Baptism of the Holy Spirit

In reading through the Book of Acts today, there was a sequence of events in chapter 8 that caught my attention, sending my mind and heart reeling.  The story speaks of Philip evangelizing throughout Samaria.  The Gospel, empowered by the Holy Spirit, was making great strides throughout Samaria and many people were believing and being baptized into the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12).

The news of the Gospel's spread and affect in Samaria began to reach Jerusalem, prompting Peter and John to go and check out the buzz.  But, although the new converts had been baptized into the name of Christ Jesus, they had not received the the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-16).  What struck me today was that even though the had came to Christ in faith and been baptized into the name of Christ Jesus, for them to receive the Holy Spirit was an altogether other event.

The implications of such a discovery were and are staggering.  The people of Samaria were saved.  They had confessed their sin and professed their faith and commitment in covenant with God through the blood of Christ Jesus.  However, they had not received the Holy Spirit.  In other words, economically they were saved, but transformationally they still lacked the Holy Spirit's power.

I began to look around at my local congregation and the people who have professed their faith but still lack the fruit that is to accompany such profession and I wonder: have they received the Holy Spirit?  Have I?  This is not a flippant or intentionally provocative thought.  Instead, this is a serious inquiry into the state of my relationship with the Lord Almighty.  For if I am saved but have yet to receive the Holy Spirit, then I too will lack the power of God.

Essentially, I could have the Word but still not possess the Spirit who applies it to my life personally and directly in the matter of sanctification.  Therefore, I think it is still a necessity for Christians who cannot definitively say that they have received the Holy Spirit to pray that He would indwell their hearts and empower them miraculously!

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The story of Acts is the continuation, sort of the sequel, to the Gospel of Luke.  In it, Luke recounts the history of the early Church, with particular focus on the ministries of Peter and Paul.  In the first chapter prologue, Luke, again addressing Theophilus, indicates that his first half, the Gospel, was about what Jesus first began to do and teach, and that this second part is a continuation of the work and teachings of Jesus, identified through the work of the Apostles and the Church (Acts 1:1-2). All this being true, the story of Acts is really the story of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts, Luke identifies the reception of the Holy Spirit by the phrase, baptized with(en) the Holy Spirit. This receiving of the Holy Spirit is only associated with conversion through repentance and belief which is met and confirmed by the reception of the Holy Spirit.  Although this is clearly put forward throughout Acts and the New Testament, what is not as clear is the modern-day application in reference to baptism to be taken from Acts.

At the onset, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, coming from repentant belief (conversion), is virtually simultaneous with water baptism.  In essence, these two concepts are synonymous.  However clear this may be, Christians still disagree about what this means.  Or, to put it more succinctly in a question, when do Christians receive the Holy Spirit?  Basically there are three views in regards to the process of receiving the Holy Spirit, each having their own variations.

The first view, common to Catholicism among others, is the Sacramental view of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  In this view, the baptism of water coincides both with entrance into the church, defined denominationally, as well as in the reception of the Holy Spirit.  This means that baptism, specifically infant baptism, infuses the one baptized with the Holy Spirit as well as bringing them into the community of the church.

The second view, common to the majority of evangelicals, is the conversion view.  In this view, conversion, marked by sincere repentance and water baptism, is the moment that the Holy Spirit indwells believers.  As per this view, the baptism of the Holy Spirit happens at conversion, which generally coincides with water baptism. This conversion experience also accounts for the believer's inclusion into the Church universal, not just denominationally, but in the greater Christian Church.

The last view is the pentecostal view, characteristic of the Pentecostals and the more Charismatic Christians.  In this view, conversion and the reception of the Holy Spirit are seen as two separate events.  In essence, one may be a converted believer yet still not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The events of Pentecost are viewed as the normative prescription of receiving of the Holy Spirit for believers today.  Thus, the reception of the Holy Spirit happens to believers and is often considered a second event from that of conversion.  This view is marked by an over-valuing of the speaking of tongues as the manifestation of the reception of the Holy Spirit.

At the final analysis, the conversion view of the baptism of the Holy Spirit seems to make the most compelling case with the strongest support from Scripture.  This being said, the differences in view on this important doctrine should not be allowed to hinder our Christian brotherhood across denominational lines.  Although there are some doctrines that, for their importance, should be defended, when dialoging with fellow Christians, the arguments should be both loving, gentle, and kind, recognizing in humility that we might actually be wrong.  The point of this discourse has been primarily informational but this is a significant doctrine to make an informed decision about.