Discovering The Truth About The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit

For you are all sons of God

through faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many as were baptized

into Christ have put on Christ.

Galatians 3:26–27

Before continuing we must remember this fact: Theology is not philosophy. Theology does not attempt or assume to discover truth, not does it attempt to reconcile what Scripture teaches as truth with other truths. The province of Scripture is simply to state what God has revealed to us in His Word, and then to vindicate, as far as possible, those statements from misconceptions and objections. This is what attempted in these blogs. Theology then in this limited and very humble way recognizes that this is especially necessary for us to bear in mind when we speak of the acts and purposes of God. The Glory of God is the cause for this presentation and discussion: is it not that we want to know the truth as Scripture as revealed and not by some person? Yes!

            Continuing in this discussion of the baptism of the Holy Spirit the first remembered is the economy of God and His dispensation (not Dispensationalism). There are two very important dispensations in the economy of God and we know them as the Old Testament and the New Testament; therefore, we must examine both dispensations and the work of the Holy Spirit. Believers before Jesus Christ, the Messiah appeared on earth that began a new or New Testament dispensation, were not indwelled by the Holy Spirit, that is, not permanently indwelled. This is true for the prophets, and priests, and others where were employed by God for intended particular service. Not so for King David: “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah” (1Samuel 16:13). Men that had the Spirit of God come upon them: Otheniel, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, Samuel, King Saul, Amasai, Azariah, and Zecharah (cf. Numbers 24:2; Judges 3:10, 6:34, 11:29, 14:19; 1Samuel 10:10, 11:6, 18:10; 1Chronicles 12:18; 2Chronicles 15:1, 24:20): each case the Holy Spirit did not indwell them permanently.

            Peter on the Day of Pentecost (Fifty Days after Passover, the festival of Pentecost counted from the second day of the Feast) stood up and preached to the crowd (Acts 1:14). Peter recounted the words of the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28) and this was the signal, a sign, that there was now a new dispensation, a forming of the church the Bride of Christ. Jesus had ordered that the disciples were to wait for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4) and that promised was the baptism of the Holy Spirit; “…for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5). On the fiftieth day of Pentecost, these disciples were indwelled by the Holy Spirit for prior to this time even the disciples were not indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Something new was occurring, a new dispensation for God’s children, a new purpose and service for God was about to begin with the forming of the Church and the indwelling permanently upon true converted believers; the Holy Spirit. This indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon believers was not for some revelational experience that would be carried on throughout Church history, although this new dispensation in the economy of God begin with specific signs. This indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the work that the Holy Spirit would empower God’s children was to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. By Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, men would hear the gospel, and by the faith given to them by God respond and turn their lives to follow the commands of God. Jesus spoke: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We who are children of God are to be witnesses of Jesus Christ, that He is the Savior, the promised One who takes away sin. It is not some experience and practiced in many churches, gibberish speaking, prophesying, healings, acting slain, and having great emotional experiences. No, we are to be to be ready to defend our faith and our faith is not in some charismatic revelational gospel. It is to tell any who would ask about Jesus Christ. We are to be witnesses for Jesus Christ in all we do: at work, home, play. As the opening Scripture testifies; we are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ and are baptized into Jesus Christ, putting on Jesus Christ, we are no longer our own we are purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. This is not water baptism; this is by our faith and our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, baptized into Him and have clothed ourselves with Him. This is key: it is by faith, and if you want an emotional experience: how much greater of an experience is this? You are saved, eternally saved, your sins washed away by the blood of Jesus. Not by who you are, or what you do, it is by grace, a free gift of God. Think upon this and if you do not become humble and emotional, then you are looking in the wrong place. Think upon this: “And because you are sons, god has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Galatians 4:6)! Nowhere in Scripture are we to understand that the believer told to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Paul writes: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body––whether Jews of Greeks, whether slaves or free––and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (1Corinthians 12:13). All are baptized into one Spirit for the one who is saved, at their salvation, they are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are now members of the body of Jesus Christ. Paul makes this clear: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5–6). You who are saved do not have two baptisms of the Holy Spirit as some claim and teach. You automatically receive the Holy Spirit at salvation to those who trust by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore He says:

            When He ascended on high,

He led captivity captive, and

            Gave gifts to men.

                                    Ephesians 5:8

Called by God, Empowered By God: YOU!

Richard L. Crumb

           

Learning The Work Of The Holy Spirit

Nevertheless I tell you the truth.

