The Baptism with the Holy Spirit

I, What the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is.

(i) Acts i: 5 — “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Compare 2:4, 38 — “And they were v filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 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”

4: 8 — “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and leaders of Israel.”

10:44-^6 — “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.”

Compare n: 15-17 — “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell in them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I, that I could withstand God?”

19: 2-6 — “He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”

Heb. 2:4 — “God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.”

i Cor. 12:4, ii, 13 — “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.... But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.... 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.”

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.”

FIRST PROPOSITION: A number of suggestive phrases” Baptized with the Holy Spirit, ““Filled with the Holy Ghost,” “The Holy Ghost fell on them,” “The gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out,” “Receive the Holy Ghost, ’ ‘” The Holy Ghost came on them,” “Gifts of the Holy Ghost,” “I send the promise of my Father upon you,” “Endued with power from on high,” are used in the New Testament to describe one and the same experience.

(2) Acts 19: 2, R.V. — “And he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Ghost when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Ghost was given.”

SECOND PROPOSITION: The baptism with the Holy Spirit is

a definite experience of which one may and ought to know whether he has received it or not.

(Compare Acts 8: 15, 16 — “Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Gal. 3: 2 — “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”)

(3) Acts i: 5 — “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

Here was a company of regenerated men pronounced so by Christ Himself. (Compare Jno. 15: 3 — “Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you,” and Jno. 13: 10 — “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”) And yet the baptism with the Spirit lay for them some days in the future.

Acts 8: 12 — “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the -name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

In this company of baptized believers there were certainly same regenerated people, but we read in vv. 15: 16:

“Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none oj them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” )

Regenerated but not baptized with the Holy Ghost. We see the same thing in Acts 19: 1, 2:

“And it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? and they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” Compare v. 6 — “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”

THIRD PROPOSITION: The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is an operation of the Holy Spirit distinct from and subsequent and additional to His regenerating work.

A man may be regenerated by the Holy Spirit and still not be baptized with the Holy Spirit. In regeneration there is an impartation of life, and the one who receives it is saved; in the Baptism with the Holy Spirit there is an impartation of power and the one who receives it is fitted for service.

EVERY TRUE BELIEVER HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Rom. 8: 9 — “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (See also, i Cor. 6: 19.)

But not every believer has the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, though every believer, as we shall see, may have. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit may be received immediately after the new birth — as e. g., in the household of Cornelius. In a normal state of the church every believer would have the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, as in the Church at Corinth. (1 Cor. 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.” )

In such a normal state of the church the Baptism with the Holy Spirit would be received immediately upon repentance and baptism into the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. (Acts 2: 38.) But the doctrine of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit has been so allowed to drop out of sight, and the church has had so little expectancy along this line for its young children, that a large portion of the church is in the position of the churches in Samaria and Ephesus, where someone has to come and call the attention of the mass of believers to their privilege in the Risen Christ and claim it for them.

(4) Acts i: 5, 8 — “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.”

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. 2: 4 — “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance.”

Acts. 9: 17, 20 — “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said. Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And straight-way he preached Christie the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”

i Cor. 12: 4-14 — “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit: To another faith by the same Spirit: to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit: to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of Spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh out that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as tke body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 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.”

FOURTH PROPOSITION: The Baptism with the Holy Spirit

is an experience connected with and primarily for the purpose of

service.

The Baptism with the Spirit is not primarily intended to make believers happy nor holy, but to make them useful. In ev ery passage in the Bible in which the results of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit are mentioned they are related to testimony and service. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit has no direct reference to cleansing from sin. It has to do with gifts for service rather than with graces of character. The steps by which one ordinarily receives the Baptism with the Holy Spirit are of such a character, and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit makes God so real that this Baptism is in most cases accompanied by a great moral uplift, or even a radical transformation, but the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is not in itself either an eradication of the carnal nature or cleansing from an impure heart. It is the impartation of supernatural power or gifts in service, and sometimes one may have rare gifts by the Spirit’s power and few graces. (Compare 1 Cor. 13: i3 — “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it pronteth me nothing.” And Matt. 7: 22, 23 — Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have wre not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity. “) It is indeed the work of the Holy Spirit to cleanse from sin, and to empower one for and lead one into a life of victory over the world, the flesh and the Devil, but this is not the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. It is, however, more fundamental and important. It is well to remember also that Jesus promised a two fold baptism, “with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” This can not be interpreted to mean two contrasted baptisms, one of blessing and the other of judgment. The Greek does not permit of this interpretation. It is one twofold baptism. Many seem to get only part of it, “the Holy Wind,” but the “fire” is for us too, if we claim it. And fire searches, refines, consumes, illuminates, makes to glow, energizes, spreads. “Fire” is what many need to-day, and it is for us.

