Holy Spirit Baptism

by Micky Galloway

Often in studies on the subject of Baptism, water baptism is dispelled by efforts to make almost every mention of baptism in the New Testament refer to Holy Spirit baptism. Some teach that Holy Spirit baptism is the one baptism essential to being saved.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit was a promise. The first mention of Holy Spirit baptism is in John 2:32-33, “And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize in water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth in the Holy Spirit.” Those who were to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit are not mentioned in this passage. Later John said, “I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and (in) fire” (Matthew 3:11). “I baptized you in water; But he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8). “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and (in) fire” (Luke 3:16). In these passages John promised that Jesus Christ would be the one to baptize with the Holy Spirit.

To whom was the baptism of the Holy Spirit promised? During the earthly ministry of Jesus, He promised the baptism of the Holy Spirit to the apostles. They were told to wait in the city of Jerusalem for this baptism. “And, being assembled together with them (the apostles, mg), he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, (said he,) ye heard from me: For John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence” (Acts 1:4-5). Here we find Jesus’ explanation of John’s teaching about who would receive Holy Spirit baptism. The apostles tarried in Jerusalem and ten days later they received the Holy Spirit (cf. Luke 24:49; Acts 2:1-4). The only other occasion of Holy Spirit baptism is seen in Acts 10:44-46, where the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentile household of Cornelius. Though what happened to Cornelius was not identical to what happened to the apostles it caused Peter to say, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit. If then God gave unto them the like gift as (he did) also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?” (Acts 11:15-17).

The baptism of the Holy Spirit had a definite purpose. The baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles was to guide them into all truth and to further declare the things Christ had said to them (John 14:26; 16:12-14). He gave them the ability to bear witness for Christ, to speak in tongues and to perform miracles, to confirm that the word spoken by them was true (Acts 2:4; Mark 16:15-18; Hebrews 2:3-4). The baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the household of Cornelius convinced the six skeptical Jewish brethren who went with Peter to the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:23,45; 11:12) and the apostles at Jerusalem (Acts 11:1-4, 17-18) that the gospel was for Gentiles as well as Jews. Peter’s experience on the housetop (Acts 10:9-20) and the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 10 served to convince the Jews, who until now had preached only to Jews (Acts 11:19), the universal nature of the gospel (cf. Acts 2:39). Peter later affirmed that the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Gentile household of Cornelius proved that there was no difference between Jews and Gentiles. Acts 15:6-9 says, “And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter. And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us; and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.”

If, as some say, Holy Spirit baptism was necessary to show that the recipients were saved before water baptism, then it would follow that they were saved before and without faith. WHY? Because faith comes by hearing the word (Romans 10:17) and they had not yet heard. The text says the Holy Spirit fell on them “as I began to speak” to them (Acts 11:15). Remember Peter is rehearsing the events in order of occurrence (Acts 11:4). Cornelius and his household were commanded to be baptized in water for their salvation (Acts 10:48).

Holy Spirit and water baptism are to be contrasted. Holy Spirit baptism was a promise (John 16:13); water baptism is a command (Mark 16:16). Promises are to be received (Acts 1:8); commandments are obeyed. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was unique in that it was administered by Christ (Matthew 3:11). Water baptism is administered by man (Matthew 28:18-20). The purpose for Holy Spirit baptism was to guide the apostles into all truth, to bear witness for Christ and to bring to their remembrance all things He had taught them (John 14:26; 16:13); The one baptism of Ephesians 4:5 is not Holy Spirit baptism, but is water baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and entrance into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27).