Monthly Musing

Holy Spirit Baptism – Is It For Believers Today? 
By Mike Riley

There is great confusion in the religious world regarding Holy Spirit baptism. Some sincere and honest folks believe that when the Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit, they think only of the baptism of the Holy Spirit; others believe that when the Bible speaks of baptism, it must refer to Holy Spirit baptism. In this article, let us look at eight reasons why Holy Spirit baptism is not a requirement for believers today:
1) Christ was the administrator of Holy Spirit baptism and no man can baptize another in the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 2:3-4).
2) Holy Spirit baptism was promised but never commanded (Matthew 3:11). On the other hand, water baptism is a command (Acts 10:48) to every one (Matthew 28:19) and not a promise, though there is great promise connected with water baptism (our sins are remitted and washed away – Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16).
3) Holy Spirit baptism was never intended to save anyone (John 15:3; Acts 11:14).
4) Holy Spirit baptism is a figuration baptism because the Holy Spirit is a divine being and not a material substance in which a person can be literally immersed. Water baptism, however, is a literal baptism (Acts 8:35-38).
5) Holy Spirit baptism was given to the apostles for the express purpose of revealing and confirming God’s truth (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10; Hebrews 2:3-4).
6) Baptism in the Holy Spirit was never commanded for all people, but promised only to the apostles (Acts 1:1-8) for a special mission to the Jews and to Cornelius (a Gentile) to illustrate the fact that Gentiles had also been granted repentance unto life (Acts 2:1-4; Acts 11:15-16).
On the day of Pentecost, the apostles were “filled” with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). This “filling” was figurative, not literal. It refers to the endowment power given to them by the Holy Spirit and not a literal infusion of the Spirit Himself. The “pouring out” of the Spirit (Acts 2:17), the “filling” of the Spirit (Acts 2:4), and the “baptism” of the Spirit (Acts 1:5) designated the bestowal of power upon the apostles by the Spirit. These terms are used in a metaphorical sense, and are not literal representations of what occurred. When studying the work and influence of the Holy Spirit, it is vital for the Bible student to remember that the “measures” of the Spirit were measures or degrees of power which the Spirit exercised through those endowed (1 Corinthians 12:11; cf. Romans 12:6; 2 Corinthians 10:13) and not literal effusions of the Spirit’s essence of deity. The Holy Spirit is a Person – not merely an influence. The influence which the Holy Spirit wields today is solely through means – the Word of God which the Holy Spirit revealed to inspired men (Gal. 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:1-6; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
7) The Holy Spirit never made a person jump, run, fall, or act demented. He never knocked a man down, nor made him roll on the floor like an animal, nor made him babble in a mysterious language that man could not understand (Acts 2:2-12; 1 Corinthians 14:32-33).
8) Since we have the perfect (complete), revealed law of liberty, there is no longer any need for inspired men, miracles, or miraculous tongues today (1 Corinthians 13:8-10; cf. James 1:25). Hence, there is no need for the baptism of the Holy Spirit today. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is in the past, Christ having fulfilled His promise to the apostles (Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:3-4).
Conclusion
In closing our brief study, let us note the little key word “is” in Ephesians 4:4. It is in the present tense indicating that water baptism (Ephesians 4:5) is a requirement today, and until Christ comes (Matthew 28:19-20). Today, there is only one baptism (Ephesians 4:5), and that is water baptism (John 3:5; Acts 8:35-39; Acts 10:47-48; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:20-21). For those who have not been baptized in water “for the remission of sins”, having your sins “washed away” (Acts 22:16), may we invite you to seriously consider being baptized today, as “now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).