Holy Ghost Baptism – Part 1: The Misconceptions

What is Holy Ghost baptism? How do I receive or experience it? What do I need to do to have it? If any of the above questions applies to you, then this article and the next one are for you. Many Churches have taught and continue to teach heresies on this subject. Preaching that Holy Ghost baptism comes by works or prayers, by water baptism, or by speaking with tongues is not biblical. The purpose of this article is to establish the truth from the Bible.

1. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is By Works or Prayers

There are many denominations around the world today who still preach and practice what they call ‘Holy Ghost Impartation’ whereby they instruct people to prayer and do this and do that and do the other if they want to receive the Holy Spirit. The process, which I have personally witnessed many times, goes like this:

Someone will read Acts 2:1-4, and just throw in some prayers and/or singing, and then command people to start speaking in tongues. A women said one: “just keep it. You don’t have to know what you’re. Just keep saying!” According to these people, you don’t get the Holy Spirit until you speak in tongues. I have attended churches that teach that speaking in tongues in the evidence of Holy Ghost baptism. I’m yet find any passage of the Bible that teaches.

This is one of those doctrines that resulted from either wrong interpretation of the Bible or false revelation received or made up outside of the Bible. This is why it is extremely important for Christians to listen to the Bible first before listening to a man (or woman). But this means that you, as a Christian, has to study the Bible.

There is no such things as Holy Ghost impartation that is being practiced by many so-called Churches today. This is for the simple truth that, first, it is contrary to the teachings of the New Testament. Secondly, nobody alive today among men has the ability to impart the Holy Ghost on other people. This error resulted from people who think they possess some ‘special anointing’ which enables them to impart the Holy Ghost on others, either by laying on of hands, breathing on them, pushing them in the forehead, or in any other way. But it does not take a decade to find out that this is nothing but heresy.

Nobody alive today among men has the ability to impart the Holy Ghost on other people.

So You Say What About Luke 11:13?

Luke 11:13 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?

First of all, things work differently under the Law. This statement is not consistent with the teachings of the Epistles. But that does not suggest that the Bible contradicts itself, we just need to bear in that things do not always happen the same way in the Bible. God deals with people differently from one dispensation to another. (If you do not believe in dispensation, you will surely struggle to understand some passages in the Bible).

One thing we need to bear in mind is that the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (altogether called the Gospels) are still in the Old Testament, until when Jesus died in those Books. This especially affects the Synaptic Gospels i.e. Matthew, Mark and Luke. The Gospel of John is unique in the sense that it focuses more on Christ and the need of both Jews and Gentiles to believe in Him. There are many Christians who have never learned or thought this.

THE NEW TESTAMENT BEGINS AFTER THE CROSS

Christ established the New Testament when He shed His precious blood on the cross.

Hebrews 9:15  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Therefore everything that was recorded in the Bible until the cross happened in the Old Testament. If you understand this simple truth, you will believe that there are some things taught in the Synaptic Gospels that are not directly applicable to the Christians for the simple fact that the Christians are not under the Law. A good example of such teachings is Jesus’s statement in Luke 11:13. Now let’s take a closer look at it:

The context of Luke 11:13 is the relationship of the Father with His sons (See verse 11-13). First, if you live today in the Church age and you are unsaved, you don’t have access to the sonship privilege. You do not become the child of God until you believe or until you’re saved.

John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Bible makes it clear that we received the Holy Spirit when we got saved, that is, after we’ve heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation (Ephesians 1:13). The same Bible also says that you cannot be born again without the Holy Spirit (John 3:5 – “water” here refers to the Word of God). The Bible also says you do not belong to Christ if you do not possess His Spirit (Romans 8:9). So if you believe that you’re saved, then Luke 11:13 is not for you. Every saved person already possesses the Holy Spirit. So if you think that you need Holy Ghost baptism, then get saved!

The Bible makes it clear that we received the Holy Spirit when we got saved, that is, after we’ve heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation.

Secondly, Jesus truly taught the Jews to pray for the Holy Spirit, this fits into the Old Covenants. But toward the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus in John 14:16, 17, told the disciples that He would pray to the God to send the Holy Spirit to them. Do you know that the same Jesus also says in the Gospel of John that after His resurrection, the Holy Spirit will be given to those who believe (see John 7:38-39)?

Things changed after Christ rose from the dead, in the evening of His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Apostles in the Upper Room and imparted the Spirit on them (John 20:22) and also instructed them to wait till the Spirit comes upon them before the beginning of their ministry (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8). They waited until the occurrence at Pentecost when the Spirit actually came on them.  The Bible does not teach that the disciples were praying for the Holy Spirit at the Upper Room, they were simply waiting for the Promise.

I hope you’re following the transitions. After Pentecost, the gospel was being preached to only the Jews. The Jews who believed received the Holy Spirit by water baptism (Acts 2:38), praying and laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-17; 9:17). None of the disciples preached to any Gentiles until God used Peter to open the door of the Kingdom to the Gentiles at Cornelius’ house. It took a lot persuading by Christ before Peter agreed to go (See Acts 10:9-16, 11:4-10).

And immediately the Gentiles believed, the Spirit did not hesitate to fall on them (Acts 10:44; 11:15-18). This is baptism of the Holy Spirit and did not happen with any condition other than faith in Christ. Sounds like the fulfillment of John 7:38-19? This is the order from that time to the end of this current Church Age. The rest of the New Testament agree with this, as you will see soon!

