Baptism of The Holy Spirit-Verses
The
only way to become one with Christ is to accept the Holy Spirit, for without
the Spirit no one will ever know Jesus Christ as their Savior (1Co 12:3). We
must become spiritually alive (1Co 2:13) to become spiritually one with Christ,
to become a member of His holy church (Eph 5:27). Our bodies, our hearts, must
be transformed into temples of the Spirit (1Co 3:16), so Jesus can come into
our lives, live within our hearts, make us children of our Heavenly Father (Jn 14:20). For only through the Spirit can we live in
Christ, and can Christ live in us (Ro 8:9).
The
Spirit was given to some in the Old Covenant (Ps 51:11, Lk
1:15,41,67, Jn 20:22). But
our Father promised to write the truth on the hearts and minds of His people in
the New Covenant, so they will know who their Lord is (Jer
31:33-34). This is done when the Spirit opens our minds and hearts to the Lord
(Eze 36:27,37:14, 39:29, Ro
16:25-26). Pentecost began the pouring out of the Spirit on all people (Ac 1:5,
2:1-4,17-18,39), on all nations (Ac 10:35), starting
at
We
were all born with original sin (Ps 51:5). This sin is in our flesh (Jn 3:6), retained from the first sin of Adam and Eve that
condemned all (Ro 5:12-21). While still in the womb those known by God have a
spirit mature enough to know their Lord (Ps 22:10), know right from wrong (Ps
58:3), and react to Jesus (Lk 1:44). As babes we can
praise the Lord (Matt 21:16), trust in Him (Ps 22:9). As young children we can
believe in Jesus (Matt 18:6), know Him (Matt 11:25), become one with Him (Matt
18:5), and are part of our Savior’s
Anointed – 2Co 1:21, 1Jn 2:20,27
Baptized - 1Co 12:13
Being made new – Eph 4:20-24, 2Co 5:17, Gal 6:15,
Born again,
rebirth – Jn 3:5-8,15:3, Titus 3:5, Ja 1:18,
1Pe 1:23
Renewed,
or regeneration by the Spirit
– Tit 3:5, Ro 12:2
Washed – 1Co 6:11, 12:13, Eph 5:26, Tit 3:5
After we have been
born again the Spirit continues to sanctify us (2Thes 2:13), justifying us in
the name of Jesus Christ (1Co 6:11). The Spirit sanctifies us, forgives our
sins immediately, by the faith we have in our hearts (Ac 26:18). A saving faith that creates a genuine love
for Jesus, that makes our Savior number one in our lives (Matt 10:37), that makes
us strive to obey our Lord (1Jn 2:3-6). A love that makes us sorry for our
sins, makes us want to repent of them (Ac 20:21). A love that
produces fruit (Jn 15:1-4). Sanctification
keeps all believers holy. Holy so we may continuously be one with our Lord, and
part of His Holy Christian Church. Continuously holy so Christ can always
remain in our hearts (1Pe 2:9). The Spirit also sanctifies us when we are
incapacitated (death, mental incompetence) and cannot ask to have our sins
forgiven (Ro 8:26-27). One does not have a saving faith if it does not produce
love ( 1Jn 4:8,12,21), if it is lukewarm (Rev
3:15-16), if it does not make them sincerely repentant of all their sins (Lk 18:9-14). One does not have a saving love if it produces
no actions (1Jn 3:18), if one still enjoys sinning (1Jn 3:18).
The Spirit also
works manifestations in our hearts (Jn 14:26, 1Co
2:9-13). Manifestations are when the Spirit reveals, makes clear, allows us to
see, or opens up truths to strengthen us (Eph 3:16-19). They are also the
gifts, the abilities, given by the Spirit (1Co 12:7), to do the work of the
Lord (Ro 12:6-8). The Spirit gives us manifestations throughout our lives to
encourage us (Ac 9:31), renew our faith (2Co 4:16-18), increase our knowledge
(Eph 4:20-24), and enable us to do what our Father had planned for us to do
from the beginning (Eph 2:10). The Comforter also helps us to stay in the Lord
and protects us from succumbing to the evil around us (Phil 1:6). The Spirit
can be received in different ways, in different circumstances, in different
terms. Do not be confused by different words describing how the Spirit is
given, nor perplexed when the same exact words can refer to either being born
again or receiving a manifestation. When we are given the Spirit what is being
referred to depends upon where we are spiritually. Whether one needs the faith to be born again, the transformation of
one’s mind to accept the Spirit. Or whether we have been born again and
our faith is being strengthened or gifts are being given. It isn’t important
what we call these transformations (2Cor 3:17-18). All that matters is that we
allow the Holy Spirit to rule over our hearts. The original gift of being born
again or manifestations of the Spirit can be called the same names including:
Baptized with
the Spirit (Not the same as
being baptized with water) – Matt 3:11, Mk 1:8, Lk
3:16, Jn 1:33, Ac 1:5,
Spirit comes On
You – Ac 1:8, 2:38, 11:15,
