Inspiration of the Bible

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

There is much confusion today about the baptism in the Holy Spirit: many Christians think it is experienced subsequent to their salvation. The biblical position teaches we ae baptized by the Holy Spirit when we believe in Christ. The Bible additionally teaches the following:

1. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a universal work of God. Every Christian who has ever been regenerated by the Spirit has been baptized in the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). If someone asks you if you have received the baptism, and you are a Christian, the answer is yes.

2. The baptism in the Holy Sprit is a nonrepeating work of God. You can only receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit as many times as you are saved – ONCE (Eph. 4:4-5).

3. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a unifying work of God. “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13). Before Pentecost, only Jews were the people of God. Since Pentecost, the people of God know no racial, ethnic, gender, or social boundaries (Gal. 3:28; Eph. 2:11-22)