Compiled for my wife Susan.
After a conversation that my wife and I had concerning
what people believe regarding the doctrine of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, I
decided to post this resource. This is information compiled from the web and is
not my own work. However it may be helpful in understanding some of the issues
regarding this particular gift.
I know that there is some conflict between people,
churches, etc. regarding this subject. However, I have always held to a policy
that I think we should hold to: in
“Essentials – UNITY, in Non-Essentials –
If you have any questions about this, feel free to
contact me at aaron.a.parker1@us.army.mil.
If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader, I can send you a copy of this in Adobe
Acrobat format.
Introduction:
Baptism in the Holy Spirit – 20 Common Questions
Question 3: Once a
person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, why is it necessary to be refilled
later?
Question 9: Can a
person be filled with the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues?
Question 11: Is it
possible to be saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit at the same time?
Question 16: Who
should be baptized in the Holy Spirit?
Few church doctrines
have generated more questions and controversy. The debate started at the
miracle at Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. Observers of that premier event
asked questions and the apostle Peter preached a sermon to supply answers. He
directed his listeners back to the Old Testament prophets for enlightenment about
the Holy Spirit.
Throughout the history
of the Church, the wind of the Spirit was never still. From Tertullian
in the 2nd century to Symeon in the 10th, John Wesley
in the 18th, and American revivalists in the 19th, the people of God experienced
mighty manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
But one of the greatest
outpourings of the Spirit began early in the 20th century. Several small
holiness groups whose members were seeking a fuller experience with God
witnessed a renewal of the Holy Spirit's gifts. In their meetings they saw
miracles similar to those recorded in the Book of Acts. Those who experienced
the baptism in the Holy Spirit spoke in tongues, gave prophecies, prayed for
the sick with miraculous results, and began a new surge of missionary ministry
that soon reached around the world.
These 20th-century
Pentecostals understood their spiritual experiences to be a fulfillment of
Jesus' promise in Acts 1:4, 5. They believed that this "promise of the
Father" was an experience that "all believers are entitled to, should
ardently expect, and earnestly seek" (P.C. Nelson, Bible Doctrines,
p. 77.). Their emphasis on the ministry of the Holy Spirit sparked controversy
with nearly all established religious groups. The Pentecostals were ridiculed
and cast out of established churches.
Yet the revival grew.
These "holy rollers" built brush arbors and rented store-front
buildings for their services. Miracles of healing and deliverance drew crowds.
The curious who came to scoff often stayed to pray. At first the crowds were
largely poor and dispossessed, but as the miracles continued, their ranks were
swelled by business and professional people.
During the next 50
years Pentecostals worked to build churches and establish colleges to train
their ministers. They organized Sunday schools and sent missionaries. Yet they
never lost their emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit in people's lives.
Then in the 1960s
another wave of revival spread the blessings of Pentecost. Many Lutherans began
speaking in tongues and praying for the sick. Many Roman Catholics raised their
hands in worship and prayed in the Spirit. Upon Presbyterians, Episcopalians,
Methodists, Baptists, Brethren, Disciples of Christ --
the wind of the Spirit was blowing across the entire spectrum of the Church.
Today believers from
all fellowships who are serious about their faith are looking again at the
"promise of the Father." This experience, distinct from and following
salvation, brings the believer into the richness of the Spirit-filled life.
Questions are best
answered and controversies settled by allowing the Spirit to warm the heart and
draw the soul into intimate fellowship with God.
However, there are misunderstandings concerning the doctrine of the baptism in the Holy Spirit that are hindering many sincere believers from entering into this blessed experience. There are legitimate questions that call for answers. Against the foregoing historical backdrop, let us consider some of these questions and seek for biblical answers.
