Introduction: Jesus was given the Spirit in full measure (RSV), no limit. (
John 3:34). There are three measures of the Holy Spirit:
- The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
- Terminology from Romans 8:9 (RSV)
- Received at baptism (Acts 2:38)
- The Baptism with the Holy Spirit
- Characteristics in Acts 2 and Acts 10
- Promise (not command): Acts 1:4-5
- Predicted (prophesied)
- Came without warning. (People were not specifically praying for it.)
- Languages
- Purpose: to usher in the Kingdom with power (Acts 1:8)
- Accounts of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
- To the Jews — in Jerusalem (Acts 2)
- To the Gentiles — begins with Cornelius (Acts 10)
- Note: Cornelius and his household were water baptized in Acts 10:48, saved at baptism.
- Peter explained actions to the Jews. (Acts 11:1-18)
- "At the beginning" (Acts 11:15)
- Peter gives the "keys to the Kingdom" to both Jews and Gentiles.
- Does the Baptism with the Holy Spirit still exist today? Ephesians 4:4-6: There is one baptism — which one? (Written about 60-62 A.D.). There are three options:
- John's baptism — Passed when the new covenant began. (Acts 19:1-5)
- The Baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2 and Acts 10) — is no longer present as it was a prophecy/promise that has been fulfilled. It was never a general command for all Christians.
- Baptism with water in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus commanded this baptism. (Matthew 28:18-20)
- This baptism is recorded all the way through the book of Acts and the Epistles. In fact, Peter was present for all the baptisms: John's baptism, both accounts of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and preached water baptism in the name of Jesus in Acts 2 (33 A.D.) and in 1 Peter 3:18-21 (written around 64 A.D.), well after all the events of the book of Acts.
- It had to be the one baptism of Ephesians 4:4-6 as it was the only one practiced by 60-62 A.D. when Ephesians was written.
- The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit (next lesson)
- Received by the apostles' laying on of hands
- No longer present today