Baptism of The Holy Ghost
INTRODUCTION
The baptism of the Holy Ghost is an important Bible doctrine and is essential for salvation. While John the Baptist baptized with water, he prophesied that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come and baptize with the Holy Ghost. So, we will see a distinct difference between John’s baptism and the baptism of Jesus.
Luke 3:16 “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.”
The word “baptize” comes from a Greek word baptizo that simply means “to dip, plunge or to be fully immersed.“
Mark 1:4 “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”
John the Baptist could only baptize withwater unto repentance, but Jesus baptized with the Spirit of God, which would purify their hearts and lives. Thus, the person receiving the Holy Ghost would be immersed, or covered completely, with the Spirit of God.
MANY TITLES BUT ONLY ONE SPIRIT
In the New Testament, there are several titles that the Spirit of God is known by, such as: Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of Christ, Spirit of God and often, just the word Spirit. Whenever you read one of these, realize that they are all referring to the One Spirit of God (Ephesians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 3:17).
THE HOLY GHOST WAS PROMISED
The Holy Ghost was promised both in the Old and New Testament.
Joel 2:28-29 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”
Isaiah 28:11 “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.”
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.“
Mark 16:17 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.”
THE PROMISE WAS FULFILLED
The Day of Pentecost brought about the promised baptism of the Holy Ghost. The word Pentecost means fifty. Pentecost was a feast day of the Jewish religion, which took place fifty days after the Feast of Passover. Jesus had instructed his disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Holy Ghost.
Luke 24:49 “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
They were obedient. They were together in the city of Jerusalem in an upper room when the promise came.
Acts 2:1-4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
THE INITIAL SIGN OF RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST
Most of the questions that come up about the baptism of the Holy Ghost have to do with the biblical subject of speaking in tongues. Tongues were used by God to show the initial sign of receiving the Holy Ghost. Because of this sign, a person can know, beyond any doubt, that they have received the Holy Ghost! From Acts 2:4, we know that people in the New Testament Church did speak in tongues on the Day of Pentecost, but this is not the only record of tongues being given when a person received the Holy Ghost in the New Testament Church!
Eight years after the Day of Pentecost, we find Peter preaching to the Gentile household of Cornelius: Acts 10:44-46 “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.”
God was still using tongues as the sign that one had received the Holy Ghost eight years after the initial outpouring in Jerusalem. The good news is that He is still using it today! Later, Apostle Paul finds out that twelve disciples of John the Baptist had not heard about the Holy Ghost, but they had been baptized with water unto repentance.
Acts 19:6 “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
It was important that they were not only baptized in water, but that they were also baptized with the Holy Ghost! When this happened, they also spoke with tongues. The Apostle Paul, writer of over half the New Testament, also spoke in tongues.
I Corinthians 14:18 “I thank my God; I speak with tongues more than ye all.”
I Corinthians 14:39 “Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.”
Why does God use tongues as the initial sign of receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost?
James 3:3-8 “Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”
God uses the tongue as the sign of receiving the Holy Ghost because it is the hardest member of our body to control. It is a sign that God uses to show that a person has completely yielded to God’s will and plan of salvation for their life.
I Corinthians 14:18 “I thank my God; I speak with tongues more than ye all.”
THE BENEFITS OF RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST
There are many benefits of receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost. We will cover several in this study.
BENEFIT #1 – The Holy Ghost is essential to salvation.
In the Bible, we find that the baptism of the Holy Ghost is part of God’s plan for us to be saved. Jesus told a ruler of the Jews by the name of Nicodemus that he must be born again.
John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
John 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
While Peter was preaching on the Day of Pentecost, he was asked the question, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) Peter, with the keys to the kingdom (Matthew 16:19), gave them the answer: Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Notice: In Peter’s answer, he tells the people to be baptized (water) and that they should also receive the Holy Ghost (Spirit). This is the answer to the question Nicodemus asked Jesus of how to be born again by water and Spirit (John 3:1-5). In order to be saved, we must be filled with the Holy Ghost!
BENEFIT #2 –The Holy Ghost is for us today.
While Peter was telling them what they must do to be saved, he continued preaching: Acts 2:39 “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” We cannot believe the lie that the Holy Ghost is not for us today. The promise of the Holy Ghost is for all people in every generation!
BENEFIT #3 – The Holy Ghost is our Comforter.
The word Comfortersimply means “helper, or one called alongside to help.”
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
With the Holy Ghost as our Comforter, we can live for God in spite of the sinful world around us!
BENEFIT #4 – The Holy Ghost allows us to live and walk in the Spirit.
Many things change when we receive the Holy Ghost. Our habits become different, our wants become different, our lifestyles become different, and our joys become different.
II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Romans 8:5 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
We do not have to depend on our own abilities to live a life pleasing to God. The Holy Ghost enables us to live and walk a Spirit-led life!
BENEFIT #5 – The Holy Ghost gives us power.
A person filled with the Holy Ghost receives power to witness to others about the wonderful saving power of Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost gives us power to overcome weaknesses, temptation, bad habits and sin.
Luke 24:49 “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Through the power of the Holy Ghost, not only can we live an overcoming life, but we can also be a witness to others about the power of God!
BENEFIT #6 – The Holy Ghost unifies us with other believers.
We are baptized into the body of Christ. The body of Christ is the Church. It is not a denomination; it is the Church that Jesus Christ said He would build (Matthew 16:18)!
I Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
The Church is not limited to a local assembly and a physical structure. It is comprised of all people everywhere who have been baptized with the Holy Ghost!
BENEFIT #7 – The Holy Ghost brings righteousness, peace and joy.
Righteousness, peace and joy are what this world is looking. These things only come when a person is baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
One can only be righteous when they have been filled with God’s Spirit.
BENEFIT #8 – The Holy Ghost produces the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
The ongoing evidence that we are filled with the Holy Ghost is that we are producing the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
All these are a result of being filled with the Spirit of God. Only through the Holy Ghost can a person fully manifest these qualities in their life. This is truly a benefit while living in this wicked world!
BENEFIT #9 – The Holy Ghost is the earnest of our inheritance.
Earnest money is the down payment money when buying a house. God has given us the earnest, which is the beginning of our inheritance. Heaven will be the fulfillment of being filled with the Holy Ghost.
Ephesians 1:13-14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
BENEFIT #10 – Our bodies become the temple of the Holy Ghost.
When God fills us with His Spirit, our bodies become the temple of God. Not a temple made with men’s hands, but God chooses to dwell within each born-again believer.
I Corinthians 6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
I Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
What an incredible revelation! The same Spirit that created the heavens and the earth, the same Spirit that indwelled the man, Christ Jesus, He chooses to dwell in our earthen temples when we are filled with the Holy Ghost.
CONCLUSION
The Bible teaches conclusively that we are not saved until we have received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The same Spirit of God that dwelled fully in the man Christ Jesus has been made available to you and me because Jesus died, was buried and then resurrected on the third day. He promised that He would send the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, and He fulfilled that promise on the Day of Pentecost. But it did not stop there! The promise is also to you and to your children and to all of us today.
Have you received the baptism of the Holy Ghost?