Yes, when persons
accept Christ, the Holy Spirit begins a great work in their lives. The Spirit convicts
them of sin, convinces them of righteousness, and dwells within them (John
However, there is an
additional and distinct ministry of the Holy Spirit called the baptism in the
Holy Spirit. The Baptism is an empowering gift from God the Father that is
promised to every believer (Matthew
Receiving eternal life
does not depend on being baptized in the Holy Spirit; for salvation is by grace
through faith alone (Habakkuk 2:4; John 6:28, 29; Galatians 3:6; 5:6; Ephesians
2:8). It is a gift purchased for us by Christ when He was crucified. All we
have to do is accept the gift. Just as the repentant thief on the cross next to
Jesus was assured of entering paradise that very day we too are assured a place
in heaven with the Father if we believe in Jesus Christ. It is most unfortunate
that some have said, "Unless you have spoken in tongues you will not go to
heaven." This is not true. It is contrary to the Scriptures.
At the same time,
although the Bible does not say the baptism in the Spirit is required for
salvation, it does tell us that Christ commanded His first followers to wait
for the Holy Spirit to come upon them (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8). The Bible
commands us to "be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians
On the Day of Pentecost
120 disciples (committed followers of Jesus) were "filled" with the
Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). This fulfilled the promise Christ had made to them a
few days earlier. He had said, "John baptized with water, but in a few
days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:5). But this
initial experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit is only the beginning
of a lifelong experience. God wants us to remain filled with the Spirit.
Perhaps an analogy will
best clarify this. As Christians we may be compared with a reservoir for
producing electrical power. When we accept Christ, construction of our
reservoir is complete. We now have the potential to be useful and to affect
lives. But until the flood gates are opened and the cascading river waters pour
through, no power is realized. So it is when we are baptized in the Holy
Spirit. We open our lives to God and the Holy Spirit pours into us and through
us. It is then we become most effective in God's service.
As with the reservoir,
this power-generating experience is not intended to be a one-time occurrence.
It is to be an ongoing process. When our spiritual power runs low, we need to
return to the Source and let the blessed Holy Spirit pour into us again,
bringing fresh power. This happened to the early followers of Jesus. They had
already been baptized in the Spirit; but later on, when persecution arose, they
needed a new surge of spiritual power; so they prayed to the Lord once again
and "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 4:31).
As the Spirit-filled
believer serves the Lord, there is an expenditure of spiritual power. It
becomes necessary for him to open himself afresh to the Holy Spirit in order
that his power may be replenished. The command in Ephesians
There are at least four
uses or purposes of unknown tongues, according to the New Testament: (1) as the
initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6); (2)
as a gift to edify the church when the tongues are interpreted (1 Corinthians
12:10); (3) as a sign for unbelievers that they might believe (1 Corinthians
14:22); and (4) as a God-given provision for effective prayer and praise (1
Corinthians 14:2, 14). In all these cases, tongues is the same in essence, but
different in purpose. The misunderstanding concerning these distinctive uses
and purposes has brought great confusion among Christians.
Scripture records that the
early believers, upon being baptized in the Spirit, began to glorify God in
languages unknown to them but imparted by the Holy Spirit. Tongues
is the same evidence today when believers are baptized in the Spirit.
All believers, when they are baptized in the Spirit, will speak in tongues.
However, not all will exercise the spiritual gift of tongues in the church
assembled for worship. All will have the evidence, but not all will exercise
the public gift of tongues which requires the additional operation of the gift
of interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians
Praying in tongues
during private devotions is an additional ministry of the Holy Spirit. Many
believers today testify that praying in tongues greatly enriches their
spiritual lives. The limitations of intellect are overcome as the Holy Spirit
quickens the human spirit in glorious expressions of worship and adoration. The
quandary of limited vocabulary and the inability to express feelings and
concerns of the soul disappear as a Spirit-imparted language flows out from the
heart. It is as if heaven and earth, time and eternity, God and man all
compress together in a glorious act of worship.
In 1 Corinthians 14 the
apostle Paul clearly taught that public speaking in tongues in the assembly of
believers is in order only when followed by an interpretation. It was because
of this disorderly practice at
It [was this disorderly
practice] that prompted Paul to stress the superiority of prophecy--not to
interpreted tongues, but to un-interpreted tongues (1 Corinthians 14:5).
Final responsibility
for giving an interpretation of tongues in a public assembly rests with the one
who gave the utterance in tongues. The speaker either must be assured that
someone else in the assembly will provide the interpretation, or he must be
prepared to do so himself (1 Corinthians
The purpose of tongues
with interpretation is twofold. One purpose is to provide a sign for
unbelievers that they might believe. The other purpose is to edify the church
body. Tongues with interpretation declares the mighty
works of God, exalts His name, and prompts the believers to worship Him in
spirit and in truth. It also calls for commitment to the church's mission.
