Audio

First Principles – Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Lesson Preached by Mike Underhill on November 6, 2013

Notes & Scriptures

Introduction: Jesus was given the Spirit in full measure (RSV), no limit. (John 3:34). There are three measures of the Holy Spirit:

(1) The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

  1. Terminology from Romans 8:9 (RSV)
  2. Received at baptism (Acts 2:38)

(2) The Baptism with the Holy Spirit

A. Characteristics in Acts 2 and Acts 10

  1. Promise (not command): Acts 1:4-5
  2. Predicted (prophesied)
  3. Came without warning. (People were not specifically praying for it.)
  4. Languages
  5. Purpose: to usher in the Kingdom with power (Acts 1:8)

B. Accounts of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit

  1. To the Jews — in Jerusalem (Acts 2)
  2. To the Gentiles — begins with Cornelius (Acts 10)
    (a) Note: Cornelius and his household were water baptized in Acts 10:48, saved at baptism.
    (b) Peter explained actions to the Jews. (Acts 11:1-18)
    (c) “At the beginning” (Acts 11:15)
    (d) Peter gives the “keys to the Kingdom” to both Jews and Gentiles.

C. Does the Baptism with the Holy Spirit still exist today? Ephesians 4:4-6: There is one baptism — which one? (Written about 60-62 A.D.). There are three options:

  1. John’s baptism — Passed when the new covenant began. (Acts 19:1-5)
  2. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2 and Acts 10) — is no longer present as it was a prophecy/promise that has been fulfilled. It was never a general command for all Christians.
  3. Baptism with water in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
    (a) Jesus commanded this baptism. (Matthew 28:18-20)
    (b) This baptism is recorded all the way through the book of Acts and the Epistles. In fact, Peter was present for all the baptisms: John’s baptism, both accounts of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and preached water baptism in the name of Jesus in Acts 2 (33 A.D.) and in 1 Peter 3:18-21 (written around 64 A.D.), well after all the events of the book of Acts.
    (c) It had to be the one baptism of Ephesians 4:4-6 as it was the only one practiced by 60-62 A.D. when Ephesians was written.

(3) The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit (next lesson)

  1. Received by the apostles’ laying on of hands
  2. No longer present today