Three Questions That Every Christian Should AskThis paper is written to believers in Jesus Christ. Due to the myriad of doctrines in the church and confusion on the subject, there are three questions for which every Christian should seek honest answers. The questions are:
- What is the baptism with the Holy Ghost?
- How can I know if I have been baptized with the Holy Ghost?
- Why do I need to be baptized with the Holy Ghost?
As I will explain, the baptism with the Holy Ghost is probably not something that you experienced when you were born again because it is normally an event that takes place subsequent to salvation. If you can’t answer the above three questions based on scripture and can’t identify an event in your life when you know that you were baptized with the Holy Ghost, this may be one of the most important papers you will ever read. Like most of you, I was told by my church when I was saved that I also received the Holy Spirit. I had no idea that my church was incorrect and couldn’t scripturally answer these three questions, but God took me on from glory to glory and opened the scripture up to me in this area.
Since you are a Christian, you should understand salvation and what it means to be born again. In St. John 4:14, Jesus said, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” He compared the new birth to a well of water, but in St. John 7:38-39, he compared the baptism with the Holy Ghost to rivers of water; “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) The baptism with the Holy Ghost is also called receiving the Holy Ghost, and the scripture is quite clear that the new birth and receiving the Holy Ghost are two distinct and separate events.
God painted three pictures in the Old Testament to indicate that these two events would be essential for a person to enjoy the fullness of God blessings and promises under the new covenant. In each case, he performed dual miracles associated with water to show the spiritual focus of these pictures.
Picture 1: Egypt was a type of the lost estate of man and crossing the Red Sea delivered the children of Israel from bondage and Pharaoh’s rule. The Red Sea is still water and was supernaturally parted to indicate that it was a type of salvation. When 40 years later, they crossed the Jordan River under Joshua, it was also supernaturally parted to indicate that it was a type of the baptism with the Holy Ghost, because it was flowing water. Even though Canaan might be considered a type of Heaven, it is first and foremost a type of the spirit-filled Christian life. There are enemies to defeat and an inheritance to possess in Canaan, which is not the case in Heaven. In between Egypt and Canaan, there is a wilderness where God still guides and provides for his children, but it isn’t his will for them to live and die there. The scripture calls this period of a Christian’s life “living after the flesh” in Romans 8 and “living according to the flesh” in II Cor. 10:2. On the other hand, Canaan is a type of spiritual maturity, and our inheritance is not in the wilderness but in Canaan.
Picture 2: Water was supernaturally brought forth from the rock which I Cor. 10:4 tells us was a type of Christ Jesus. The first time that water came from the rock it had to be smitten by Moses which represented Christ’s sacrifice in order to provide the new birth. The second time, Moses was told to speak to the rock, because it was to represent the Holy Spirit which Jesus said that he would ask the Father to send. In St. John 14:16, Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” Moses messed up the picture when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it and that mistake cost Moses dearly.
Picture 3: In II Kings, chapter 2, when Elijah was taken up, the Jordan River was supernaturally parted twice, the first time by Elijah and the second time by Elisha. The primary picture here is of Jesus and his disciples at his ascension. It appears that Elijah represents Jesus and Elisha represents the disciples, and the first parting of the Jordan symbolizes the disciples new birth. Jesus had the Holy Spirit without measure and thus Elijah had the mantle. Jesus also opened up the disciples understanding prior to his ascension which indicated that they were born again prior to his departure. After he ascended, he asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit back to earth to indwell believers. The disciples received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost which is symbolized by Elisha picking up Elijah’s mantle and parting the Jordan a second time. (It is possible that God painted this picture to symbolize the rapture of the Bride and the left behind Laodicean church, but in either case, the mantle symbolizes the infilling of the Holy Spirit.)
Now, everyone understands the importance of the new birth, and knows what John 3:16 says, but Luke 3:16 is also important and should be experienced. Five times the scripture calls attention to the mission of Jesus as the one who would baptize believers with the Holy Ghost.
