‘HE THAT
IS BAPTIZED WITH THE SPIRIT NEEDS NO BAPTISM OF WATER.’
By
R. GOVETT.
MANY
say so: but is it true?
Do such
understand, what is the Scripture meaning of the baptism of the Spirit?
With most it seems
to have two significations. (1) As applied to the unconverted,
it is generally understood to mean, conversion. (2) As applied to the converted,
it is regarded as meaning the increase of faith and feeling of zeal, love,
energy in the work of God.
But are these its
meanings in the Word of God? No. Most confound the regeneration
of the Spirit with, His baptism. But the regeneration of
the Spirit is quite a different thing from the baptism of the
Spirit. A man must be born
before he can be baptized; so also he must be begotten
of the Spirit before he is baptized in the Spirit.
What then is the
meaning of the baptism of the Spirit?
Let us look at the
passages which speak of it.
1. The first
occasion is found in John Baptist's words to the Jews.
“I indeed immerse you in water unto
repentance; but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am
not worthy to bear: He shall immerse you in the Holy Ghost and, in fire" Matt. 3: 11.
Now does this mean
that Jesus would convert those who received John’s
message? Nay: if they received John’s
message and were baptized, they were already repentant, converted,
and forgiven. They confessed their
sins and were immersed; in token of their cleansing entirely from sin. This was the design of God's sending John the
Baptist. “And
thou child shalt be called the prophet of the Highest, for thou shalt go before
the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation
to His people by the remission of their sins” Luke 1: 77; 3: 3. But John
speaks of the baptism of the Spirit as something yet future; something over
which he had not power, while Jesus had.
An example of it
was first given in the Saviour's case. He
was immersed into the
That promise of the baptism of the Spirit was
fulfilled at Pentecost.
Jesus prepared His
disciples for it, just before He left them. He commanded them “not
to depart from
Accordingly, ten
days after, Jesus having ascended to the Father, the Holy Ghost was sent down. He came in wind and fire; and at once the
whole hundred and twenty disciples began to speak in languages they had never
learned. That was the baptism of power. It did not regenerate them; they were already
regenerate. It was not an inward invisible sanctifying; it was
the Holy Ghost coming upon them visibly, and in the
tongues of fire communicating supernatural gifts; as tongues, prophecy,
healing. That was the promise of the
Father, which Jesus having received had poured out: Acts
2: 33. For He alone had power
over the Spirit.
Peter explaining
the matter to the doubters and scoffers tells them, that this manifestation had
been already foretold in their prophet Joel. He had said, that in a day to come, Jehovah
would pour out of His Spirit, and the result would be prophecy, visions,
dreams of God: Acts 2: 17-19.
2. The second instance of the [Holy] Spirit's baptism, is on the occasion of Peter's preaching to the
Gentiles. He goes at the Spirit's
command to the Roman Cornelius, and preaches the Gospel to him and his friends.
They receive it. “While Peter yet spake
these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word ... For they (the Jewish brethren who came with Peter) heard them speak with tongues, and
magnify God:” Acts 10: 44, 46.
‘But this
(it may be said) is not called the baptism of the
Spirit.' Yea, but it is; in the
next chapter.
There we read, that
when Peter afterwards went to
That work of the Holy Ghost, then, was his
baptism: it was the communication of
supernatural powers, as in the former case. It was a
gift poured out on those who believed, and so were regenerate.
Now what does
Peter say to Cornelius and those present on that occasion? If he had been of the mind of many now, he
would have said – ‘Since these have received
the, baptism of the Spirit, they need no baptism of water.’
Says he so?
Nay, the very
reverse!
“Then answered Peter - Can any forbid the water, that these should not be immersed who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we:” 47. (Greek.)
That is - Peter
makes the baptism of the Spirit the reason why the receivers should be immersed
in water.
