Part 1--What is the Baptism With the Holy Spirit?

Part 2—Born Again From Above

Part 3—One Blessing

Part 4—Christian Experiences

Part 5—Complete in Christ

Part 6—Witnesses Unto Christ

Part 7—When the Comforter Comes

Part 8 --Jesus is Lord

Part 9--The Promise of the Father

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, you have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:4-5)

The promise of the Father was the Holy Spirit. All through His ministry, Jesus continually promised His disciples that the Comforter would come, and that, "When the Comforter comes….etc." There was ONE promise of the Father – the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

The fulfillment of that promise is found in Acts 2. Jesus ascended to heaven, and ten days later the day of Pentecost came. It is then that the promise of the Father was given, and the baptism with the Holy Spirit took place.

It is important for us to understand what actually happened in Acts 2. What was – and what IS -- the baptism with the Holy Spirit?

The baptism with the Holy Spirit is an issue over which there is much deep division in the Body of Christ. It is today perhaps one of the greatest points of division. This division is generally between charismatics and Pentecostals on the one side, and much of the Body of Christ on the other.

About the last thing I wanted to do was discuss this topic. Doing so is going to chase more people away from this book than it will draw – for Christians are quite polarized on this matter. But we must discuss it. We are answering the question, "What is Christianity?" This issue of the baptism with the Holy Spirit really strikes at the heart of what Christianity is, and what life in Christ is all about. What I believe about the baptism with the Holy Spirit, especially in light to today’s growing charismatic movement, is going to greatly define how I interpret God’s purpose in my life, and how He works with His people. Thus, it would be difficult to move forward in this book without a proper foundation on this matter.

Let me say upfront that I recognize that this subject, like so many, has been hashed over at length. Neither side – and there ARE sides – hardly ever budges an inch. But as we discuss this topic through the next several chapters, we will hopefully see that tens of thousands of Christians are dead wrong about what they believe about the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Entire denominational positions are wrong. Some entire ministries are operating in error on this matter. And right now, it does not appear that things are going to change soon.

And yet the Truth on this matter is not hidden. It is right there -- in scripture – and anyone who goes on with Christ ought to come to terms with it. Do we really think that God is happy about the division over this vital matter to exist in His Body? And do we really believe that error on this fundamental matter of the baptism with the Holy Spirit does not carry with it consequences – if nothing else, the consequence of not seeing the Truth and being set free?

Most people who hold to a position on this matter of the baptism with the Holy Spirit do so because they have been taught that position – and have probably been warned against the opposite position. Most tend to affirm the teaching they have received with their experience with the baptism, or lack of experience. And often, little regard is given to what the Bible says about the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

But this is not supposed to be the way to discover Truth – to simply believe what we have been taught, or to rely on experiences, to the disregard of the Word of God. Ever. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us into all Truth. Doesn’t it seem certain that the Holy Spirit would seek to reveal to us the Truth about, "the baptism with the Holy Spirit?"

God ALWAYS wants His people to know the Truth. The fact that the Body of Christ is divided on this matter simply shows how devoted we are to our principles and beliefs ABOUT Christ – instead of to Christ Himself. Let us therefore approach the subject with an open heart, and put aside all demand that what we have believed must be true. If it IS the Truth, then God will only confirm it. If it is NOT the Truth, then we will find ourselves rejoicing that He loved us enough to bring us on into the Truth. Either way, if we are to understand the full meaning of the question, "What is Christianity?," we have to see the Truth on this very important matter of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are going to deal with it upfront, at the start of this section.

I realize that there could be an entire book written on this matter. So the chapters spent on this issue will address only what I believe are the root issues upon which each of the two general positions are based. To begin, I want to give a brief review of what the TWO positions are on this matter of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. I will speak in general terms – I realize that there are always gray areas, and people who hold to those areas. But generally, there are TWO opposing positions about the baptism with the Holy Spirit – and then, of course, there are the many roads down which each of those positions take us.

First, the charismatic position. It is commonly taught in charismatic and Pentecostal churches that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a SECOND experience – in addition to salvation. We must note that and be clear about it – for the insistence upon the baptism with the Holy Spirit as a SECOND BLESSING is fundamental to the charismatic position.

What this means is that the charismatics teach that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is NOT received at salvation or the new birth. No. Rather, it is a SECOND experience received after you are born again.

But there is more. Because the charismatic position teaches that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is not received at salvation, but is received in addition to salvation, it also teaches that it is possible to be fully saved and born again, and yet LACK this second blessing of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Indeed, those that hold to this charismatic position openly teach that there are many Christians who have been born again, but have not been baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Again – the baptism with the Holy Spirit as a second and separate experience from that of salvation is fundamental to the charismatic position.

Here is what they do teach: They say that when we are saved that Christ comes to dwell in us through the Holy Spirit. They refer to this as an INDWELLING. They believe that we are fully saved -- but they don’t believe that we have received, "Holy Spirit fullness." For that, we must seek this SECOND experience of, "the baptism WITH the Holy Spirit." This second experience adds to the INDWELLING of Christ we have received at salvation with a fullness or OVERFLOW. Included in the overflow of this second blessing are many spiritual dimensions of the Christian experience – but I don’t want to get into those here.

In addition, the charismatics say that at salvation we are baptized IN the Holy Spirit – that is how Christ comes to INDWELL us. But the additional blessing is the baptism WITH the Holy Spirit – and that is how we receive Holy Spirit fullness, i.e., the overflow. The distinction between being baptized IN vs. WITH the Holy Spirit is also fundamental to the charismatic position.

That is the charismatic position in a nutshell. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is an ADDITIONAL gift from God that is not automatically included in salvation. They teach that it is possible to be INDWELT by Christ through the Holy Spirit, but not to possess Holy Spirit fullness, because you never received this second experience. Thus, in their eyes, there are millions of non-charismatics who are born again, but who have never received this, "second blessing" – and everything that is included in it.

Now to the, "non-charismatic" part of the church. Much of the rest of the Body of Christ do not believe that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a SECOND BLESSING – one that we must seek in addition to salvation. No. They believe that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is not only received at salvation, but they believe that it is salvation received. They believe that everything God has for us is received through the new birth, and that there is no need for a second blessing or experience.

Can we now see why we must discover the meaning of, "the baptism with the Holy Spirit?" How can we truly understand the real meaning of Christianity if we don’t know the Truth about this? We are actually discussing the meaning of salvation itself – and whether we receive all things in Christ. I would not suggest that if we remain in the dark on this matter that we cannot be saved, or live fruitful Christian lives. But do we want Truth or don’t we? Truth sets us free from error, and protects us from error. And I do have to believe that in the church today this matter is going to become HUGE – bigger than we can imagine.

