Baptism of the Holy Spirit

"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."

This is the definitive verse on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. "By one Spirit" — the Holy Spirit is the agent. "Are we all baptized" — aorist tense, completed action, happened once at salvation. "Into one body" — this is the result: we are placed into the Body of Christ. Every believer is baptized by the Spirit. Not some. Not the super-spiritual. All. Jew, Gentile, slave, free—all are baptized into one Body at salvation.

"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

"One baptism" — there is only one baptism that unites the Body of Christ: the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We have one Lord (Jesus Christ), one faith (the gospel), one baptism (Spirit baptism). This is the basis of unity. All believers are united because we are all baptized into the same Body. There is no division in Christ. Denominational walls, cultural barriers, racial prejudice—all are shattered by the Baptism of the Spirit. We are one Body.

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

"Baptized into Christ" — this is Spirit baptism, not water baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13 defines baptism as the Spirit's work). The result: "ye are all one in Christ Jesus". All distinctions that divide humanity are erased in Christ. Not that we lose our identity—Paul was still a Jew, slaves were still slaves—but in our standing before God, we are all equal. The newest believer has the same righteousness, the same acceptance, the same access to God as the apostle Paul. Why? Because we are all in Christ, baptized into Him by the Holy Spirit.

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."

"Buried with him in baptism" — this is Spirit baptism. Water baptism is a picture; Spirit baptism is the reality. We are identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. When He died, we died. When He was buried, we were buried. When He rose, we rose. This is positional truth. By the Baptism of the Spirit, we share everything Christ has: His righteousness, His life, His sonship, His heirship, His priesthood, His kingship. We are "complete in him". Nothing needs to be added. No second blessing. No additional experience. We are complete.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."

"All spiritual blessings in Christ" — because we are in Christ (through Spirit baptism), we possess all spiritual blessings. Not some. All. Every blessing God has for His people, we have—because we are in Christ. This is the power of the Baptism of the Spirit. It places us into Christ, and in Christ we have everything.

"Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you."

Jesus promised: "ye in me, and I in you". This is union with Christ. How? By the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We are placed in Christ, and Christ dwells in us.

"For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."

Jesus promised the Baptism of the Holy Spirit just before His ascension. "Not many days hence"— ten days later, on the Day of Pentecost, the promise was fulfilled.

"Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

"The mystery...hid from ages" — the Baptism of the Spirit was not revealed in the Old Testament. It is unique to the Church Age. Old Testament believers were indwelt by the Spirit (e.g., David, Psalm 51:11), but they were not baptized into the Body of Christ. Why? Because the Body of Christ did not exist until Pentecost. Only Church Age believers are "in Christ" — part of His Body and His Bride.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

The Day of Pentecost marks the beginning of the Church Age. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred (though not named in this passage). The visible signs—wind, fire, tongues—were for authentication. The reality was the formation of the Body of Christ.

"And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?"

Peter confirms that the Gentiles received "the same gift as we did at the beginning" — the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The beginning refers to Pentecost (Acts 2). Peter quotes Acts 1:5. The Baptism of the Spirit was not just for Jews. It is for all believers—Jew and Gentile alike.

"I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."

If water baptism were essential to salvation or to the Baptism of the Spirit, Paul would have baptized everyone. But he says, "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel". Water baptism is a public testimony of faith. Spirit baptism is the reality that places us in Christ.

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...Do all speak with tongues?"

Verse 13: "we all" are baptized by the Spirit. Verse 30: "Do all speak with tongues?"The implied answer is no. If all are baptized but not all speak in tongues, then tongues cannot be the evidence of Spirit baptism. The gift of tongues was a sign gift for the apostolic era (1 Corinthians 13:8). The Baptism of the Spirit is for all believers in every age.

"For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear."

Tongues were a sign of judgment to Israel. God warned that foreign tongues would signal Israel's rejection and coming expulsion from the land (fulfilled in 70 AD when Rome destroyed Jerusalem). Tongues at Pentecost fulfilled two purposes: (1) evangelism—Jews from many nations heard the gospel in their own languages (Acts 2:5-11); (2) warning—the first sign of judgment on Israel for rejecting their Messiah.