Paul wrote the following near the end of his life of service to our Lord Jesus and the gospel.
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24 (ESV)
The Good News about Jesus Christ is based on God’s mercy and unmerited favor or grace from top to bottom.
The gospel is the opposite of the Law, which offers the prospect of salvation based on our performance of its rules and regulations. In fact Jesus taught that the Law demands much more than mere outward observance. It includes an even more impossible demand – obedience from the heart. For example, Jesus taught that it is not enough to merely abstain from adultery: one must not even entertain lust in the heart! (Matthew 5:28) Paul clearly taught that no one, except the Righteous One named Jesus, was able to fulfill these rigorous requirements.
God’s purpose for the Law was to convince us of our desperate need for his help.
But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:22–24 (NKJV)
Since the just punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23), the Law justly condemns all of us lawbreakers to death.
Jesus came as God’s innocent Lamb to take upon himself the punishment for our disobedience of the Law. By allowing our condemnation under the Law to fall upon Jesus and by causing him to take the full brunt of God’s righteous wrath against that sin, our heavenly Father broke the power of sin and death over all the descendants of Adam who choose to put their trust in Christ. Jesus’ death and resurrection perfectly fulfilled the Law on our behalf.
With the Law, we get what we deserve – death; whereas, with the gospel of grace, we receive what Jesus earned on our behalf – forgiveness and eternal life.
For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Romans 10:4 (NLT)
Jesus lived a perfect life of dependence upon, obedience to, and delight in the Father.
He joyfully partnered with the Holy Spirit and fully surrendered to his Father’s will all the way to his death on the cross. By paying the penalty for our transgressions of the Law that he perfectly kept, the Bible says that Jesus made a way of escape for us.
Those who put their faith and allegiance in Christ and trust in what he did for us are released from the Law’s power to condemn. Free from the threat of eternal condemnation, we enter a new life based on God’s grace and the power of the indwelling Spirit.
Paul put it like this:
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)
Jesus said it as follows:
I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.John 5:24 (NLT)
This makes the gospel the best news ever! It’s almost unbelievably wonderful! Almost…
Don’t be among those who reject God’s promise of eternal life because it seems too fantastic. Realize, along with countless others, that the gospel is true. It’s wonderful, and it will change your eternal destiny.
Do you believe it? Have you received it? Are you experiencing it?
Prayer
Jesus, I come to you now to ask your forgiveness for trying to live apart from you. I have stubbornly done things my own way, but now I see my error. I need you and the forgiveness you offer. Forgive my sins and come into my life. I give you my life to do with it as you choose. I now belong to you. Have your way with me. Holy Spirit, come to dwell in me and change me from the inside out. Fill me to overflowing so I can tell others about you. Help me to be fearlessly loyal to Jesus and declare his name to others. Amen.
If we wish to clearly present the gospel, we must first understand what it is. Here is a very well-known summary verse found in Paul’s letter to the church in Rome.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (NASB)
The gospel is God’s power and means to save people.
As important as prayer is, it cannot do what the gospel does. Prayer can never take the place of the gospel. Neither can good works, great worship, or the powerful gifts of the Spirit. Only the gospel, when it is communicated effectively and believed, can rescue people from sin and death. Only the gospel can provide the doorway into God’s favor and family. Only the gospel is the gateway into eternal life in God’s presence. Only the gospel saves people.
Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21 (NLT)
The gospel becomes effective in our lives when we believe it.
Belief is much more than the acknowledgement of a set of facts or agreement with the Bible’s logic or story.
Faith opens our eyes to Jesus. It moves us to declare allegiance to the crucified Savior and risen Lord.
This is why Paul wrote that he was not ashamed of the gospel. His faith propelled him into a lifetime of obedient service to Jesus Christ and the gospel, regardless of the personal cost.
Faith can be thought of as a combination of trust and allegiance which produces a quality called faithfulness (loyalty + obedience) in those who believe.
People who are “full of faith” believe the gospel message that Jesus died for our sins and rose again as our Lord. With The help of the Holy Spirit, we endeavor to trust God with all our hearts and remain steadfastly loyal to him.
Such heart faith moves people to tell others about Jesus and the gospel. It is too wonderful to keep to ourselves.
Paul wrote to the church at Rome the following.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)
Water baptism is God’s way for us to publicly declare allegiance to the Lord Jesus.
If you did not previously understand the gospel or believed it, now is a good time to make the decision to receive everything Jesus died to give you. It is a perfect time to recognize the Risen One as Lord of your life. Now is a wonderful time to confess aloud your allegiance to Christ. Below is a sample prayer you may wish to say aloud. If you pray that and mean it, Jesus will do his part. Then you will want to tell others about it and be water baptized. This will launch your life as a disciple. It is also important to become involved in a local church committed to helping you on your journey as a follower of Christ. The one I attend is called LifeNet. Let us know if we can help you.
