Download baptizing work of the holy spirit

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BAPTIZING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
DEFINITION
The baptizing work of the Holy Spirit may be defined as that work whereby the Spirit
places the believer into union with Christ and into union with other believers in the Body
of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
EXPLANATION
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is unique to the church age.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NIV) 12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many
parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For
we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Acts 1:4-5 (NIV) 4 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. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you
will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 11:15-16 (NIV) 15 "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he
had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John
baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
The baptism of the Holy Spirit includes all believers in this age.
Romans 6:3-5 (NIV) 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into
Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through
baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory
of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in
his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
Galatians 3:26-28 (NIV) 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in
Christ Jesus.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit brings believers into union with other believers in
the Body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:13).
The baptism of the Holy Spirit brings believers into union with Christ. The very
ones that were “baptized into Christ” (Rom. 6:3) were also “united with Him” (Rom.
6:5).
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not experiential. Since this is a work done to the
believer and not by the believer, and since the baptism occurs simultaneous to salvation,
it is not experiential.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is performed by the Holy Spirit. There are not two
baptisms by the Spirit. Some groups distinguish between 1 Corinthians 12:13, “by one
Spirit,” suggesting the placing into the Body and Acts 1:5, “with the Holy Spirit,”
suggesting a subsequent act of empowering for service. However, the same Greek
preposition en is used in both phrases, and it is precarious at best to attempt a distinction
where the same Greek phrase is used in both passages. The Holy Spirit is the agent of the
baptism (Acts 1:5; 1 Cor. 12:13). (Merrill F. Unger, The Baptism and Gifts of the Holy
Spirit (Chicago: Moody, 1974))
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INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
FACT OF THE INDWELLING
John 14:16-17 (NIV) 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another
Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him,
because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and
will be in you.
The Holy Spirit is a gift.
John 7:37-39 (NIV) 37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said
in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes
in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39
By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to
that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
1 Thessalonians 4:8 (NIV) Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject
man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
1 John 4:13 (NIV) We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given
us of his Spirit.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NASB) 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ
and anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a
pledge.
The Holy Spirit is given at salvation.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NASB) 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of
truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with
the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to
the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Galatians 3:2-3 (NASB) 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you
receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so
foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
The phrase, “having also believed,” “is called by grammarians the ‘coincident’ aorist
participle because it denotes an action coincident in time with that of the main verb” (F.
F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Ephesians [London: Pickering & Inglis, 1961], p. 36).
A person not possessing the Holy Spirit is an unbeliever. Romans 8:9 emphasizes,
Romans 8:9 (NIV) You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the
Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Christ.
Jude 1:18-19 (NIV) 18 They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who
will follow their own ungodly desires." 19 These are the men who divide you, who
follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
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The Holy Spirit indwells carnal believers.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV) 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NIV) 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand
firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our
hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Romans 8:9 (NIV) You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the
Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Christ.
Holy Spirit indwells believers permanently.
Ephesians 4:30 (NIV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you
were sealed for the day of redemption.
QUESTIONS RELATED TO INDWELLING
There are a number of biblical texts that raise problems with the New Testament
teaching on the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Some of these deserve special
note.
Psalm 51:11. David’s prayer, “Do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me,” relates to the
temporary indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament economy. Following
Pentecost the indwelling of the Spirit was permanent (John 14:16).
Acts 5:32. Peter is not establishing obedience as a condition for the indwelling of the
Spirit, but rather Peter uses “obey” as a synonym for believe. The similar expression is
used in Acts 6:7, where it is clear that the meaning is faith (cf. John 3:36).
Acts 8:14–17. This was a unique situation during the transition from law to grace and
from Israel to the church. There had to be a clear evidence that the Samaritans were also
receiving the Spirit just as the Jews. This is not normative to this age. If it were
normative, then no one could receive the Spirit because it would take the apostles to
confirm the indwelling, just as they did with the Samaritans.
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SEALING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
DEFINITION
The sealing of the Holy Spirit is one of many works God performs on behalf of the
believer to secure his salvation (cf. 2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13; 4:30). The Holy Spirit is given
to the person who believes in Christ as a seal, identifying the believer as belonging to
God.
EXPLANATION
The principal idea of sealing is that of ownership. The believer is sealed with the
Spirit to identify the believer as belonging to God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NIV) 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand
firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our
hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Ephesians 4:30 (NIV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you
were sealed for the day of redemption.