Baptism of the Holy Spirit by Bill Blue

Some people believe that water baptism for the remission of sins is unnecessary because we supposedly receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Although the baptism of the Holy Spirit did occur three times in the First Century, today we are baptized in water (Acts 8:36-39, 10:47) for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16) in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19).

The Bible only describes three incidents of Holy Spirit baptism:

Jesus, who was also baptized in water (Matt. 3:13-17; Mk. 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34).
The Apostles in Jerusalem at Pentecost (Acts 1:4-5, 2:3,14); and
The Gentiles with Cornelius of Caesarea (Acts 10:44-46, 11:14-17), who were also baptized with water (Acts 10:47-48).
When one examines these incidents, we learn the following about the baptism of the Holy Spirit:

Men did not administer the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In each case, the Holy Spirit comes of His own accord. In each case, the falling of the Holy Spirit appears to be an unexpected occurrence.

Something audible occurred. When Jesus was baptized, "a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’" (Matt. 3:17). When the Apostles at Pentecost received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, "a sound from heaven" suddenly came that was so loud that it "filled the whole house" and attracted the attention of a multitude of people (Acts 2:1-6).

Something visible occurred. At Jesus’ baptism, John the Baptist observed, "the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him" (John 1:32). At the Apostles’ baptism of the Holy Spirit, "divided tongues, as of fire," appeared and sat upon each of the Apostles (Acts 2:3).

Something miraculous occurred. Obviously, both the sounds and sights referenced above were miraculous. However, note also that after both the Apostles and Cornelius received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they also miraculously received the ability to speak foreign languages (Acts 2:4-11, 10:46).

The baptisms of the Holy Spirit occurred at the beginning of something significant. Christ was baptized before he began his ministry. The Apostles at Pentecost were baptized before they began their ministry. Before Cornelius was baptized with the Holy Spirit, the Gospel had not been shared with the Gentiles (Acts 11:18).

The baptisms of the Holy Spirit served to confirm God’s will. When Jesus was baptized with the Holy Spirit, John – whose mission was to prepare the way for the Messiah (John 1:23) – learned that Jesus was the Messiah (John 1:29-34). When the Apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the multitude that heard the first Gospel sermon could not deny that the Apostles were speaking by God’s authority; being so convinced and convicted by Peter’s sermon 3,000 listeners were baptized (Acts 2:41). The fact that Cornelius and other Gentiles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit convinced many Jewish brethren that God intended to share the Gospel with the Gentiles (Acts 10:45, 11:18).

The baptism of the Holy Spirit did not preclude the necessity of water baptism for the remission of sins. Though sinless, Christ submitted to water baptism (Matt. 3:13-17; Mk. 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22) "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 3:15). Although Cornelius and the others received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Peter still "commanded them to be baptized" with water (Acts 10:47-48).

Years after these incidents, Paul wrote to the Ephesians that there is only "one baptism" (Eph. 4:5). While in Ephesus, Paul baptized some disciples (Acts 19:1-5). After the disciples were baptized, Paul had to lay his hands on them in order for them to receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues (Acts 19:6). If they were baptized in the Holy Spirit – if that was the "one baptism" – why didn’t they receive the Holy Spirit and miraculous gift during baptism just as in the previous examples?

Paul submitted to baptism pursuant to the command of Ananias (Acts 22:16). Thus, Paul’s baptism was something Paul did, and not something the Holy Spirit did. Ananias administered the baptism; it was not something that fell miraculously upon Paul by the Holy Spirit.

When we are baptized today, we do not hear miraculous sounds from heaven, see miraculous tongues of fire, or observe people miraculously speaking in languages they did not know immediately before baptism. Unlike the Biblical accounts of Holy Spirit baptism, no one observes these things today - neither the person baptized, the other people in the building, nor anyone outside the building (Cf. Acts 2:6). Thus, we are not baptized in the Holy Spirit today.

There is a Holy Spirit and when we submit to water baptism for the remission of sins we receive a gift from Him (Acts 2:38), but we are not baptized in the Holy Spirit.