In 1 Corinthians
Some confuse speaking
in tongues with the gift of prophecy. Paul drew a distinction between the two. He
indicated the purpose of the spiritual gift of prophecy is to strengthen,
encourage, and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3, 31). Thus prophecy is primarily for
the benefit of believers. Paul pointed out, however, that unbelievers who hear
a prophetic word may also be convicted and turn in repentance to God (1
Corinthians
If the Holy Spirit has
authentically inspired the interpretation, it will never contradict the
teachings of the Bible. If the interpretation is contrary to Scripture, it is
out of order and must be ruled so. The Bible is the measure by which all
utterances must be judged.
For example, in a
church service some years ago a prophetic word was spoken that included the
phrase "His (Jesus') bones were broken." The Scripture tells us,
"Not one of his bones will be broken" (John
The Scriptures cannot
be contradicted (Psalm 119:89; Matthew
The apostle Paul did
not hesitate to establish guidelines within which the gifts of the Spirit must
operate. He stated that any utterance, message, or gift expression must line up
with Scripture and be judged by it (1 Corinthians
Yes, spiritual gifts
are divine in their origin, but they are entrusted to people, and they must operate
in a way that is consistent with biblical teaching. Good order, established by
anointed leadership, is God's way (1 Corinthians
Human availability has
always been an essential part of the unfolding of God's plan. Throughout
Scripture there is an obvious blending of God's sovereign purposes and people's
availability in implementing those purposes. While this interrelationship is
impossible to fully comprehend, it is consistently recorded in the Bible.
Spiritual gifts operate
only with human availability. While the gifts are supernatural both in source
and operation, they require willing and obedient hearts through which they might
find expression. Jesus commanded His disciples to wait in
Perhaps this
interrelationship between the Holy Spirit and human availability can best be
expressed by the following progression. The believer must (1) have a clear
understanding of the biblical base for promised gifts; (2) be touched in his
heart with a desire for the gifts to flow; (3) be willing to submit to the
inner sense that the Spirit is seeking expression; and (4) offer to the Holy
Spirit his heart, emotions, will, and voice by which those gifts may operate.
The key is obedient availability coupled with a sincere desire to please God.
First let us examine
the Scriptures. On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell upon the assembled
believers and "all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak in other tongues" (Acts 2:4). Later, as Peter was preaching at the
house of Cornelius, "the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message"
and they were "speaking in tongues and praising God" (Acts 10:44,
46). Again, as the apostle Paul was ministering to the Ephesian
disciples, "the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and
prophesied" (Acts 19:6). It is evident also that Paul himself was filled
with the Holy Spirit (Acts
When the early
believers were filled, they spoke in other tongues,
and the same holds true today. Millions of believers worldwide share the exact
testimony: when they initially were baptized in the Holy Spirit they spoke in
unknown tongues. This is the truth which Pentecostals consistently affirm. The
prophecy of Joel 2:28, 29, cited by Peter in Acts
There are those who
give testimony to a dynamic and life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit
who have never spoken in tongues. Nevertheless it cannot be said that they are
filled with the Spirit in the New Testament sense of the term. There is an
essential link between that experience and speaking in other tongues, as
pointed out above.
We affirm and teach
these truths because they are based upon the pattern from God's Word. We do not
look upon speaking in tongues as a proof of superior spirituality. It simply is
a precious promise written in God's Word and fulfilled in our lives. To ignore
it is to miss a great blessing and come short of the New Testament pattern.
All who are hungry for the
"filling" should be encouraged to trust the Lord for the overflowing
evidence of that "filling"; namely, speaking in other tongues.
On the Day of
Pentecost, "a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from
heaven" and "they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that
separated and came to rest on each of them" (Acts 2:4). This preceded and
provided a dramatic setting for the first outpouring of the Spirit. However,
this happened only once. These phenomena did not recur and there is no evidence
that they were intended to recur either in apostolic times or in our day. The
single phenomenon dramatically expressed on the Day of Pentecost and
consistently present whenever early believers were baptized in the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues.
