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