experience that this Second baptism, the Second Blessing, or Baptism of the Holy Spirit will come to a person if one prays for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The evidence or a sign of such is a very emotional, at least for most participants, and authenticated by speaking in tongues. Some even go so far to admit that this is confirmation of salvation. The teaching by those who believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or Second Blessing teaches that by this empowerment of this Second Blessing of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit a person steps out of their natural realm, and into a supernatural realm. This supernatural ream taught is where a person can begin to experience the supernatural gifts and powers of the Holy Spirit. You may have experienced this and were a person whereby another person laid hands on you as you sought the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is often much coaching by the one laying hands on another telling a person to this or that, i.e., make verbal sounds, those sounds would enable a person to begin speaking in tongues. It has been seen, by me, that in these emotional experiences led by a person encouraging this emotional experience that people begin to laugh hysterically, bark like a dog, fall over as dead, dance around, and speak in some “gibberish” language, and in the end feel as though they have experienced some special moment and Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I cannot find this in Scripture!

            This teaching has taught that there the Holy Spirit does not necessarily baptize a person and indwell a person when a person is saved and is converted to our Lord Jesus Christ. This teaching is all about a person seeking for a “second blessing” and some empowerment by the Holy Spirit, especially speaking in tongues. Is this teaching by the Charismatics and Pentecostals a teaching of God, and can it be found in Scripture: is it Scriptural? Does the Bible teach this that there are those who have this Second Blessing and others that do not making a two class system of Christians? Should we be seeking this Second Blessing?

            The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit has two ministries: 1. Baptism, or indwelling of the new believer by the Holy Spirit. 2. The filling of the Holy Spirit: This filling directs a person in their daily living by the Holy Spirit. It is clear from Scripture that these are two different and distinct ministries. How are we to understand these two ministries?

            The supposition presented must not to be proved by Scripture: rather any supposition is must be derived from Scripture. This is a major mistake, many teach and preach: they attempt to prove their presuppositions by Scripture. The premise set forth in this article is: 1. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at the time of salvation. The term, “Baptism of the Holy Spirit,” refers to the indwelling of the believer by the Holy Spirit giving him/her a new nature. 2. The “Filling of the Holy Spirit,” is different from the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is this difference, examined, investigated, and applied according to what Scripture teaches. 3. Both, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Filling of the Holy Spirit occur simultaneously when a person saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

            The premise now set forward for examination and investigation we then need to precede so that there is clarity. The following blogs will attempt to bring this clarity and to clearly present what the Bible teaches so that we are not confused and are doing that which the Bible clearly condemns: living sensually.

But you, beloved, remember the words

            Which were spoken before by the

Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how

            They told you that there would be

Mockers in the last time who would walk

            According to their own ungodly lusts.

These are sensual persons, who cause divisions,

            Not having the Spirit. But you, beloved,

Building yourselves up on your most holy faith,

            Praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves

In the love of God, looking for the mercy or our

            Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

                                    Jude 17–21

Walk in faith, not sight

Richard L. Crumb