If that were the only division on this matter – whether the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a second blessing, or received at salvation – it would be bad enough. But from that point, the division only widens.

For example, if you believe that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a SECOND blessing, you almost certainly believe that all of the spiritual gifts are included in that second blessing – and ONLY in that second blessing. And you almost certainly believe that all the spiritual gifts are for today – including those gifts that have come to be know as, "the sign gifts" -- such as tongues, healings, words of knowledge, etc. These, you likely believe, are given in the second blessing, and not at salvation. Therefore, if you have received the second blessing, you have those gifts. If you deny the second blessing, you don’t have them. This is almost universally the position held by those who believe in the necessity of a second blessing.

Conversely, those who do not believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a SECOND blessing believe that the spiritual gifts are received at salvation. But they tend to reject the notion that all of the spiritual gifts are for today. They believe that some of the gifts, especially the more supernatural ones, like tongues, were done away when the canon of the Bible was finished. They believe that those who claim to have received such gifts through a second experience are deceived.

So GENERALLY – and I realize that there ARE exceptions -- what you believe about the baptism with the Holy Spirit determines what you believe about the spiritual gifts. If you believe that the baptism is a second blessing, then you probably believe that all the gifts are for today, and only received IN that second blessing. But if you don’t believe in the necessity of a second blessing, you probably don’t believe that all the gifts are for today. Indeed, you likely believe that those who manifest some of the, "sign gifts," are deceived.

This is the general division that exists in the church over this issue today. It touches on the very meaning of salvation, whether we are complete in Christ at salvation, and with the spiritual gifts that God has given us as the Body of Christ. Quite a division. But do we really believe that something this important – an entire dimension of our Christian experience, and THE VERY PURPOSE for which God sent the Holy Spirit – is a topic about which God is unclear? And yet millions of Christians are wrong about this – for BOTH views cannot be totally correct.

Again I ask: Would not the Holy Spirit seek to guide us into the Truth about the baptism with the Holy Spirit? Certainly.

At some point, we must ask: What does the Bible actually say about this issue? Isn’t that what matters? Let’s put aside what we have been told, and what we have experienced, or have NOT experienced, and let’s look to the Word of God. Let’s put aside what our church teaches or practices. Let’s realize that no matter what we have believed to this point that it is never a bad thing, but a freeing thing to KNOW THE TRUTH.

Now, at this point, lest anyone fear that I am misrepresenting what those who hold to the charismatic position teach, I want to quote directly from their literature. I want to copy and paste a section of a booklet titled, "The Spirit and the Glory," by Jack Hayford. Hayford has managed to avoid many of the extremes of the current charismatic movement. So despite the fact that he does associate with those who practice those extremes, I think that using him for a source is a more balanced representation of the charismatic position. If you read this section I’m pasting, you will see that everything that I have claimed is taught by second blessing proponents is accurate:

 (all that is in blue is pasted verbatim)

Note the biblical difference between:

Everyone experiences this at the time of salvation — 1 Corinthians 12:13 "By one Spirit were we all baptized into one Body." The Holy Spirit is referred to as the One doing this "baptism."

He first convicts us as God draws us to Jesus (John 16:7-11). Then, He is the One who immerses us (baptizes us) into Christ’s Body (Ephesians 1:4-11; Romans 3:21-26; 5:1-2).

[Take special note of Pastor Hayford’s illustration of who the agent is in each case: (i) the Holy Spirit’s baptizing a believer into Jesus Christ; (ii) a pastor/elder baptizing a believer in water; and (iii) the Lord Jesus Christ baptizing the believer in the Holy Spirit.] Separate from our new birth and entry into Christ’s Body, there follows the promise of—

This is the overflowing and empowering of the Spirit subsequent to salvation (John 1:29, 33). Here, Jesus is the One who is the Baptizer.

Acts 1:5 "You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

John 7:38-39a: "Out of his heart will flow rivers (Gk., Potamoi) of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive."

Example of subsequent experience: Acts 8:14-17 — Peter and John lay hands on the Samaritans and they receive the Holy Spirit after Philip led them to salvation.

Begin by seeing the contrast between "a well" and "rivers" in John’s record of Jesus’ ministry and teaching.

Jesus promises "a well" of indwelling grace to satisfy you when you come to know Him as Savior —"But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain (Gk., pege) of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).

Jesus promises rivers of grace to flow out from you to others (John 7:37-39). With the overflowing of the Spirit, there are distinct qualities that have proven to take place in the experience of many:

• New power to serve/witness — "You shall be witnesses" (Acts 1:8)

• New pursuit for growth in the Word — The Scriptures become more precious; "The Comforter

will show you…" (John 14:26); "Spirit of wisdom and revelation" (Ephesians 1:17-18).

• New potency in prayer — "Praying in the Spirit" (Eph. 6:18); "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us" (Rom. 8:26).

• New passion for worship — desire to worship from inner being. 1 Cor. 14:15 — "pray with the spirit … sing with the spirit" refers to intimacy and release in worship. (See also 1 Cor. 14:1; Phil. 3:3; Acts 2:11b.)

(The Spirit and the Glory -- Study Notes, by Jack W. Hayford, pages 6-7)

The main thing point we need to see is that Hayford claims that certain dimensions of the Christian life are only received in the second blessing – and so if you haven’t received the second blessing, you LACK everything contained in the second blessing – DESPITE HAVING CHRIST IN YOU. Note that. You will lack these things even if you have Christ in you. That is exactly what Hayford states in the above. The conclusion is therefore inescapable: Christ does not carry these blessings. They are in addition to Christ.

But let’s ask: What ARE these blessings that Hayford says are included in the second blessing? – blessings that we would LACK if we have not received it? Well, according to the above quote, we lack new power to serve and witness. We lack a new pursuit in the Word. We lack the potency in prayer that we could have. We lack passion for worship. We LACK all these things, mind you, NOT because we are still unsaved. No. We LACK them despite the fact that we ARE saved -- and have CHRIST IN US. We lack them because they are included in a second blessing we have not received.

But there is more that we lack, according to Hayford:

Notice what he is saying: If you are saved, you DO have, ‘the person of Jesus made real in your life." But if you don’t go on to receive the second blessing, you don’t have, "the power of Jesus happening through your life." That is an amazing statement. I mean, if I don’t have the POWER OF JESUS happening in my life – because I didn’t receive the second blessing – I would suggest that I am LACKING a great deal of what Christianity IS! If I don’t have the power of Jesus happening through my life – I have little more than a legal position before God of being saved. I barely have anything LIVING about me at all.

