Jesus Baptizes in the Holy Spirit

Passage Reading: John 1:19-34

John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus: John the Baptist, the Forerunner of the Messiah, said two things about Jesus in his testimony:

1.       Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29,36)

2.       Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit (Jn 1:33)

These two things, which John said Jesus would do, are they related or unrelated? Was he speaking about two entirely different things or two facets of the same truth? Carefully examining, we will find that John was talking about one great reality. In repenting our sins and trusting in Jesus as the Lamb (Savior who dies on the cross), a divine transaction / transfer takes place. Our sin belongs to us no more, but the Lamb of God, Jesus takes away our sin. 

Forgiveness of sin and baptism in the Holy Spirit both these truths about Jesus' ministry are witnessed by John in the same passage (John 1:29-34). You must have heard many time messages preached on “Look the Lamb of God.” Yet how many times have you heard about Jesus giving baptism in the Holy Spirit? How many times speakers and Bible teachers have considered it important to explain the meaning, significance, necessity and the way to being baptized in the Holy Spirit? In fact I was told not to talk about the Holy Spirit and because of my “disobedience” I left a ministry I had been associated with ever since I learned faith in Jesus. This is the kind of picking and choosing of Scriptures we have done for a long time. The result is, sorry to say, we don’t have a balanced view of the Scriptures, and Biblical understanding of the Christ and of the Christian life.  

Jesus empties the sin in us, he empties us from the burden of sin, he forgives our sins, he remembers them no more, he sweeps clean our sin stained soul. But after cleaning and emptying, he does not want to leave us in the empty state. He desires to fill our soul with His Spirit by baptizing us in the Holy Spirit. An emptied soul not getting filled is more dangerous than before. There is popular Indian saying, “Khali dimag (we can also say heart, body, soul, mind) Shaitan ka ghar hota hai,” which when translated means “An empty soul, body, or heart becomes the temple of the devil.” It is true even as Jesus explained this through a parable (Mt 12:43-45). But we after being emptied of our sins, we are not to become the temple of the devil, but the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Co 6:19-20).

(Matthew 12:43-45) "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. [44] Then it says, `I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. [45] Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

1Co 6:19,20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price.

God used John to preach the message of repentance. By baptizing them in water he helped them turn from their sin to make a new beginning. He also helped people to put faith in Jesus. In a way John was instrumental in helping people emptying themselves from their sin. But John truthfully and humbly admitted his limitation to fill them. Only Jesus can fill people with the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus is the baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, John used the word “baptism” in reference to Christ’s ministry. Baptism means being plunged, soaked, dipped. It is much more than being born again and starting the Christian life, as we shall soon see it from the Scripture.

Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near! Both Jesus and John the Baptist at the beginning of their ministry announced the coming of the Kingdom. The hope of the Old Testament can be summed up as: the coming of the Kingdom of God. But what does that mean? A Spirit-filled King ruling over Spirit-filled subjects. Jesus declared that He is the promised King who is filled with the Holy Spirit to reign on earth.

(Luke 4:16-21) He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. [17] The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: [18] "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, [19] to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." [20] Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, [21] and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

By taking away our sin through forgiveness when we repent, Jesus qualifies us to enter the kingdom of God, He enables us to make a new beginning; by baptizing us in the Holy Spirit He helps us live out the life of the Kingdom of God even here and now. The Kingdom of God is not so real unless we are filled or baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Can I know whether I am baptized in the Holy Spirit? Baptism in the Holy Spirit like baptism in water is a definite experience in a person’s life. Can we be baptized in Holy Spirit and not know about it? I think we should be able to date the day we are baptized in the Holy Spirit just as we can date the day we got baptized in water.

What does it mean to be baptized in the Holy Spirit?  There are diverse of opinion as the baptism in the Holy Spirit is interpreted in so many ways by different scholars, groups and especially denominations. We will examine the five major views about when and how the baptism in the Holy Spirit takes place.

1.   The Historical view: This view upholds that Jesus did baptize people in the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and on few other occasions such in Samaria and to the Gentiles. However, it happened 2000 years ago and that’s it. It does not happen anymore. However, Peter said something about being baptized in the Holy Spirit that does not go along with this view.

