The True Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Maybe you have some better light on this subject than I do but I believe the absence of this baptism in our local churches is why so little has been done for Christ.
I believe scripture will verify that the baptism in the Holy Spirit can only come to a person after the remission of sins. When I speak of remission, I’m not just speaking of forgiveness of sins for salvation. I am speaking of the washing away of sins which precedes the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
I see in the book of acts, that the apostles baptized people after repentance, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins before they laid hands on them to receive the Holy Ghost. The only place recorded where anyone received the Holy Spirit after Pentecost before baptism was on the Gentiles in acts 10. However, this was not done by God until Peter had spoken these words in Acts 10:43-44 (KJV) 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Then Peter said in Acts 10:47-48 (KJV) 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
If we would read about the vision that God showed Peter in the earlier part of acts 10, we could see that God was preparing Peter to accept the Gentiles into the faith of Jesus where the Jews had not prior fellowship with them. The Gentiles receiving the miraculous baptism of the Holy Spirit before water baptism was to show Peter without a doubt that God had accepted them also. We can see this further in Acts 11:15-18 (KJV) 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 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.
17 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?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
We see from scripture that baptism in water is in 1 Peter 3:21 is the answer of a good conscience toward God. I also believe baptism in water was for a deeper experience not that a person could not have this deeper experience before water baptism but that we are suppose to understand it by being baptized. Look at Romans 6:3-6 (KJV) 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
I believe they were to get the revelation that they were crucified when Christ was crucified and that baptism was their burial. The end of the old man and that they were to live as a new man in the spirit to walk in newness of Life.
We know that believing in Jesus Christ by his name, and by his shed blood, we receive remission of sins. We know physical water does not save but being cleansed by the blood and baptized into Jesus Christ is the way God saves us and is what water baptism is to represent. I could go on about some other things and I am very interested in what others have learned.
Here is what I want to say about the true baptism in the Holy Spirit. I believe there have been at least 2 directions today that have come up short of the true baptism. One is within the charismatic movement where you just repeat some words. The other is, you already have it when you got saved so you don’t need to seek to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
The 120 in the upper room were not waiting to be saved, they were waiting to be baptized in the Holy Spirit so that they would have the power and the ability from the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel to the uttermost ends of the earth. They knew they could not fulfill the great commission apart from the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They were obeying Christ command. After they were baptized in the Holy Spirit they preached repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. When they were baptized they were considered added to the church. They followed in Jesus steps and did not send anybody out to witness their faith before they had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
First of all the baptism in the Holy Spirit is power from on High and one can only be filled after remission of sins by the blood of Jesus. So many people confuse the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the fruit of the spirit. I have found out that after one has been baptized there still needs to be a growth in the spirit. The Holy Spirit produces the fruit.
There are people who have been saved and have the Holy Spirit and have produced fruit but have yet to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This is a commandment of Jesus and we need to desire to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Lastly, when a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit (search the book of acts) He will take control of His vessel surrendered to Him and you will know it because he will flow in you and speak through you supernaturally. You will experience power and know that you have! You will experience a love for God and souls like never before.
But you can never own the spirit, because you must stay humble and live a sanctified life and stay full of the Holy Spirit by being obedient. He owns us, for we have been bought with a price.
Thanks for any comments.