I said earlier that the division on this matter was great. I also said that we can barely understand the real definition of Christianity if we don’t discover the Truth on this matter of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. I think we are beginning to see WHY!

Before moving on to what the Bible teaches, I will tell you what I believe about this issue up front – just in case it hasn’t been evident. I believe that the Bible absolutely teaches that there IS a baptism with the Holy Spirit. I also believe that included in this baptism is everything God has for us – including ALL of the spiritual gifts – even the so-called sign gifts. But I do NOT – I said I do NOT – believe that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a SECOND or additional blessing. Rather, I believe that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is the new birth – it is Christ in us being received. Thus, we receive ALL when we are saved in Jesus Christ.

Now, just in case that wasn’t clear, let me repeat it: I do NOT believe that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a second blessing. Rather, I believe that we receive ALL THINGS IN JESUS CHRIST – and having received Christ, we are COMPLETE IN HIM. And I include in what we receive at salvation ALL the spiritual gifts – including the possibility of the, "sign gifts."

I speak as one who has been involved in charismatic churches and groups for years. Years ago, I was prayed over FOR the baptism with the Holy Spirit and, at that point in time, believed I had received it. I have had many wonderful spiritual experiences, and have manifested spiritual gifts, included the sign gifts. But it always troubled me greatly that I could not prove that there was a second blessing from the Bible. It troubled me that the charismatics, who claim to have this ADDITIONAL experience from God, were slipping more and more into great error on so many things, all the while increasing in numbers and money. I asked, "How could those who claim to have the FULLNESS of the Spirit – a fullness that others DO NOT have – how could THEY not be the prime teachers of TRUTH, if they really were filled with the Spirit of Truth?" Indeed, how could they instead seem to be producing more and more error? In the end, I had to ask myself, "What are the fruits here?" And just as importantly, I asked, "What does scripture REALLY say about this issue of the baptism with the Holy Spirit? About a second blessing?"

I found that scripture says NOTHING about a second blessing – because there is no second blessing. I listened to many of the experts who teach on the second blessing and was amazed at the contradictions in their teaching – contradictions that they seemed to just pass right over. Instead, they were pointing to experiences and manifestations, and their interpretations of those experiences, and reading them back into the Bible. Above all, they were basing much of their teaching on the assumption that they were in THE move of God, specially called of God to lead, "the end time revival," and therefore they insisted what they believed HAD to be the Truth, for God could not possibly allow them to be deceived.

But then, on the other side of the argument, are those who think that anything having to do with the charismatic movement is of the Devil. I have heard their arguments as well. They are correct in saying that the Bible does not teach the necessity of a second blessing, but then they go on to reject the spiritual gifts. They reject outright the, "sign gifts." And in many cases, they speak of the other gifts of the Spirit as if they are little more than the product of academics, natural talents, and theology. By the time they are done, they suck the LIFE out of the reality of the Holy Spirit in us.

So I came to the conclusion that that ONLY thing that mattered was what the Bible taught. Jesus and the apostles warned that there would be such deception in the end times that, "even the elect," could be deceived. They warned about REAL miracles, signs and wonders – which were all to be part of a deception. And above all, the Bible teaches an end time APOSTASY rather than a REVIVAL. Add all of this up and you MUST return to scripture. Unless we take the view that all things must be tested in the light of the Bible – in conjunction with prayer – we are going to be deceived. In the final analysis, I can honestly say that I do not care what miracles are claimed, or actually happen, and I do not care how big and seemingly prosperous the charismatic movement – or any movement – becomes. I don’t care if the dead are raised, or if fire is called down from heaven, and actually comes. All the matters is whether TRUTH is being taught – and whether the Holy Spirit is doing what Jesus said He would be doing when He came. The Bible itself tells us that this is what matters, and we would do well to heed the warnings.

I believe that God has given us ONE blessing, and ONE baptism, and therein we receive Christ. I believe that we are COMPLETE IN HIM. There is NO second blessing. However, I also believe that within the one and only blessing of receiving Christ through the Holy Spirit, are all of the spiritual gifts – all of them, including the POSSIBILITY of the so-called, "sign gifts." This, I believe, is what the Bible teaches. And I believe that anyone through whom the Holy Spirit is working is going to do what the Holy Spirit does – center on the reality of Christ in us, preach the Truth that sets people free, and glorify God.

But let’s go on to see what the Bible teaches about the baptism with the Holy Spirit, not only about WHEN we receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit, but WHAT we receive.

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Let’s turn to Acts 2. Here we find the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples in the upper room. If there is one event that ought to show us the meaning of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, it is this one. Here we find the very first time that any people were baptized with the Holy Spirit.

The question here is simple: Is Acts 2 describing a second blessing – one we must receive in addition to the new birth? If so, then the disciples of Christ were already born again BEFORE Acts 2. Right? Sure. Otherwise, Acts 2 is describing THE new birth of these disciples -- meaning that before that day they were NOT born again!

We cannot have it both ways. Either the disciples were born again BEFORE Acts 2, or they were born again IN Acts 2. Either Acts 2 describes a second blessing in addition to a new birth that they already had, or it describes their new birth itself. Solve this problem and you have DEFINED what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is, and you have answered many of the questions about the second blessing.

The charismatic position is that the disciples were born again BEFORE Acts 2. And as we have seen, this HAS to be their position if Acts 2 describes a SECOND blessing. In fact, they teach that everyone upon whom the Spirit falls in Acts, subsequent to Acts 2, was already born again – and is merely receiving this ADDITIONAL overflow.

We will discuss those instances in Acts later. But for now, the task at hand ought to be very clear. We must discover whether the disciples were born again before Acts 2.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…..Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:3,5-7)

Jesus gave Nicodemus a rather clear definition of HOW to be born again. Incidentally, a quick check of the Greek tells us that the phrase, "born again," can be translated, "born from above."

How did Jesus say we must be born again? He said, "Except a man be born -- of water and of the Spirit." He is here talking about death and resurrection – death being symbolized by the water of baptism, and resurrection being the result of the Spirit coming to dwell in you. But this immediately raises a big question about Acts 2. If the disciples were actually born again BEFORE Acts 2, how was it possible to be born, "of Spirit," BEFORE the Spirit was given in Acts 2? Jesus said it wasn’t possible. So right off the bat we see a problem here if we say that the disciples were already born again prior to Acts 2.