II. Results of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit,

(i) i Cor. 12: 4-10 — “Now there are diversities Q{ gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues: to another the interpretation of tongues.”

FIRST PR OPOSITION: The specific manifestations of the Bap. tism with the Iloly Spirit are not precisely the same in all persons.

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” The gifts vary with the different lines of service to which God has called different persons. The church is a body, and different parts of the body have different functions, and the Spirit imparts to the one who is baptized with the Spirit those gifts which fit him for the work to which the Spirit has called him. For examample, many in the early church who were baptized with the Holy Spirit spake with tongues (Acts 10: 46; 19: 6), but not all. (1. Cor. 12: 27-30.) So to-day the Holy Spirit imparts to some gifts as an evangelist, to others as pastors and teachers. To others as “helps, governments,” etc.

(2) i Cor. 12: 7 — “For the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

SECOND PROPOSITION: There will be some gift to every one baptized with the Holy Spirit.

(3) i Cor. 12: ii, R.V. — “But all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.”

THIRD PROPOSITION: The Holy Spirit divides to each one severally as He will. The Holy Spirit is absolutely sovereign in deciding how — in what special gift, operation or power — the Baptism icith the Holy Spirit shall manifest itself.

It is not for us to pick out some place of service and then ask the Holy Spirit to qualify us for that service; it is not for us to select some gift and then ask the Holy Spirit to impart to us that gift. It is for us to simply put ourselves entirely at the disposal of the Holy Spirit to send us where He will, to select for TO what kind of service He will, and to impart what gift He will.

He is absolutely sovereign, and our position is that of uncondi. tional surrender to Him. I am glad that this is so: that He, in His infinite wisdom and love, is to select the field, service and gifts and not I, in my shortsightedness and folly. It is because of a failure to recognize this absolute sovereignty of the Spirit that many fail of the blessing and meet with disappointment. They are trying to select the gift and so get none. Of course, it is scriptural, while recognizing and rejoicing in the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit, to “covet earnestly the best gifts.” (1 Cor. 12: 31.)

(4) Acts i: 5, 8 — “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. For 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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

FOURTH PROPOSITION: The Baptism with the Holy Spirit
always imparts power in service.

The power may be of one kind in one person and of another kind in another person, but there will always be power — and the very power of God at that. As sure as anyone who reads these pages, who has not already received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, seeks it in God’s way, there will come into his service a power that was never there before — power for the very work God has for you to do. The results of that power may not be manifest at once in conversions. (Acts 7:55-60.)

(5) Acts. 4:29, 31 — “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.... And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

FIFTH PROPOSITION: The Baptism with the Holy Spirit imparts boldness in testimony and service.

The Baptism with the Spirit converts cowards into heroes. (Compare Acts 4: 8-12.)

(6) Acts 2:4, 7, 8, ii — “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works 0/God.”

Acts 4: 31, 33, 8-10 — “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the. Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.... Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”

Acts 9: 17, 20 — “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.... And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”

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 carne 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”

Eph. 5: 18, 19 — “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

SIXTH PROPOSITION; The Baptism with the Holy Spirit causes one to be occupied with God and Christ and spiritual things.

The man who is filled with the Holy Ghost will not be singing sentimental ballads, nor comic ditties, nor operatic airs while the power of the Holy Ghost is upon him. If the Holy Ghost should come upon one while listening to the most innocent of the world’s songs he would not enjoy it. He would long to hear some thing about Christ.

GENERAL PROPOSITION: The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God coming upon the believer, filling his mind with a real apprehension of truth, and taking possession of his faculties, imparting to him gifts not otherwise his, but which qualify Mm for the service to which God has called him.

