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Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd.   P.O. Box #3762   Gillette, WY  82717   (307) 686-1516

 

- Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 -

 

 

 

 

THE DOCTRINE OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 1:4-5 (3/24/13)

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

 

I.     THE PENTECOSTAL VIEW OF BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT

 

A.    Primary Beliefs

1.     Baptism of the Spirit is Subsequent to Salvation

(a)   Though some proponents of this view would say that it can take place at the moment of salvation, Baptism of the Spirit is viewed as a separate work after salvation, sometimes called, “second blessing” or “Spirit’s filling.”

(b)   This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.(Assemblies of God)

(a)   Some proponents see Baptism of the Spirit as mandatory for true salvation.

2.     Tongues is the Initial Evidence of Baptism of the Spirit

a)    They believe that this separate and subsequent work of the Baptism of the Spirit is evidenced by speaking in tongues.

b)    The basic and fundamental doctrine of this organization shall be the Bible standard of full salvation, which is repentance, baptism in water by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the initial sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. (UPCI)

c)     These Scriptures clearly show that speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. (AOG)

d)    Those who view it as mandatory for true salvation, determine that speaking in tongues is an evidence of true salvation.

3.     Baptism of the Spirit Must be Earnestly Sought

a)    Those who do not receive the Baptism of the Spirit at the time of salvation are required to earnestly seek after the second blessing, which includes speaking in tongues.

b)    The Spirit's fullness, evidenced initially by the phenomenon of speaking in other tongues, is the common experience all celebrate with joy. (AOG)

c)     The particular position of this view is that Baptism of the Spirit and speaking in tongues is the privilege and responsibility of all believers.

B.    Two Major Supports

1.     The first support by this view is from the Scriptures, particularly Ac 1:4-5 in addition to Act 2:1ff. The argument is that Jesus promised the Baptism of the Spirit in Ac 1:4-5, and when this took place in Ac 2:1ff., it included speaking in tongues (Ac 2:3, 4, 11). Therefore speaking in tongues accompanies the Baptism of the Spirit.

2.     The second support is found in the multitudes who claim to have experienced this phenomenon

3.     Millions of believers worldwide share the exact testimony: when they initially were baptized in the Holy Spirit they spoke in unknown tongues. This is the truth which Pentecostals consistently affirm. (AOG)

C.    Synonymous Terminology Regarding the Spirit’s Work

1.     The Pentecostal View takes the particular works of the Holy Spirit, such as Baptism of the Spirit, filling, and gift of tongues, as  synonymous terms.

2.     The terms "baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire," "filled with the Holy Spirit," and the "gift of the Holy Ghost" are synonymous terms used interchangeably in the Bible. (UPCI AOF)

D.    Two Separate Baptisms (Christ’s and the Holy Spirit’s)

1.     The Pentecostal View sees two baptisms in Scripture. One is at salvation by the Spirit when He places the believer in the body of Christ (1Co 12:13).

2.     The second is by Christ when he places the believer in the Spirit for the second blessing (Ac 1:5).

 

 

 

II.    THE TRADITIONAL VIEW AND REBUTTAL OF THE PENTECOSTAL VIEW OF THE BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT

 

A.    The Traditional View sees only one Baptism of the Spirit, which is one spiritual baptism. The Scriptures do not teach a second work of the Spirit, a second baptism, or second blessing.

1.     According to Ep 1:3, every believer at the moment of salvation receives every spiritual blessing that there is to receive in Christ.

2.     A believer may not avail himself of all there is in Christ, but Scripture teaches that every believer possesses all there is in Christ.

B.    As for tongues being an evidence of the Spirit’s baptism, the Traditional View observes that tongues is a spiritual gift distributed by the Spirit.

1.     Like all the other spiritual gifts (1Co 12:4), the gift of tongues is given at the moment of salvation by the Spirit as He wills (1Co 12:11).

2.     Scripture reveals that not everyone will have the gift of tongues as well as the other gifts (1Co 12:8-10; 29-30).

3.     Furthermore, there is no exhortation in Scripture to seek tongues or any of the other gifts which are given (Ro 11:29; 12:6).

C.    The Traditional View asserts that holding that  Acts 2:ff. proves that tongues is a universal evidence of the Baptism of the Spirit is a false assumption.

1.     Such an assumption is a post hoc fallacy (Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc meaning, "after this, therefore because of this"). In other words, it is wrong to assume that because tongues (Acts 2:1ff) comes after the promise of the Spirit’s baptism (Ac 1:5), they are equivalent.

2.     Using the same line of reasoning one would expect a rushing wind and tongues of fire to accompany Baptism of the Spirit.

3.     In addition, it is wrong to assume that what was a particular experience of tongues on the day of Pentecost was a universal truth for every believer of every age (Provincial Fallacy “mistaking a local fact for a universal one).

4.     In regard to the proof of tongues accompanying the Spirit’s baptism by the many who claim to have experienced it, this is no guarantee of the truth of Scripture. Numbers is not a definitive proof of any truth (ad populum “appeal to the populous”). For that matter, neither is experience a guarantee of the truth of Scripture. Experience is always subservient to the authority of Scripture.

D.    The Traditional View has always seen the gift of tongues, filling of the Spirit, and the Baptism of the Spirit as separate ministries of the Holy Spirit.

1.     Spiritual gifts are specific and differing divine enablings given to every believer by the Holy Spirit at salvation.

2.     Filling of the Spirit is the believer’s yielding to the complete control of the Holy Spirit (Ep 5:18-21 - no mention of tongues).

3.     Baptism of the Spirit is the Spirit’s ministry whereby He places the believer into the body of Christ (1Co 12:13).

E.    Though Christ may be the agent of Spiritual Baptism, and the Spirit may be the agent of baptizing the believer into the body of Christ, The Traditional View holds these as one act at the time of salvation.

1.     Christ’s Baptism of the Spirit in Ac 1:5 (Mt 3:11; Jn 1:33) suggests the initial sending of the Holy Spirit to the Church (Jn 14:26;15:26; 16:7, 13; Ac 1:4), including the Spirit’s permanent indwelling and the Spirit’s empowerment to be witnesses (a ministry of which tongues is not necessary).

2.     The Spirit’s Baptism in 1Co 12:13 involves baptism into the body of Christ for every believer with full and equal possession of the Spirit’s power.

3.     However, these are different aspects of the same baptism for every believer. Christ (and the Father) are responsible for both and both involve the Spirit’s ministry. But it is one spiritual baptism of which tongues in not an evidence.

 

III.  OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

 

A.    Important Doctrine and Focus

B.    Scripture Over Experience

C.    Open to Scripture and Reason