#7 Baptism in the Holy Spirit
And
#8 Speaking in Tongues
THE 211- CHAPTER 7
Doctrinal Statement #7: The baptism in the Holy Spirit
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect
and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the
baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the
command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal
experience of all in the early Christian church. With it
comes the enduement of power for life and service, the
bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the
ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; 1 Cor 12:1–31).
This experience is distinct from and subsequent to (added
after) the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12–17; 10:44–46;
11:14–16; 15:7–9).
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as
an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37–39; Acts 4:8),
a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28),
an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His
work (Acts 2:42),
and a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for the
lost (Mark 16:20).
The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial
physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God
gives them utterance (Acts 2:4).
The experience of speaking in tongues is the same in essence as
the gift of tongues, but is different in purpose and use (1 Corinthians
12:4–10, 28). This would be your personal prayer language while the
gift of tongues is for the church.
Note what John the baptizer
says, “16 John answered them
all, ‘I baptize you
with water. But one who is
more powerful than I will
come, the straps of whose
sandals I am not worthy to
untie. He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and fire.’”
Luke 3: 16
Discuss what these verses tell us
specifically about the Holy
Spirit. How do people benefit
from the Holy Spirit being a
person? How do people benefit
from the Holy Spirit being God?
Acts 15: 28
Romans 8: 26 & 27
I Cor 12: 11
Eph 4: 30
#8. Speaking in Tongues –the evidence
of the baptism in the Holy Spirit
As shown in the previous slide, in every recording of the baptism
of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of
being baptized.
What are the functions of speaking in tongues?
The initial physical evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit
Praying in private for personal growth –edifies
Public use of tongues as one of the gifts of the Spirit (I Cor 12-14)
Conflict and Confusion:
Some people are confused by 1 Cor 12:30–31 because Paul asks,
“Do all speak in tongues?” They fail to understand that Paul was
referring to the ministry gift of tongues in the gathered assembly (see 1
Cor 12:28). Since only two or three people are to speak out in tongues
in the assembly and it must be accompanied by interpretation (1 Cor
14:26–28), the answer to Paul’s question would be no because the
context is the ministry gift of tongues in the local assembly.
The claim that speaking in tongues ended with the apostles is false
because, although 1 Cor 13:8–10 does state that one day prophecies
and tongues will cease, it does not indicate that this would happen
with the death of the apostles. The context of 1 Cor 13:8-12 indicates
that tongues will cease at the Lord’s return. Acts 2:38 actually says that
the promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit was for the generations
that followed the apostles as well.
Paul’s instruction: “...understand what the Lord’s
will is...be filled with the Spirit...” Eph 5: 17 & 18.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is something
needed by all believers.