Prayer
Jesus, I have never before understood the gospel, but now I believe that you died for my sins and rose again in victory over sin, death, and the devil. I acknowledge that you are my Lord and I dedicate my life in service to you. Thank you for forgiving my sins, setting me free, and giving me a brand new relationship with God the Father. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to live in me. Thank you for giving me eternal life. Help me to tell others about you. Amen.
I have already shown that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is for every person who puts his or her faith in Christ. I have also explained how to speak in tongues by faith. In this teaching, I will provide four easy steps to receive this amazing promise.
As with every other gift from God, the baptism in the Spirit is received by faith.
We cannot earn it or somehow “gin it up.” It transcends our human abilities in every way. Since the baptism in the Spirit is received by faith, we must be convinced that God has given it to us, receive it, and act as if we believe he has. That is how faith works.
This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Galatians 3:2 (NASB)
1. Believe that God will do what he says.
If we first grasp that God has provided all believers with the privilege of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the next step is for us to believe that God is always faithful to keep his promises.
God’s complete trustworthiness is the foundation of all faith.
How simple is that? Yet many people get hung up at this point. Maybe it is not for me? God will bless everyone else, but not me. This is sinful unbelief from which we must repent. Cast that lie away and start believing God.
"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?Numbers 23:19 (NASB)
2. Ask and receive with simple faith as a child.
"For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.11 "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?12 "Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"Luke 11:10-13 (NASB)
Children do not suspect devious motives in the giver or concoct complicated reasons the promise might not come true. When an adult makes a promise, a child expects it to happen. To God, we are all little children. We may have been disappointed many times by people who did not keep their promises to us, but God is not like that. If as a child we experienced adults lying to us and failing to follow through on their word, we must not let those memories and any attached lies about God block us from trusting our always trustworthy heavenly Father. As a child, believe, ask, and receive. If something in our minds is whispering that this is not going to happen for me, repent of that unbelief and try, try again.
...You do not have because you do not ask. James 4:2 (NASB)
If I extend my hand to offer someone a hundred dollar bill, what will that person need to do? Would it be enough to say thank you without making any effort to come forward to receive it? If we want the money, we will take action. Similarly, we receive the baptism in the Spirit by asking the Lord to baptize us and then by actively receiving.
Faith receives before it sees any outward visible evidence. Faith depends on the promises and character of God alone. It knows that God will keep his word and that his promises are true.
Faith does not doubt. It does not struggle with wondering if God will keep his end of the deal or not. It receives and moves on, just as when the Roman Centurion believed Jesus healed his servant and returned home. (Luke 7:10)
3. Give thanks.
After receiving a gift, grateful people say, “thank you.” After we ask for and receive the baptism in the Spirit by faith, we should take another faith action and begin to thank and praise God.
Thanksgiving is faith in action.
The opposite is either silent passivity or doubtful complaining, both of which are negative. Do we only praise God after he “comes through” for us or when we grasp that he is always faithful to his promises? Real faith acts before it ever sees the confirmation or fulfillment of what it believes because it is convinced that God is true.
The kind of praise and worship that gives God the most honor is what comes from people who exalt God’s faithfulness before they ever see the fulfillment of what is promised.
Faith knows and overflows. Only faith filled (faithful) people give thanks. Let’s show our faith by our praise.
4. Speak in tongues.
As I covered in the previous teaching, speaking in tongues is a supernatural overflow of the Spirit that we experience when we receive the baptism of the Spirit. It provides evidence that we have indeed received this wonderful gift from God by faith. As we pray for you to receive this marvelous promise, I hope you will act upon your faith, open your mouth, and begin to speak whatever words God gives to you.
In the previous articles in this series, I explained what the baptism in the Holy Spirit is, what are the benefits of receiving this promise, and how to overcome common obstacles. In this and the concluding articles on the subject, I will show you how to receive this promise by faith.
It does little good to know all about a subject and never personally experience it.
It is one thing to generally believe that God’s promises are real and true and quite another to personally receive one. Many believe that God heals, but fewer have received a supernatural healing. Many, even the devil, believe Jesus died to save sinners, but fewer receive that salvation personally. As long as we keep truth at arm’s length and make it purely objective, we may be able to safely distance ourselves from the costs associated with obedience, but we will also rob ourselves of the joy of receiving something from God.
Faith is like breathing. It must be “inhaled” or received and “exhaled” or acted upon. God wants us to believe his promises are true, receive them for ourselves, and then act as if we believe.
For example, when Jesus told the centurion that his servant had been healed, that man believed Jesus’ words and acted appropriately: he returned home.
What we do after saying that we believe reveals whether we were just spouting empty words or truly believed in our hearts.
To receive the baptism in the Spirit requires that we accept the truth of God’s Word, receive his promise by faith, and act as if we believe he gave it to us.
Can I Be Sure This Promise Is for Me Today?
In the first sermon recorded after the initial outpouring of the Spirit, the apostle Peter made it absolutely clear that the baptism in the Spirit is for all of God’s children.
Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." Acts 2:38-39 (NASB)
A contextual reading of this section of Acts makes it plain that the “promise” means the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Peter explained what their speaking in tongues meant: it evidenced the outpouring or baptism in the Spirit, which was prophesied by Joel and later promised by John the Baptist and Jesus himself.
Peter made it clear that God has made the baptism in the Spirit available to every person who would ever come to Christ – those present, their children, the Gentiles (those “far off”), and everyone else throughout time who will respond to the Gospel (“as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself”).
Jesus also made it clear that every child of God can receive this gift. It is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Holy Spirit when we ask him.
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"Luke 11:13 (NASB)
Jesus died as the Lamb of God to provide us with forgiveness and reconciliation to the Father. He rose and ascended to heaven to become the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and pour out the Spirit upon his church. Because of this, we can be sure this amazing gift is for us.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14 (NASB)
If we believe what is written above is true, we are faced with a decision. Will I receive this promise for myself by faith or not?
Will I value what Jesus died to give me or remain fearful or indifferent? I hope each of us will treasure and pursue what cost our Lord so much to provide for us!.
In my first article in this series, I showed that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is integral to the Gospel and a primary ministry of Jesus, the glorified Lord. My second article concluded that there is a clear difference between the new birth and the baptism in the Spirit. The third article revealed that speaking in tongues is evidence that a person has received the baptism in the Spirit. This teaching will show one of the many advantages that come from speaking in tongues and why this is such an important gift.
Unity is paramount in any church, family, or nation. Without it things fall apart. With it, nothing is impossible. In Genesis 11 , when sinful rebellious people determined to make a great name for themselves instead of glorifying and worshiping God, the Lord confused their languages at Babel, which disrupted their unity, stopped their work, and resulted in the scattering of people throughout the earth into separate language groups. Since then the human race has continued on its quest to unify in order to make itself great apart from God. My opinion is that this is what drives the current fervor for globalism. In the Last Days, it seems that God will allow a final unified effort to throw off God’s rule and authority to temporarily flourish under the leadership of a person called the antichrist. This one-world government will be sinful mankind’s last stand against the government of God and will usher in the Second Coming of the true Ruler and Unifier, Jesus the Messiah King.
Even though God thwarted man’s self-centered unification efforts at Babel, he has been building his own unified kingdom.
On the first New Covenant Pentecost, the Spirit gave Christ’s disciples a new heavenly language that all those present understood, even though they were from many different nations and language groups. This was the reverse of what happened at Babel.
Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Acts 2:5-8 (NASB)
The Gospel was understood that day by way of a supernatural gift of language that brought unity out of discord and people out of confusion and into the the kingdom of God. The gift of tongues undid the confusion of Babel, even if only temporarily.
Every time a Spirit-filled believer speaks in tongues, the confusion of Babel is once again undone.
Now God uses speaking in tongues to unify and empower those who are devoted to him and his kingdom. Isn’t it ironic that Satan seeks to split people apart over the “controversy” of speaking in tongues?
The devil always resists every important truth and work of God.
Speaking in tongues is so important that he has resisted its being received and practiced for centuries. Shouldn’t that, in itself, alert us to the importance of the gift?
The baptism in the Spirit is a second experience with the Holy Spirit which can take place concurrent with the new birth, but usually afterward. The Spirit comes to indwell every person who is born again to impart Christ’s life, provide an interior witness that we are God’s children, provide guidance, and to teach us the meaning of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is poured out on believers in the baptism in the Spirit to empower and equip us for service to God, especially to be his witnesses.
Now that we have introduced the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and defined it, let’s try to answer a very important question: is the baptism in the Spirit included as part of the new birth and received automatically at the time of justification or is it a separate experience with a different purpose?
With, In, or Upon?
The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit can be with, in, or upon us.
In the Old Testament, the Spirit was said to be “with” God’s people. He came alongside them to encourage, strengthen, equip, and generally help them. King David illustrates God’s being with his people in the following verse.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
But in the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit lives inside those who believe. Jesus promised his disciples:
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 (ESV)
One of the big secrets of the Christian life is that the Spirit lives Christ’s life in and through us.
After forgiving our sins, Jesus did not leave us on our own. When a person is born again, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in that person. Our human spirit is joined to God’s Spirit and becomes one with him, a remarkable and wonderful mystery.
But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB)
The Spirit of God within us gives us life and develops within us peace and the character of God (the fruit of the Spirit). He affirms that we are indeed Abba Father’s children.
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:16 (NASB)
But here is a very important point! Every born-again person is one with the indwelling Spirit, but not every child of God is baptized in the Holy Spirit.
