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July 15, 2005, Vol.4, No.14. Baptism With The Holy Spirit Part 2 Is It Needed? Keith Sharp Our Charismatic friends contend: ......that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is a needed and promised experience for every believer who will ‘tarry,’, ‘ask, seek and knock’ until they receive, and that the receiving is always evidenced by the ‘speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance.’ (J.A. Dennis, The Holy Spirit.7) We have seen that the promise of baptism with the Holy Spirit was to the apostles alone. Now let’s look at second part of the Pentecostal claim. Do all believers need baptism with the Holy Spirit? To answer this question, we must determine the purposes of this immersion. What were the purposes of Holy Spirit baptism? Witness Establishment of Kingdom Jesus promised that some hearing him would "not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power" (Mark 9:1). Not only did Christ pledge the kingdom would come within the life span of some of his audience, he also revealed how they could discern its arrival. It would come "with power." Just before Jesus’ ascension to His Father, when the apostles "had come together" with Him (Acts 1:2,6), they asked, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). The Master refused to unveil the precise time of the kingdom's establishment (verse 7). However, he promised, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you" (verse 8). This reception of the Holy Spirit was the baptism with the Holy Spirit (verses 4-5). When was the kingdom to come? When the power had come. When would the power come? When the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles. When did the Holy Spirit come upon the apostles? On the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 2:1-4). When, then, was the kingdom of God established? Upon the first Pentecost after the Lord’s resurrection. What, therefore, was the purpose of Holy Spirit baptism? To witness the fact the kingdom of God had come. Since the kingdom has been established, Holy Spirit baptism has fulfilled its purpose and ceased. Power Another purpose of Holy Spirit baptism is demonstrated in Jesus’ promise to the apostles, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you" (Acts 1:8). What power were they to receive? John chapters thirteen through sixteen are the record of a private conversation between Christ and his apostles (cf. John 13:1-30: Matthew 26:19-21). This conversation occurred immediately following what is commonly called "The Last Supper" (Johnl3:2) and after Judas had gone out to betray his Lord (John 13:21-30). Except where there is specific proof otherwise, the promises contained within this context were addressed to the apostles alone. Jesus pledged to give them "another Helper, that He may abide with you forever" (John 14:15-16). The Holy Spirit in His roll as the "Helper" ("Comforter," KJV), i.e., "helper, succorer, aider, assistant" (Thayer. 483), was never promised to anyone save the Lord’s apostles. What would the Helper do for the apostles? He was to teach them all things and give them infallible memories (John 14:26). He would testify of Christ and help the apostles bear witness to the Lord’s claims (John 15:26-27). Further, He was to help them reprove the world of the sin of not believing on Christ, of the righteousness of Jesus’ claims and of the Judgment of Satan’s power. He would guide the apostles into all truth, show them the future, and glorify Christ (John 16:7-14). Anyone who lacks any of these powers cannot claim to have received the Holy Spirit as his Helper or Comforter. Do you know all spiritual things? Do you have an infallible memory? Can you unerringly foretell the future? If you must reply "no" to any of these queries, you do not have the Holy Spirit in this sense. The apostles wrote down the knowledge, testimony and truth the Spirit of Truth revealed (Ephesians 3:1-7). The New Testament is this written revelation recorded by the apostles. When we study it we have the same knowledge in the mystery of Christ the apostles possessed (Ibid). Thus being made "complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17), what need have we for something else (cf. James 1:21; Acts 20:32)? The second purpose of Holy Spirit baptism was to give the power of the Holy Spirit as Helper to the apostles, that they might teach and write all truth. Those today who claim to have the baptism with the Holy Spirit logically claim these same apostolic powers. They declare themselves to have further revelations from God. They thus proclaim their own lack of faith in the finality and sufficiency of the New Testament. Reasons to Reject Modern Holy Spirit Baptism We will now notice a few scriptural reasons Holy Spirit baptism is not for us today. Only one baptism is in effect today (Ephesians 4:5). Our Pentecostal friends cannot scripturally practice both water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism. One or the other baptism must go. Which should we receive? New Testament baptism is a command to be obeyed (Acts 2:38), whereas Holy Spirit baptism was a promise to be received (Acts 1:4-5). One can neither receive a command nor obey a promise. The baptism with the Holy Spirit could not be the one New Testament baptism for us today. New Testament baptism is administered by men (Matthew 28:19), but baptism with the Spirit was administered directly by Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:11). Holy Spirit baptism is not the one baptism. New Testament baptism is "in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38). The Samaritans had "been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus," but the Holy Spirit "had fallen upon none of them" (Acts 8:16). Likewise, after Cornelius had already received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-45), Peter rhetorically asked, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." (Acts 10:47-48a). Furthermore, the men at Ephesus "were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus," and then, "when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them" (Acts 19:5-6). These passages demonstrate that the one baptism is different from both Holy Spirit baptism and the reception of the Holy Spirit. Rather, the one New Testament baptism in the name of the Lord is water baptism. Since there is only one baptism now in force, and since that baptism is water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism has fulfilled its purposes and ceased. (Next week will look at the case of Cornelius.)
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