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QUESTION 4:
Do you believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost for Christians today?

ANSWER:
I believe the question means an experience for some, whereby after salvation they receive the Spirit, and possibly speak in another language. If so, without any apology or offense, I do not. The so called "baptism OF the Spirit" is not scriptural. The Spirit does not baptize anyone. The promise of the Spirit was given in the four gospels. Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16 and John 1:33.

You will note where JESUS, and not the SPIRIT, is the Baptizer. He would baptize IN, and not BY the Spirit. This is verified in the Epistles and Romans. "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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." Romans 8:8-9.. Before salvation, a person is IN the flesh so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" Galatians 5:25. When they are saved, they are "born OF the Spirit" and have eternal life. "Jesus answered, 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" John 3:4-5. They are also "sealed WITH the Spirit, and they are secured until the day of redemption. 'In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," Ephesians 1:13. They are "baptized IN the Spirit" and are into the body, or church, of Christ. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:13. The word "by," is translated many times, "in." Since Jesus is the Builder of the church, He is the one who united all of the believers by baptizing them IN the Spirit, and into the body which is the church. "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18.

Now, after we are saved we are exhorted to be "filled with the Spirit."And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" Ephesians 5:18. This filling is for fruit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, and for service." Galatians 5:22. Receiving the Holy Spirit gives us the power to witness for our Saviour. Since we are leaky vessels, we constantly need to be filled, over, and over, again.

Have you been born of the Spirit? Trust Christ and be saved today. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" Acts 1:8.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen