Notes of Faith June 8, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: The Holy Spirit in Today’s World
September 21, 2003
THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Confusion Concerning the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
The term “Baptism with the Holy Spirit” is like raising a red flag in front of a bull in some circles – for there is no area of the ministry of the Holy Spirit that is more misunderstood today than this one. The reason for this misunderstanding may be traced to several factors:
1. The term “Baptism with the Spirit” is often confused with the filling with the Spirit.
2. The erroneous association of the baptism with the Spirit with speaking in tongues.
3. The misunderstanding of the distinction of this present Church Age.
The Meaning of the Baptism with Holy Spirit
Primarily, the Spirit’s baptism is the act whereby God makes us members of Christ’s body (I Corinthians 12:12,13). Secondarily, but not of lesser importance, the Spirit’s baptism is the act whereby God gives to the believer his position in Christ (Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:27).
The Nature of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
1. It is unique to the Church Age and is never mentioned as having occurred in the Old Testament or in the Gospels.
• The Holy Spirit could not be given before Jesus was glorified (John 7:39).
• As late as the ascension, the disciples were to wait for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4, 5, 8).
• There was no Spirit baptism until Pentecost.
• Baptism with the Holy Spirit is associated with the Body of Christ which is unique to this age – the age of the Church.
2. It occurred for the first time on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 11:15, 16).
• Jerusalem Pentecost was the fulfillment of promises in the Gospels (Matt 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33).
• Jerusalem Pentecost marked the transition point from the old to the new covenant area.
• Jerusalem Pentecost marked the birth of the Christian Church.
• Jerusalem Pentecost was an historic event – never to be repeated (it was the fulfillment of the Old Testament Feast of Pentecost).
• There was no Spirit baptism until Pentecost.
3. It is received only once by each believer upon conversion (Acts 10:44: 11:15,16). Therefore, there is only one Spirit baptism. There is no second Spirit baptism subsequent to conversion.
• It is described as a one-time event (I Cor.12:13) while the filling is repeated.
• A member of the body cannot be removed from the body and then reinstated through a rebaptism
• Scripture clearly states that there is only one baptism (Ephesians 4:5).
4. Baptism with the Spirit is universal among all believers in this age.
• Scripture plainly teaches that all believers are baptized with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9, I Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:27).
• There is no scriptural command to believers to be baptized with the Spirit. We are told that we are!
5. Baptism with the Holy Spirit is non-experiential.
• It is not based on or derived from experience.
• It occurs whether a believer is aware of it or not.
• Believers may experience the results of the baptism but not the act.
• Faith in Christ is the only condition of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39; Galatians 3:2, 13-14).
6. The results of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
• It makes us members of the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13).
• It is the union with Christ in His death making us no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:1-14).
It would be saying too much to infer that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is the most important ministry of the Spirit. It is, however, one of the most essential for reasons we have explained. This ministry places us in the Body of Christ and gives the believer his/her position in Christ. It also gives us our spiritual gift with which we serve God and one another. Do not allow yourself to become confused with some of today’s theories with this ministry.
Beloved, if you have received Christ as Savior, you have been baptized and filled with His Spirit. Our bodies are His temple. That awareness should be sobering as well as exciting. God bless.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Charles Covington
I am participating in a jail ministry and the men incarcerated shared with me that another visitor such as I, told them that if they did not speak in tongues that they had not received the gift of the Holy Spirit, had not been saved, and therefore were still headed to hell. He said that they were not members of the body of Christ, the church, had no gift(s) to use to glorify God or benefit those in the church. This is a great misunderstanding of Scripture and false teaching. I have been blessed by these men, as they struggle with their choices that led them to prison, seek to be renewed in heart and mind, so that upon being released, that they not return to the old person and sinful habits that put them in jail. There is much praising and worshipping of God. There is great hope in God for their future and how God desires to use them even now. This is the true work of the Holy Spirit, for none of them would care about God or others were it not for His work in their lives. May we recognize the truth and power of the Holy Spirit, GOD living within us, and live each day for His glory and honor!
Pastor Dale