If your experience resembles mine, it might be difficult to imagine that you did not receive it “all” when you were born again. My new birth experience was amazing, as was my ongoing relationship with God afterward. When I first started reading and hearing about people who said they were baptized in the Spirit, my first response was, “I don’t need that. I already received everything.” This is a common reaction that reveals two things. First, we tend to mold our theology around our experience rather than asking God to conform our experience to his Word. Secondly, we don’t like to admit that we may lack something. But I, as you are most likely, was hungry for more of God.
Herein lies a danger: if we convince ourselves that we already have something, we may stop seeking it and never experience it.
Sadly, just such thinking will send many to hell, who have convinced themselves that they already have everything they need from God, despite never having been born again. Thankfully I kept pursuing the baptism in the Spirit and eventually received it by faith with the evidence of speaking in tongues, which opened the door into a new dimension of serving our Lord. This can happen to you, too, if you have an open mind and a hungry heart.
The baptism in the Spirit is when the Holy Spirit comes “upon” us to equip and empower us for ministry.
Jesus received this baptism at the inauguration of his public ministry. If he needed it, how much more do we!
Then Jesus *arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" 15 But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he *permitted Him. 16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." Matthew 3:13-17 (NASB)
Later, after being tempted by the devil in the wilderness for forty days, he went back to his hometown, full of the Spirit.
And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."Luke 4:16-21 (NASB)
Jesus clearly instructed his disciples not even to begin their Great Commission ministry until they received the same empowering.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV)
When God poured out his Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost, it was to empower Christ’s followers to be bold witnesses to his resurrection. Today his people are baptized in the Spirit for the same purpose. And here lies a very important distinction between the indwelling Spirit and the outpoured Spirit.
The Spirit lives within us for our sake, but he is poured out upon us for the sake of others, many of whom do not yet know him.
The Record of Acts
All scripture is useful for doctrine.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NLT) —
Acts is especially significant because there we see what the apostles believed lived out.
What the early apostles believed is clearly seen by what they did.
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18 (ESV)
Peter and Paul both understood that the new birth did not automatically include the baptism in the Spirit. In Acts Chapter Four, Peter and John made a trip to Samaria to lay hands on the new converts for them to receive the baptism in the Spirit.
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 8:14-16 (ESV)
If the baptism in the Spirit automatically takes place at the new birth, Peter and John would have simply taught the Samaritans this truth. However, they instead laid hands on them that they might receive the baptism of the Spirit.
Similarly, when Paul was in Ephesus, he encountered some followers of Christ, but he could tell that they had not yet received the baptism in the Spirit. What he asked them is revealing.
And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Acts 19:2 (ESV)
Paul was an apostle, who had the responsibility of laying a foundation of sound doctrine in the early church. (Ephesians 2:20) Surely, he understood whether the baptism in the Spirit is automatically received at the new birth!
When he asked them if they had received the Spirit when they believed, it shows us that the first does not necessarily include the second.
The Illustration of the Three Major Feasts
The outpoured Spirit can be likened to standing under a waterfall or the large bucket in this picture.
The three major feasts of Israel – Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles – also reveal that the new birth and the baptism in the Spirit are distinct.
Jesus fulfilled Passover to the day by being crucified as the Lamb of God and shedding his blood for the remission of sins. This feast also must be personally fulfilled in our lives through the new birth, if we are to be saved. The blood of God’s Lamb must be applied to our sins.
The Old Testament Feast of Pentecost, which originally marked the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai, was also literally fulfilled to the day when God poured out his Spirit on the disciples in the upper room. Whereas the giving of the Law brought judgment, the giving of the Spirit gave life. Three thousand people died on Mt. Sinai for their rebellion, but 3000 came into the kingdom of God when Peter preached his first Gospel message on Pentecost. God also intends that each of us have a personal fulfillment of Pentecost as well, by receiving the baptism in the Spirit.
Just as Passover was a separate feast from Pentecost, the new birth is separate from the baptism in the Spirit.
Tabernacles, the final harvest, the last major feast, has yet to be fulfilled. I believe that Jesus will complete that feast at his Second Coming. We will all need to have a personal fulfillment of that feast, too, by participating in the resurrection of the dead. It is easy for us to see that one cannot be a child of God without having a personal Passover (new birth) and a personal Feast of Tabernacles (resurrection from the dead). Should it not be just as clear to us that we must also have a personal fulfillment of Pentecost by receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit? It was to Peter and Paul.
Three Baptisms
The New Testament speaks of three distinct baptisms: into the body of Christ, into water, and into the Holy Spirit. Each of these baptisms has a different baptizer, a different medium, and different evidence, and a different result or purpose, which the chart above illustrates. I encourage you to study this to gain greater understanding.
