The phrase “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” is the invisible work of God whereby believers are placed by the Holy Spirit into union with Christ and the body of Christ at the moment of salvation. 1 Corinthians 12:13 states, For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. This verse is descriptive that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a non-experiential act that makes us part of the universal church. This ties into the Holy Spirit’s work of regenerating, indwelling, sealing and sanctifying believers at the same time. Galatians 3:27 states, For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Being baptized into Christ is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, it is the same idea and it happens to all believers when they put on Christ. The Holy Spirit does a miraculous work that is not physically noticeable, because it is spiritual in nature where He forever unites with Christ and His Church.
Does the Bible Use this Phrase?
The exact phrase “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” is not found in the Bible. However, the Bible does speak about the gift “of” the Holy Spirit implying the same idea (Acts 2:38; 10:45). The Bible also speaks of a baptism “with,” “by,” or “in” the Holy Spirit. The varying prepositions reflect the fact that the Spirit is both the agent and sphere of this Baptism.
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Before the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit made visitations to people on earth, but did not abide in them. The Holy Spirit came upon people, usually Prophets, Judges and Kings, for a purpose. However, the Holy Spirit did not abide permanently in the Old Testament believers; that is why David could say to God said in Psalm 51:11, Do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
The Holy Spirit in the New Testament
When Jesus came to earth, He initiated a transition period from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. During His teaching ministry, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would one day come into believers and be with them forever (John 14:16-17). In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist tells us that Jesus is the One Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). This amazing new ministry of the Holy Spirit was to take place in the future from the time Jesus was on earth (John 7:37-39; 16:7). Nobody in the Old Testament or in the Gospels received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in this sense. Right before the crucifixion, Jesus said to His disciples to wait for this new ministry of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). After the resurrection, Jesus said, For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now (Acts 1:5).
Jesus’ promise was realized ten days later on the Day of Pentecost when the church was birthed. The Holy Spirit descended from heaven, just as Jesus foretold, and baptized them into the body of Christ (Acts 2:1-4). In Acts 11:15-18, when Peter opened the doors of salvation to the Gentile believers, he referred back to that specific event as the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, confirming the fact that this was something new for the church age.
The Laying of Hands & Pentecostalism
In the early years of the church, we see the Apostles laid their hands on believers to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-18; 19:1-7). Pentecostals will use these unique situations to claim that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit happens subsequent to salvation with the laying on of hands. However, it is illegitimate hermeneutics to base a doctrine on the historical narrative of Acts. As a historian, Luke reported what happened; he did not teach what should always happen. His narrative is descriptive, not prescriptive. Therefore when Pentecostals and others try and prove their position from the book of Acts they cannot do so with proper hermeneutics. What happened in the infant church with the Apostles laying their hands on believers to receive the Holy Spirit is not the pattern today; it was transitional. Once the transition period of the book of Acts was completed, the normative way in which the Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs is at the very moment of salvation. When a person repents and believes the Gospel, the Holy Spirit comes and permanently indwells that person, while placing him or her in the true church of the redeemed (Romans 5:5). It is all predicated on believing in Christ as Ephesians 1:13 states, In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Scripture Reference
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
49 “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.
16 “And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could 1stand in God’s way?”
18 When they heard this, they 1quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,
15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized 1in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the cupper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.
2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether 1there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized 1in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
7 There were in all about twelve men.
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
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