(Acts 2:38-39) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

2.   The Sacramental view: The Church having received the Holy Spirit has the power to pass on through a sacrament or ritual. There are two rituals that correspond to the Holy Spirit being passed on. At the confirmation, the Bishop wears a symbol of the Pentecost. This view is held by the Anglicans. However, in reality there are many Christians who received confirmation and yet there are no signs of the baptism in the Holy Spirit in them. The second ritual is the baptism in water, which says that at the time of water baptism one also gets the baptism of the Holy Spirit automatically. This view is held by the Baptists.

3.  The Evangelical view: This view upholds that being born-again and being baptized in the Holy Spirit are one and the same thing. However to be full of the Holy Spirit a person needs to be perfect meaning sinless and obedient. However this does not correspond with the Scripture either. Pentecost did not happen after Acts 28 but in Acts 2, meaning not after people became perfect but at the beginning of their Christian life to get them going. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a reward for the good work and good behavior but necessary if we must go on doing good work and go on living God-pleasing life.

4.  The Perfectionist view: Methodists believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a “second blessing” after which you do not sin anymore. You can be tempted but you cant sin. John Wesley held this view. But Scripture says otherwise. You may have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and demonstrating the gifts of the Spirit and yet living in sin. Paul’s letter to Corinthians tells us this situation. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not same as infallibility or doctrinal purity.

5.  The Pentecostal view: This view upholds that Pentecost experience (or baptism in the Holy Spirit) is promised for every believer of all time. The Pentecost experience is separated from belief in Jesus by a matter of time. For example in case of the 120 disciples it was ten days after Jesus’ ascension (they had already been believers before Pentecost happened), in case of Paul Paul, it was three days after he met the Risen Christ, in case of those who believed in Samaria possibly a week or two, and in many cases like Cornelius on the same day. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is necessary for New Testament atmosphere and experiences.

How to test which of the above view is true to the New Testament experience? First, through Scripture. Second, through experience. Definitely we are not to build doctrine on experience. The basis of all doctrines must be the Scripture. In the same way basis of examining every doctrine should also be the Scripture. Experience cannot be the basis of a doctrine, however experience validates a doctrine. Now, when I look at the above views, only the Pentecostal view is close to the New Testament scripture and experience regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This does not mean the Pentecostal believers are perfect or everything else they say or do is right!

Why is it important to be baptized in the Holy Spirit? First, because it is one of the two important things John said Jesus would do. Secondly, in order to be a fully operational Christian, by this I mean a Christian whose life resembles to that of the early Christians of first century. To become a fully operational Christian, four things are necessary. 1. Repentance, 2. Belief in Jesus, 3. Baptism in water, 4. Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Please bear in mind that to be saved or to enter heaven we need only the first two things: Repentance and faith in Jesus. But to be a fully operational Christians we need all four, otherwise we are like a car that is running on two cylinders instead of all four. The problem comes when we are driving uphill. I have discussed this in detail in my previous sermon on how to be born again?. Look at the following passage about how Paul helped step by step a group of disciples in Ephesus to be what we call “fully operational Christians.”

(Ac 19:1-7) While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples [2] and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." [3] So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"  "John's baptism," they replied. [4] Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." [5] On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. [7] There were about twelve men in all.

What difference does baptism in the Holy Spirit make in the life of a believer? Again we will look at the New Testament scripture and New Testament experiences to answer this. There are four significant differences we can think of:

1.  Toward Self- Release of a great deal of emotion. The 120 disciples on the day of Pentecost were accused of having too much of wine (Ac 2:13). Why? I think it was because many of them behaved like drunkards. Perhaps they laughed loudly in sheer joy as the Spirit resided inside them. Many perhaps danced or sang loudly. This is what many a times happen when people get baptized in the Holy Spirit. There comes release of a great deal of emotions. People laugh out of joy, sometimes they dance and spontaneously praise. Before we became Christians we enjoyed the pleasures of sin. But is Christain life supposed to be devoid of pleasure? Bored and dull and all intellectual and no emotion? Is there no more pleasure in Christian life? That is a wrong idea even many sincere Christians have. But the truth is Jesus wants to fill our life with right kind of pleasures and right kind of emotions. We don’t need to be “a prodigal son in the far country” to enjoy dancing and music when there is “dancing and music in the father’s house itself!” This kind of release of emotion cleanses us and helps us to appreciate our Lord and enjoy His grace more and more.