Mat. 3:11 “ … he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”Mark 1:8 “ … he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”Luke 3:16 “ … he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:”John 1:33 “ … the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.”Acts 1:5 “ … but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost”The more you study this subject, the more obvious it becomes that the majority of the church has accepted Jesus as savior, but shut him out as baptizer. As baptizer, he still stands and knocks at the Laodicean church’s door, but they think that they have need of nothing.
What Is The Baptism With The Holy Ghost?
To begin to answer this question, let’s define what is man. Man is a spirit, that lives in a body and possesses a soul. The spirit man can be born again, and the soul can be saved, but the mortal body will have to go back to the dust from which it came. The soul of man, which is his mind, will, and emotions can be saved, or renewed, by feeding on the word of God and being transformed to the image of Christ. Whereas, the spirit man is born again instantly by the power of God, the saving of his soul is a process which continues all life long. Many will enter Heaven with very little of their soul transformed and the process will have to be completed there. It has been revealed that those will eat from the tree of life and bask in the river of life until the process is complete. However, the key point here is that you understand that man is a spirit and lives in a body.
How many spirits can live in a body? There apparently is no limit because Legion had many demons, possible thousands, in his body (Lu. 8:30). When you were born again, your spirit man was regenerated, and became one spirit with Christ, but you were the only spirit being living in your body. The baptism with the Holy Ghost, which is also called receiving the Holy Ghost, is when the Holy Ghost enters into your body and takes up his abode along with your spirit man. Your body is called the temple of the Holy Ghost, (I Cor. 3:16, I Cor. 6:19, II Cor. 6:16, & Eph. 2:21-22), and God wants to dwell with you in your temple. The baptism with the Holy Ghost is the initial event when he first enters into your body to abide with you. You may be repeatedly filled to overflowing after he enters in, but there is only one time when he is initially received because he abides from then on. Jesus said, in St. John 14:16-17, “ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
There is a clear distinction between the new birth and receiving the Holy Spirit made in Romans 8:1-15. Until a Christian receives the Holy Spirit, he is still carnal minded and cannot please God. He cannot become a mature son of God without receiving the Holy Spirit and being led by the Spirit. In verse 9, attention is called to the fact that a Christian must receive the spirit of Christ (nature of Christ) or he is not really a Christian. That is an unconditional statement (no ifs, buts, or ands)! However, because receiving the Holy Spirit is a separate event from salvation, a Christian may, or may not, have received the Spirit of God and thus may, or may not, still be in the flesh. In verse 11, if a Christian has received the Holy Spirit (the spirit that raised Jesus from the dead our mortal bodies shall be quickened, or made alive. This one verse, more than any other, appears to indicate that if we want “resurrection power” to transform our mortal bodies into glorified bodies at the rapture, then the spirit that raised Jesus from the dead must be dwelling in us.
How can I know if I have been baptized with the Holy Ghost?
When a demon enters a person’s body, he immediately becomes the “strong man” of the house and takes over control of the body. However, when the Holy Spirit enters into a Christian’s body, he is a very polite guest and only manifests his presence as a person yields control to him. His supernatural manifestations are usually a cooperative effort between him and the person. Also as a good house guest, he brings with him gifts of the spirit. Part of the process of receiving the Holy Ghost is to yield control of the body to him for him to begin to supernaturally manifest his presence and gifts. As such, it is a very dramatic event and there is no doubt for those who have received him, that he has taken up his abode within their bodies.
On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were acting so unusual that they were accused of being full of new wine. There certainly wasn’t any doubt to them or others that something supernatural had taken place because the Holy Spirit manifested his presence. Acts 2:4 states, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” At Samaria, the event was so dramatic that Simon the Sorcerer wanted to buy the gift to lay hands on Christians to receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:18). At Cornelius’ house, the disciples were astonished when they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. (Acts 10:22-46 44 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.”)
Paul asked certain disciples of John in Acts 19:2, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” At least, they were honest, and indicated that they didn’t even know that the event was available to them. After the disciples believed his report (were born again), and they were baptized in water (full-fledged church members), they still did not receive the Holy Ghost until Paul laid hands on them and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:6). Quite a dramatic event, wouldn’t you say?