The baptism into the body of Christ is what happens when we are born again. The Holy Spirit plunges us into Christ, and we become one with him. The evidence is a changed life. Baptism into water by immersion is what another believer does to us, giving us an opportunity to publicly proclaim and acknowledge what God has already done in the Spirit and is our public declaration of allegiance to Jesus. The evidence is that we are wet. Jesus is the One who baptizes us into the Spirit by an outpouring to empower us to be bold witnesses. This outpouring may be likened to standing under a waterfall or a large bucket of water as in the picture above. We are effectively immersed, but its purpose is not identification. Instead, the Spirit is poured out upon us in power for ministry. The evidence of the baptism in the Spirit is speaking in tongues and prophecy. The Holy Spirit baptism is also God’s declaration to the world that we are his children.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a very important part of God’s plan called the Great Commission. It is his means to empower and equip the church to do the work of the ministry. Why then is there so much ignorance regarding this wonderful gift? Why is it so often resisted? The devil works hard to keep the church from receiving “the promise of the Father.”
Let’s begin our journey into greater understanding by reading our Lord’s own words.
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV)
There are 1260 promises in the Bible, but only one has the special status of being called “the promise of the Father.”
What is so special about this promise? Jesus commanded his disciples to refrain from public ministry until they received it; therefore, it must be tremendously important.
What Is It?
In this series of teachings, I will examine various aspects of the baptism of the Spirit. For now, I will give this definition upon which we can expand later.
The baptism in the Spirit is a second experience with the Holy Spirit which can take place concurrent with the new birth, but usually afterward.
The Spirit comes to indwell every person who is born again to impart Christ’s life, provide an interior witness that we are God’s children, provide guidance, and to teach us the meaning of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is poured out on believers in the baptism in the Spirit to empower and equip us for service to God, especially to be his witnesses. Later I will give the biblical basis for each of these assertions. For now, we will focus on the big picture.
Jesus: Baptizer in the Holy Spirit
God’s chose John the Baptist to introduce Jesus to the world at the beginning of his public ministry and gave him prophetic insight into Jesus’ identity and mission. John told us that Jesus, the Messianic Son of David and Lord, would have two other key ministry roles. He would die as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world and, after his resurrection and ascension into heaven, would baptize his followers in the Holy Spirit as the Lord of the harvest. The following passage records this prophecy.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” 32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 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.’ John 1:29-33 (NKJV)
Every born-again disciple has come to know Jesus as the Lamb of God who died for our sins. Fewer have grasped the enormity of his power and authority as the risen Lord of Lords, and still less have come to know him as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and Lord of the Harvest.
Jesus, the Eternal Son of God, died for our sins as the Lamb of God to become the Lord of Lords and the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit.
He forgives men’s sins to make them part of God’s family and enroll them in his army of disciple makers. Consider that those who fail to receive the baptism in the Spirit are cut off from at least one-third of Jesus’ ministry. We rightly emphasize what Jesus accomplished by dying as God’s Lamb and rising again. In addition, his ministry of baptizing his followers in the Holy Spirit launched the church into fulfilling the Great Commission and is vital to world evangelization and the expansion of God’s kingdom. We dare not resist or ignore it. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to His disciples to equip and empower us to be effective witnesses.
Without this amazing gift, we will not be able to complete our assignment to take the gospel to the ends of the earth properly .
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 (NKJV)
The Full Gospel
Declaring Christ’s Lamb of God ministry is a foundation stone of the gospel message, but it is only one-fourth of it. The announcement that Jesus is the soon to return Messianic King and judge and the currently reigning Lord of the Harvest and Baptizer in the Holy Spirit are two other important aspects of Christ’s ministry. The fourth is that he will someday as the glorious Son of Man prophesied by Daniel the prophet to judge the living and the dead.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is integral to the Gospel and is God’s means for effectively delivering the Good News to the world.
Jesus announced that his followers would receive the Spirit following his ascension and glorification.
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39 (NASB)
God fulfilled this promise on the first New Covenant celebration of Pentecost that launched the church on its worldwide mission of disciple making, which will continue until Jesus returns as the Son of Man to raise the dead, judge all people, and inaugurate the conclusion of all things.
The baptism in the Spirit is as fundamental to the Gospel message as the new birth, the risen Christ’s lordship, the Second Coming, and the last judgment.
When John the Baptist told his hearers that one was coming after him who would baptize people in the Spirit, Luke records that “he preached the gospel to the people.” (Luke 3:18) Part of the reason Jesus died was so that we can receive the “promise of the Father,” the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He was so excited about the prospect that he cried out to the throngs in the passage quoted above from John Chapter Seven. This is no small thing.
Christ’s miraculous coming (virgin birth), his Spirit-enabled ministry, his rejection and death, his resurrection, his ascension, his sending of the Spirit, and his promised Second Coming are all part of the gospel story, none of which we can leave out if we preach the “full gospel.”
