BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Baptism with the Holy Spirit is promised by the LORD JESUS CHRIST Himself (Acts 1:5). It is also called "Promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4). Jesus Christ is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit (Jn. 1:33-34). It is essential for every Christian to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

1. After Adam and Eve sinned against God they became spiritually dead (Gen. 2:17). "Thus death was spread to all men, because all sinned" (Rom 5:12). God promised, "I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh" (Jl. 2:28; Acts 2:17; Isa. 44:3; Ezek. 37:14; Jn. 4:14). Receiving the Holy Spirit of promise is part of the gospel of salvation that was preached in the primitive church (Eph. 1:13; Acts 2:38-29; 19:1-6).

   
   

2. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15:50). A person must be reborn of the Spirit to enter therein (Jn. 3:5-8)

   
   

3. Our LORD explained Baptism with the Holy Spirit is "born of the Spirit" (Jn. 3:5-8; Acts 1:3-5). God saves us "through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Tit. 3:5-6)

   
   

4. Only those who have the Holy Spirit belong to God (Rom. 8:9). "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom. 8:16; Gal. 4:6)

   
   

5. The Holy Spirit gives us the "guarantee of our inheritance" in the heavenly kingdom (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:20-22).

THE EVIDENCE OF RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT

The criteria that the primitive church had used to determine whether or not a Christian has received the Holy Spirit is speaking with tongues and exalting the LORD (ref. Jn. 16:13-14).

1. When the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ first received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost they "began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4). The devout Jews that were in Jerusalem heard them "speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God" (Acts 2:11).

   
   

2. In Caesarea the Gentiles who became Christians also received the gift of the Holy Spirit and spoke with tongues as the early disciples did (Acts 11:15-18). The Jewish Christians knew instantly that "the gift of the Holy Spirit" had been poured out on the Gentiles also. "For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God" (Acts 10:46).

   
   

3. The disciples in Ephesus did not receive the Holy Spirit when they believed (Acts 19:2). After their baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ "the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied" (Acts 19:6).