The Meaning of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

There are several references to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Scripture (Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16; 1 Cor. 12:13). The Greek word βαπτίζω baptizo means to place into, immerse, or identify with.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Before Pentecost

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not found in the Old Testament. The first mention of it occurs in the four Gospels (Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33), and those occurrences, along with Acts 1:5, reveal the baptism of the Holy Spirit as future.

All Christians Baptized by the Spirit in the Present Age

All Christians are baptized by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. Paul reveals, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13; cf. Eph. 4:5; Gal. 3:26-28).

The Baptism of the Spirit Into the Body of Christ

“By Spirit baptism the believer is placed into the body of Christ in the living union of all true believers in the present age.”[1] The Lord adds to the church (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 4:4-6). (Read page 111)

The Baptism of the Spirit Into Christ

The believer is baptized into Christ and identified with His death, burial and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-28; Col. 2:12). This is an identification truth.

The Baptism of the Spirit Related to Spiritual Experience

The believer’s identification with Christ, by means of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, is universal to all Christians, occurs instantaneously at the moment of faith in Christ, and is accepted by faith in God’s Word. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a fact and not a feeling.  

[1] Lewis Sperry Chafer; John F. Walvoord; Major Bible Themes (Grand Rapids, Mich. Zondervan Publishing, 2010), 110.