Receiving what Jesus died to give us is not an option, such as satellite radio on an automobile. This is part of the “engine” of the disciple’s life!
Israel’s Three Feasts
God commanded Israel to observe three major feasts on a yearly basis or be “cut off.” These feasts represent the three major components of Christ’s work. The Old Covenant feast of Passover foreshadowed his death on the cross as God’s Passover Lamb. The Old Covenant experience of Pentecost at Mt. Sinai, fifty days after the first Passover, when the Law was given, foreshadowed the giving of the Spirit fifty days following Christ’s death and resurrection. Finally, the Feast of Tabernacles, which came at the end of the harvest year, predicts Christ’s Second Coming and the final ingathering of people into God’s kingdom family, which is yet to be fulfilled.
Each feast was critical to God’s plan for Israel, and experiencing each New Covenant fulfillment is a requirement for the believer.
Unless we personally experience Passover through the new birth, Pentecost through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the Feast of Tabernacles through the resurrection of the dead, we cannot participate in the fullness of God’s plan and blessing for us in Christ.
Every true Christian will readily agree that experiencing the New Covenant fulfillment of Passover and Tabernacles is required. We understand that every follower of Christ must be born anew and raised from the dead. Why is it not equally obvious that the feast of Pentecost must be experienced in its New Covenant form as the baptism in the Holy Spirit?
A Doorway into More of God
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is also a doorway into experiencing some of the wonders of God’s power and gifts, which are amazing tools for ministry. Can you imagine Jesus’ ministry without his using spiritual gifts? Jesus relied on the Spirit to give him prophetic insight and the ability to heal, do miracles, raise the dead, and liberate the oppressed. (Acts 2:22)
The power and gifts of the Spirit do not make us “better” Christians in any judicial or moral sense, but they can make us more effective in representing God to lost people.
God intends for the Gospel to be transmitted in both Word and Power. (1 Thes. 1:5) He wants to work with his messengers through signs, wonders, and gifts of the Spirit to confirm the veracity of his Word. (Mark 16:20) The Lord wants all his servants to receive the “promise of the Father” to equip us to do the work of ministry. (Acts 1:4-5)
You can read more about the baptism of the Spirit and the gifts in Pete's book, Promise of the Father, which is available on Amazon. Click here for the link.
The first two articles in this series showed how John the Baptist announced that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and the risen Son of God, who is Lord of all. This article focuses of Jesus’ third ministry or role as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Everyone who is a Christ follower knows about Jesus’ role as the Savior who died for our sins. Fewer, perhaps, fully embrace his lordship; although, acknowledging his rule is the gateway to salvation, according to Romans 10:9-10. Still fewer understand the importance of the baptism in the Spirit, acknowledge, and receive this key ministry of our Lord.
John the Baptist said the following about it.
“I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ John 1:33 (NASB)
As the baptizer in the Holy Spirit, Jesus takes his place as the Lord of the Harvest. The baptism in the Spirit is a gift he gives to his people to equip and empower them to be his witnesses.
Jesus admonished his followers to wait in Jerusalem until this gift was poured out on the first New Covenant Pentecost, saying:
...“Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”...8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Acts 1:4-8 (NLT)
The baptism in the Spirit is so important that the first believers were commanded to refrain from announcing the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection and lordship until they first received it. In Acts Chapter 2 we have the account of when this happened, with the result that 3000 people surrendered their lives to Christ after hearing Peter’s Spirit inspired and empowered gospel message!
The power and presence of the Holy Spirit that was released in the disciples when they were baptized in the Spirit launched the church into fulfilling the Great Commission. God intended for this to be the model for all believers going forward.
As is the case with the lordship of Christ, this aspect of Jesus’ ministry opposes modern-day consumerism. Unless we surrender to Christ’s lordship, embrace the call to obey the Great Commission, and receive the empowering of the Spirit, believing in the Lamb of God may become a self-centered pursuit of blessings.
Rather than allowing us to comfortably settle for being churchgoers, the Lord of the Harvest, the Baptizer in the Spirit calls us to radical discipleship, evangelism, and obedience to the Great Commission – “Go and make disciples.”
It takes great courage to testify to the Lordship of the risen Jesus and to call people to repentance from a self-directed life. That is why we need to be empowered by the Spirit. When we share the gospel, we should include the challenge to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit as part of the complete package. We do not want anyone to settle for less than God intended. That is how the early Church did things.
Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (NASB)
They were committed to knowing Christ as Baptizer in the Spirit and fulfilling the Great Commission. We should do no less.
Prayer
Jesus, I received you as my Savior and declared allegiance to you as my Lord. Now I see that you want me to know you as Baptizer in the Spirit, too, and receive this marvelous empowering to be your witness. Jesus, I ask you to baptize me in the Spirit right now. I receive it by faith. Holy Spirit, overflow in my life and enable me to be a bold witness. Let your gifts flow through me without restraint. Lead and empowered me each day. Amen.
