Did You Receive When You Believed?

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Just the mention of baptism "in" or "with" the Holy Spirit tends to provoke a defense from many. There are many reasons for this, but let's look again at a few scripture passages.

"Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, 'I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire'" (Luke 3:15-16).

"And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, 'which,' He said, 'you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now'" (Acts 1:4-5).

These two accounts are from the beginning and the end of the ministry of Jesus here on this earth. One introduces His ministry and is mentioned in all four gospels. The other is at the end, just before He departed to be with His Father. Do they not strike you as very important? When a man is getting ready to depart on a long journey, his final instructions are usually quite important. The instruction from Jesus in Acts 1:4 is of this nature. This promise of Jesus was fulfilled in the first 120 believers on the day of Pentecost and is recorded for us by Luke in Acts 2. I think we are all familiar with the account, so I will not repeat that here. However, I do want to point out that the promise was only fulfilled for 120 believers, and there is no statement in scripture to indicate that this baptism with the Holy Spirit is automatic for all believers afterward.

When did the first believers receive the Holy Spirit? Consider the statement by Peter at the house of Cornelius: "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 'Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?' And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days" (Acts 10:44-48). When Peter says "they received the Holy Spirit just as we have," what event is he referring to? His reference to the evidence makes it clear he is referring to what happened in the upper room on the day of Pentecost.

Peter states that the same promise they experienced on that day was also for us: "ֲ'Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.' Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call'" (Acts 2:36-39).

We are those who are "afar off." We also need what the disciples experienced in the upper room and what Peter offered to the great crowd on that day. The promise is for us, but we must avail ourselves of it. The Holy Spirit being given on the Day of Pentecost did not make it automatic for the disciples at Samaria in Acts 8, the household of Cornelius in Acts 10, or the disciples at Ephesus in Acts 19. They all had to receive by a specific act of faith. Listen to what Paul told the Galatians: "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?--" (Gal. 3:2).

In scripture, we don't read of any provision of God that becomes ours automatically. Even though Christ has made all things available to us, everything must be appropriated by faith. Pentecost was truly a historical event marking the beginning of Christ building His church, but it is also an event that is to be repeated in the life of each believer. All of us need our "Pentecost." The specific details may vary from person to person, but the essence of the transaction with God is the same.

Next: From "With" to "In"