Baptized By One Spirit
Baptized By One Spirit
The beloved apostle Paul wrote to the church in the ancient city
of Corinth and said, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body, whether {we be} Jews or Gentiles, whether {we be} bond or free;
and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (I Corinthians 12:13).
Then he added, "For the body is not one member, but many" (verse 14).
Do you understand this to mean that the entire body of believers in
Corinth had received Holy Spirit baptism? If so, you misunderstand it,
dear friend. Stay tuned and study -- we will investigate it further.
But first, again let me warmly invite you and your family to visit
the West End Church of Christ today. We begin Bible study at 9 a.m. --
just under an hour from now. During this period of time we divide into
various classes, usually by age grouping, and some very fine teachers
conduct stimulating discussion of various biblical themes. At 10 this
morning we meet for our congregational worship. We partake of the
Lord's Supper, sing praises to the Lord, pray together, give of our
means, and honor the sacred Godhead by teaching the word of God. Then
tonight we meet again at 6 p.m. for evening worship. Wednesday night at
7 p.m. we have more classes for all ages. We urge you to come and visit
with us if you possibly can.
Would you, or someone you know, like to read a tract that refutes
some of the false notions about so-called “divine healing?” If so, we
are offering a free tract titled, “I Received a Healing Cloth,” by Mr.
V.E. Howard. Please let us know if you would like to read it. We will
send it to you post paid.
Throughout our study of the biblical information relative to Holy
Spirit baptism we have clearly seen that it was something very special,
something God Almighty limited to the first century, and could not
possibly experienced today (in truth, that is). Our reasons for this
are simple. And, as I go over some of these things again, would you do
me a very small favor -- especially if you believe that you have been a
recipient of this magnificent experience? Be as honest as you can
possibly be and see if you really believe it is possible that the
following passages apply to you, or to anyone today.
Jesus said, in John 16:7-14, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth;
It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the
Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto
you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of
righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of
judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many
things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he,
the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he
shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, {that} shall
he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for
he shall receive of mine, and shall shew {it} unto you." Think about it
a moment: can anyone today claim to be completely guided into all the
truth by the direct enabling power of the Holy Spirit? If so, of what
use is the Bible? Or, possibly you have heard men make the blasphemous
claim, "I can get along without the Bible very well -- I am led by the
Spirit."
Again, notice the statement of Christ to His apostles. Luke
24:46-49 reads, "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it
behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And
that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name
among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these
things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry
ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on
high." Is there an honest person who would claim to be "clothed" with
the same power Jesus promised His apostles? Jesus said to the very same
apostles, "And, being assembled together with {them}, commanded them
that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of
the Father, which, {saith he}, ye have heard of me. For John truly
baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not
many days hence" (Acts 1:4-5). Do you know that this is the one time
that Jesus mentioned Holy Spirit baptism? He never used the phrase
other than on this occasion. Do you know also that this was said only
to the apostles and not to another single individual in the world?
Thus, this is the promise of divine guidance into all the truth promised
in John 16. Can anyone honestly say they received the same thing today?
One of the reasons why people misunderstand this topic is because
they have been misled to think that Holy Spirit baptism is truly
available today. Witness those who handle poisonous snakes and die.
Who can question their convictions? But there is but little difference
between the fanaticism of a snake handler and one who still prays for
Holy Spirit baptism. Both misunderstand Holy Spirit baptism to be
something that would grant them some great power, some great feeling,
some ecstatic emotional upheaval that allows them to speak in tongues,
heal sick people, and cast out evil spirits. But all such is a
spiritual fantasy world. It is not reality. Here is an example of how
dangerous it can be. The late Robertson L. Whiteside wrote of one man
he heard say, "If Jesus Christ was to come down the aisle, and tell me
that I was wrong, I would tell him he did not know what he was talking
about." Robertson commented, "And when a man can say, as one said to
me, that he had an unction from on high and did not need any body to
teach him, and that he could get along without the Bible as well as with
it, it is time we are doing all we can to recover people from such
blasphemous foolishness." Doctrinal Discourses, page 185-186.
Regardless of what is meant by "by one Spirit" were we all
baptized into one body," it cannot possibly mean that people today
receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit that enabled the apostles to
reveal all the truth. In fact, the expression "by one Spirit" means
simply, by means of the one Spirit. The one Spirit is the Holy Spirit.
And all who are baptized into the body of Christ are baptized by the
Holy Spirit -- but this cannot be Holy Spirit baptism. Notice that
Jesus said to the Pharisees who asked Him, "What think ye of Christ?
whose son is he? They say unto him, {The Son} of David" (Matthew 22:42)
He responded, "How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The
Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine
enemies thy footstool?" (verses 43, 44). The expression "in the Spirit"
means very simply that David by means of the Spirit called his distant
offspring his Lord.
But in the same context, I Corinthians 12, the phrase "by the
Spirit" is used several times, always in reference to the means by which
the Holy Spirit did something. In I Corinthians 12:3 Paul shows that no
man can call Jesus either Lord or accursed except "by the Spirit," i.e.,
the Spirit's revelation. We might also add that no one can be baptized
into the body of Christ except through the revealed truth from the Holy
Spirit. Through the Holy's Spirit's guidance, Peter said, "Repent, and
be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost"
(Acts 2:38). And to the Jews with him at the house of Cornelius, the
first Gentile convert to Christ, he asked, "Can any man forbid water,
that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as
well as we?" (Acts 10:47). Then notice the next verse, "And he
commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they
him to tarry certain days." Through the Spirit's instructions,
Cornelius and his family were baptized into the one body -- the body of
Christ.
Being baptized by the Spirit does not mean being filled with the
Spirit. Notice closely in the text that Paul added, "and have been all
made to drink into one Spirit." This is figurative language. One
cannot literally drink into the Spirit. But figuratively, the baptized
believers can grow through the Spirit's revelation, the New Testament.
It is the same as Peter's statement in I Peter 2:2, "As newborn babes,
desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." But one
who is filled with the Spirit cannot drink into anything -- it would be
impossible to drink more if one was completely filled with the Spirit.
And surely the advocates of modern day Holy Spirit baptism do not
believe the Spirit just partially fills those whom He baptizes!
The Corinthians were baptized by Paul -- not the Holy Spirit.
Notice Acts 18:8. "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue,
believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians
hearing believed, and were baptized." And Paul, although he did not
know all whom he immersed into the body of Christ, did remember that he
had "baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not
whether I baptized any other" (I Corinthians 1:16). So, the Corinthians
were baptized into the body, by Paul who followed the Spirit's
instructions. And, dear friend anyone now who wants to be part of the
body of Christ must follow those same instructions. I hope and pray you
will be honest enough to lay aside the things that mislead and deceive
and accept the simplicity of Gospel Truths and obey it now. There is
nothing more satisfying or important.
Should you disagree with anything said on this broadcast, or any
other we produce, let us know. Respectful disagreement is healthy. You
can write us at West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Drive,
Bowling Green, Ky. 42101. Till next time, I sincerely pray for you to
be blessed and happy and safe so that you may learn the will of the
Almighty and do it. Good bye and God bless you.
Radio Sermon No. 12
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Lyrics, Chords Tabs Rated
Children's NT Studies
