Water OR Holy Spirit Baptism? By William J. Stewart The necessity of baptism is evident to any honest Bible student, as dozens of New Testament texts require it. However, some will dispute whether it is water or Holy Spirit baptism required. Well address this question today. Here are some texts that Ive been told are Spirit, not water baptism: • Mark 16:16 • Acts 2:38, 41 • Acts 22:16 • Romans 6:3-4 • 1 Corinthians 12:13 • Galatians 3:27 Before we look at these, consider a few important principles for Bible study. 1. Do not place a figurative meaning on a text unless the context demands it. 2. Understand words in their normal and primary meaning, unless the context demands otherwise. 3. Interpret an ambiguous text by the use of related plain and clear texts. Since none of the texts listed specify water or Holy Spirit baptism, we must determine from the common use of the word baptize and the consistent teaching of the Scriptures what is spoken of in a particular text. The Greek baptizo is defined by Strongs as to immerse, submerge, make whelmed. It is used in the Bible of the Holy Spirit and of fire (Luke 3:16), ceremonial washing (Luke 11:38), suffering (Luke 12:50), a figure of water baptism (1 Corinthians 10:2), and of water baptism (Acts 8:36). So, which of these is the common usage for the word? It is overwhelmingly used to describe baptism in water. In fact, of the 49 times that baptizo is definitively described, 42 are of water baptism. Thats over 85%! Without a doubt, the common usage of the word deals with water. [NOTE, this doesnt account for words derived from baptizo] Holy Spirit Baptism What is Holy Spirit baptism? John said that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). In Acts 1:4-5, Jesus spoke of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the Promise of the Father (cf. Luke 24:49). The apostles were to remain in Jerusalem, where they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. In describing the baptism of the Spirit, the Lord said, ...you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you... (Acts 1:8) In Acts 2, ...there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:3-4) Such an outpouring is not seen again until Acts 10. There, Peter went to the Gentiles and as he was speaking to them ...the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ...the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ..they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. (Acts 10:44-46) “...the common usage of the word baptizo deals with water.” This was not the norm! It astonished Peters companions! To the brethren at Jerusalem, Peter said, ...the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 11:15-16) People were added to the church daily (Acts 2:47). If the baptism of the Holy Spirit was part of this, Peter would refer to what happened over and over, but he didnt. He spoke of what happened to him and the other apostles at the beginning. It did not bring to mind a group saved last week, but the words spoken by the Lord years earlier. All indications in this text is that the baptism of the Spirit (a miraculous receipt apart from the laying on of the apostles hands) was not commonplace. It happened just twice, Acts 2 & 10. With references to baptism of the Holy Spirit being so rare, and the occurrence of the baptism of the Spirit happening just twice, it is logical to assume that the texts listed above refer to water baptism, not Spirit baptism. But to avoid all doubt, lets look at each text in its context and in light of the whole Bible. Mark 16:16 & Acts 2:38 Jesus said, He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. In Matthew 28:19, the parallel to this text, the apostles are commanded to make disciples of the nations. How? Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Recall, the baptism of the Spirit was a promise (Acts 1:4), not a command. Here the apostles are commanded to do something, baptize the people. With the Holy Spirit baptism, the Spirit of God acted alone. Acts 2:38 is our first opportunity to see what the Lord commanded in Mark 16:16 in action. Having learned that they had crucified their Savior, the people asked what they should do. Peter did not tell them to wait, and the Holy Spirit would come upon them. He told them to take action: Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) The baptism of the Holy Spirit took place at the beginning of this chapter. Is Acts 2:38 consistent with his own experience? Did he tell the people to wait or to act? Where are the tongues of fire? Why is the crowd not speaking in tongues? Did Peter command the Spirit to come upon the people, or did he command the people to be immersed in water? If this is Holy Spirit baptism, then of necessity, the apostles had power to command the Holy Spirit! What a blasphemous thought! Were told, ...those who gladly received his word were baptized... (Acts 2:41) They were commanded to be baptized, and so they did, in water, for the remission of sins. We will continue to look at the New Testament command for baptism next week, and see a consistent pattern of water baptism. Water OR Holy Spirit Baptism? Pt. 2 By William J. Stewart LLast week we considered the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and whether Mark 16:16 & Acts 2:38, 41 are speaking about the baptism of the Holy Spirit or water baptism. Today, we will look at the texts listed below, which some have claimed to be Holy Spirit baptism rather than water baptism. • Mark 16:16 • Acts 2:38, 41 • Acts 22:16 • Romans 6:3-4 • 1 Corinthians 12:13 • Galatians 3:27 Acts 22:16 In Acts 22, the apostle Paul recounts his own conversion to Christ. Ananias was sent to Saul, and after speaking with him, commanded him to arise and be baptized. We noted last week, Holy Spirit baptism was a gift, not a command. Ananias did not promise that the Spirit would come upon him, he urged him to act - he needed to arise and be baptized. Did Paul receive the Holy Spirit? Absolutely. In Acts 9:17, Ananias said he was sent to Saul that he might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Verse 18 speaks of his baptism, again he arose and was baptized. What is the context of this statement? It is in response to Ananias command that he arise and be baptized. Saul obeyed a command - a command to be baptized in water. Acts 22:16 says the result of Paul being baptized was that his sins would be washed away. Recall, last week we saw the same result in Acts 2:38. What baptism was found there? Water baptism. Romans 6:3-4 Paul does not tell us if the baptism he speaks of is in water or the Holy Spirit. However, by looking at how the word baptism is used in the text, we can understand what the text is speaking about. Paul says that our baptism is akin to the Lords death, burial and resurrection. The baptism referred to here is a burial, which was followed by a raising. Does that fit Holy Spirit baptism or water baptism? Which is a burial? From which are we raised up? In Acts 8:38, were told that both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. A verse later, it says, they came up out of the water. The eunuch was buried in the water, and then raised up from the same. Where is Holy Spirit baptism ever identified as a burial and resurrection? 1 Corinthians 12:13 1 Corinthians 12:1 shows that the context of this text addresses spiritual gifts. However, that does not necessitate that the baptism spoken of is Holy Spirit baptism. Note what Paul said: For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. “Paul says that our baptism is akin to the Lords death, burial and resurrection.” We noted last week what the result of Holy Spirit baptism was. Both Acts 2:4 and Acts 10:46 show the recipients speaking in tongues immediately. But not all who received the baptism spoken of in this text spoke in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:4-10). Paul says all were baptized into one body. The body he speaks about is the church, which is identified as the Lords body (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23). So the question is, how are we added to Christ? Did we not just see that in Romans 6:3-4? We were baptized into Christ Jesus. Last week, Acts 2:38, 41, 47 spoke about folks being added to the church by being baptized. In both Romans 6:3-4 and Acts 2:38ff, the baptism under consideration is water, not Holy Spirit baptism. This being the case, consistency would tell us that 1 Corinthians 12:13 is water baptism. Galatians 3:27 The alert Bible student will notice of this text that the wording is parallel to that which is seen in Romans 6:3-4. It speaks of those who were baptized into Christ. In Romans 6:3-4, those who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. Paul went on to speak of baptism as a burial - a fit description of water, not Holy Spirit baptism. We looked at Mark 16:16 last week, which tells us that we must believe and be baptized. Both are spoken of here as well. In verse 26, Paul said that we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Verse 27 then tells us how this was accomplished, being baptized into Christ. As we noted last week, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift, not a command. When baptism is commanded, we can know for certain it is water baptism. And when baptism is referenced in the New Testament regarding salvation, we have seen in our study that it is not Holy Spirit baptism, but water baptism.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 08:59:54 +0000
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