2.  Toward God – Rlease of Praise: When we see those who got filled with the Holy Spirit we see that they all declared the wonders of God’s praise (Ac 2:11; 10:44-46; 19:6). This helps us worshipping God not as a duty but as a devotion.

3.  Toward Church – Release of Spiritual gifts: Out of nine spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament, only one is for self, rest eight are for others and for building up the church. A church can have natural gifts or spiritual gifts or both. A church that relies on natural gifts more tends to become intellectual and middleclass because this is where you find natural gifts, for example a natural talent of singing. But gifts like prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, healing etc can make the church an exciting place to be inspiring at the presence of God and solving people’s immediate needs through the gifts. Apostle Paul said that there is one thing we most covet (eagerly desire) in our Christian life and it is spiritual gifts (1Co 14:1). Jesus releases spiritual gifts for building up His Church when he baptizes people in the Holy Spirit (Ac 19:6).

4.  Toward World – Boldness: Repeatedly we see what happened to people in NT who got baptized in the Holy Spirit as bold (Ac 4:31). Bold to proclaim Jesus to the point of martyrdom. How often we shy away from talking about Jesus to colleagues in our office, to people in our neighborhood and market place. We need boldness and the NT tells us that this comes through baptism in the Holy Spirit.

A Warning: The Devil hates us studying this subject of baptism in the Holy Spirit. Because the devil is no match for a spirit-filled believer. He does everything possible to hinder people getting filled in the Holy Spirit or even talking and thinking about it. There are some ways in which the Devil tries to do this

1.  “Be out of it”: “You have been a Christian for too long now. It is too late.” “Get upset about it and become uncomfortable.” “This is not the tradition of your denomination.”

2.  If you don’t give up his subtle lies, the devil then offers “human substitutes” and “demonic counterfeit” of what looks like a baptism in the Holy Spirit. We should not be surprised that peoples’ emotions can be stirred up by human hysteria. “Common everybody … !” We also should not be surprised that demons can give false prophecy (sorcery, fortune telling, contacting spirits) and demons can also offer healing and material blessings. We need discernments.

3.  If you still persist and by God’s grace get baptized in the Holy Spirit, the Devil can still deceive you to believe: “You are a first class citizen and those not like you, and not having gifts you have got, are inferior.” “You can do and say whatever you want!” “You can speak in tongue every time you want.” Sadly, baptism of the Holy and possession of spiritual gifts can divide the Church in stead of building her up, if those having those “gifts of the Spirit” lack “the fruit of the Spirit.”

Finally, how to go about it? How to get baptism of the Holy Spirit?

1.  Read from God’s word about what the Bible actually says about this subject of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Do not believe because your favorite preacher or author says so. Especially, soak yourself in John’s Gospel, Acts, Romans and 1&2 Corinthians and ask "Is what they believed, and how they lived and experienced for me as well?"

2.  Get some second hand experience: from those you know are baptized in the Holy Spirit. Ask them, “Tell me how did you get this? How has been your experience.” Witnessing the work of the Holy Spirit in others’ life can help us appreciate how beautiful, lovely and real these things are. Luckily we have friends like the Prayer Tower ministry and P. feroze where we can witness what people do and how the Holy Spirit is working in their lives. Just be careful that those you seek help from should be balanced meaning not only having “gifts of the Spirit” but also “fruit of the Spirit.”

3.  A bit of self examination is required as to “Do I have any prejudice about the Holy Spirit or baptism in the Holy Spirit?” “Am I afraid to be filled as if I will become out of control or unusual?” Just say in your heart, “I am ready to be a fool if Jesus tells me to be so!”

4.  Waiting: Jesus said “Wait until you receive… (Ac 1:4-5)” “Ask until you receive … (Lk 11:11-13)” Waiting is a very active posture from where comes the word “waiter” in contrast to what many of us think as waiting means doing nothing. We must go on doing what we ought to. We must go on asking with persistence before the Lord until he answers.

5. Finally, receive when it is given. A glass of water given to someone is of no use unless the person drinks it. When Jesus gives a gift use it, exercise it, develop it. God likes to give in pieces. The prophets did not know the whole picture before they started prophesying. God went on revealing things to them, as they went on speaking what was being given to them at that time and moment.