Does this mean that in
our day the outpouring of the Spirit will be void of any demonstrations other
than speaking in tongues. No. Some testify of deep groanings in their spirit, or surges of inexpressible joy.
Some experience strong emotions of exhilaration. For many it is as if the deep
inner wells of their spirits have suddenly been thrown open, and a torrent of
praise bursts forth in exaltation to the Lord. Their hearts overflow with love
for Jesus Christ.
While the ways in which
the fullness of the Holy Spirit comes will vary according to the personality of
the individual and the creativity of the Spirit, unknown tongues is the one
accompanying phenomenon which unites Spirit-filled believers from every land
and every generation.
There need not be a
great lapse of time between conversion (receiving Christ as Savior) and the
baptism in the Holy Spirit. However, a person must first be a believer. This
Baptism is not for unbelievers.
First, the Holy Spirit
comes to convict a person of sin and to reveal Christ as Savior. Then He comes
to fill the life with spiritual power for gospel service and victorious
Christian living. The one encounter of the Spirit is to regenerate; the other
is to empower. The two are not identical; they are logically sequential; but
one encounter may follow the other very closely. Many believers can testify to
having come to Christ as Savior, and then moments later having met Him as the
Baptizer in the Spirit.
It is quite in order,
assuming the presence of proper understanding, to lead a new convert into the
baptism in the Holy Spirit. While "tarrying" (waiting on God in
prayer) is often necessary for heart preparation and understanding, it is not
improper for new believers to move quickly into the fullness of the Spirit.
In order to understand
this statement we need to examine its context. Paul said that prophecies will
cease, tongues will be stilled, knowledge will pass away, and perfection will
come (verses 8-10). Paul was speaking of a time yet future both to his original
readers and to us. When the kingdom of our Lord is ushered in, perfection will
come and there will be no further need of Spirit-given knowledge, prophecy, and
tongues. They will disappear because they will be no longer needed. But these
operations of the Spirit are still needed today.
There is no indication
in Scripture that tongues would cease at the end of the first century. Tongues
are to be a part of the life of the church in every generation until Christ
returns to set up His perfect kingdom. Paul's perception was that spiritual
gifts would be operational until that day (1 Corinthians 1:7, 8). return
to top
It does seem almost
contradictory that the apostle Paul should make the following statements in
successive verses: "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of
you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct
others than ten thousand words in a tongue" (1 Corinthians
When biblical truths
fall into obscurity and neglect, people often seek for explanations. When
speaking in tongues is no longer experienced, they ask the reason, and critics
have answered by isolating this particular statement and giving it an unsound
meaning. Paul was not opposed to tongues. He said he himself spoke in tongues
more than all (1 Corinthians
The proof is the same
proof that supported the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.
On that occasion the apostle Peter stood up and defended the outpouring by
showing that it was a fulfillment of Scripture. He began his explanation by saying, "This is what was spoken by the prophet
Joel" (Acts
A comparison of the
Book of Acts with what is happening in the modern outpouring of the Spirit
reveals striking similarities in pattern and purpose. The impact of the early
church, newly equipped by the power of the Holy Spirit, changed the world of
that day. Similar changes are being made in human lives today through
Spirit-filled servants of God. Christ is preached. Sinners are saved. The sick
are healed. The
Pentecostals who are
well rooted in Scripture do not emphasize the baptism in the Spirit and
speaking in tongues to a greater extent than other doctrines such as the New
Birth (salvation) and water baptism. They emphasize all the teachings of the
New Testament, giving to tongues the same priority that it has in Scripture.
The goal is for balance. Admittedly, some have failed to keep that essential
balance. The Pentecostal movement suffers wherever there is an imbalance in
teaching and practicing all that is in the New Testament.
God has brought the
Pentecostal movement into being in order to help the Church rediscover the
doctrine of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the accompanying gifts of the
Spirit. In obedience to that charge, Pentecostals have placed a high priority
on this particular doctrine. However, much of the supposed imbalance is more
imagined than real.