This article focuses on Jesus’ fourth ministry or role as the glorious Son of Man who will return to the earth to judge the living and the dead as prophesied the Lord himself and is found in the prophecy of Daniel. The first three roles – Lamb of God, Son of God, and Baptizer in the Holy Spirit – have already been fulfilled and are available to every person to experience, but his last role still waits for its fulfillment.
Here are John’s words.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” Matthew 3:7-12 (NLT)
Even though John did not specifically call Jesus the “Son of Man,” the above passage fully describes his role as the Judge of all the earth.
Although Jesus’ death as God’s Lamb was crucial to our salvation, acknowledging his lordship is the criteria Paul gives for obtaining the benefits of that death and resurrection. (Romans 10:9-10) When we confess that Jesus is Lord, we acknowledge and voluntarily choose to come under his rule, which is the fundamental act of repentance. For the last two thousand years or so, we have been in the Great Commission phase of God’s plan, which the Bible calls the “last days.” As this epoch draws to a close, we anticipate the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophesy that he gave the night of his betrayal at the miscarriage of justice that was his trial before the Sanhedrin.
When Jesus stood before that group, whose determined purpose was to condemn him to death, those men asked him if he were indeed the Messiah King of Israel. In their minds, such a confession would justify their accusing him of blasphemy against God and treachery against Rome, earning him the death penalty. Instead of remaining silent, as any defendant usually does, Jesus gave them everything they wanted and more. Instead of merely affirming that he was the Messiah, he also identified himself as the glorious and divine Son of Man prophesied by Daniel.
But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”Matthew 26:63-64 (NLT)
Daniel’s prophecy described a glorious heavenly being who will judge everyone who ever lived. (Daniel 7:13-14) At this future point in history, which is surely coming, there will no longer be any doubt at all for anyone as to Jesus’ true identity.
When God dissolves the firmament (2 Peter 3:10), revealing God’s glorious presence above us, naysayers will no longer be able to claim that our Lord was merely a prophet or a fine teacher. No longer will anyone be able to say that he was a mythical person. No one will say that his resurrection was a fable concocted by his devious followers. At that point in history, everyone will see him in his terrifying glory.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”Revelation 1:7-8 (ESV)
Before his return, God gives people the opportunity to hear the gospel’s call to bow the knee to Jesus, the Lord of Lords. What we do in response to this call is on us and will determine our eternal destiny.
On that glorious day when Jesus returns as the Son of Man, it will be too late. On that day, every knee will be forced to bow and every tongue confess who he is. No longer will there be an option.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)
Although God the Father continues to mercifully delay the end, and Jesus continues to show mercy to those who ask him for forgiveness, do not think for a moment that he is too weak or kindly to enforce God’s justice and wrath at the proper time. Though he is patient, God the Father does not wink at sin or coddle rebellion against his Son’s rule. There is coming a day of judgment.
Those who do not tap into the river of God’s mercy by declaring allegiance to the risen Messiah King, the Lamb who was slain, will rue their mistake at the Second Coming when God’s judgment comes down like a hammer.
The Book of Revelation teaches us that we who believe will rejoice in God’s judgment of the wicked.
After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting,“Praise the LORD!Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.2 His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of his servants.”3 And again their voices rang out: “Praise the LORD! The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever!”4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, “Amen! Praise the LORD!” 5 And from the throne came a voice that said, “Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.”Revelation 19:1-5 (NLT)
Until Christ returns we preach a gospel of hope to those who are willing to repent and declare allegiance to the risen Lord Jesus, but that gospel contains the warning of impending judgment.
God’s mercy can only be properly understood against the backdrop of looming wrath.
Just as artists use darkness to contrast with light, the gospel uses the beauty of God’s mercy to contrast with the horrors of divine judgment. If God is simply a heavenly smiley face who never judges anyone, our gospel message is farcical. Why on earth would Jesus have to die, in that case? He would be a misguided tragic figure at best. But, in fact, our Lord absorbed the wrath of God on the cross on our behalf so that we will be able to escape God’s wrath at the Last Judgment. (1 Thessalonians 5:9) The gospel holds out to us the promise that all who call upon the Lord will be shown mercy. This is the gospel that Peter preached. (Acts 2:40) It is the gospel Paul preached. (Acts 17:30-31) It is the gospel John the Baptist preached. It is what Jesus preached. How we respond to this good news will make all the difference for eternity.
Prayer
Jesus, I recognize that you are my Savior and Lord. I declare allegiance and submit my life to you. Help me to tell others about who you are and what you did for us so that they, too, may escape your wrath on the day of judgment. Thank you for your continued mercy. Amen.
Not only did John the Baptist announce that Jesus is God’s Lamb, he also told the world that he is God’s Son, which is another way of saying that he is the Messianic King, the Christ, and the Lord of Lords.