Jn 16:7
Filled with the
Spirit – Lk 1:15,41,67, Ac 2:4, 4:8,31,
9:17, 13:9,52
Given the
Spirit – Lk 11:13, Jn14:16, Ac 5:32, Ro 5:5, 1Co 2:12, 12:7-13, 2Co
5:5, 1Thes 4:8, Gal 3:5,14, Eph 1:13, 1Jn 4:13
Pour out the
Spirit – Isa 44:3, Ezk 39:29, Joel
2:28-29, Acts 2:16-17,33, 10:45, 1Ti 1:14, Tit 3:6
Received
the Spirit – Jn 7:39, 20:22, Ac 8:15-17, 10:47, 19:2, Gal 3:2,14, Ro 8:15, 1Co 2:12,
Send
the Spirit – Jn 14:26, 15:26
The
gift of the Spirit is given at different times in our lives. Some accept the
Holy Spirit as babes (Lk 1:15), others never accept
the Holy Spirit until they are ready to die (Lk
23:42-43). Many will have more time to be exposed to the Spirit (Matt 13:11-12,16-17) for others this could be the last opportunity to
accept the Holy Spirit before this gift is taken from them (Ro 1:28, 2Thes
2:9-12). Many are still waiting to have the Word brought to them (
The
Spirit is given in different intensities. Some are physically aroused,
including talking in tongues (Ac 2:4), talking in many languages (Ac 10:46).
Others with joy accept the Spirit into their hearts (Ac 16:34), others go on
their way rejoicing (Ac 8:39). Paul tells us the Spirit gives us different
gifts as we come together in Christ, that not all will speak in tongues (1Co
12:8-11,27-30). That all tasks are
important, that none are menial or unimportant, that the Lord is working
through us (1Co 12:12-26), that we deserve no credit for what we are able to do
(1Co 12:12-26). We must always remember the greatest gift that will be
given to us. For all spiritual gifts will pass away except faith, hope, and love
(1Co 13:1-12). And the greatest spiritual gift is love (1Co 13:13).
We can accept or
reject the Spirit in different ways. Some do not take the time to allow the
Spirit to nurture their faith through the Scriptures, prayer, and worship.
Their faith does not become entrenched in their hearts and Satan snatches it
away (Matt 13:4,18-19). Others change their life
immediately, working diligently for the Lord, only to burn out when trials and
troubles confront them (Matt 13:5,20-21). Many accept
the Spirit, but their pleasures and wants, their struggles to keep ahead in
their daily lives are more important than the Lord. Their faith is ultimately
choked out by their worldly desires (Matt 13:7,22).
And then there are those who hearts provide good soil, who receive the love and
grace of Jesus, accept it and pass this good news on to others (Matt 13:8,23).
The
Spirit holds us in the body of Christ, allows Christ to live in us by:
Living in our
hearts to keep us in the faith
–
The Spirit’s
temple is our bodies (1Co 6:19). The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness (Gal 5:22). The Holy Spirit
produces this fruit in whose heart He lives.
Sanctifying
believers to keep them holy members of Christ’s
The Spirit talks
and intercedes with our Heavenly Father, with Jesus, to forgive our sins
immediately, before we even ask (Ro 8:26-27). Thereby sanctifying us (Ro
15:16), keeping us holy so we may spiritually live within Christ’s one
Showing the truth in the
Holy Scriptures –
The
Comforter opens our minds to the truth of God’s Word (Jn
16:12-15), calls us through the Gospel (2Thes 2:14-15). The Spirit makes the
Scriptures come alive, in emotions, thoughts, ideas, ideals that cut to bone
and marrow, can separate our spirit and soul, can save us or condemn us (Heb
4:12). This can happen only when we take the time to study the Scriptures
ourselves, asking the Spirit to guide us (1Co 2:13). Never blindly accepting
what other leaders or intellectuals say (Matt 7:22, Mk 13:22, Jn 5:37-47) but making sure the truth of God’s Word is in
our hearts.
Guiding and assuring
members of this
The
Spirit gives us courage to spread the good news of Jesus by putting words on
our lips ( Lk 12:12), an
attitude of love in our hearts (1Co 16:14), that brings souls to Christ. A love
for others (Ro 12:10) that keeps us from placing stumbling blocks in front of
those who need to know Jesus, to new believers as they come to the Lord (1Co
10:32). The Spirit gives us humility that keeps us from considering ourselves
more important, greater than others (
We
can ask the Heavenly Father to send us the Spirit, we can ask Jesus to come
into our hearts and He will send us the Spirit, or we can ask the Spirit to
open our hearts to Jesus. The words are not as important as our attitudes. We
must be humble, aware something is missing in our lives, know there is someone
greater than us ruling this world. We must accept the greatest gift we will
ever be given by allowing the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the grace of
Jesus Christ.