June 4th 2014 Scripture: Acts 1:4-5 Whats the Essence of Baptism with the Spirit? Now what is the heart of the matter here? What is the essence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit? Is it the sound of wind, the tongues of fire, the other languages, the words of praise, the prophecies and dreams and visions? Can we get at the essence of what it means to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, or does it have to include all these things? I think we can get at the essence, and I want to get at it by saying first of all what I think it is not. I think that being baptized with the Holy Spirit (the way Luke means it) is not the same as being born again or being united to Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit. In other words I dont think that what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 12:13 is the same as what is happening here in Acts. Paul says, For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free. The context shows that he is referring to a work of the sovereign Spirit who unites all believers to Christ. This is virtually the same as the work of conversion. When you are born again and put your faith in Christ, the Spirit of God unites you to Christ so that you are part of his body and a fellow-heir with him of eternal life. I used to just assume that Paul and Luke were talking about the same thing when they used the word baptism and connected it to the Holy Spirit—in other words, that the baptism by the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:13 and the baptism with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 were the same. Many very able scholars and teachers still make that connection. The view I am about to give you is not the only orthodox one, nor is it one you have to agree with in order to be a part of this fellowship. But it is one that I am increasingly persuaded is correct and desperately needed in the church.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 06:15:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015