Send to friend
Someone has said, and rightly so, that at Salvation, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ, which is done by our Faith in Christ and what He did for us at the Cross. As stated, it has nothing to do with Water Baptism. Regarding the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, it is Jesus Who baptizes us into the third Person of the Godhead, i.e., “the Holy Spirit.” John the Baptist said of Christ:
“I indeed baptize you with water unto Repentance: but He (Christ) Who comes after me is mightier than I, Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall Baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire” (Mat. 3:11).
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BORN OF THE SPIRIT & BAPTIZED WITH THE SPIRIT
As is obvious, the Holy Spirit is very much involved in both situations. The first refers to Salvation, which pertains to the individual being born again. The second pertains to the Believer being equipped for Service, with all the help that the Holy Spirit provides. Jesus said:
“But you shall receive power (Miracle-working Power), after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you (specifically states that this “Power” is inherent in the Holy Spirit, and solely in His Domain): and you shall be witnesses (doesn’t mean witnessing to souls, but rather to one giving one’s all in every capacity for Christ, even to the laying down of one’s life) unto Me (without the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, one cannot really know Jesus as one should) both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth (proclaims the Work of God as being worldwide)” (Acts 1:8).
Jesus also said that the Baptism with the Spirit would afford the following:
“He will guide you into all Truth.”
“He will show you things to come.”
“He shall glorify Christ.”
“He shall receive of Mine and shall show it unto you” (Jn. 16:13-15).
Baptism with the Holy Spirit does the following for the Believer, which cannot be done otherwise:
- Gives the Believer power (Acts 1:8).
- Gives the Holy Spirit access to the Believer as it refers to the Believer’s sanctification (Jn. 14:16-18).
- Gives the Believer access to the Holy Spirit, which is the most important of all (Jn. 16: 13-15).
A Believer cannot receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit until he is born again. Jesus said:
“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot receive” (Jn. 14:16-17).
Due to what Jesus said, it’s not even possible for a believing sinner to be baptized with the Holy Spirit in the Salvation process. Salvation has to be effected first, and then the Believer can receive. They may receive in fact, seconds after being saved, even as did Cornelius and those with him, or it may be a period of several years, but it’s always after Salvation.
The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a separate and distinct work, apart from Salvation, meaning that it follows Salvation, meaning that it is given to those who ask for it (Lk. 11:13).
Five different experiences of Believers being baptizes with the Holy Spirit are given to us in Acts.
- Acts 2:1-4
- Acts 8:14-15
- Acts 9:10-18
- Acts 10
- Acts 19:1-7
The question above was answered using the book "Straight Answers to Tough Questions" by Jimmy Swaggart.
