Holy Spirit Baptism
The Nature and
Purpose of Holy
Spirit Baptism
1
Holy Spirit Baptism
Is it required for
salvation?
Is this how the Spirit
intercedes in the life of
the believer?
How often has Holy
Spirit Baptism occurred?
2
Holy Spirit Baptism
A promise issued
and administered by
Jesus
“Gathering them together, He
commanded them not to leave
Jerusalem, but to wait for what
the Father had promised,
“Which,” He said, “you heard
of from Me; for John baptized
with water, but you will be
baptized with the Holy Spirit
not many days from now.””
(Acts 1:4–5, NASB95)
3
Holy Spirit Baptism
A promise issued
and administered by
Jesus
“As for me, I baptize you with
water for repentance, but He
who is coming after me is
mightier than I, and I am not fit
to remove His sandals; He will
baptize you with the Holy
Spirit and fire.”
(Matthew 3:11, NASB95)
4
Holy Spirit Baptism
A promise issued
and administered by
Jesus
“I baptized you with
water; but He will
baptize you with the
Holy Spirit.”
(Mark 1:8, NASB95)
5
Holy Spirit Baptism
A promise issued
and administered by
Jesus
“John answered and said to
them all, “As for me, I baptize
you with water; but One is
coming who is mightier than I,
and I am not fit to untie the
thong of His sandals; He will
baptize you with the Holy
Spirit and fire.”
(Luke 3:16, NASB95)
6
Holy Spirit Baptism
“As for me, I baptize you
with water for repentance,
but He who is coming after
me is mightier than I, and I
am not fit to remove His
sandals; He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and
fire.”
(Matthew 3:11, NASB95)
Would all of
John’s
audience
receive Holy
Spirit baptism?
7
Holy Spirit Baptism
 There are three baptisms
mentioned here
“As for me, I baptize you
with water for repentance,
but He who is coming after
me is mightier than I, and I
am not fit to remove His
sandals; He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and
fire.”
(Matthew 3:11, NASB95)
 Water (for repentance)
 Holy Spirit (for unstated
purpose)
 Fire (for judgement Matt
3:10,12; Jn 8:21,24; Matt
23:33; Lk 13:3,5)
8
Holy Spirit Baptism
 There are three baptisms
mentioned here
“As for me, I baptize you
with water for repentance,
but He who is coming after
me is mightier than I, and I
am not fit to remove His
sandals; He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and
fire.”
(Matthew 3:11, NASB95)
 Water (for repentance)
 Holy Spirit (for unstated
purpose)
 Fire (for judgement Matt
3:10,12; Jn 8:21,24; Matt
23:33; Lk 13:3,5)
Would “you” receive all three
baptisms?
9
Holy Spirit Baptism
 John did not baptize this
audience
7
But when he saw many of
the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming for baptism, he said to
them, “You brood of vipers,
who warned you to flee from
the wrath to come? 8
“Therefore bear fruit in
keeping with repentance;
Matthew 3:7–8 (NASB95)
 John’s baptism was for
those who met the
condition of repentance
and confession
 The “you” of verse 11 did
not refer to the Pharisees
and Sadducees
specifically
10
Holy Spirit Baptism
 The passage deals with
the distinction in
administers not
similarities in recipients
“As for me, I baptize you
with water for repentance,
but He who is coming after
me is mightier than I, and I
am not fit to remove His
sandals; He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matthew 3:11 (NASB95)
11
 John had authority only
to baptize in water
 Jesus had authority to
send the Spirit and to
judge the impenitent
11
Holy Spirit Baptism
A promise issued
and administered by
Jesus
“Gathering them together, He
commanded them not to leave
Jerusalem, but to wait for what
the Father had promised,
“Which,” He said, “you heard
of from Me; for John baptized
with water, but you will be
baptized with the Holy Spirit
not many days from now.”
