Holy Spirit Baptism by West End Church of Christ

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Holy Spirit Baptism Many religious groups, particularly Pentecostals and Charismatics, believe Holy Spirit baptism is for all believers of all ages. This has caused many to believe they have some divine grant specially given to them enabling them to speak in "tongues" and perform miraculous feats. Evangelists like Jimmy Swaggart and Oral Roberts commonly urge people to seek this Holy Spirit baptism. In this lesson we will see what biblical evidence there is for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, why it is impossible for people to receive it today, and some consequences of claiming to receive it. The West End Church of Christ is very happy to present these fifteen minute lessons each Sunday morning. We do this for only one purpose. We want to preach the truth of God's word without the restrictions of human doctrines and wisdom. We are also very deeply interested in your soul. We are convinced that there is much error being taught in the religious world. It is not that we feel we have a corner on truth -- we hold that the Bible is the only corner on truth -- we are just interested in seeing that you have the opportunity to hear the truth minus any denominational flavor. We also invite you to attend our assemblies. We meet each Sunday at 9 a.m. for Bible classes. We divide into classes for all ages and study lessons that are relevant to our every day life. Then at 10 we meet for worship. We sing praised to the Lord, pray together, give of our means, study His word and partake of the sacred memorial feast, the Lord's Supper. At 6 p.m. we meet for evening worship and at 7 p.m. each Wednesday evening for more Bible classes. We would be delighted to have you with us. Study this passage carefully. "And even now the axe lieth at the root of the tree: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the holy Spirit and in fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:10-12). There are two classes of people included in this text: the wicked and the righteous. This scene takes place at the start of the personal ministry of Christ on earth. At that time He had selected no apostles and had no followers. He speaks of a baptism where the element is fire. This is obviously for the wicked and not the righteous. Like the chaff, the wicked will be burned as the Lord purges the world. Notice that the fire baptism is not all inclusive. Not everyone is wicked, even though the majority of us are. A conclusion that affirms that all are to receive the fire baptism is obviously wrong. Equally wrong is the conclusion which affirms that all are to be baptized with the Holy Ghost. (Whether one uses the term "Ghost" or "Spirit" is irrelevant--they refer to the same divine Being, the third person in the Godhead.) Those among the righteous to be baptized with the Holy Spirit were to be special workers in the establishment of the kingdom of God among men and the spread of the gospel. Those special workers were the apostles. Not all of the disciples of Christ were even promised this Holy Ghost baptism. Christ taught the apostles personally while He was with them and knowing He would return to the Father promised them an infallible guide, the Holy Ghost. Read carefully, please, the following verses: "But the Helper, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit was to eliminate in them one of the most human of all human characteristics--a faulty memory. The things Jesus taught them could not afford to be forgotten or overlooked. Thus, the Holy Spirit was insurance that they would not forget. Nothing Jesus ever taught them was unimportant or irrelevant. It is also important to realize that when we read what these apostles later wrote, or what they said that was recorded by an inspired writer, stands on equal footing with what Jesus Himself said while with them. Another verse limited the apostles to proclaiming only what the mind of God wanted proclaimed. Please read again carefully the following verse. "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he shall guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak from himself' but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you" (John 16:13). On the day of Pentecost, one of the most honored and revered of the Jewish festivals, these very men were the recipients of these promises. They were baptized with the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus had promised at the outset of His ministry. The record of it is Acts 2:1-4 and there is one other occurrence of it found in Acts 10:35-48). In neither case did the baptism of the Holy Spirit have anything to do with personal salvation, sanctification, or cleansing. In the first instance it was designed to demonstrate that those preachers on that day were truly speaking the truth, all the truth, revealed by the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10, the baptism of the Holy Spirit was a sign to Jews that God wanted Gentiles in His church and by this convincing demonstration, convinced the Jews present at that time. When anyone today claims to have been baptized with the Holy Ghost they arrogate to themselves just about the most dangerous position imaginable. Apostles were men who spoke infallibly with no need for study. What they said did not amount to mere human wisdom or opinion, but amounted to divine legislation for all mankind. Let anyone who thinks he or she has been baptized with the Holy Spirit produce more valid proof than a mere human experience. It is just as easy to get human testimony for some quack doctor's "cure-all" as it is to get human testimony about the work of the Holy Spirit--and both fall into the same category. Modern day preachers still contend, "... the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift for every believer in Christ." The affirmation of such a conclusion is not supported by anything other than human testimony. The phrase is repeated over and over by those called "the Pentecostals" and by Pastors of the Assemblies of God. Things often repeated and repeated become very deeply ingrained in one's mind. When something is as deeply embedded as this notion that every believer receives the baptism of the Holy Ghost hardly anything will uproot it--but that doesn't keep us from making an effort. Nowhere in the Bible is there anything remotely resembling proof that every believer in Christ receives the baptism of the Holy Ghost. All believers are promised the "gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38) on the condition of sincere repentance that leads one to be baptized in water for the remission of sins. However, there is a vast difference in the gift of Acts 2:38 and the baptism of the Holy Spirit Jesus promised. If a man claims to have received some baptismal gift of the Holy Ghost surely he would not misunderstand plain Bible passages. We know the truth today because we are fully convicted that the Holy Spirit actually did guide a few men, specially chosen by the Christ, into all truth. Listen to John 16:13-- "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 show you things to come." To whom was Jesus speaking when He made this great promise? All believers? If so, then all believers must have some part in both revealing new truths and foretelling things to come. Where is the pastor or priest who will successfully prove he is being guided into new truths? Notice in the above verse the emphasis Jesus put on all truth. If believers today receive the baptismal gift of the Holy Spirit and are guided by that into more truth, then certainly the Lord was wrong when He promised those special disciples that they would be guided into all truth. Let some modern day pastor who claims he has the same gift promised here by Christ come forth and accurately tell us about the future events. The apostles also had the power to "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper, and cast out demons" (Matthew 10:6). Where is the modern day Pastor who can do any of these today? Someone may say that thousands of people are being healed today by miraculous divine healing. The healing lines of so-called "faith healers" are long and their claims are even longer, but they are simple fakes. Oral Roberts claims he has raised dead people. Does anyone seriously believe such a thing? There is a standing proposition this church offers and we will stand by it. It is a simple but very fair one. Here it is: We will meet any healer at any graveyard or mortuary in the country and after they raise the first dead person we will raise the next two. Or, let one claiming the same power the apostles had raise a dead body back to life where there are impartial witnesses to verify it. Men who claim they have been baptized in the Holy Ghost should find this extremely inviting as well as easy. The apostles were told they were to go forth with the gospel and that signs would follow them. "They will cast out demons, they will speak in tongues, they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison it shall not hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover" (Mark 16:17- 18). Several facts are extremely important about this passage. Notice them: 1. Look at the "they will" actions -- cast out demons, speak with new tongues and (here is where many so-called Pentecostals balk) they will pick up serpents. There is no "if" in the phrase involving snakes any more than there is in the phrase involving speaking in a new tongue. Graveyards hold a number of men and women, boys and girls, who were led to think they had the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and to prove it picked up a deadly rattler, only to die. 2. Verse 20 shows the purpose of these manifestations. "And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed." If you notice carefully the tense of the verbs in that sentence you will see that they describe completed action. What further confirmation is needed today to prove the Bible is truth? Apparently these so-called Pentecostals need more than the Bible. Anyone today who makes the claim that "the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift for every believer in Christ" ought to be so convincing and strong in his conviction he would defend it openly. However, we all know that most of those who make such unfounded and unscriptural assertions will not publicly defend what they teach. There is scarcely a man among those claiming Holy Ghost baptism who would privately or publicly try to defend his claim by the Bible. When you read your Bible about miracles of healing, speaking in tongues, or the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you are reading about what has happened and served their purposes -- not what is promised to every believer in every age. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was never promised in regard to salvation from sins, was not intended for all believers, and was limited to the time when the New Testament was in the formative stage and when the New Testament was completed, the gift was never received by anyone. Modern day tongue or gibberish speakers to the contrary, notwithstanding. Please note the following diagrams. Holy Ghost Baptism. Administered only by Christ (Matthew 3:11; John 15:26). Not for remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 10:47-48). Not for all believers (Acts 1:5). A Promise -- not a command (Acts 1:6). Promised within a limited time (Acts 1:5). To Empower the Apostles as witnesses (Acts 1:7-8). Water Baptism. Administered by Apostles (Matthew 28:19-20). For the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). For all believers (Mark 16:15-16). A command -- not a promise (Acts 10:48). Not limited to a specific time (Matthew 28:20). No special or miraculous powers. Paul said, "there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:4). Obviously since Holy Ghost baptism was never promised to all believers, and since all men are required to be baptized, water baptism is the one baptism of Ephesians 4:4. Those who contend that all believers may still be baptized in the Holy Ghost today have two baptisms -- not just one. They have both water baptism, which they say is commanded to all men, and Holy Ghost baptism, which is available for all believers. That makes two baptisms -- one more than Paul had. If you have any question at all about this topic, or if you would like extra study materials on it, contact us. You can write us at West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Dr., Bowling Green, KY. 42101. Until the next time we have this opportunity to be with you by radio, may God richly bless you and yours. Good bye. Radio Sermon No. 38