How can you know when you receive the Holy Ghost? Like the above scriptural examples, he still supernaturally manifests his presence today and there is no doubt. It is quite a dramatic, life-changing event. Not only will you know beyond a doubt, but most people close to you can’t help but notice also.
Why Do I Need To Be Baptized With The Holy Ghost?
First and foremost, because it is God's will and his commandment. Eph. 5:17-18 tells us, "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" You cannot be filled with the Spirit until you have initially received him. The Holy Spirit doesn't just want to dwell outside of our bodies, but also to dwell in them. God has ordained that the works of Jesus should be done by believers, the same way that they were done through Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. In St. John 14:10-12, "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." We know that Jesus did no miracle prior to receiving the Holy Spirit when he was baptized in water by John the Baptist because St. John 2:11 tells us that changing water into wine was his first miracle (see also 4:54).
Under the old covenant, he came upon people, but he did not abide in them. The indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost is part of the new covenant promise that the Jews waited and longed for. Acts 10:38 tells us, "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." God wants all of his children to have that same anointing and power but it will only come the same way, by being baptized with the Holy Ghost. In Mat. 3:15, Jesus told John the Baptist, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." If a promise has been given us to be baptized with the Holy Ghost, do you really think that we can fulfill all righteousness in our lives without receiving the promise?
The baptism with the Holy Ghost is so important to being an effective witness of the gospel that Jesus told his disciples not go leave Jerusalem until hey had received the Holy Ghost. ( Acts 1:4-8 " ... 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 …") Only then could they do the works of Jesus and speak the words of God that the Spirit would give them. Even though there have been pockets of believers all throughout history that believed the truth and operated in the power of the Holy Spirit, by far and large, the church lost the anointing just like Sampson did. (Sampson's death is a type of the Laodicean church which, at the very end, will be anointed and harvest more in a short time than during their whole history. Of course, the Laodicean church gets spued out at the rapture for lack of vessels filled with oil, but God still blesses them to become part of the end-time harvest)
Without the baptism with the Holy Ghost, you are still walking after the flesh, dominated by the carnal mind, and don't even know it. Study Romans 8:1-25 paying attention to what is unconditional and what is optional. They that are in the flesh cannot please God, but you 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 has not even been born again ... but IF the Holy Ghost (also called Spirit of God and Spirit that raised Christ from the dead) dwell in you, he shall make alive your mortal bodies, (i.e. transform them from mortal bodies into glorified bodies at the rapture). Notice how the thought pattern continues: verse 17, "glorified together", verse 23, "the redemption of our body." Also note the condition in Gal. 5:25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Without the baptism with the Holy Ghost, you have not received the seal of your salvation (Eph.1:13 & 4:30). The very act of receiving the Holy Ghost is God putting his stamp upon you. You believe that you are saved based on faith, but you could also have the evidence of the Holy Ghost dwelling on the inside with you (I John 3:24). You could also rest from your works done in the power of your own strength and rely on the Holy Ghost to do the works. Compare Isa. 28:11-12 " For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear." with Hebrews 4:1-11
Without the baptism with the Holy Ghost, you don't have the benefits of the Spirit performing his office on your behalf. In St. John 14:26, Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." In 16:13-14, he said, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." (See also I Cor. 2:12-13 & I John 2:27) The Holy Ghost also only manifests his supernatural gifts (I Cor. 12:7-11) through those that have received him. The church at Corinth was zealous of spiritual gifts (I Cor. 14:12) and had all received the Holy Spirit. However, that is not the case today and you can't take what is said to the Corinthian church and assume it applies to all churches today. There's where part of the problem lies, claiming that verses apply to you when you don't meet the same conditions. Also I Cor. 12:13 is used as a proof text to claim that every Christian has received the Holy Spirit; "have all been made to drink into one Spirit". The Greek word, translated as "made" here, is the word potizo, which means to give to drink. Every Christian is given the opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit, but few have done so. In I Cor. 14:1, we are commanded to "Follow after charity AND desire spiritual gifts." If you will receive the "giver", he will give you gifts.
