Question:
Could you give some insight on believer's baptism and the baptism of the Spirit?
Answer:
There are several aspects to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He baptized the church (his body) but it took place in four parts (Acts 2, Acts 8, Acts 10 and Acts 19). He then baptized us into the body (Rom. 6:3, 1 Cor. 12:13). We who are saved today are sealed upon believing (Eph 1:13), we are commanded to be filled or controlled by the Spirit, much like a hand puppet is filled and thus controlled by the performer (Eph 5:18), and when we are sealed we are anointed (or enabled) by the Holy Spirit to understand Spiritual things (1 John 2:27).
Remember the work baptize means immersed and so some immersions do not have to do with water but just mean placed (we are placed into the baptized body). We are all sealed but we are not all filled. Filling does not mean speaking in tongues but it means to be yielded completely to the will of the Holy Spirit and to let him live through us. As I understand the Scriptures we are commanded to be baptized by water as believers (we call this believer's baptism) and we are commanded to be filled by the Spirit (or controlled by the Spirit) after we are saved. Likely being baptized by water is one of the evidences of the control of the Spirit.
Let’s look at the following baptisms in the Scripture. There are some other baptisms that are not mentioned here but which do not have to do with either water or the Spirit’s work in our lives.
Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing (believer’s water baptism) them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mr 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized (believer’s water baptism) shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Notice it does not say that he that believeth MUST be baptized to be saved).
Ac 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (John’s baptism was to confess the sins of Israel and to be identified with them and is not applicable to us today).
Ac 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized (believer’s water baptism) every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for (on account of) the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Receiving the Holy Spirit after baptism is not the teaching for today).
Ac 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized (believer’s water baptism): and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Ac 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized [believer’s water baptism] in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Notice baptism of the Spirit is defined as the Spirit coming upon them and Acts 8 is when the Samaritans were made a part of the church in a way that the Jews could accept.
Ac 11:16 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. (An explanation to the Hebrews of the baptism of the Spirit when Peter went to Cornelius. This baptism convinced them that the Gentiles were a part of the church).
Ro 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ (at salvation) were baptized into his death? Ro 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism (believer’s water baptism) into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Some assert that v3 refers to water baptism).
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized (placed) into one body (at salvation), whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (This is sometimes referred to as the Baptism of the Spirit but notice it happens at salvation).
1Co 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized (believer’s water baptism for Christ who would be dead if there were no resurrection) for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
Ga 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized (at salvation) into Christ have put on Christ. (Some assert that this is water baptism).
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (since this is connected to Lordship or obeying the Lord, this is likely water baptism).
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism (believer’s water baptism), wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Compare Rom. 6:3-4)
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms (cleansing traditions of the Jews), and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
2Co 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
(Notice the anointing and the seal occur together. This may be what some mean by the baptism of the Spirit but it does not occur at some time after salvation as most assert.)
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
1Jo 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Ac 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
On the day of Pentecost, sealing, filling, baptism of the Spirit and anointing all occurred at the same time. Today we are sealed and anointed when we believe. We are placed into the body of Christ (or baptized by the Spirit into the baptized body) at that time as well. We then should be immersed in water to show that we are Christians and to be identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. After we are saved, we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit which occurs when we yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to control our lives through the Word of God (compare Eph. 5:18-20 and Col. 3: 16-17).
