BAPTISM
of the
HOLY SPIRIT
These resources have been compiled to explain why Christians seek the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as a separate event from salvation and why we believe the evidence for this baptism continues to be speaking in tongues, as it was in the days of the early Church. You can share this page or download/print the PDF below.
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It is a gift available to all believers.
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On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. - Acts 1:4 (NIV)
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” - Acts 2:38-39 (NIV)
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It is bestowed by Jesus.
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“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” - Matthew 3:11-12 (NIV)
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It is an immersion (though not into water).
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“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” - Matthew 3:11-12 (NIV)
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It is an anointing (though not of oil).
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“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free..." - Luke 4:18 (NIV)
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Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Moreover, I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. - 2 Cor 2:21-22 (NIV)
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It is an event of supernatural power.
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"I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." - Luke 24:49 (NIV)​
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"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." - Acts 1:8 (NIV)
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It is received after salvation and is confirmed by speaking in tongues.
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When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. - Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)​
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When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” - Acts 8:14-19 (NIV)
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While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. - Acts 10:44-46 (NIV)
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Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. - Acts 19:4-7 (NIV)
What are Some benefits of Spirit Baptism?
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It brings the Gifts of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12 (link to full passage)​
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It brings power for life and ministry.
"I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." - Luke 24:49 (NIV)
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On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. - Acts 1:4 (NIV)
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Speaking in tongues strengthens the speaker, and with interpretation, brings revelation.
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Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. - Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
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Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. - 1 Corinthians 14:4-5 (NIV)
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But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. - Jude 20-21
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Speaking in tongues helps us speak to God, and praise and thank Him.
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For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. - 1 Corinthians 14:2 (NIV)
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For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. - 1 Corinthians 14:13-15 (NIV)
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Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. - 1 Corinthians 14:16-17 (NIV)
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"(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" - Acts 2:11 (NIV)
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While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. - Acts 10:44-46 (NIV)
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Tongues is a sign to unbelievers.
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Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. - 1 Corinthians 14:22 (NIV)
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Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”—but they would not listen. - Isaiah 28:11-12
How do I receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
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Make sure that you are a born-again believer in Christ. If not, confess your sins and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior
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If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. - Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)​
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Ask Jesus Christ to baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
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“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” - Luke 11:9-13 (NIV)
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Stop praying in English and begin to speak in tongues as the Spirit enables you.
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All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. - Acts 2:4 (NIV)
How can I learn more?
Sermons explaining more on the topic of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Sharon Mullins
Run Time: 37 Min 14 Sec
Spiritual Gifts
Pastor David Robbins
Run Time: 1 hr, 44 minutes, and 7 seconds
Sermon begins: 1:11:05
The Christian View of the Holy Spirit
Dr. Randy Colver
Run Time: 1 hr, 51 minutes, and 31 seconds
Sermon begins: 58:36