My point is this: The new birth is the result of receiving new life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if we say that the disciples were already born again before Acts 2, we must say they were indwelt by the Holy Spirit before Acts 2 – but the Holy Spirit was not given UNTIL Acts 2. The only conclusion is that they were not born again prior to Acts 2, but that Acts 2 WAS their new birth through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

There is another problem. Jesus said that we must be born FROM ABOVE. In other words, you must receive a NEW LIFE from above – you must receive it on the inside of you FROM the outside of you. Sure. Salvation and the new birth are the results of NEW LIFE – not merely the results of a new religion. In Acts 2, the Spirit fell upon the disciples from above. Are we to believe that they were already, "born again FROM ABOVE," prior to this, and that this was merely a SECOND blessing? Are we to believe that they were already indwelt by the Holy Spirit – by Christ Himself – which is the ONLY WAY to have new life in you?

You see the problem. Eternal life is CHRIST IN US through the Holy Spirit. You cannot be born again any other way except that you receive the very NEW LIFE of Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. So if I believe that the disciples were born again BEFORE Acts 2, I am saying that before Acts 2 they had Christ in them through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. There is no escape from this necessity if I believe that Acts 2 was a second experience, rather than the new birth for those disciples.

Now, add to all of this a passage from II Corinthians:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Cor 5:17)

Paul is saying that to be, "in Christ," is equal to being a, "new creature." Therefore, he is clearly talking about the NEW BIRTH. The charismatic position, if you recall, is in agreement with the fact that we are born again if Christ is in us. But they insist that we still must go on to receive the second blessing. The problem here is that if the disciples were born again before Acts 2, this mandates that they already had Christ in them, and were new creatures – because this is what Paul says it MEANS to be born again. Only if this was true could Acts 2 be a SECOND blessing.

Let’s pin this down. Were the disciples, prior to Acts 2, already IN CHRIST? Were they already NEW CREATURES? If so, how did they get that way? – seeing as how it is through the INDWELLING of the Holy Spirit that we are born again? Again, we cannot avoid the conclusion: If Acts 2 was a second experience, on top of their salvation, we must find proof that the disciples were indwelt by Christ through the Holy Spirit before Act 2 – because THAT is what salvation IS!

We are going to see that these disciples were all saved prior to Acts 2 – but only under the Old Covenant. They did have the Holy Spirit WITH them – Jesus said so -- but prior to Acts 2, the Spirit had not come to dwell IN THEM. Therefore, Acts 2 was NOT a second blessing, but was the very coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell IN THEM, resulting in their new birth.

The clear evidence of the Bible is that the disciples of Jesus Christ were NOT born again before Acts 2. In fact, NO ONE was born again before that day. But as mentioned, this does not mean they weren’t saved. No, they were saved. The disciples of Jesus, as well as the OT saints, had all been saved under the Old Covenant.

Under the Old Covenant you were not born again, did not have Christ in you, and were not indwelt by the Holy Spirit. How could you be? The Holy Spirit, Jesus said, had not yet been given! – and would not be until after He ascended to heaven and completed Redemption. But under the Old Covenant you were legally saved – on the basis of repentance for the remission of sins.

The OT sacrifices pointed to Christ. They were a, "shadow of things to come, but the substance was CHRIST." (Col. 2:17) Now ask: If the OT saints were actually born again, just like we are today, then why bother with, "the shadow of things to come?" – for if Christ were actually IN THEM, the, "substance which is Christ," was already in them! In that case, you don’t NEED the shadow, because you HAVE the substance! You can see the problem. No. The saint of the OT, and everyone else until Acts 2, were saved under the Old Covenant, but they were NOT born again. The Holy Spirit was not IN THEM – but instead, was WITH THEM. We will see conclusive proof of this in a moment.

Now note: This is not – as some protest -- ANOTHER WAY of salvation. No. It is still salvation through Christ. But it is under the Covenant BEFORE Christ, and thus, looked forward to Him. It is all still salvation – but the difference is the experience of the believer in this lifetime. It was not until Christ died, was raised, and ascended, that the Spirit could be sent, and that there could be any INDWELLING NOW – which is what the new birth IS.

This Truth is central to the understanding of the Covenants. Notice what God says about the difference between the OLD and NEW Covenants:

Behold, the days come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. (Heb 8:6-11)

This passage clearly states that the NEW covenant was NOT LIKE the old. But what was the difference? It is plainly stated in the passage. The OLD covenant did not involve an INDWELLING. But everything about the New Covenant had to do with an INDWELLING. Can we see that? It is the whole point of the passage – it is what God is trying to tell us has changed because of Jesus Christ.

The New Covenant is about CHRIST IN US. Colossians says this was never possible before Christ.

Even the mystery which has 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. (Col 1:26-27)

CHRIST IN US was never possible before the ascension of Christ. It was not possible before Acts 2. But it came to pass in those disciples in Acts 2 when the Comforter came. Jesus came to dwell in them through the Holy Spirit. This is exactly the new birth.

This is just one proof that before Acts 2, no one was born again, or had Christ in them through the Holy Spirit. Prior to Acts 2, those disciples were saved in the only way possible to that point: Legally, through the baptism of John, under the Old Covenant. Thus, it is conclusive that what happened that upper room was the first time anyone had been BORN AGAIN. Thus, Acts 2 is not describing a SECOND blessing! It is describing the inauguration of a new age – that of CHRIST IN US through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is describing the very first time anyone had been born again OF the Spirit!

All that I have stated to this point is easily proven from the Bible. It does not require a deep study of theology, or any sort of deductive reasoning. All we need to do is READ. Jesus continually spoke to His disciples about the PROMISE of the Father; about when the Comforter would come. Jesus stated directly that the Spirit had not yet come. In fact, He stated that the Spirit COULD not come, and WOULD not come until after the ascension.

He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:38-39)

Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)

Nothing could be stated more clearly. According to the Bible, the Holy Spirit had NEVER BEEN GIVEN before Acts 2. Ever. But what does that mean? The Holy Spirit is mentioned before Acts 2. The Spirit is mentioned all through the Old Testament. So how was the Spirit given AFTER Acts 2 that differs from the work of the Spirit before Acts 2, and throughout the OT?

Jesus told us DIRECTLY what the difference was:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. "(John 14:16-17)

There is our answer. The Holy Spirit had been WITH people in the past – and had been WITH the disciples of Christ. But the Holy Spirit had never been IN people. THAT is what began in Acts 2 -- Acts 2 marks the FIRST TIME the Holy Spirit ever came to INDWELL anyone.

Jesus had told them directly, "The Spirit has been WITH you, but He will come to be IN you." He also told them, "The Comforter cannot come while I am here." Put these two statements together and you will see that in Acts 2, The Holy Spirit, for the very first time ever, descended to dwell IN God’s people. In short, an indwelling of Christ through the Holy Spirit was impossible before the ascension.

I’m not sure what could be more clear. Since the new birth is the result of the INDWELLING of Christ through the Holy Spirit, no one was born again before Acts 2. Thus, these disciples were NOT born again before Acts 2. Indeed, Acts 2 WAS their new birth, and was NOT a second blessing.

Now, can we see that this completely devastates the charismatic teaching of the second blessing? – a teaching that is based in large part upon the erroneous assumption that the disciples had been born again PRIOR to Acts 2? Sure. Once we admit the neither the disciples, nor anyone else for that matter, could have been INDWELT by Christ before Acts 2, and therefore could not have been born again, we must conclude that Acts 2 is NOT a second blessing. It is the one and only blessing – being inaugurated that day by God in His people.

Furthermore, we see that there is no distinction between merely an, "indwelling," in the Bible, verses an, "overflow." There is NOT one promise of salvation, and then another of, "Holy Spirit fullness." No. In Christ is both salvation and fullness. In Christ we have both the indwelling and all of the potential, as we grow in Him, for an overflow. In other words, just as the Bible says, "We are complete IN HIM." (Col. 2:10)

The charismatic position is that we are born again through an INDWELLING of Christ through the Holy Spirit. But unless we receive a second blessing – the same one the disciples received in Acts 2 – we will not have the fullness or the overflow of the Spirit of God. This position is based on the assumption that the disciples were already born again before Acts 2, making Acts 2 a second blessing.

We have already seen devastating proof that the charismatic position is wrong. We have seen that it was impossible for anyone to be INDWELT by Christ or the Holy Spirit before Acts 2. Indeed, we have seen that it was in Acts 2 that the Spirit DID come for the very first time to INDWELL God’s people. These facts are undeniable.

Now, let’s add even more devastating proof that the charismatic position is wrong. If we can prove that Christ was not IN THEM before Acts 2, it will prove that the disciples were not born again before Acts 2 – for even the charismatic position agrees that we are born again because Christ comes to dwell IN US.

We saw that this is the charismatic position from the quotes by Hayford. He states that at salvation we receive an INDWELLING of Christ through the Holy Spirit. But he states that we still LACK Holy Spirit fullness. For that, he says, we must seek the baptism with the Holy Spirit – which is the second blessing. According to this position, if we are ONLY born again, our condition agrees with the disciples prior to Acts 2. But once we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we have then experienced what they experienced in Acts 2 – the fullness of the Spirit through the second blessing.

So all we need to do is prove that Christ was NOT dwelling in these disciples prior to Acts 2. This would mean they were not born again before Acts 2. And it would prove that Acts 2 was their new birth – and not a second experience on top of their new birth.

Once again, Jesus spoke clearly on this matter. Not only did He say that He WOULD come and dwell in them – showing He was NOT YET IN THEM – but He spoke of all three of the Godhead coming to dwell IN THEM through the baptism with the Holy Spirit which was to happen in Acts 2:

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:25-26)

Can we see the clear Truth in these passages? Jesus spoke to these disciples in terms of WHAT WAS TO COME – a clear reference to Acts 2. But in these passages, He not only promises that the Holy Spirit would be sent in His name, but He makes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit absolutely EQUAL to the indwelling of HIMSELF and the FATHER.

My point is this: Jesus is saying that the Comforter would come in Acts 2, and He makes this equal to HIMSELF coming to, "make His abode with them." If that is true, then can we see that Acts 2 was the first time Christ Himself ever came to dwell in those disciples? And that this proves that Christ was not IN THEM before Act 2? – meaning that they were NOT born again before Acts 2? What more proof do we need that Acts 2 was NOT a second blessing, but the very inauguration of the new birth – the very first time anyone was ever INDWELT by Christ through the Holy Spirit?

Really, you cannot separate the Trinity. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is equal to CHRIST IN US – indeed, it is through the Spirit that Christ is in us. Is this not eternal life? – for it is through the Spirit that we are BORN AGAIN, and through the Spirit that we are alive forever.

This Truth is found all through scripture. One of the passages that shows that Christ in us is equal to the Spirit in us is found in Romans:

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. (Rom 8:9-11)

Read this passage ten times if you have to. It leaves no doubt that the Holy Spirit in us IS Christ in us. For Christ is in us BY the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is as one.

According to Jesus, He would not come to dwell in the disciples except through the coming of the Comforter – the promise that would be fulfilled in Acts 2. Now once we see that Acts 2 -- the baptism with the Holy Spirit -- IS the means by which Christ is in us, we cannot avoid the conclusion that the baptism with the Holy Spirit births us anew – and is not a SECOND blessing. In other words, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is how we receive CHRIST IN US. Thus, there are NOT two separate experiences. There is only ONE. Through Christ at salvation, we receive ALL that God has for us.

Acts 2 BEGAN much. By definition, that day also ENDED much. There was a distinct LINE drawn that day – nothing would ever be the same again. That day the Comforter came – the promise of the Father was fulfilled. That day, for the first time ever, there was an INDWELLING of the Holy Spirit – the new birth. We saw how this had never been possible until Jesus ascended. Thus, in Acts 2 we have the beginning of CHRIST IN US.

Now, if you are reading between the lines, you will see that if the new birth began in Acts 2, then everything else that is dependent upon the new birth began. Certainly, central to this would be the CHURCH – the Body of Christ. Of course. The Body of Christ began when the new birth began, and when Christ came to dwell IN people. You cannot be in the Body of Christ unless Christ is IN YOU!

Now, let me point out another important fact. Almost no one, no matter his or her position about the baptism with the Holy Spirit, denies that the church began in Acts 2. Everyone agrees that when the baptism with the Holy Spirit occurred in Acts 2, the church was born at that point. But ask: If the church began in Acts 2, does this not prove that the new birth began in Acts 2? Does it not prove that Acts 2 was the first time Christ ever came to dwell in anyone? Sure, for the church is comprised of those who are born again through CHRIST IN THEM!

Are those who believe that the disciples were born again in Christ BEFORE Acts 2 prepared to say that the Body of Christ began before Acts 2? I hope not. But you cannot have it both ways. Truth is a unit. It is all or nothing.

So more and more we are seeing that there is only ONE experience God has for us. And in that one experience, we receive Christ. But having received Christ, we do not still LACK another experience, with all of it’s dimensions for Christian life. No. Once we receive Christ we have HIS LIFE! What do we think we LACK at that point? No. Christ is everything -- for we are complete in Him.

We have hopefully laid a strong foundation on this matter of the baptism with the Holy Spirit – what it is and when we receive it. But there are other issues related to it that we must address. For example, there are events in the gospels, and especially in the book of Acts that are often used to prove that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a second blessing. What was happening there? Despite everything we have already seen, do these events prove that there is a second blessing we must receive in addition to salvation?

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive you the Holy Ghost: (John 20:22)

This passage is usually one that the charismatics point to for proof that the disciples had an indwelling of the Holy Spirit before Pentecost, and therefore, they say it proves that Pentecost was a second blessing. Now, of course, in order to believe this, you must completely put aside everything we have already seen. You must put aside the clear fact that Jesus stated that the Comforter COULD NOT COME until He ascended. And you must completely ignore the fact that Jesus said the Holy Spirit was only WITH them, but could not yet be IN them until Pentecost. Then, having put those clear statements aside, you would have to point to this one verse and establish from it that the disciples, before Acts 2, were born again through the INDWELLING of the Holy Spirit.

What about it? Jesus is telling them to receive the Holy Spirit – weeks before Pentecost. Wasn’t that a FIRST blessing? – a new birth? And therefore, doesn’t this prove that what they received on Pentecost was a second blessing?

This event in John 20:22 isn’t a first blessing, or a new birth, at all. If you read the verse in context, it is a benediction that Jesus is pronouncing upon them -- to comfort them and assure them. He is really telling them that the Holy Spirit is WITH them, and will be IN them. He is telling them that they can take comfort in that promise.

Now, as a verification of this, we need only pay close attention to exactly what Jesus did. John writes, "He breathed on them." Can we see that this is much different than breathing INTO them – such that there would then be an INDWELLING of the Holy Spirit?

We have already seen that before His death and resurrection Jesus had made the distinction to His disciples between what was and what would be – concerning the Holy Spirit. He said the Holy Spirit was presently WITH them, but would be IN them – once the Comforter came. (Jn. 14:17) And when did the Comforter come? Not in John 20! No. In Acts 2, after the ascension. Therefore, John 20:22 cannot be describing any kind of indwelling at all. No. Jesus breathed the Spirit ON them, and when He said, "Receive the Holy Spirit," He was referring to the Holy Spirit being WITH them. Only when Pentecost came, would the Holy Spirit be IN them.

Now, again -- this MUST be true because, as mentioned earlier, Jesus clearly stated that the Holy Spirit could NOT come to dwell IN THEM until He ascended. Therefore, since He had not yet ascended, John 20:22 cannot be talking about an indwelling. Rather, He is talking about the Holy Spirit being WITH them. This is the only interpretation that does not cause a contradiction with the rest of what Jesus said and did.

These are facts that must be faced. I mean, what are we to say, that the Holy Spirit could not come to dwell in them until Jesus ascended, but somehow did come to dwell in them when Jesus breathed on them? Do we actually believe that the Holy Spirit somehow came and dwelt in those disciples in John 20, but then came – what, AGAIN? – in Acts 2 to give them power for service? No. The facts are that the Holy Spirit had NOT YET come, and was therefore INDWELLING no one. He was merely WITH the disciples. This is what is being described in John 20:22.

Note that in John 20:22 that Jesus is wishing them peace and telling them that He is sending them out. He also tells them about certain authority they will have once He does send them out. But ask: Did they get up and GO out? No. Did they exercise any spiritual power at that point? No. In fact, Jesus would later, right before His ascension, tell them to tarry in Jerusalem and WAIT for the promise of the Father. They had to wait until the Holy Spirit came to INDWELL them for the first time in Acts 2.

I believe that when Jesus breathed on them and told them to receive the Spirit that He was telling them to presently embrace the Holy Spirit’s presence with them – for they were troubled and had barely begun to understand what was going on. They had just seen Jesus Christ crucified, and now here He was, appearing to them, off and on. He was teaching them about Himself from scripture, and they were only beginning to grasp His purpose. Even in Acts 1, right before His ascension, they still didn’t get it. They still thought He was going to establish an earthly kingdom. They needed encouragement and to know the Spirit was with them.

The fact that the charismatic position resorts to John 20:22 as a proof text – despite everything else that Jesus clearly stated about coming of the Holy Spirit – out to tell us that they have very little else to grab onto for, "proof." John 20:22 does not indicate that disciples were already born again, or had the Spirit IN THEM – making Acts 2 a second blessing. The whole of scripture on this matter makes that clear.

We have read the clear words of Jesus to the effect that the Holy Spirit could not come to dwell in anyone until AFTER Jesus ascended. (see again -- Jn. 7:39, 15:7, and 14:17) Indeed, it was the ascension and enthronement of Jesus as Lord of all that made it possible for the Comforter to come. Seeing WHY this was so also proves that Acts 2 was not a second blessing, but the ONE and ONLY blessing of God.

The Holy Spirit could not come before Jesus ascended to take His place at the right hand of God because Jesus’ ascension was the consummation of His Redemptive work. He had lived, died, and been raised. Jesus’ ascension seated Him as Lord of all. It was then, and only then, possible to send forth the Spirit -- TO MAKE HIM LORD OF US.

Get that. Jesus accomplished redemption. Then He ascended and took His place as Lord of all. But all of that, until the Spirit came, was OBJECTIVE. It was historical fact based on actual events. But it had to become SUBJECTIVE and EXPERIENCED – through an actual INDWELLING. This could not happen until AFTER the ascension, and DID happen in Acts 2. The Holy Spirit came to take everything Jesus did, and everything Jesus IS, and to make those realities real and livable IN and THROUGH us.

Can we see this? Only if Jesus ascended and was seated as Lord of all could the Spirit descend and begin making Him Lord of US! – through an INDWELLING. Thus, any sort of indwelling was impossible until after the ascension – impossible until Acts 2. Indeed, it is this indwelling in Acts 2 that resulted in the new birth for those disciples, and began the Body of Christ. Acts 2 was NOT a second blessing! It is THE blessing – everything that God had for His people through Jesus Christ.

Jesus continually said that He must ASCEND before the Spirit could DESCEND. We are now seeing WHY: The coming of the Holy Spirit WAS the coming of Jesus as Lord. Jesus came back BY HIS SPIRIT. He could not do this while still physically here! He had to first ascend, and then come to indwell His people through the Spirit.

