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Introduction: 1. Has anyone ever asked you, "Have you received
the baptism of the Holy Spirit?" A lot of well meaning people
ask that question. Yet, it is apparent that many of those same
people do not understand many of the basic truths about Holy
Spirit baptism in the New Testament. Here are but a few questions
that must be answered:
a. What is
the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
b. Is the
baptism of the Holy Spirit for today?
c. What
was the purpose of Holy Spirit baptism in New Testament times? 2. Many in our time who claim Holy Spirit baptism do
not act at all like people in the New Testament who received the
Spirit. The Lesson:
I.
Do people receive Holy Spirit baptism and the miraculous
gifts today?
A. If so,
they disobey the instructions given by the Holy Spirit.
1. By
refusing to perform the signs that men in the first century had, Mark
16:17-20. a. While it is true that some claim to speak in tongues, why do they not take up deadly serpents? Why do they not go to hospitals and heal the sick?
b. Men in
New Testament times did these things, Acts 5:12-16; 28:3-6.
c. It
is not wrong to challenge those who claim to have spiritual gifts,
1 John 4:1.
2. By
holding conflicting doctrines, John 17:20-21.
a. People
of many different faiths claim to have received miraculous signs
from the Spirit. Diverse groups profess to speak in tongues, claim the gift of
healing, etc.
b. If
all are led by the Spirit, why do they contradict one another?
God's people are to be united, Ephesians 4:3-7.
c. They
cannot be led by the Spirit, or else God is confirming all their
contradictory doctrines to be true. See Mark 16:17-20;
Hebrews
2:3-4.
3. By
changing the purpose of Holy Spirit baptism and the gifts. a. Some say tongues are necessary in order to be saved. Is that in the Bible?
b. Some say Holy Spirit baptism makes you live above sin. Is that in the Bible?
c. Holy
Spirit baptism and the gifts of the Spirit had two basic purposes:
To reveal and confirm God's message, Mark 16:20;
Acts
1:8; 1 Corinthians 14:4, 22.
4. By
professing to speak in tongues in an assembly, yet without an
interpreter.
a. Assemblies
of Pentecostals and Charismatics are often marked by several
speaking at once in a babbling gibberish that is no language at
all, and where no attempt is made to interpret (translate) into
the native tongue.
b. Clear
instructions are given that one is to keep silent if no
interpreter is present, 1 Corinthians 14:27-28.
B. If so,
they limit the power of the Holy Spirit.
1. By
failing to remember all Jesus said, John 14:26. To one who
actually was miraculously guided by the Spirit—like the
apostles—study was not necessary.
2. By
failing to know all truth, John 16:13. Conflicting creeds
would not exist if these men were directed by the Spirit.
3. By
failing to raise the dead, Acts 9:36-41; 20:9-10. The
apostles had such power and used it.
4. By
failing to blind enemies, Acts 13:7-11. Modern miracle
workers are powerless.
5. By
failing to remove doubt about their miracles, Acts 4:13-16.
The enemies of Jesus were convinced of the power possessed by the
apostles. Some who claim miracles today deny that others who make
similar claims have any power. They acknowledge that fakers have
made false claims. Yet, how do they differ from fakes? If anyone
among all the groups that lay claim to miracles actually had
miracles, would they not stand head and shoulders above the rest?
Where are they?
6. Do not
be duped by the three methods used by frauds to deceive men. The
case of Simon the Sorcerer illustrates three methods used by
modern fakers, Acts 8:9-11. a. Talk--How did Simon speak of himself?
b. Testimony--What did others say of him?
c. Tricks--What means did he use to fool men?
7. In
contrast to the deceptions just mentioned, Christ and the apostles
proved they were from God by genuine miracles that could not be
denied.
II.
What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
A. In the
Gospels, Holy Spirit baptism was first spoken of by John the
Baptist, Matthew 3:11.
1. "Baptism"
is used here in figurative sense—to be overwhelmed by the power
of the Spirit. 2. What is the "baptism of fire?" Matthew 3:10-12.
a. Is the baptism of fire the same as Holy Spirit baptism?
b. Why do men today pray for the baptism of fire?
B. Holy
Spirit baptism was a promise, Luke 24:49;
Acts 1:4-5.
1. The
apostles received it on Pentecost, Acts 1:8, 26; 2:1-4.
2.
Cornelius
is the only other example of a like happening, Acts 10:44-48.
a. When
Peter spoke of this in Acts 11:15-17, he compared the
incident at Cornelius' house to what happened “at the
beginning.”
b. Peter's
language indicates that all believers had not received this.
C. Holy
Spirit baptism was received directly from heaven.