III. The Necessity of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

(1) Luke 24: 48, 49 — “And ye are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye (sit ye down) in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

Acts i: 4, 5, 8 — “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.... 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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

FIRST PROPOSITION: Jesus Christ commanded the disciples not to enter upon the work to which He had Himself called them until baptized with the Holy Ghost.

NOTE i. — They were rarely fitted for the work by experience, and by association with Himself, and by long training at His own hands, but the further preparation of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit was so all essential that they must not move without it.

NOTE 2. — There was apparently imperative need that something be done at once. The whole world was perishing and they alone knew the saving truth. Nevertheless Jesus strictly charged them “wait.” What a testimony to the all importance of “the Baptism with the Holy Spirit” as a preparation for work that shall be acceptable to Christ.

(2) Acts 10: 38 — “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” (Compare Luke 3:22 and Luke 4: i, 14, 17, 18 — “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.... And J esus being fit II of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.... And Jesus returned in the poivcr of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.... And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captive, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”

SECOND PROPOSITION: Jesus Christ Himself, though the only begotten Son of God, did not enter upon His ministry until the Spirit of God had come upon Him, and He had thus been tl anointed with the Holy Ghost and power.”

(3) Acts 8: 14-16 — “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusa« lem heard that Samaria had received the word of God they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed J of them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Acts ig: i, 2 — “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”

THIRD PROPOSITION: When the apostles found believers in Christ they at once demanded whether they Jiad received the Holy Ghost, and, if not, they at once saw to it that they did.

GENERAL PROPOSITION: The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary in every Christian for the service that Christ demands and expects of him.

IY. Possibility of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, or for whom is the Baptism with the Holy Spirit]

Acts 2: 38, 39 — “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. For the promise is unto yoit, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

(The promise of these verses is” the Baptism with the Holy Spirit” or “gift of the Holy Spirit.” Compare Acts 1: 4; 2: 33, and also context.)

FIRST PROPOSITION: The Baptism with the Holy Spirit was not merely for the apostles, nor merely for those of the apostolic aye, but for lt all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call” as well, i. e., it is for every believer in every age of the Church’s history. If any believer in any age does not have the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, it is solely because he does not claim his privilege in Christ.

V. The Refilling with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2: 4 — “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Acts 4: 8, 31 — “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel... And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

FIRST PROPOSITION: The same disciple (Peter) is said to have been” filled with the Holy Spirit” on three different occasions.

It is not enough that one be filled with the Holy Spirit once. We need a new filling of the Holy Spirit for each new emergency of Christian service.

YI. The Conditions upon which the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is given.

(1) Acts 2: 38, R. V. — ‘’•Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Acts 10: 44 — “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all tli em “which heard the word.” Compare Acts 15: 8, 9 — “And God which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost even as he did unto us, and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.’”

Gal. 3: 2 — “Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith “?

FIRST PROPOSITION: The fundamental conditions upon which the gift (or Baptism with the Holy Spirit) is bestowed are: Repentance, faith in Jesus Christ as an all-sufficient Saviour (apart from works of the law), and baptism in the natne of Jesus Christ unto the remission of sins.

(2) Acts 19: 2, 6, R.V. — “He said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Ghost when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Ghost was given.” (Compare v. 6.)

SECOND PROPOSITION: For those who believe on Jesus Christ the experimental reception of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is sometimes conditioned on the believer’s knowing that there is such a blessing and that it is for him now.

(3) Acts 5: 32 (last part) —” The Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey /tim.”

THIRD PROPOSITION: God gives the Holy Ghost to them
that obey Him.

Obedience means absolute surrender. This is really involved in true repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. It is one of the most fundamental conditions of entering into this blessing. It is the point at which thousands fail of it to-day.

(4) Acts 8: 15, 16 — “Who, when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost; for as yet he was fallen on none of them,” etc. (See, also, v. 17.)

FOURTH PROPOSITION: The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is given to those who have already believed on Christ and been baptized with water (v. 12) in answer to definite prayer. (Compare Luke 11: 13.) But there may be much earnest praying and still the Holy Spirit not come because the prayer is not in faith. (Jas. 1: 6, 7.) The faith that receives this, as every other blessing at once, is the faith that counts it as its own, (Mark, 11: 24, R.V.; 1 Jno. 5: 14, 15.)*

*This whole subject is discussed at length in the author’s book entitled “The Baptism with the Holy Spirit.”