The baptism in the Holy Spirit has been a controversial issue among the contemporary churches down the ages. According to Michael Green, the three main controversial areas among the Catholic, Evangelical and Pentecostal churches are: 1) Is the Spirit’s baptism water baptism? 2) Is the Spirit baptism conversion? 3) Is the Spirit’s baptism a two-stage initiation?[1]
The doctrine of the baptism in the Holy Spirit in this written report is based on the Pentecostal view in accordance with Scripture:
a. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a “Promise” of the Father.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a promise since the Old Testament times. The prophets in the Old Testament, for example, Isaiah (Isa 32:15) and Joel, foretold of the coming of the Holy Spirit which God would pour out upon all believers.
(Joel 2:28 NIV) And afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
In the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist foretold that Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16). In Acts, the believers were told by Jesus to wait for the baptism in the Holy Spirit which was promised by the Father.
(Acts 1:4-5NIV) “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift that my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptizes with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”
b. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a “Gift” from the Father (Acts 1:4-5).
(Acts 3:28NIV) “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for
the forgiveness of your sins, and you would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is given to us as a gift by the grace of God and it is a good gift from the Father to His children (Luke 11:13). Billy Graham said that the greatest needs of the human race are forgiveness and goodness. God has given us Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and the Holy Spirit as a gift of goodness enabling us to live a powerful and victorious Christian life.[2]
c. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is for all believers in Christ (Acts 2:38).
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is available for all believers in Christ Jesus who have repented of their sins and who seek for it during or after their conversion. It is an immersion into a relationship with a divine Person, not into a fluid or an influence.[3] Therefore one must be born again to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
d. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is for the empowerment of ministry and life.
The ministry of Jesus (Luke 4:18-19) and the early apostles was full of power and authority with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The believers were told to receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they would be witnesses of Jesus throughout the world (Acts 1:8).[4] Signs and wonders followed the preaching of the gospel (Acts 3:6-7) and multitudes were drawn to Christ (Acts 2:41).
(Acts 1:8NIV) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth”
There will be changes found in the lives of believers who are baptized in the Holy Spirit. The early apostles were people full of faith, boldness and courage. Galatians 5:22-23 states that those who walk in the Spirit are able to lead a holy and spirit-filled life, bearing the fruit of the Spirit.
e. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is accompanied with speaking in tongues as the initial evidence.
The believers of the early Church were witnessed speaking in tongues of fire during the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them (Acts 2:3-4). Speaking in tongue as the evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit created the embryo of Pentecostal conviction.[5]
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bruner, Frederick Dale. A Theology of the Holy Spirit. Grand Rapids:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977.
Emmanuel, Mano. To Faith Add Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine.
Kohuwela: Colombo Theological Seminary, 2009.
Graham, Billy. The Holy Spirit: Activating God’s Power in Your Life. London: Williams Collins
Sons & Co Ltd, 1979.
Green, Michael. I Believe in the Holy Spirit. London:
Hodder and Stoughton, 1985.
Horton, Stanley M. What the Bible Says About the Holy Spirit. Missouri: Gospel Publishing
House, 1981.
[1] Michael Green, I Believe in the Holy Spirit (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1985), 149-153.
[2]
Billy Graham, The Holy Spirit: Activating
God’s Power in Your Life (London: Williams Collins Sons & Co Ltd,
1979), 11.
[3]
Stanley M. Horton, What the Bible Says
about the Holy Spirit (Missouri: Gospel Publishing House, 1981), 138.
[4]
Mano Emmanuel, To Faith Add
Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine (Kohuwela: Colombo
Theological Seminary, 2009), 149-150.
[5]
Frederick Dale Bruner, A Theology of the
Holy Spirit (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977), 47.
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