“This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:30-34 (NASB)
This declaration corresponds to what is perhaps the most important revelation each individual person must receive from God in order to be saved.
Unless we understand by the Spirit that Jesus is Lord, we cannot be born again.
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9–10 (NLT)
In the previous article, I showed how John the Baptist introduced Jesus to Israel and the world as the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. Jesus was able to forgive sins because he is the God-man, the eternal Word of God who became a human. This enabled him to be a perfect offering, without the blemish of sin, fulfilling the Old Covenant sacrificial requirements. Not only was it a shocking announcement that Jesus would be a human sacrifice to provide forgiveness of sins, but that also this blessing would be extended to the whole world! Jesus was not simply a Jewish savior, he was and is the savior of the world! (1 John 4:14) Likewise, when the God-man rose from the grave, he did so as the Lord of all creation, not just the Jews!
The Pharisees quickly recognized that Jesus had to be equal to God in order to forgive sins.
“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2:7 (NASB)
Jesus was put to death for claiming to be God, and thereby Lord, not simply because he forgave. The early disciples were martyred for declaring that Jesus is Lord, not simply that he is Savior.
The world system does not object very much to our believing that Jesus is our “personal savior,” but it will resist any claims that he is lord over all creation.
The Antichrist and those influenced by that spirit of rebellion refuse to bow the knee to Jesus, the King. Our Lord was put to death because the Jewish religious leaders and Roman authorities condemned him for claiming to be the Messiah King of Israel and God’s Son.
The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” John 19:7 (NASB)
Our witness as followers of Christ is that the crucified Savior is now the risen Lord.
Consider the following verses.
He [Jesus] *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:15-17 (NASB)
Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” John 1:49 (NASB)
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 1 John 5:1 (NASB)
Here is where the true gospel radically departs from consumerism. The proclamation that Jesus forgives our sins appeals to our consumer instincts. We get something for nothing. Who can beat that? But what it means to be a Christ follower does not stop here.
The announcement that Jesus is Lord flips consumerism on its head.
Jesus died as God’s Lamb, doing for us what we could never do for ourselves – pay for our sins, but he rose as the Lord of Lords, who deserves and expects our worship and obedience.
and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:4 (NLT)
The primary revelation each person must receive in order to be a born-again follower of Christ pertains to our Jesus’ identity as Lord, who he is now. First and foremost, he is the risen Lord, the King of Kings, and the Son of God.
Seeing (believing) who Jesus is by revelation and faith and acknowledging his identity and greatness is what saves us.
...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)
Jesus asked his disciples to tell him how they understood his identity in order to discern if the Holy Spirit had yet opened their spiritual eyes. Our Lord did not make it easy for people. He did not say, “Repeat after me: you are the Son of God.” He depended on the Spirit to do the inner work in people’s hearts, just as we must. To try to help people “get saved” by some other method, such as asking them to repeat a prayer as their entry point into the new birth, can give people a false sense of security, if the prayer is not accompanied by revelation, repentance, and faith. Praying for Jesus to reveal himself to us as we surrender ourselves to him is perhaps a better way to go about it. God is looking for honesty and reality, not easy-believism. The Holy Spirit is perfectly able and willing to communicate to people what they need to know about Jesus. If we believe this, we will understand that we must never skip over the crucial step of a person’s receiving revelation about Christ from the Spirit. We will encourage our hearers to seek God until they find him.
The essence of the Christian faith is our acknowledgement of and surrender to Jesus the Lord. Anything less is suspect of being false.
Surrendering to Jesus’ lordship leads to repentance and turning away from our deeply ingrained determination to live independently from God.
Repentance, combined with the declaration that Jesus is Lord, is the antidote to the poison of self-centered living.
Prayer
Jesus, I understand now that you require me to abandon my quest to live independently from your lordship. I repent from my sinful determination to do as a please without regard for your will. I ask you to forgive me and set me free to live as your joyful servant. I acknowledge and confess that you are the risen Lord of Lords. Holy Spirit, help me to boldly tell others about Jesus. Amen.
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The baptism into the body of Christ is what happens when we are born again. The Holy Spirit plunges us into Christ, and we become one with him. The evidence is a changed life. Baptism into water by immersion is what another believer does to us, giving us an opportunity to publicly proclaim and acknowledge what God has already done in the Spirit and is our public declaration of allegiance to Jesus. The evidence is that we are wet. Jesus is the One who baptizes us into the Spirit by an outpouring to empower us to be bold witnesses. This outpouring may be likened to standing under a waterfall or a large bucket of water as in the picture above. We are effectively immersed, but its purpose is not identification. Instead, the Spirit is poured out upon us in power for ministry. The evidence of the baptism in the Spirit is speaking in tongues and prophecy. The Holy Spirit baptism is also God’s declaration to the world that we are his children.