The Baptism of the Holy Spirit By Bruce W. Robida

 

Everyone who has been born again according the Scriptures, has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is one of those truths not completely understood by some Christians who believe there must be a separate baptism by the laying on of hands.  This baptism some say, results in speaking in tongues.  This false doctrine has infiltrated many Christian churches and has deceived many who sincerely want to serve God.  The Scriptures plainly show us how the Holy Spirit is given to those who believe, and also the gifts which He bestows upon them as well. 

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 1CO 12:12-13

Being born again is simply being born of the Spirit.  Evidence of new birth is a changed life.  Once, you lived for yourself according to worldly standards, now you live for God according to His Word.  This changed life will be apparent in every person who is born again.  If there is no change, new life has not occurred because the Bible says;

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2CO 5:16-17

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." JN 3:5-8

Jesus says in John 3:5 that we must be born of water and the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God.  Being born of water it seems is not water baptism but born in the womb (which is filled with water).  I believe Jesus confirms this in John 3:6 by saying, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” Flesh giving birth to flesh, means mother giving birth to child.  This is the first birth which Jesus says in John 3:5 is being born of water.  The only way we can enter the kingdom of God is by being born of water and the Spirit, or being born again which is being born of the Spirit.  Jesus confirms this in John 3:7 when He says, “...You must be born again.”  The word again assumes that there was a time before.  Water baptism is not associated with birth, so it stands to reason that being born of water is natural birth, which is the first birth.  Being born of the Spirit is supernatural birth which, is the second birth.  We have all been born of water in the womb of our mother, but in order to enter the kingdom of God we must also be born of the Spirit.  Once a person is born again, or born of the Spirit, he has already received the Holy Spirit.  No separate baptism is necessary.

There are some who claim, the evidence that a person has received the gift of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues.  I disagree with that claim.  Speaking in tongues may be evidence that a person has received the gift of the Holy Spirit because He does bestow that gift on who He decides to give it ( Heb 2:4,
1 Cor. 12:7-11 ).  But speaking in tongues may also be evidence of someone who is deceived, and is speaking a language that originates from Satan.  There are many examples of religious babbling other than in the Christian Faith that are clearly satanic in origin.  Well meaning Christians therefore, must be absolutely sure that indeed, the Holy Spirit has given them that gift so that they do not fall into the trap of cursing God in tongues, when they really mean to give Him praise. 

I have found no evidence in the Bible to support the claim that the Holy Spirit does not today, give the gift of speaking in tongues. On the other hand, there is also no evidence that shows that speaking in tongues is the evidence that a person has received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

There is only one Holy Spirit ( 1 Cor 12:4 ).

When you speak in tongues, you edify yourself, not the church. (1 Cor 14:4-5) The apostle Paul would rather you edify the church.  Edifying the church is possible when someone speaks in tongues, only when there is someone who can rightly interpret what was spoken (1 Cor 14:12).

The Bible says, when you speak in tongues, you speak to God, not to men ( 1 Cor 14:2 ).  But, on the day of Pentecost ( Acts 2:1-4 ), the people heard the message in their own tongue, because God wanted them to hear the Gospel ( Acts 2:5-36 ).  The apostles spoke in tongues ( other languages ), to people not to God. There was no one there to interpret, that is how we know that they spoke in other languages.  The people heard the message in their own language. 

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" AC 2:37

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." AC 2:38-39

These were the instructions of the apostles on how to be saved.  The people heard the message, they believed it, and those who repented and were baptized, received the gift of the Holy Spirit.  These instructions were not only for them, but for all who God will call in the future.

There are many ways to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  These are just some that I have found in the Scriptures.

Laying on of hands;

Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. AC 8:17 

When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. AC 19:6

Repentance and Baptism;

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. AC 2:38

By asking;

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" LK 11:13

By hearing and believing;

"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.  Then I remembered what the Lord had said: `John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'  So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" AC 11:15 -17

If a person does not speak in tongues, that does not mean he is not a Christian or that he has not received the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Not all Christians have all the same gifts, not even the gift to speak in tongues.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. 1CO 12:27-31

If we were all able to speak in tongues after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, would there have been a need to include that gift in the list that describes the body of Christ?  Here, the apostle Paul is telling us that we are all part of the same body, and we all have gifts, but no one has all the gifts. 

No one knows who has the gift of the Holy Spirit, and who does not.

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." JN 3:8 

But there are evidences of the presence of the Holy Spirit that you can see in yourself, and in the lives of those around you. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. GAL 5:22-26

These are evidences only.  There are non Christian people who have the same characteristics, but they no more have the Holy Spirit than an atheist.  The power of the Holy Spirit comes to us through believing, and living according to the Scriptures.  But the most compelling evidence you can have that proves beyond anything you can see, is your faith.  By faith, I know that I have the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Amen!

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