3. There is but
one other passage which speaks directly of the baptism of the Spirit. It is found in 1 Cor. 12, where the Apostle Paul is speaking of the
supernatural gifts. He gives directions
where one speaking by inspiration of evil spirits can be distinguished from one
inspired by the Holy Ghost: verses 1-3. He then speaks of “the
manifestation of the Spirit” imparted to each believer
there, and how useful it was. He enumerates some of the many supernatural gifts then bestowed; and we read of
healings, miracles, tongues, and the translation of tongues.
“For in one Spirit were we all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or freemen; and were all
made to drink one Spirit:” 1 Cor. 12: 13. (Greek.)
This, then,
confirms what has been said before about the [Holy] Spirit's baptism, as the communication of
supernatural power, whereby the Lord raised up prophets and apostles, workers
of miracles, gifts of healing: verses 28-30.
And these gifts
generally were bestowed at once after immersion in water, by the laying on of
the hands of apostles.
Thus Peter says:-
“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 [of Joel just
quoted, ver. 17-19] is unto you [Jews] and to your
children, and to all that are afar off, [Gentiles,] even as many as the Lord our God shall call:” Acts 2: 38, 39.
“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 8: 15-17.
[* Or more accurately - 'a
holy spirit.' There is no article. The Holy Ghost dwelt within the believers
before; this gave power, the gifts are also called “spirits:”
1 Cor. 14: 12, marg.]
Similarly, Acts 19: 1-7.
Here, then,
friend, is not your plea laid low?
1. You affirm,
that ‘you have the Spirit's baptism.’ It is not true! None now possess it.
2. But even if you
had it, that, instead of being a Scriptural reason why you should not be
immersed in water, is a reason why you should be. Peter commands in the name of the Lord, that
Cornelius and his friends who had been baptized of the Holy Ghost should be
immersed in water: Acts 10: 48.
3. Are you a
believer? Really regenerate by the Holy
Ghost? Then Christ calls you to obey His command of baptism in water. Jesus, in spite of being circumcised as an
infant, was immersed in water when He became a man. Circumcision did not supply the place of
baptism, as some affirm. Paul is commanded by Ananias
to submit to baptism of water after he is converted, and the Saviour's command
was obeyed by the disciple.
Now Paul says:-
“BE YE FOLLOWERS (IMITATORS) OF
ME, EVEN AS ALSO I AM OF CHRIST:” 1 Cor. 11: 1.
Now Jesus was
immersed in
Behold, then, God
is trying His people! Will they obey His
commands? Jesus commands His messengers
to preach the Gospel, and immerse* those who
receive it: Matt. 28.
[
* Of the sense of this Greek word
take the following examples from Josephus:-
“As our ship was drowned (baptized)
in the Adriatic Sea, we that were in it, being about
six hundred in number, swam for our lives all the night:” Life of
Josephus, § 3.
“The child (Aristobulus) was
sent by night to
‘But is it not proved that - baptism is pouring, by that
phrase which occurs so frequently - ‘the pouring
out of the Holy Ghost?’’’ Acts 2: 17, 18, 33.
No, it is not. The pouring out is in order to the baptism,
but it is not the baptism. Baptism is
never said to be pouring; pouring is never said to be baptism. If I bid my
servant fill my bath with water, the pouring in pail after pail is in order to
my bathing but it is not my bathing. Until
it is proved that the pouring is the baptism, nothing is effected
on that point.
In Mark the
Scripture presents especially the persons to be baptized. They are first to believe the good tidings,
then to be immersed; and then they may be certain that they shall be saved*: Mark 16: 16.
[* The salvation here is a future salvation, and not
eternal salvation by the grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus.]
When the Holy
Spirit descends, and the inquiry goes up from souls convicted – ‘What are we to do?’ the answer given of the Holy Ghost
is – “Repent, and be baptized every one of you
unto the remission of sins!” When
Saul the persecutor is arrested by the grace of God, and his cry ascends – “Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do?” the answer is –
“And now why tarriest
thou? Arise, and be baptized!” Acts 22:
16.
The Lord censures
strongly those of
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