When the believers were
assembled in prayer on the Day of Pentecost, "All of them were filled with
the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them"
(Acts 2:4). Not one was left out. It was not just the apostles
who were filled, but all the men and all the women in that company of 120
persons. Then the apostle Peter addressed the onlookers and told them that they
should be filled. He said "The promise is for you and your children and
for all who are far off -- for all whom the Lord our God will call" (Acts
As Peter said, the
baptism in the Holy Spirit is for every believer in every generation. It is an
all-inclusive promise of universal dimension. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is
promised to every Christian believer.
It is clear from
Scripture that there may be accompanying phenomena when a believer is baptized
in the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, on the Day of Pentecost the crowd who
witnessed that original outpouring of the Spirit "made fun of them"
the 120 who had been filled with the Spirit. The onlookers said, "They
have had too much wine" (Acts
The point is clear:
there was a dramatic human response to this divine visitation. From outward
appearances it was as if these Spirit-filled believers were inebriated. Similar
behavior is sometimes seen today when people are filled with the Spirit, but
believers' experiences vary widely. Some have been filled with little or no
emotional stirring, and yet the experience has been authentic and real. Others
have been so overcome that they have been "lost in the Spirit" and
oblivious to their surroundings for a time.
It is important that
each seeking believer yield fully to the Holy Spirit. The accompanying
phenomena are established by the sovereign choice of the Holy Spirit. But the
emphasis must always be on the inner filling rather than on the emotional
experience, which is contrary to the authentic work of the Holy Spirit. Such
extremes must be avoided. The inner work of the Holy Spirit, rather than the
outward demonstration of the human spirit, must be the focus of every seeking
heart.
Just prior to His
ascension, Jesus told His disciples, "In a few days you will be baptized
with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:5). A few days later they were filled with
the Spirit (Acts 2:4). Earlier the Lord had said, "I am going to send you
what my Father promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with
power from on high" (Luke 24:49). No doubt the disciples obeyed this
directive; they remained in
Some believers have
received the Baptism almost immediately; others have waited for various periods
of time. Why? (1) Because the Holy Spirit is sovereign, some will require a
period of waiting before they are prepared to yield themselves fully to His
divine control. (2) Because "the infilling" may involve a process
with the Baptism coming after a wonderful and meaningful time of waiting in
God's presence. Seekers should realize that any period of "waiting"
only brings them closer to the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their
lives.
The question is often
asked: "What can I do to claim the promise of the baptism in the Holy
Spirit for my life?" One thing the believer should do is to seek the
Baptizer rather than the Baptism. It is Jesus who baptizes believers in the
Holy Spirit. Seekers should focus their attention on Him rather than on an
experience.
There are other steps
that, if taken, will assist seekers. (1) Understand that the baptism in the
Holy Spirit is a gift from God. It should be received with gratitude and giving
of thanks to the Giver. It cannot be earned or merited. It can only be accepted
with an open and willing heart. (2) Be fully persuaded that the baptism in the
Holy Spirit is both biblical and doctrinally correct. (3) Confess any known
sins in your life and resolve to live a righteous life with God's help. (4)
Begin to worship the Lord with expressions of praise and adoration. (5) Express
to the Lord, who is the Baptizer, a desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit
for His glory. (6) Yield to any deep "welling up" within your spirit
and allow that inner surge to break through in expressions of worship, praise,
and adoration in a language unknown to you but meaningful to God.
The first physical sign
of the infilling of the Spirit is speaking in tongues. This is the one physical
sign that is consistent in its recurrence, as pointed out earlier. However, the
Baptism is not a goal but a gateway. It is a door to Spirit-filled living. It
marks a beginning, not an end. Speaking in tongues is but the initial evidence
and is to be followed by all the evidences of Christlikeness
that mark a consistent Spirit-filled life.
The apostle Paul
described this wonderful life in the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, 23. He wrote,
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
It is a life to be lived,
not just an experience to be remembered. Some have missed this essential
distinction. They have been satisfied to recall that wonderful moment when the
Holy Spirit came in His fullness and they magnified the Lord in other tongues.
Failure to progress beyond that point is a tragedy.
The question is not
only, "Have you been filled?" but, "How have you lived since you
were filled?" The apostle Paul wrote, "Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians