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What Term Does the Bible Most Often Use to Speak of the Baptism in the Spirit?

What Term Does the Bible Most Often Use to Speak of the Baptism in the Spirit?

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New Converts Class: Laying a Solid Spiritual Foundation Lesson 20: God Gives The Best Gifts What Term Does the Bible Most Often Use to Speak of the Baptism in the Spirit?

This familiar term of today, “Baptism in the Spirit,” was not the usual Biblical term. The more common term was the “Gift of the Spirit.” In many ways the Spirit is shown to be the gift of God himself through the hands of His Son. The Son in turn bestows this gift through the hands of those joined to Him and acting in His name.

The term “Baptism in the Spirit” was primarily used by John the Baptist.

John was sent to baptize in water and to herald the coming of the Messiah. It is natural for him to use immersion in water to picture the coming immersion in the Spirit to be performed by the Messiah. He uses what is at hand to illustrate what people are to expect. He uses the good teaching techniques of contrast and comparison.

Jesus encouraged believers to expect God to give only the best gifts to those who asked.

This lesson is two-fold: we must ask in order to receive from God; we need not fear the Holy Spirit because God gives even better gifts than we do to our children. 

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, mill he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, mil he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:11-13) .(Compare with Matthew 7:9-11.) 

The gift of the Holy Spirit as a permanent abiding presence only became available after Jesus was glorified.

Not until sin had thoroughly been removed through the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ could God indwell His people permanently. He could not take up residence within us until the blood of Jesus had opened an unobstructed way into His presence. This priceless gift was shed forth as proof of the Father’s total acceptance of Jesus’ atoning work on our behalf effecting total reconciliation between God and man. 

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself. The lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:33-36). 

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