Saturday, August 31, 2013

The Refreshing



And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord 
in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, 
and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them 
cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.   And they were all filled 
with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, 
as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:1-4



The word of God gives a vivid account of the disciples' baptism of the Holy Spirit.  However, there are other types of baptisms mentioned in the bible.  The Bible speaks of four different baptisms:


   The baptism of suffering experienced by Jesus.

      The water baptism performed by John the Baptist.
      Christian baptism in water.
      Baptism of the Holy Spirit.


The word "baptize" means to completely immerse or submerge in something.

After the resurrection and prior to His return to Heaven, Jesus gave important instructions to His followers:

And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.   Luke 24:49

The promise to which Jesus referred was the Holy Spirit:

And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless.  John 14:16-18

This was not a new promise. The gift of the Holy Spirit had been promised since Old Testament times:

For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing yet they would not hear.   Isaiah 28:11-12

 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.  Joel 2:28-29

The Holy Spirit has many purposes in the lives of believers as discussed in the blog, 'Oh Taste and See'. One of the main purposes of the Holy Spirit, however, is to make the Christian a powerful witness for the Gospel:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.   Acts 1:8

The true evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was visible immediately in the life of the Apostle Peter. Before the Day of Pentecost, he had fearfully and adamantly denied that he knew Jesus. After his baptism in the Holy Spirit, Peter stood and gave a powerful witness to the Gospel that resulted in the salvation of 3,000 people.

It was the power of the Holy Spirit in the early church that resulted in the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. The book of Acts is a record of this powerful witness which was evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit.

There are seven passages in the New Testament where the word "baptize" is used in relation to the Holy Spirit. Four of these are the words of John the Baptist recorded in the Gospels:

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.  Matthew 3:11

I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.  Mark 1:8

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.  Luke 3:16

And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.  John 1:33

Jesus also spoke of the baptism of the Holy Ghost:

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.   Acts 1:5

When Peter spoke of events which took place in the home of Cornelius he quoted the words of Jesus:

Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that He said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.   Acts 11:16

Apostle Paul also used the word "baptize" in relation to the Holy Spirit:

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:13

Use of the phrase "to baptize into" the Holy Spirit is the same as used to describe Christian baptism in water. In both cases 

baptism is an outward confirmation of an inward spiritual experience.

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended from Heaven and completely immersed [baptized] believers assembled in the upper room of a house in Jerusalem. They had been waiting or "tarrying" for His coming as they had been commanded to do by Jesus. Peter said this experience was the fulfillment of God's promise,"  In the last days. . .  I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh".  This promise was given through the prophet Joel:

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions;  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.  Joel 2:28-29

Male and female, young and old were to be included in this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They were to prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions. God's Spirit was to empower both servants [men] and handmaidens [women]. On the day the Holy Spirit was given, Peter said:

Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.   Acts 2:38-39

Peter's words revealed that the promise of the Holy Spirit was:

                    A national promise:                   "Unto you" [the Jewish people].
                    A family promise:                       "Your children".
                   A universal promise:                  "To all that are afar off".

If you have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, what are you waiting on?  It is a gift from our Heavenly Father and it is the Holy Spirit that enables us and gives us the power to live a life pleasing to God.





(Biblical Studies)




10/02/14
01/20/16
07/04/17
10/05/18
05/12/20
03/24/22

4 comments:



  1. I have only heard of two baptisms in the scriptures. Paul clarifies them:

    And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." 4 And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 19:2-5

    The men in this passage were Jews and it was a requirement for all Jews to partake in this ritual and what was part of this ritual John's baptism of repentance it included being immersed in water and this is the baptism Jesus was part of. This is also the baptism the disciples did with Jesus walking the earth and they perfumed this ritual together with John in the same river.

    Today's water baptism is not in scripture when Peter baptized Cornelius this was John's baptism and this consisted of confessing all your sins. Today's baptism is something man has made to his own liking.

    The apostle Paul never received a water baptism but received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and this is what was promised to the Jews and when Paul believed and after Ananias laid hands on him Paul rose and was baptized.

    So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. Acts 9:17-19

    The baptism of the Holy Spirit is Jesus putting a seal on us because we believe.

    Today's baptism is something we should think hard about. See Jesus Himself has baptized us and this is through faith but we as Christians go running to the water thinking we have to do something for His grace.

    The only thing required of us is to believe

    Paul only baptized a handful of people but they were Jews partaking in the ritual of John's baptism.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dennis Scott,
      Baptism of suffering by Jesus - Luke 12:50, Matthew 20:20-23, Mark 8:31, 9:12, 10:38-40 - this one is usually not spoken of in terms of baptism, but since this is what Jesus called it, it was mentioned in the intro of my post.

