In Acts 2:37-39, Peter invites the crowd to do two things: Repent and Be Baptized. He then promises that they will receive the "gift of the Holy Spirit". It is clear to me that there are three different spiritual experiences here: salvation, water baptism and baptism in the Holy Spirit.
If that brief text is not convincing enough, there is more--much more. God uses three people in three different cities and under three different sets of circumstances to illustrate that salvation, water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism are three distinct experiences that do not always occur in a specific sequence. Study the following passages of Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.
Acts 8:14-17 (NIV) – Peter and John in Samaria
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:44-48 (NIV) – Simon Peter in Caesarea at Cornelius’ house
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Acts 19:1-7 (NIV) – Paul in Ephesus
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
No comments:
Post a Comment