The Holy Spirit Baptizes Believers

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is more in-depth. The Holy Spirit indwells believers- John 14:17, Romans 8:9. The Holy Spirit also gives gifts to believers- 1st Corinthians 12:4-7, 1st Corinthians 12:1. The Holy Spirit regenerates- John 6:63, 2nd Corinthians 3:6. The Holy Spirit convicts- John 16:8-11. The Holy Spirit intercedes for believers, empowers and fills believers. There is more to be said about the ministry of the Holy Spirit, today we focus on how the Holy Spirit baptizes believers.

Note: The baptism in the Holy Spirit may be defined as that work whereby the Spirit of God places the believer into union with Christ and into union with other believers in the body of Christ at the moment of salvation. The baptism in the Holy Spirit was predicted by John the Baptist and by Jesus before He ascended to heaven.

Mark 1:8- As for me, I baptized you (who came to me) with water (only); but He will baptize you (who truly repent) with the Holy Spirit.

This promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Read Acts 2:1–4); for the first time, people were permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and the church had begun.

All believers have been baptized by the Spirit….

1st Corinthians 12:12-13- For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form (only) one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For by one (Holy) Spirit we were all baptized into one body, (spiritually transformed—united together) whether Jews or Greeks (Gentiles), slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one (Holy) Spirit (since the same Holy Spirit fills each life).

The members of the Body of Christ are united as one body called, “the church,” and Jesus Christ is the exalted Head of the Church…..

Matthew 3:11- “As for me, I baptize you with water because of (your) repentance (that is, because you are willing to change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life), but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier (more powerful, more noble) than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove (even as His slave); He will baptize you (who truly repent) with the Holy Spirit and (you who remain unrepentant) with fire (judgment).

Note: In John’s Gospel, we’re told that Jesus gives two gifts to His people: the removal of sin and the baptizing with the Holy Spirit. These two gifts are interwoven all throughout Scripture and brought to their fulfillment in Christ.

John 1:29, & v.33- The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! V.33- I did not recognize Him (as the Messiah), but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this One is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

Every Christian is baptized in the Holy Spirit, for no one can belong to Christ without also possessing the indwelling Spirit (read Rom. 8:9). But not every Christian reading this right now is enjoying the fullness that the Spirit brings.

Spiritual fullness is obligatory, not optional. The Holy Spirit is a vital necessity for every child of God…..

Indeed, we’re all baptized into the same Spirit, but not all of us are filled to the same extent. As we thirst for more of God, we can look forward to Christ’s promise being realized in our lives. As our Lord Himself said, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (read John 7:38).

The baptism of the Holy Spirit does two things, 1. It joins us to the body of Christ, and 2. It actualizes our co-crucifixion with Christ.