      Christian baptism - John 3:5, Acts 2:38

      - When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, he did not specify a particular group of people; He said "*if a man . . .*" and Paul when he stood before the crowd and preached his first sermon, afterwards was asked the question, *what must we do to be saved?", his reply was:

      1. Repent,
      2. Be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of
      your sins and
      3. You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

      This instruction was given to all in hearing distance and again no distinctness to a particular set of people.

      If you believe in everything the word of God tells us, then you have to believe water baptism is a necessary step in God's plan of salvation for us. Water baptism is an outward expression of our inward repentance and symbolizes a washing or cleansing of our sins and being covered by the blood.

      Not to lose focus on the post; it is speaking of the necessity of having the comforter, the power from on high, the gift of the Holy Spirit which was promised to us!

      God's blessings to you

      Delete
  2. Actually it wasn't Paul it was Peter and Peter was talking to Jews in the Temple it was only Jews that were allowed in the Temple the Jews could not associate with Gentiles.

    During Peter's ministries the message was only going to the Jews so baptism was required for the Jews.

    Peter was eventually pushed by Jesus to go to the Gentiles but it was not liked by the Jewish council.

    What you say contradicts faith:

    If you believe in everything the word of God tells us, then you have to believe water baptism is a necessary step in God's plan of salvation for us. Water baptism is an outward expression of our inward repentance and symbolizes a washing or cleansing of our sins and being covered by the blood.

    There is no steps when it comes to faith and when the apostles stepped out into Samaria they were not given the Holy Spirit when they were baptized. Laying of hands is what is done.

    In Acts 2:37 the Jews ask "What should we do". Today Paul teaches its about faith and faith only we are not Jews we are Christians and it is not about doing rituals but its about faith and showing other through are works and are works shows are character that everyone will see that the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

    Inward repentance comes from are Father's love its are Father's love that brings us to repentance -- not water.

    Which is greater are Lord's blood or water. This is what I was trying to say in my first post. We have to think hard about water baptism because Jesus has already purified us with his blood and this is through faith.

    Its almost like telling God you don't believe He has cleansed us, tell I jump in the water.

    Water is a symbolism for the Holy Spirit but today the Holy Spirit is preforming this.

    Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39

    It is no longer about doing things for God's grace its only about believing. Doing things was part of the Jewish make up they were given blessings if they obeyed. Christians under grace are given everything if we believe right up front.

    John 3
    Jesus talking to a Jewish man, but here in this verse Jesus is talking about being born again, we have to become a new creation in Christ this is why repentance is so important we need to remove us from are old self and the Holy Spirits dwells in us making us this new creation.

    Acts 2:38
    The verse connected to your statement about Paul which should be Peter.

    Peter is still preaching Kingdom that Jesus will return after all the Jews repent and be baptized. Peter only sent his message to Jews and only Jews.

    Paul then brings the good news to the Gentiles but Paul brings us the mystery that we are Children of God or son's of God and that we will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, the Jews are looking for Jesus to come to earth and setup His Kingdom and this is the reason they are doing what is required.

    Paul brings we are justified through faith and never pushes baptism of water but baptism of the Holy Spirit.

    Paul will also tell the Corinthians that he did not come to baptize but to preach. Remember Paul was not baptized with water but the Holy Spirit. I think Paul was thinking the same thing. The Holy Spirit already baptized me what can water do for what the Holy Spirit has done.

    Romans 6 is a great chapter talking about *Dead to Sin Alive in Christ. No place dose Paul say we need to run to the river to be saved.

    This is what is happening in the world and when we look at scripture we need to understand who is talking to whom; also not use blender theology and put verse out of context. Today we shouldn't do things for God's grace because He has done everything for us all we need is to believe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dennis Scott, First, thanks for correcting me, I inadvertently typed Paul when I clearly meant Peter in reference to the day of
      Pentecost.

      Second, we clearly have differing views on how we interpret the word of God. I have been baptized in the name of Jesus as Jesus himself instructed the disciples to do in Matthew 28:19. If you think this is in error, that's ok. I'd rather err on the side of safety.

      Third, I don't feel that I am taking scripture out of context but rather connecting the dots. There is no contradiction in what Jesus instructed the disciples to do, and what Peter began on the day of Pentecost and what Paul taught.

      As far as faith goes; exercising it rather than intellect will further our understanding of God much better than the mind can ever hope to perceive. When Peter understood who Jesus was, that revelation came from God; not from Peter's intellect. (That was just a side thought on your mention of faith).

      Fourth, salvation has no racial or ethnic distinction; it is universal. To my knowledge, nothing has changed since the day of Pentecost when Peter responded to the question, what must we do. The response is still the same:

      1. Repent
      2. Be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins and
      3. you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

      Lastly, I hate that the emphasis went to water baptism when the whole focus of this particular blog was on the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

      Delete

Comments are welcome and encouraged!