It is to your advantage that I go way,

for if I do not go away, the Helper

will not come to you, but if I depart,

I will send Him to you. And when He has come

He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness,

and of judgment; of in, because they do not believe in Me,

of righteousness, because I go to My Father

and you see Me no More; of judgment, because the ruler

of the world is judged. I still have many things to say to you,

but you cannot bear them now. However, when He,

the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;

for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears

He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine

and declare it to you.

John 16:7–14

            Let us look at the references to the baptism of the Holy Spirit as this is the true source:

1. Matthew 3:11. "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." John the Baptist, was promising that when the Messiah came He would baptize them with the Holy Spirit. It was a promise of the indwelling of the Spirit of God. This was confirmed by Peter in Acts 11:16. (Read Peter and Acts 11:16; it is the Holy Bible in all its chapters and versed that we find the truth for it is in context of the whole and not just some proof verses as some choose to use to prove their presuppositions and theology).

2. Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16. These are parallel references to Matthew 3:11.

3. John 1:33-34. "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." This was John's confirmation, that the One who was the Messiah, and who would baptize with the Holy Spirit was Jesus. John the Baptist's evidence was that he saw the Spirit of God descend on Jesus, and then God told him this was the Messiah.

4. Acts 1:5. "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Jesus promised his disciples they would receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is what happened on the Day of Pentecost. The disciples of Christ received the Baptist of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16-17. Jesus told His disciples about His sending of the Holy Spirit (Comforter): "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14:16-17) Note that Christ said the Comforter would abide with them, that He would indwell them, and be in them. This is the first mention of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was explaining to His disciples that after He returned to Heaven, the Spirit would continue to abide in and with them. In John 16:7-14 (quoted in the opening Scriptures), Jesus later explained more of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

5. Acts 11:16. "Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, `John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Acts 10, records that there was a Roman centurion named Cornelius who was a devout man who feared God. He was a Jewish proselyte to Judaism. God sent an angel to Cornelius and instructed him to send for Peter who was in Joppa. The angel told him that Peter would tell him what he should do? Evidently Cornelius was praying about questions he had about God. Peter at the same time receives a vision from God that prepared him for Cornelius's visit. Peter a devout Jew would not normally even enter a Gentile's house. God told Peter, in the vision, to eat animals that the Mosaic law declared to be unclean. When Peter refused, God told him not to call common what God declared to be clean. (Acts 10:14) As the vision ended the men Cornelius had sent to fetch Peter stood knocking on his door. They related how the angel had appeared to their master Cornelius and beckoned him to go with him. Peter went and preached Christ to Cornelius. (Acts 10:23-43) Verse 44 says they received the Holy Spirit and afterwards received water baptism. What happened to Cornelius, and those in his home who believed, was identical to what happened on the day of Pentecost to the Jewish disciples in Jerusalem. Peter says that the receiving of the Holy Spirit was what John the Baptist had prophesied. (Acts 11:15-16) Acts 11:18, records that this was a sign to the Jews in Jerusalem that, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."

6. Acts 19:1-7, records that Paul came to Ephesus and encountered twelve disciples of John the Baptist. He asked them if they had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They replied that they had no knowledge of anything about the Holy Spirit. Paul told them of Christ and they also received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is the third and final time that the Bible records anyone receiving the Holy Spirit, in the manner it was received at Pentecost. It is important to note that verse 8 says that Paul then went to the Jewish synagogue and preached Christ there for three months. Many of the Jews in the synagogue rejected the Gospel message of Jesus being the Messiah. Paul however, continued to preach in the school of Tyrannus for two years so that all in Asia heard the Gospel (See Acts 19:9-10).

          This account says that these believers received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. These believers left the synagogue and began meeting together. It states that because of these events, including miracles preformed by the Apostle Paul, that many believed and the Word of God grew mightily and prevailed (Acts 11:20).

          It should be understood that in each of the three accounts of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit coming upon believers in the Book of Acts the local church was in view. In each case those who received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit were believers. It must be noted that although they feared God, as Old Testament saints did, they did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. They were not, at that time, New Testament believers. They did not know that Jesus was the Messiah; this had to be explained to them. After they heard that Jesus was the Christ, they believed in Him and received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Understanding that the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit was a new phenomenon given only to the bride of Christ (the church) sheds great light on these events.[1]

          This should give you food for thought, meditation, and to look at the Bible to examine for yourselves these Scriptures and determine if what is said is fact. I will be gone on a short vacation, approximately five days and will not write during that time. Until then; pray, read the Bible, study to show yourselves approved workmen for God, and to be prepared to give a defense for your faith to anyone who asks (1Peter 3:15).