(Acts 1:4–5, NASB95)
A promise issued to
the Apostles
12
A Limited Promise
Verse 2
introduces the
subject of the
passage
until the day when He was taken up to
heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit
given orders to the apostles whom He
had chosen. 3 To these He also presented
Himself alive after His suffering, by
many convincing proofs, appearing to
them over a period of forty days and
speaking of the things concerning the
kingdom of God.
Acts 1:2–8 (NASB95)
2
13
A Limited Promise
Verse 2
introduces the
subject of the
passage
until the day when He was taken up to
heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit
given orders to the apostles whom He
had chosen. 3 To these He also presented
Himself alive after His suffering, by
many convincingThese
proofs,Apostles
appearing to
them over a period of forty days and
speaking of the things concerning the
kingdom of God.
Acts 1:4-5 (NASB95)
2
14
A Limited Promise
Verse 2
introduces the
subject of the
passage
Verse 4 clearly
refers to the
same persons
These Apostles
4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but
to wait for what the Father had
promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard
of from Me; 5 for John baptized with
water, but you will be baptized with the
Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:4–5 (NASB95)
15
A Limited Promise
Those gathered (the
Apostles) were
commanded to stay
in Jerusalem
Those told to wait
(the Apostles)
received the
promise of the
Father
Gathering them together, He
commanded them not to leave
Jerusalem, but to wait for
what the Father had promised,
“Which,” He said, “you heard
of from Me…
4
Acts 1:4–5 (NASB95)
Holy Spirit Baptism was only
promised to the Apostles
16
Holy Spirit Baptism
A promise issued
and administered by
Jesus
You did not choose Me but
I chose you, and appointed
you that you would go and
bear fruit, and that your fruit
would remain, so that
whatever you ask of the
Father in My name He may
give to you.
John 15:16 (NASB95)
16
A promise issued to
the Apostles
The means by which
the Apostles carried
out their mission
17
Holy Spirit Baptism
A promise issued
and administered by
Jesus
And Jesus came up and spoke to
them, saying, “All authority has
been given to Me in heaven and on
earth. 19 “Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and
the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20
teaching them to observe all that I
commanded you; and lo, I am with
you always, even to the end of the
age.”
Matthew 28:18–20 (NASB95)
18
A promise issued to
the Apostles
The means by which
he Apostles carried
out their mission
18
A Promise of Power
 God has always
empowered His
Ambassadors
Then He said, “Put your hand into
your bosom again.” So he put his
hand into his bosom again, and when
he took it out of his bosom, behold, it
was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8
“If they will not believe you or heed
the witness of the first sign, they may
believe the witness of the last sign.
Exodus 4:7–8 (NASB95)
7
19
A Promise of Power
God has always
empowered His
Ambassadors
Holy Spirit Baptism
provided the
Apostles with the
“power” to
accomplish their
commission
And behold, I am sending
forth the promise of My
Father upon you; but you
are to stay in the city until
you are clothed with power
from on high.
49
Luke 24:49 (NASB95)
20
A Promise of Power
God has always
empowered His
Ambassadors
Holy Spirit Baptism
provided the
Apostles with the
“power” to
accomplish their
commission
but you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you shall be My
witnesses both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria,
and even to the remotest part of
the earth.
Acts 1:8 (NASB95)
8
21
A Promise of Power
God has always
empowered His
Ambassadors
Holy Spirit Baptism
provided the
Apostles with the
“power” to
accomplish their
commission
But the Helper, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will
send in My name, He will teach
you all things, and bring to your
remembrance all that I said to
you.
John 14:26 (NASB95)
26
The Power to Communicate and
Validate the Message
22
A Promise of Power
God has always
empowered His
Ambassadors
Holy Spirit Baptism
provided the
Apostles with the
“power” to
accomplish their
commission
When the Helper comes, whom I
will send to you from the Father, that
is the Spirit of truth who proceeds
from the Father, He will testify about
Me, 27 and you will testify also,
because you have been with Me from
the beginning.