By the way, I’m not saying that Acts 2 was the literal Second Coming. No. Jesus has yet to return physically – someday He will. But I am saying that the sending of the Spirit was Jesus coming back spiritually to dwell in His people. It was Jesus, now seated in heaven as Lord, coming back as Lord IN HIS PEOPLE.

The work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal, glorify, and teach us of Jesus Christ. Christ is in us through the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and Christ is revealed to us by His Spirit, and we eventually become witnesses unto Christ through this SAME baptism. It is all ONE experience, although carrying many dimensions and many gifts.

It ought to be clear that Acts 2 began a new age – the church age. Never before had there been a new birth – or an indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Before Acts 2, people were saved under the Old Covenant. They were baptized unto repentance for the remission of sins. This was, at the time of the gospels, "the baptism of John."

We need to look at this, "baptism of John," because it was the basis for salvation under the Old Covenant. Understanding it will help explain the instances in Acts where people seem to have already been saved, but still needed to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. One place the baptism of John is mentioned is Acts 1:

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, you have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:4-5)

John the Baptist essentially said the same thing -- that he baptized with water unto repentance, but that Jesus would come and baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (see Matthew 3:11)

From these statements we clearly see that there is a distinction being made between the baptism of John, and the baptism with the Holy Spirit. The baptism of John was NOT the same as the baptism with the Holy Spirit – this passage from Acts is essentially saying, "You did receive the baptism of John, but NOW you are going to be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Proponents of the second blessing jump all over this distinction. They often point to the fact that the baptism of John was distinct from the baptism of the Holy Spirit – and say that this proves that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is an additional experience to salvation.

The error here is to make John’s baptism equal to the NT new birth. John’s baptism was not the new birth – John baptized BEFORE Acts 2, and we have seen that the Holy Spirit had not yet come to dwell in anyone UNTIL Acts 2. The Truth is, John’s baptism was exactly what the John himself said it was – a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. John’s baptism was under the Old Covenant – it pointed towards Christ’s death as the believer’s own. But it did not impart NEW LIFE within.

The baptism of John provided for NO indwelling – because before Acts 2 there WAS NO indwelling. The Holy Spirit could only be WITH believers. This is precisely why John’s baptism is contrasted to the baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire – which was to BE an indwelling. The baptism of John could not provide what the baptism with the Holy Spirit would bring in Acts 2.

But once the events of Acts 2 took place, and the Holy Spirit came, and those in that upper room were baptized with the Spirit, and born anew from above, can we see that John’s baptism ENDED? It is never mentioned as adequate again. After Acts 2, the baptism with the Holy Spirit replaces the baptism of John – for the indwelling of Christ was then a reality.

Once people try to say that John’s baptism corresponds to salvation under the New Covenant, and the baptism with the Spirit in Acts 2 is a second blessing, everything is thrown out of whack. John’s baptism does not correspond to salvation under the New Covenant. It was salvation under the OLD Covenant. John’s baptism did not impart an INDWELLING of new life through the Holy Spirit. Rather, it imputed a legal salvation to the believer, in anticipation of the Savior.

Do those who hold to the charismatic position actually believe that those who have NOT received what they call, "the second blessing," continue to be saved under John’s baptism – or the equivalent? Do they believe that this results in Christ in us? – but that we still lack everything that they say is carried in the baptism with the Holy Spirit? Actually, yes they do say that – although I’ve never heard any of them compare, "salvation without the second blessing," to what you got through John’s baptism. But it would boil down to exactly that in the end.

At some point, we are tempted to ask what those who hold to the charismatic position believe the new birth IS? According to Jack Hayford, as we quoted, it is an indwelling of Christ through the Holy Spirit. It is also power to have Jesus made real to me. But it is NOT the fullness of the Spirit, or the potential for the power of Jesus to happen through me. In short, the charismatic position teaches that you are be born again a new creation in Jesus Christ, and LACK the fullness of spiritual life. My question, of course, would be, "If the fullness of spiritual life isn’t found in Christ, then where is it found?" In a second blessing?

Hopefully, we are beginning to see some potential dangers in the charismatic position. Once I turn any part of the Christian experience into one I must find outside of the living Christ who dwells in me, I am heading down the wrong path. And we see evidence of that wrong path everywhere today. The work of the Spirit has become a MOVEMENT -- a THING God is doing – instead of a PERSON God is revealing and building in each one of us. Christianity is CHRIST IN US. It is not an experience, even of the Holy Spirit, that is apart from Jesus.

Now, all of this Truth about the baptism of John is vital to grasp if we are to understand some of the other events in the book of Acts. For example, there were people in the books of Acts, after Acts 2, who had been saved, but who had not received the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Some of them had never heard of the Holy Spirit. What about them? And what does their condition tell us about the baptism with the Holy Spirit?

The reason it is important to see this is that those who hold the charismatic position almost always point to these people as proof that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a second blessing. They say that these people in Acts were saved – already had Christ in them. But they were not baptized with the Holy Spirit – the second blessing. They often say that this shows that such a condition is possible for Christians today.

Well, we simply need to read the accounts. It clearly states that the salvation these folks had received was John’s baptism. So we are not dealing there with people who were saved by receiving Jesus Christ, and as a result, already had Christ dwelling in them through the Holy Spirit. No. We are reading about people who were saved under the Old Covenant – through John’s baptism – and had received the legal standing before God that this baptism had afforded them. But they still needed -- not a SECOND blessing – but for the Spirit to birth them anew for the FIRST time through the INDWELLING that was now possible since Acts 2.

Just briefly, let’s look at these accounts:

While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:37-48)

I want to add to this passage, Peter’s own account of it when he told it to others:

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 you 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? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. (Acts 11:15-18)

There is nothing in this account that even mentions the possibility that the Gentiles in question were already born again. Cornelius was said to be a godly man – but the fact that after the Spirit came upon them they still needed baptism by water shows that these folks were not even saved by John’s baptism under the Old Covenant. How could they be? They were Gentiles.

The order in this account is reversed – baptism with the Holy Spirit first, and then baptism in water. This certainly shows that it is not the water baptism itself that saves, otherwise the Spirit could not have fallen on them before water baptism – when they believed on the Lord Jesus. God looks at the heart of faith, not at the outward testimony of baptism.

This account does present a problem for the charismatic position. You will notice in Peter’s account of this event in Acts 11 that he says that God had granted the Gentiles, "repentance unto life," when they, "believed on the Lord Jesus Christ." But if you just read his account it becomes clear that he is saying that they received this LIFE when the Spirit fell on them – indeed, he is referring to this GIFT OF NEW LIFE as the result of, "the Holy Ghost falling upon them, as on us at the beginning." Clearly, Peter knew that the baptism with the Holy Spirit was LIFE WITHIN -- an indwelling that resulted in the new birth.

The problem here for the charismatic position is that there is no mention of these folks being saved before the Spirit came upon them. Rather, the Spirit coming upon them is spoken of AS their salvation. They heard the Word, believed on Christ, and the Spirit came upon them. THEN they were baptized in water.

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied. (Acts 19:2-6)

These disciples had not received the Holy Spirit since they believed? But WHAT did they believe? Well, they tell us – they believed John’s baptism. So they were saved under the Old Covenant at this point, but had not even heard about salvation through the new birth. Once they did hear the Word, they believed on Christ, and were baptized in water. They were then given the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit – new life in Christ.

Account #3: Those of Samaria

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14-17)

This account is a little more difficult to understand, given the fact that it says that these people, "were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." This was obviously water baptism, because the whole point was that they still needed to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. But the question is -- Why could they be baptized in the name of Jesus, and yet still need to receive the Holy Spirit? Doesn’t this prove that the baptism with the Spirit is a second blessing, wholly distinct from salvation?

This passage does NOT say these people were, "saved in the name of Jesus." It says that they were BAPTISED in His name – and baptism, even in the name of Jesus, doesn’t birth anyone from above, even today. The fact that the passage never mentions salvation seems significant. The point is, they were NOT born again – under the New Covenant – for they had NOT yet received the new birth from above. They had simply received the Word of God, and had been baptized in the name of Jesus – which was nothing more than John’s baptism.

But note: What we have here is really proof that it is entirely possible to pass through baptism as a religious exercise, but to not be born again because you really don’t see the whole Truth about Jesus Christ, or put your faith in Him. These folks may have put their faith in the religious exercise of their baptism, instead of in the Person of Christ. Even today people do this very thing.

If we had never heard of the teaching of the second blessing, and therefore didn’t read that doctrine into this passage, I truly believe that the explanation I have just given would be the only conclusion possible. It makes sense. These folks had received what amounted to John’s baptism – in their case they had been baptized in Jesus’ name. But they had not truly come to Christ and been born again until later.

Water baptism never saves anyone. Indeed, we saw earlier that it is even possible to be born again by the Spirit, but not yet be baptized in water. Cornelius and his Gentile friends were born again first, and then baptized in water later. They were saved, "by grace through faith in Christ," but they had not yet passed through the SYMBOLIC ACT of being baptized in water. But this PROVES that baptism in the name of Jesus does nothing to save you. Thus, there is no basis upon which we can demand that these people of Samaria were truly saved, simply because they were baptized in the name of Christ. Indeed, if we read the passage, it really PROVES they were not saved at all. That is really the whole point of the passage – they still needed to be born again. Once we stop trying to use this passage to support the doctrine of the second blessing, it really isn’t that difficult to explain.

These three instances in Acts are the ones used by the charismatic position to prove that it is possible to be saved, but to still LACK the baptism with the Holy Spirit. But you can see that these accounts do not prove anything close to that. Couple this with the fact that not once in the epistles is the need for a second blessing mentioned, nor is any teaching given to encourage Christians to seek it, and you have what amounts to dead silence from the Bible on a doctrine that millions are right now believing. Indeed, you have much teaching and many examples that absolutely contradict the doctrine of the second blessing.

Just imagine if you were a Jew of that day who had known only the baptism of John. Or perhaps you were a Gentile who had been denied access to even that provision. Add to that the fact that you had not been among the 120 in the upper room. What would be your spiritual condition?

Well, you would be lacking the baptism with the Holy Spirit that God gave to those 120 in the upper room. You may have received John’s baptism for the remission of sins under the Old Covenant, but you would be ignorant that there was anything MORE or NEW that had come about through Jesus Christ. And if you were a Gentile, you would be totally ignorant of of these Truths.

Get what I am saying. What was given in the upper room was THE BLESSING – not a second blessing. It was the coming of the Comforter – the coming of Jesus Christ through the Spirit to INDWELL His people. It was the new birth of those people, and consequently, the birth of the church. But you weren’t there. Maybe you had never heard about it. So you perhaps did receive the baptism of John, and had received legal salvation. But that is all you know. You aren’t born again – you don’t have Christ in you.

Now what are you supposed to do? Well, you have to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit, don’t you? Sure. But is this a second blessing? No. Why? Because you were never born again – you never received THE BLESSING. Thus, what you need to do is see the Truth about new life in Christ and receive the one and only blessing He wants to give you. This is exactly what those 120 people did in the upper room, and it is exactly what those people received in the accounts we read from the book of Acts – they came out of the Old Covenant provision for salvation and entered into new life through Jesus Christ.

Of course, it is now easy to see the charismatic error. They have taken what happened in Acts and completely misinterpreted it. In error, they have made salvation under the Old Covenant in Acts correspond to today’s new birth, and have made the baptism with the Holy Spirit in Acts correspond to what they believe is a second blessing today. But once we see that salvation prior to Acts 2 was under the Old Covenant, and is NOT the same as the new birth today, everything else becomes adjusted, and in fact, the charismatic position collapses completely.

The Truth is, if you were not in the upper room in Acts 2, you were not born again. You still needed the baptism with the Holy Spirit – but not as a SECOND blessing. You needed it as THE BLESSING. You needed to put your faith in the Person of Jesus Christ and become born again through the Holy Spirit.

We have already seen three examples in Acts where people did do this. I want to look at one more:

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: (Acts 18:24-27)

Apollos was, "mighty in the scriptures." He was, "instructed in the way of the Lord." He was likewise, "fervent in the spirit," meaning his own human spirit. He taught many. But it says that he knew ONLY the baptism of John. So he was saved under John’s baptism, under the Old Covenant, but knew NOTHING of the new birth through the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Clearly, there were quite a few people in this condition. They were NOT born again in Christ, but were still under the Old Covenant provision of John’s baptism. They had some, "catching up to do."

Now what this tells us is that much of the book of Acts records events during a time of transition in the plan of God. God didn’t just go, "zap!," and reprogram people’s thinking and their traditions. In fact, it was quite a struggle to get even converted Jews to discard the trappings of the Old Covenant. How much more difficult it was to get them to