149. Baptized with Holy Spirit
Acts 1:5; 11:16 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence….John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
The promise is that we shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. This baptism is distinguished from and in addition to baptism with water, but also it is connected to water baptism. Jesus also says we must be “born of water and the spirit, “ [John 3:5], which is equated with being “born from above.” This promise of Jesus changes the baptism of repentance unto the forgiveness of sins by John into a miraculous entering of HS into the baptized person.
When we were baptized with water the Holy Spirit also comes into us and enters into a cleansed vessel, cleansed from sin. When Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan the Holy Spirit then also descended upon Him. Our baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is like Jesus’ baptism; this is using water and the Word. John’s baptism of people other than Jesus was with water. Since Jesus’ resurrection He is able to pour out HS, and so from now on the Spirit comes with the water and the Word, and He fills the baptized believer (HS grants faith for the infant or the adult in Baptism). Peter says in Acts 2:38: “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.”
To be baptized with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with HS. When a person is converted to faith in Jesus Christ it is by the action of HS; thus HS is already present and active in the conversion of repentance and faith, for no man is able to believe by himself without the working of HS. These 3000 people on the Day of Pentecost were already convicted and believing by the power of HS; now they are baptized and with the baptism will receive the gift of HS. This is no half measure, but it is a filling or a “baptism with.”
When one is baptized and believes he has all of God. Every baptized person needs to grow in the knowledge and awareness of that filling, and what it means. This kind of growing never stops nor ever reaches fulfillment, but the growing comes out the filling that has already occurred. The truth is that we are already filled according to the promise. Through life the indwelling Spirit will touch the soul from time to time and we may “feel” more full, but we do not receive more Spirit; we are already full, immersed, or flooded. Believing the promise is more lasting than the occasional feeling of it. The baptizing is full; we are not refilled. This is seen by faith, not by sight or feeling.