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This is one of those subjects about which I have modified my thinking, for at one time I held that only the Apostles and the household of Cornelius received the baptism with the Holy Spirit and was quite convinced that there were "measures" of the Spirit. After reading Leon Gibson’s book, "Christian You Were Baptized In Water And Spirit", and more study, I conclude that neither are consistent with the Scriptures. One of our problems has been our failure to define the terms associated with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is God and possesses all the attributes of God. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. The Spirit is a person not an impersonal force, influence or power. The Spirit is a spiritual being, not a physical being. The Spirit is not a human emotional experience. Colossians 2: 9; Acts 17: 29; 5: 3-4; Romans 1: 20; John 4: 24; Matthew 28: 19

The Scriptures reveal His personal attributes: mind, knowledge, will, love, can be grieved, and can be lied to, can be resisted, and can groan. Romans 8; 26,27; 15: 30; 1 Corinthians 2: 11; 12: 11; Ephesians 4: 30; Acts 5: 3; 7: 51

The Scriptures also reveal His personal action: speaks, testifies, guides, searches, leads, and teaches. 1 Timothy 4: 1; John 15: 26; 16: 13; 14: 26; 1 Corinthians 2: 10; Acts 16: 6-7

This is a "Star Wars" fantasy, "the force is with you," that probably originated from the "unmoved mover" of Aristotle and the "form of the good" of Plato. These were impersonal concepts in Greek philosophy. The book, "Let God Be True," of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., states, "the holy spirit is the invisible force of the Almighty God that moves his servants to do his will." The Scriptures teach that the Holy Spirit is a personal God.

This is a depersonalizing view of the Holy Spirit. The word of God is the instrument of the Holy Spirit and is no more the Holy Spirit than the sword is the warrior who uses it. There are those who incorrectly teach that the Holy Spirit dwells in the believer only as the word. These views probably arose in reaction to the experiential views of the working of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures teach that Holy Spirit, Himself, dwells within the Christian.

Ephesians 6: 17; 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20

This is the teaching of John Calvin that man is so depraved as to be unable to will or initiate any good. Accordingly the Holy Spirit must irresistibly change the heart of the sinner in order to respond to the word. This is the better-felt-than-told way in which the sinner must wait until the Spirit acts upon him. The Scriptures teach that although the Spirit is active in convicting the world through the word, the Holy Spirit is normally not received before obedience.

It is experiential view that holds that the Christian does not receive the Holy Spirit until some time after he is saved. When he receives it, then he is sanctified. The Holy Spirit is made out to be an experiential feeling that defies reasons and need not conform to the Scriptures. This view is responsible for much of TV evangelism. The Scriptures teach that the Spirit is received after the believer repents and is baptized into Christ.

We read that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings to deep for words. The word does not. It is a mistake to limit the working of the Holy Spirit to the word only. On the other hand it is presumptuous to make claims about the Holy Spirit that are not clearly revealed in the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit must not be depersonalized by making it the word nor by making it an emotional feeling. The Spirit must not be made to be a magical genie who can be summoned up to do the bidding of the priest/prophet/preacher.

Calvin claims it is an "experience of grace" given by God completely apart from the will of man, which assures him of salvation.

Most Pentecostal churches connect the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the "second work of grace" or the believer’s sanctification. "Speaking in tongues" is often claimed to be the evidence of the baptism.

There are two instances of baptism with the Holy Spirit that generally are not disputed, the apostles on Pentecost, and the household of Cornelius at Caesarea. By looking at the circumstances surrounding these two events, we can determine the nature of the baptism.

• The apostles were promised power. Acts 1: 8
• Noise of a rushing, mighty wind. Acts 2: 2
• Tongues as of fire. Acts 2: 3
• Gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2: 4; 10: 45; 11: 17; 15: 8
• Speaking in tongues. Acts 2: 4; 10: 46

Obviously because Cornelius and his household did not receive power to be witnesses or experience the sound of a rushing, mighty wind or the tongues of fire, these things are incidental to the baptism and not essential to it. Both the apostles and Cornelius did share in speaking in tongues and in the gift of the Holy Spirit. But speaking in tongues is one of the gifts of the Spirit not shared by all believers and destined to end. Therefore I conclude that the irreducible component is the gift of the Holy Spirit himself. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is the pouring out of the gift of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12: 30; 13; 8; Acts 10: 45; Titus 3: 5-6

The Scriptures do not specifically use that terminology, but at his baptism in water John states that the Spirit descended as a dove and remained upon Him. I believe He did. John 1: 32-34