God is not the Author of confusion! Many denominations have different teachings on the same doctrine for the simple reason that they failed to study the Scripture before setting up their ministries. There are no contradictions in the Bible, if you care to study, many things in the Bible will be clear to you and will no longer be confusing.

To ignore all these changes in the early Church and go back to the promise of Luke 11:13 is to contradict many Scripture passages that establish the truth that now every believer receives the Holy Spirit (the indwelling) at the moment of salvation (See  Romans 8:9,15; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 2:20,27). Therefore, the profitable thing for someone who desires to have the Holy Spirit today is not to be praying to receive Him, but to simply believe, trust in Christ and get saved. This guarantees the baptism of the Spirit.

There are no contradictions in the Bible, if you care to study, many things in the Bible will be clear to you and will no longer be confusing.

2. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is By Water Baptism

In Acts 2:38, Peter preached to the Jews (again, only the Jews were addressed at Pentecost) and said “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” It is a sad thing to report to you that many Churches still preach this today.

As already pointed out above, not everything the Jews experienced applies to the entire Church Age. Here is an example:

Multiple times I have witnessed Pastors and so-called General Overseers breathing on people, trying to practice John 20:22 to breathe the Holy Spirit on people. Can they really do that? Of course not. They are just being ignorant! If you fail to study the Scriptures, you will inherit heresies and fall into errors. Once again, take a look at the following passages and see if they say anything about water baptism being the requirement for Holy Spirit baptism:

John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake 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.)

Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is By Speaking in Tongues

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not evidenced by speaking with tongues. I mentioned briefly earlier when I was talking about the so-called Holy Ghost Impartation’ practised in many Churches today. The idea that ‘speaking in tongues’ is the evidence of Holy Ghost baptism is not taught anywhere in the Bible. I want to say that this idea might have resulted from the wrong understanding of Acts 2 and the occurrences at Pentecost. This is heresy!

Speaking in tongues is not necessary for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But according some churches, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is equal to speaking in tongues. On one Church website, they claim that they belief in Holy Ghost baptism and references Act 2:4; Acts 10:44; and Acts 19:1-6. If you guess that these are passages in the Bible where people spoke on tongues, then you are right. Which means, to them, you have to speak in tongues to show that you have experienced Holy Ghost baptism. The truth is that these passages do not teach that speaking in tongues means or is the evidence of Holy Ghost Baptism.

Speaking in tongues is not necessary for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible tells us exactly the purpose which the biblical gift of tongues serves. It is a sign, a sign for something, and the signs points to a group of people. I speak on this in detail in my message titled The Biblical Gift of Tongues, please take a look at the post for the truth about tongues.

In addition to the truth that the doctrine is not taught anywhere in the Bible, I show you below other truth from the Bible that is contrary to the belief that tongues speaking is the evidence of Holy Ghost baptism:

i. Spiritual Gifts Are for Witnessing

After His resurrection, Christ promised that the disciples (or the believers) will receive the Holy Spirit baptism that will empower them to witness of Him. Tell me how any of the nowadays tongues speakers are preaching the gospel with the gibberish they speak. But this is what we see in Acts 2, Acts 10, and Acts 19, the speakers were witnessing about Christ. In all three of these passages, people heard and understood what the speakers said. As a result of the miracle of tongues, three thousand (3,000) people believed on the day of Pentecost. My message to you today: don’t be foolish or allow yourself to be deceived. Listen to the Bible!

ii. Many Other Conversions Contradict the Idea

There are many conversions of the unbelievers recorded in the Book of Acts without any mention of tongues. Take a look at these passages: Acts 8:36; 9:17-19; 13:48; 14:1; 16:14; 17:4,34; and so on.

iii. The Bible Says ‘Tongues’ is A Sign

The Bible says tongues are given for a sign (1 Corinthians 14:22), a sign to unbeliever, specifically, the unbelieving Jews. It was used to change the minds of 3,000 Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2). Many of these 3,000 Jews witnessed or were aware of the ministry of Jesus Christ before His crucifixion but did not believe until Pentecost. In Acts 10, it was a sign to show the Jews who accompanied Peter to Cornelius house what God is doing in forming a new Body that will be comprised of both the Jews and the Gentiles. At Ephesus (Acts 19) the disciples of John “spake with tongues, and prophesied” after water baptism and the laying on of hands. This is another sign to the Jews.

iv. The Biblical Gift of Tongues Not Meant for All

In 1 Corinthians 12:29-30 Paul asks a rhetoric question to which the answer is a big fat NO!

1 Corinthians 12:29-30 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

Not all speak in tongues! The point here is that different gifts are imparted to different individuals in the Body of Christ for Christian service; “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:12. The Holy Spirit Himself decides who gets what gift!

If the Bible says that everyone in the Body of Christ needs and have received the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13), and that everyone does not speak in tongues, then tongues speaking cannot be the evidence of Holy Ghost baptism. Did you get that simple truth? I hope you do! Therefore if you are a believer, you have the Holy Spirit with or without the biblical gift of tongue.

This discussion continues in the next article. Shortly, we will see what the Bible teaches on Holy Ghost baptism and how to receive it.

Thank you for reading!