This week we will study the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Since the turn of the twentieth century, the subject of the baptism in the Holy Spirit has been arousing keen interest and discussion among ever-widening circles of the Christian Church. Today it continues to be a theme of study, of discussion and quite often of controversy in almost all sections of Christendom. In view of this, we shall seek to approach this study in a way that is careful, thorough and scriptural.
First we shall enumerate the passages in the New Testament where the word baptise is used in connection with the Holy Spirit. Appropriately enough – since seven is distinctively the number of the Holy Spirit – there are seven such passages.
John the Baptist contrasted his own ministry with the ministry of Christ which was to follow.
“I indeed baptise you with water unto [into] repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matt. 3:11)
Although the New King James Version uses the English preposition ‘with’ in conjunction with the verb phrase “to baptise,” the actual preposition used in the original Greek is ‘in’. This usage applies equally to baptising in water and to baptising in the Holy Spirit. In each case the Greek preposition used is ‘in’. In fact, the only prepositions ever used anywhere in the New Testament in conjunction with the verb phrase “to baptise” are ‘in’ and ‘into’. It is unfortunate that the New King James Version, by using a variety of different prepositional forms, has obscured the clear teaching of the original text.
In Mark 1:8 the words of John the Baptist concerning Christ are rendered as follows.
“I indeed baptised you with water, but He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”
In each case the Greek preposition used is in. In Luke 3:16 the words of John the Baptist are rendered as follows.
“John answered, saying to them all, ‘I indeed baptise you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’”
Here again, the literal translation is “in the Holy Spirit.”
In John 1:33 the testimony of John the Baptist concerning Christ is given as follows.
“I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptise with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptises with the Holy Spirit.’”
Again, in each case the Greek preposition used is ‘in’; “This is He who baptises in the Holy Spirit.”
Dear Lord Jesus, if even John the Baptist did not consider himself worthy to loosen Your sandals, then I realize that once more I must honour You as the Heavenly Son of God! Thank You for baptizing people in the Holy Spirit. Let this be the reality in my life - every day! Amen.