• To the apostles Acts 1: 5
• To all the people Luke 3: 16; Matthew 3: 11; Mark 1: 8; John 1: 33
• In addition: The baptism of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was identified by Peter to be the pouring out of the Spirit spoken of by the Prophet Joel in the Old Testament. The pouring out of the Spirit was promised to all mankind.
• The promise made to the apostles in Acts 1: 5 of being baptized with the Spirit was quoted by Peter in reference to Cornelius and his household. Acts 11: 15,16

This view is erroneous because John the Baptist said that others would receive it and because the purpose, to regenerate and renew, of the baptism is so personal and individual that the baptism could not be received representatively. Can you be born again for someone else? Neither can someone receive the Holy Spirit for you.

Luke 3: 16 clearly contradicts what I was taught and believed. Eventually I became aware that there was a problem. I blame no one but myself. Each one of us has the responsibility for what we believe and should not accept anything heard or read without examination.

• To those who repent and are baptized. Acts 2: 37-39
• To those who obey God. Acts 5: 32
• To those in Christ. Titus 3: 5,6
• To those that believe. Ephesians 1: 13

The gift of the Holy Spirit, like the baptism with the Holy Spirit is for all mankind who will receive it. This should not surprise us because the are the same.

The gift of the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Spirit, is promises and not a command. Normally they are received when the individual in the obedience of faith is baptized into Christ. Jesus received the Spirit at His baptism in water just as the 3,000 at Pentecost were promised the Spirit when they repented and were baptized. However God can alter this order or delay it just as He did with Cornelius and the Samaritans respectively. We should never put God in a box. It would be presumptuous to dictate to God. Acts 2: 37-39; 5: 32; 10: 44-48; 8: 12-16; Matthew 3: 16-17

The miraculous of the Spirit are enumerated in the first letter to the Corinthians. They were given by the Spirit, as the Spirit wills, to ensure the establishment of the church with both Jew and Gentile and to confirm the words of those so charged. These gifts were necessary at the inception of the church just as scaffolding is used during the construction of a building. These gifts were destined to cease when their purpose was accomplished but God ensured the continuance of the Church with giving of normal gifts of service. 1 Corinthians 12: 4-13; 13: 8; Romans 12: 3-8

In the beginning it was necessary for there to be some kind of visible or audible sign to draw attention to the work of the Spirit and to confirm either the spoken word or signify God’s approval of a certain course of action, acceptance of the Gentile for example. When this was established and the spoken word was confirmed these external signs and miraculous gifts ceased. The evidence of the reception of the Spirit of God is the fruit of the Spirit in the life of the individual. This fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Yes, many do. It is very difficult to dispute those who claim a personal experience. I prefer the testimony of the Scriptures, however.

• The Scriptures teach that the spiritual gifts are to be done away when "the perfect" comes. 1 Corinthians 13: 10

• Of themselves, spiritual gifts do not indicate great spirituality on the part of those who received them. Paul said the believers at Corinth were carnal. Love is the more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 3: 1-4; 12: 31

• speaking in tongues was a lesser gift. Prophecy and teaching were more beneficial. 1 Corinthians: 1-4

• Jesus said that many that claim to work miracles in the name of the Lord would be rejected. Matthew 7: 22-23

• Not all believers spoke in tongues. 1 Corinthians 12: 28-31

This is a very debated subject. Some say the "the perfect" is Jesus others say it is the perfect law of liberty, the New Testament, and still others say it is the perfection of heaven. And of course many other things are claimed to be "the perfect".

• Jesus and/or heaven do not seem to be in the context of this passage
• The passage seems to be contrasting love, which is greater than faith or hope, and will never cease with that which will cease; namely, spiritual gifts.
• The passage is also contrasting partial revelation with full, complete and established revelation.

• A very similar passage in Ephesians stresses a unity of faith, knowledge and love of the mature man, the united Jew and Gentile body
• The confirmation of the spoken word through various signs and wonders is also in view

I believe "the perfect" is the full, complete, confirmed word of God, which unified the Jew and Gentile in one body, in a relationship of love, faith, and knowledge.

I am very hesitant to make such a statement. No one can dictate to God. He told us that the gifts were to serve for a limited purpose. If the circumstances warranted, I will leave that to Him. He is sovereign and doesn’t consult with man. I would not have supposed He would give the Spirit to Cornelius before he was baptized in water. That shows what I know, because He did.

• The Holy Spirit guided the apostles and writers of the New Testament into truth
• The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin. righteousness and judgement
• The gifts of the Spirit were given to fill in the gaps in knowledge and confirm the word
• At Pentecost there was a sound of a rushing, mighty wind which caused the people to come together where they saw tongues of fire resting on the apostles and heard them speaking in their own tongues thus confirming the Apostles as God’s spokesmen and the message they spoke. As a result these Jews were added to the body of Christ. Acts 2

• Next the Samaritans, hated by the Jews and hater of the Jews, received the word. But they did not receive the Spirit until the Apostles Peter and Jon, came and laid hands on them confirming both the Apostles and the Samaritans right to be added to the body. Acts 8

• After a miracle, Peter was convinced to go to the household of Cornelius, who was a Gentile. As he was speaking to them they were baptized with the Holy Spirit, receiving the gift of the Spirit, and spoke with tongues. Peter was amazed and commanded them to be baptized in water. Thus the Holy Spirit confirmed the right of the Gentiles to enter the body of Christ. Acts 10, 11

• Lastly. Those who were baptized only with the baptism of John in Acts 19 were baptized in the name of Christ. The reception of the Spirit and the demonstration of the gifts of the Spirit showed God’s approval.

• For by (in) one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slave or free, and were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12: 13

• And He (Christ) gives some apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for equipping the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature (perfect) man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4: 11-13

Jesus Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a promise, not a command. Man has no part in its administration. Luke 3: 16

My understanding is that God will baptize these people, and by inference all people, either with the baptism of the Holy Spirit or the baptism of fire. The cognate passage, Matthew 3: 11-12, makes it clear that the baptism of fire is the fire of eternal condemnation.

Yes there are some that maintain this; but only the first part is a statement from the Scriptures the rest is the conclusion of man.

• This is concluded despite the fact that John told those people gathered to hear him, that Jesus would baptize at least some of them with the Holy Spirit. Luke 3: 16

• This is made to be an absolute statement despite the fact that the baptism in fire has not been eliminated.

• This is said despite the fact that only Jesus administers the baptism with the Spirit. Man has no part in it.

• Must we be born again? How many times? I would say once, yet Jesus said we must be born of the water and the Spirit. Is that two births? Is this one birth but two elements?

John 3: 1-8

• If born of water means to be baptized in water, why doesn’t born of the Spirit mean to be baptized in the Spirit? John 3: 5

• Israel was baptized unto Moses in the sea (water) and the cloud (God). Were they baptized twice? Or is this one baptism, but two elements? 1 Corinthians 10: 1-3

• For by ( this can be translated "in" or "with") one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12: 13

Some, and I was included in that number, believe based on the statement that Jesus received the Spirit without measure, that others receive the Spirit by measures. This is a curious example of a twist of logic where Christ’s receiving the Spirit without limits is made the basis for dividing up the Spirit for others. John 3: 34

• Baptismal measure
• Miraculous measure
• Indwelling measure

Now if you are looking for these terms in the Scriptures, forget it. They are not there. It is much better to stay with Bible terminology. The Holy Spirit is not a gigantic cheesecake that can be divided and served.

The primary purpose is regeneration and renewal. Ezekiel prophesied centuries ago that God would place a new heart and mind within His children. In addition the Holy Spirit is given to us as a pledge that God will fulfill His promises to us. To that end the Spirit dwells in us to strengthen, to lead, to intercede for us, and to renew, Eziekiel 11: 19; 18: 31

We are born of the Spirit and of water into a new creature, a new life in Christ. The Spirit gives us life. 2 Corinthians 5: 17; Galatians 6: 15; Romans 8: 6-11; James 1: 18; 1 Peter 1: 23; John 3: 5,6

God predestined before the creation of the universe that those who have been justified should be transformed into the image of the divine nature, the likeness of Christ. This is a day by day process. As we learn more about Jesus the Holy Spirit changes us to be like Him through prayer and meditation. Romans 8: 28-30; 12: 2; Ephesians 4: 22-24; Colossians 3: 10-14; 2 Corinthians 4: 16; Titus 3: 5,6

I suppose that each person would answer differently but I believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in those that are in Christ. This conviction gives me an awareness of the presence and nearness of God in my life. I try to remind myself of this fact throughout the day and this helps me to focus my thinking, control my actions and be changed, perhaps all to slowly, into His image. I find it reassuring to think that the Spirit is interceding for me with groanings that can not be expressed. To think that God gives His Spirit to me as partial payment on the promised eternal inheritance means that He cares for me and will not forsake me. Acts 5: 32; 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20; Ephesians 1: 13; Romans 6: 26, 27; Ephesians 1: 13, 14

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