LESSON THREE
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST
In this lesson we declare that God is a Spirit and that we can have His Spirit living inside of our hearts. The scripture is clear that everyone must be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Paul also related to us how the Holy Ghost is the Resurrection of Jesus applied to our lives.
Jesus Himself introduced to us the Holy Ghost as “the Promise.” Peter also called it “the Promise.” The prophet Joel prophesied hundreds of years prior to the day of Pentecost and foretold that this Promise was a ‘pouring out of the Spirit upon all people.’
The question then becomes, “How does a person know they have received the Holy Ghost which is the Spirit?” Through the scripture we will discover this powerful truth. Remember that the Gospel is: The Death, Burial and Resurrection. Everyone must experience the Resurrection; which is the Holy Ghost.
GOD IS A SPIRIT
John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
There is only One Spirit
Ephesians 4:4 “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;”
The Holy Spirit is God
1 Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
Romans 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID…
John 3:5-6 “…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
What two baptisms are mentioned?
THE PROMISE
Luke 24:47-49 “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.”
Acts 1:4-5 “…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 2:38,39 “Then Peter said unto them, 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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
TONGUES: AN OUTWARD SIGN OF THE HOLY GHOST
Acts 10:44-45 “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 10:46-47 “For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Acts 2:1-4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Mark 16:16 -17 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;”
OLD TESTAMENT & NEW TESTAMENT PROPHECIES OF THE HOLY GHOST
In the Old Testament both Joel and Isaiah prophesied about the baptism of the Holy Ghost. In the New Testament both John the Baptist and Jesus spoke about the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”
Isaiah 28:11 “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.”
Matthew 3:11 “…he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name…”
John 16:7 “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.”
BIBLE OCCURANCES OF THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY GHOST
Acts 8:14-17 “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 19:1,2 “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”
Acts 19:3,4 “And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
Acts 19:5,6 “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
THE GIFT OF TONGUES
Even though the Bible clearly speaks of the Holy Ghost as a necessity for salvation, a controversy developed over the years discouraging people from seeking for the Promise of the Holy Ghost. This development came decades after the early church was established and subsequently sought to limit the outpouring of the Spirit upon all people as prophesied by Joel.
Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth, which had already received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, describing separate gifts given to the church for the benefit of the body. There were nine gifts of the Spirit listed: one of which was the gift of tongues followed by the gift of interpretation. This “gift of tongues” was and is meant for the benefit of communicating to the Church body through the Holy Spirit. This unique gift is meant for the edification of the Body.
However, in an attempt to remove speaking in tongues in the church, an erroneous doctrine has been extrapolated from I Corinthians 12 leading people to think that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and the “gift of tongues” are the same thing and both are meant for the express purpose of interpretation.
Yet the scripture reveals that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost was accompanied, proven, and delivered through “other tongues” and that everyone should receive this Baptism of the Holy Ghost. The “gift of tongues” found in I Corinthians 12, on the other hand, was a specific gift provided by God for only a select people and was meant for the benefit of the corporate body of believers. While many have the gift of tongues and interpretation, everyone must receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Further investigation of this study can be found in David Bernard’s writing from “The New Birth Experience” which clarifies how the Gift of the Holy Ghost is the Resurrection and the gift of tongues and interpretation is a ministry to the church.
Remember Paul’s definition of the Gospel.
Everyone must die to sin.
Everyone must be buried with Christ in water baptism.
Everyone must be resurrected by the Promise of the Father, which is the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in other tongues.
Romans 8:9b “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”