For the eyes of the LORD are

            On the righteous, and

His ears are open to their prayers;

            But the face of the LORD

Is against those who do evil.

                                    1Peter 3:12

Praise God For Your Faith

Richard L. Crumb

---

[1] Retrieved from internet: http://bible-truth.org/bapt-hs.htm; September 19, 2013

The Attempt To Draw And Seduce Men And Women From The Truth

"for John truly baptized with water,

but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit

not many days from now."

Acts 1:5.

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,

 that he may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth;

whom the world cannot receive,

because it seeth him not,

neither knoweth him: but ye know him;

for he dwelleth with you,

and shall be in you."

John 14:16-17

            The adversaries of the Bible and the doctrine of Jesus Christ attempt to draw and seduce the souls of men from the truth. These adversaries truncate the truth and substitute their false theology from the simplicity of the Gospel and those great fundamental truths Scripture contains. By means of eristic method in the handling fo the great mysteries contained in the Bible justifies any debate. It is our duty that we: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints”(Jude 3). This necessity that is imposed upon Christians should not be taken without there be a humble reverence of mind and that we ought not to shrink back from always be conversant about them, to examine and investigate those holding beliefs and doctrines apart from Orthodox Christianity. True Christians are not removed for the need to regard the way and the manner or their revelation(s) they propose are Scriptural, those teachings and doctrines that are an intermixture and litigious and exotic as found in their phrases and expression and in their assertions and declarations. Those adversaries of Orthodox Christianity do decry anything peculiar about the mysteries of God, and especially the doctrine of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Those mysteries of God revealed in Scripture are for the children of God the very glorious being and wisdom of God. Those adversaries have forced another enigmatical sense upon the words and expressions, and propositions, as they are the revealed and declared word of God. What they have done in many cases is that they have turned the whole gospel into an allegory, wherein nothing properly expressed but in some kind of allusion not found elsewhere or anywhere in Scripture. This is irrational leaving the truth in a pool of uncertainty unless a person leaves behind the Orthodoxy, the foundation of the Church. They make the word of God uncertain by their expressions, and writings and attempt to cover this uncertainty with pretence of right reason that Scripture utterly refuses employment. This subject on the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is no matter of ordinary controversy in Christianity.

            We must admit that there are things that direct themselves concerning the eternal salvation of souls of men and we ought to consider them and attend them with a due sense in regards of their weight and importance. As we contend for the faith once delivered to the saints we come to this debate, as we should, with due reverence of the majesty, and infinite, incomprehensible nature of God. This must not be prostituted, to some captious and sophistical fraud of men of corrupt minds, those who have been led astray and away from the truth of God’s word to some false teaching not found in Scripture. God is to be humbly adored and His revelation(s) in Scripture that He has made of Himself. We all must be willing to submit our souls and our consciences to the plain and obvious sense of Scripture, and those propositions set forth in Scripture, those testimonies and not seek out evasions and pretences that lead to unbelief.

            History testifies that this doctrine of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of the Holy Spirit has been the source of much debate and making cause for some as with the Sabellians, Arians, Socinians, to deny the common Church doctrine. People are seeking what they desire, a larger and deeper sense of God and attempt to pry from Scripture verses that will support their search. They seek special revelations from God apart from His revealed word. They desire to have special spiritual gifts in the form of healing, even to raise the dead, as some have testified, that they either are a part of the raising of the dead or were the one raising the dead, event though they give some glory to God. Some ever go so far as to be “slain in the Spirit” or barking like dogs, or acting drunk as if this was caused by the Holy Spirit in some special baptism by the Holy Spirit. There are signs of ecstatic movements and sounds, a swaying of the body in some rhythmic spell. All claimed to be due to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Does this bring glory to God? Is this what the Gospel is all about? All this shouting and posturing by preachers, screaming Scripture, or calling for some form of mysterious “gibberish” language, or tongue. How, How, does this bring true worship to God, not matter how sincere a person is, the question is still waiting for an answer: HOW DOES THIS BRING GLORY TO GOD AND FURTHER THE GOSPEL AND KINGDOM OF GOD?

            This should drive a person to take time to study what I will bring forth in these blogs to make an attempt from Scripture to answer these questions.

Why do you not understand My speech?

            Because you are not able to

Listen to My word.

                                    John 8:43

Read, Pray, Listen To God’s Word

Richard L. Crumb