John 15:26–27 (NASB95)
26
The Power to Communicate and
Validate the Message
23
A Promise of Power
God has always
empowered His
Ambassadors
Holy Spirit Baptism
provided the
Apostles with the
“power” to
accomplish their
commission
But when He, the Spirit of truth,
comes, He will guide you into all the
truth; for He will not speak on His
own initiative, but whatever He hears,
He will speak; and He will disclose to
you what is to come.
John 16:13 (NASB95)
13
The Power to Communicate and
Validate the Message
24
A Promise to the Apostles
Promise of
Salvation
Promise of
Eternal Life
To those who believe, To those who live a
repent, and are
life of faith and
baptized
obedience
Mark 16:16,
Heb 5:8-9,
Acts 2:38
Matt 7:21-22
Given to
unbaptized
unbelievers?
Promise of Holy
Spirit Baptism
Given to the Apostles
Acts 1:1-8
Given to
Given to more than
disobedient men?
the Apostles?
25
Scripture vs. Theology
Holy Spirit Baptism is:
Holy Spirit Baptism is not:
A Promise (Mt. 3:11, Lk 3:16,
Ac 1:4,5)
Not a Command
Promised to the Apostles only
(Ac 1:4,5; Lk24:48,49)
Not to all men or even certain
men
To be administered in a few days
(Ac 1:5)
Not for all time
Miraculous and Direct
(Ac 2:1-8)
Not ordinary or indirect
To endue with Power from on
High (Ac 1:8; Lk 24:49)
Not to regenerate or produce joy
26
Scripture vs. Theology
Holy Spirit Baptism is:
Holy Spirit Baptism is not:
To be administered by Jesus
Himself (Mt 3:11, Jn1:33)
Not by human agency
Enabled the Spirit to be a
comforter to the Apostles
Not for all Men
(Jn 16:13-15)
To guide the Apostles in
revealing all truth (Jn 14-16)
Not so promised for any others
To give the Apostles power to
convict the world (Jn 16:13-15)
Not so promised for any others
To aid the Apostles in witnessing
to the resurrection (Jn 15:26,27)
Not so promised to others
27
What About Cornelius?
 “fell” and “poured”
describe method not
identity or purpose
While Peter was still
speaking these words, the Holy
Spirit fell upon all those who
were listening to the message. 45
All the circumcised believers
who came with Peter were
amazed, because the gift of the
Holy Spirit had been poured
out on the Gentiles also.
Acts 10:44–45 (NASB95)
44
 For only the second
time the Holy Spirit
had endowed
someone directly
28
What About Cornelius?
 “fell” and “poured”
describe method not
identity or purpose
“And as I began
to speak, the Holy
Spirit fell upon them
just as He did upon
us at the beginning.
Acts 11:15
(NASB95)
15
 For only the second
time the Holy Spirit
had endowed
someone directly
29
What About Cornelius?
“fell” and “filled”
describe method not
identity or purpose
Forasmuch then as
God gave them the like
gift as he did unto us,
“like gift” – pertaining
to that which is equal,
who believed on the
either in number, size, Lord Jesus Christ; what
quality, or
was I, that I could
characteristics
withstand God?
Acts 11:17 (KJV)
17
30
What About Cornelius?
Not like theirs in power
Not like theirs in purpose
Not like theirs in
identification
Not like theirs in results
Only like theirs in
manner received
31
Forasmuch then as
God gave them the like
gift as he did unto us,
who believed on the
Lord Jesus Christ; what
was I, that I could
withstand God?
Acts 11:17 (KJV)
17
What About Today?
Only five passages mention
Holy Spirit Baptism (Mt 3:11;
Mk1:8; Lk 3:16; Jn 1:33; Acts
1:5)
This baptism was not to benefit
the recipient personally
Did not produce faith in the
heart of the recipient
Did not convert or save the
recipient
32
What About Today?
Did not cleanse the heart of
the recipient
Did not Sanctify the recipient
Did not subdue the rebellious
heart of the recipient
All such changes are effected
by the word
33