1. No man
was used to lay hands on another to receive it, Acts 2:1-4;
10:44-48.
2. Only
one is spoken of in the scriptures who could administer this
baptism, John 1:33.
D. Holy
Spirit baptism served as a sign from God.
1. In Acts
2:14-16, it proved the apostles were God's spokesmen.
It was given to them to reveal all truth, John 16:13.
2. In Acts
10:44-48, it revealed one truth—that Gentiles could be saved
by faith, Acts 15:7-9.
a. Holy
Spirit baptism did just as much for you and me as it did for
Cornelius, because it established that Gentiles could be saved
just like the Jews.
b. Neither
Cornelius nor the apostles were saved by Holy Spirit baptism.
The apostles were already saved before Holy Spirit baptism,
John 15:3; Cornelius was not saved until he was baptized in
water, Acts 10:47-48; 2:38.
c. Holy
Spirit baptism did not prove Cornelius was already saved.
E. Holy
Spirit baptism was not administered to all believers.
1. When
Paul wrote Ephesians (about 64 A.D.), only one baptism was
authorized and administered, Ephesians 4:5.
2. If we
insist that Holy Spirit baptism is the "one baptism,"
what does that do to water baptism?
Some say "water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism go
together to make the one baptism." Strange math, don't you think, where 1+1=1?
III.
Holy Spirit baptism is not water baptism.
A. Holy
Spirit baptism was a promise to a few; water baptism is commanded
of all.
1. Holy
Spirit baptism was promised to the apostles, Acts 1:8.
Cornelius received it, though it was not promised to him;
he yet had to be baptized in water, Acts 10:47-48.
2. Water
baptism is for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38;
Mark
16:16; Matthew 28:19.
B. Holy
Spirit baptism was administered by Christ; water baptism is
administered by men.
1. Jesus
is spoken of as the one who administers Holy Spirit baptism, John
1:33.
2. The
disciples were to go, teach and baptize believers, Matthew
28:19; Mark 16:16. When they went and taught, they baptized believers, Acts
8:35-39.
C. Holy
Spirit baptism was a sign from God; water baptism is an act of
faith by man.
1. With
both the apostles and Cornelius, Holy Spirit baptism revealed
truth, John 16:13.
2. Water
baptism is a response of man's faith, Mark 16:16;
Acts
2:36-41; 8:35-39.
D. Holy
Spirit baptism was temporary; water baptism continues to the end
of the world.
1. Miraculous
outpourings of the Spirit were never intended by God to continue
indefinitely, Ephesians 4:5;
1 Corinthians 13:8-10.
2. Water
baptism is to last throughout the gospel age, Matthew 28:19-20.
IV.
How are we born of water and the Spirit?
A. John
3:5 demands two elements in one birth.
It is not two births, nor is it two baptisms, but two
elements in one birth.
1. The
birth of John 3:5 is a spiritual birth,
John 3:3-6.
2. Jesus
is not discussing physical birth as a requirement for entering the
kingdom. That was the old Jewish idea, and did not continue into
the gospel age.
B. The
only mention of "water" involved with salvation is water
baptism.
1. Water
baptism was commissioned by Jesus, Matthew 28:18-19.
2. Water
baptism was exemplified in the case of the Ethiopian, Acts
8:35-39.
3. Water
baptism was commanded by an apostle, Acts 10:47-48.
4. Water
baptism is the only baptism that saves, 1 Peter 3:21.
C. In
obeying the Spirit's word, we are said to be born again.
1. Read 1
Peter 1:22-23. We
are born again by obedience to the truth.
2. The
word given by the Spirit is able to save your soul, James 1:21.
D. Those
saved on Pentecost demonstrate the new birth.
1. The
things they heard were the words of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:4;
John 16:13.
2. They
believed on Jesus and were told to repent and be baptized, Acts
2:36-38.
3.
Those
on Pentecost were born of water and the Spirit.
4. Read Ephesians
5:26. It teaches
that we have been sanctified and cleansed with "the washing
of water (baptism) by the word (revealed by the Spirit)." Conclusion: 1. Sometimes Pentecostals and Charismatics ridicule
those who do not claim to speak in tongues; they treat them as
though they were second class citizens in the kingdom. 2. In reality, those who profess Holy Spirit baptism
and spiritual gifts today, rather than being on a higher plane
spiritually, are among the most confused of professing believers.
It is ironic that they generally have little understanding of the
very thing they claim for themselves! 3. No one who has submitted to the gospel of Christ needs to feel any intimidation regarding the Holy Spirit. Those who have obeyed the gospel are the only ones who have truly submitted to the Holy Spirit.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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