Without the baptism with the Holy Ghost, you are missing out on kingdom blessings and can't fully possess your inheritance in this life. (Remember, Canaan is on the other side of the Jordan River.) Romans 14:17 tells us that, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Jude 1:20 indicates that we can build up our faith by praying in the Holy Ghost. The Spirit can also helps us by interceding with groanings which cannot be uttered. (The groanings which cannot be uttered are through you and come out of your mouth. Until you have experienced this, there is no way that you can relate to what this verse is saying.)
I can't over emphasize the importance of being baptized with the Holy Spirit from being sealed, to pleasing God, doing the works of Jesus, becoming an effective witness, possessing your inheritance in this life, being led of the Spirit, becoming a spiritually mature Christian, operating in supernatural power, entering into your rest and participating in the rapture. I could go on, but time will not permit me to do so now. Begin to rightly divide the word in this area and you will clearly see what a powerless church has rejected and withheld from you. It's high time to come to a knowledge of the truth, breaking free from the bondage of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Closing ThoughtsIn this area, the church is in a doctrinal mess and powerless today because of not understanding the answers to the above questions. If you don’t understand what the “baptism with the Holy Ghost is”, how can you even begin to recognize if you have experienced the event and He has taken up his abode in you. The modern outpouring of the Holy Ghost that begin at the turn of the 20th century is the result of Bible school students seeking honest answers to these questions. Like a good house guest, the Holy Spirit brings gifts with him when he takes up his abode. He gives (or begins to manifest) one or several of the nine gifts of the Spirit and usually fills the person with his overflowing presence so that it is obvious to the individual that he has received the Spirit. Since each gift is supernatural it is also obvious to others, who understand these things, that the person has received the Holy Ghost.
Just like two rapid gun shots, “bang, bang”, the new birth and the baptism with the Holy Ghost can occur back to back so that it appears that they are simultaneous, but they rarely do occur that way today. Only after a person is born again does his body become a temple fit for the Holy Spirit to inhabit. Since the new birth and baptism in the Holy Spirit are separate events, the first event can occur and then the second event may occur at some specific time later, or not at all. In the case of those that are told that the two events occur simultaneously, until they come to the knowledge of the truth, the second event usually never occurs. A person must, in faith, ask the Holy Spirit to take up his abode in him which requires that he admit that he has not already received him. No faith is possible when a person is double minded, not knowing whether the Spirit abides in him or not.
“Why didn’t God just make these two events simultaneous and avoid all of the confusion?” I sought this answer for some time because the baptism with the Holy Ghost is such a blessing and practically indescribable, I couldn’t understand why God made it optional. He must have had problems in getting me to see the answer, because he gave the answer to my wife. The answer was, “Because he would be like the devil if he did.” He would be requiring you (i.e. forcing you) to receive his spirit if you got saved. That’s exactly what demons do; go around trying to force people to open up to their abiding presence or possession.
Over twenty years ago, I too had to admit that my church doctrine was wrong and seek scriptural answers to these questions. My wife and I were both dedicated Christians, involved in the ministry for several years, and enjoying what we thought was the abundant life before realizing that we had not been baptized with the Holy Spirit. Upon receiving him, He brought with him supernatural gifts, overflowing joy far beyond anything we had experienced, rest from working in our own strength, boldness and confidence that we didn’t know existed. He began taking us into the inner holy of holies in worship which is indescribable, interceding through us in a heavenly language, speaking directly to us and comforting, teaching, guiding us supernaturally. He anointed my hands with fire and said, “This is an anointing to minister to the sick.” He sent us forth in power to do the works of Jesus which we didn’t know was possible before. Need I go on? The words, anointing and power, are both used in the scripture synonymous with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and I can tell you first hand that He definitely brings both with him.
If you are interested in reading more about my testimony, I have posted a short booklet at: http://ics.sarahrobinson.net/HGS/index.htm