Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 11
November 12, 1959
NUMBER 27, PAGE 8-9a

The Holy Spirit -- VI.

Arthur W. Atkinson, Jr., Columbus, Ohio

We wish to continue our articles on the Holy Spirit by studying Spirit baptism and water baptism. Our purpose in studying these two baptisms will be to show the contrast between the two and further learn that but one is in existence in our day and age. The reason that such an article as this is important and must be studied is that there are people who maintain that Holy Spirit baptism is still taking place and that one must receive it as well as being baptized in water. We intend to show that one does not have to receive Holy Spirit baptism to be saved and that the two times that we have record of such baptism it was received before water baptism, not after, and had nothing whatsoever to do with the salvation of those souls it fell upon. Open your Bible and study along with US.

The Element

1. Everyone can readily see that there is a difference between the two baptisms in the element used. In Holy Spirit baptism the Spirit is the element. Acts 1:5, "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." In water baptism by definition we know that water is the element. Acts 8:38, "And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." Acts 10:47, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we." These words were spoken at the conversion of Cornelius and this man was not baptized in water until after he had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I know of none of the so-called Holiness groups today that do not teach that you must first receive water baptism before you can receive Holy Spirit baptism. This was not the case here, nor was it the case on Pentecost as is mentioned in Acts 2. But we have dwelt at length upon the reason for this in a previous article and will say no more about it now.

The Administrators

2. Holy Spirit baptism was administered by Christ. John 1:33, "Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." Matt. 3:11, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." Water baptism was to be administered by the disciples. Matt. 28:19, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Mk. 16:15,16, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Promise Versus Command

3. Holy Spirit baptism is a promise that was received. Luke 24:49, "And, behold, I send you promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." You may read further of this promise in Acts 1:, verses 5 through 8. Holy Spirit baptism was never commanded of anyone. In fact it is something that one cannot obey but rather is something that must be received as a promise. Water baptism is a command to be obeyed. Acts 2:38, "Then Peter Said Unto Them, 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." Acts 22:16, "And Now Why Tarriest Thou? Arise, And Be Baptized, And Wash Away Thy Sins, Calling On The Name Of The Lord." Anytime That You Read A Passage Of Scripture And Therein A Person Is Commanded To Be Baptized, You Can Know Assuredly That It Is Water Baptism Which Is Commanded. Holy Spirit Baptism Is Not Commanded.

We Cannot Obey A Command To Be Baptized In The Holy Spirit For It Is Not Within Our Power As Humans To Do So. Holy Spirit Baptism Is A Promise While Water Baptism Is A Commandment. Remember This Important Difference.

Design Or Purpose

4. Holy Spirit baptism was to confirm and reveal the truth. John 16:13, "Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." You may also learn more of the purpose of Holy Spirit baptism in Heb. 2:3,4. Water baptism is for or unto the remission of sins. One can and will be saved without Holy Spirit baptism but cannot and will not be saved unless he has obeyed the commandment of our Lord to be baptized in water. Acts 2:38, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . ." Again we read, I Pet. 3:21, "The like figure whereunto baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." From these two very plain passages of scripture we can clearly see that water baptism is necessary for the salvation of our souls. Some may ask the question, "How do you know that the Lord is here commanding water baptism and not Holy Spirit baptism?" Remember the principle just stated, the one where we showed that Spirit baptism was a promise and never a commandment and then showed that water baptism was the only baptism commanded? Applying that principle in these passages we learn that it is the baptism which is a commandment that is necessary for salvation. So we must then conclude that it is water baptism that must be administered for or unto salvation.

Into Christ

5. Holy Spirit baptism does not put one into Christ. Acts 2:1-4, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Nothing is said of this baptism of the Holy Spirit putting them into Christ. Water baptism does put one into Christ and it is impossible for us to enter into Christ without it. Rom. 6:3,4, "Know ye not, that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." It is plain to be seen that we enter into Christ by being baptized into Him. And it is also clear that this baptism is a burial which puts us into His death, wherein we come in contact with His blood at which time, having "obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine" (baptism) we are then freed from our past sins and added to the Lord's church. You may read of this in Rom. 6:3,4;6:16-18; Acts 2:47. Again we read, Gal. 3:27 "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." We are baptized into Christ. Thus, water baptism not Holy Spirit baptism, puts us INTO Christ. I am sure that we can see this clearly and also that you all now realize that you must be baptized in water to be in Christ.

Duration In Time

6. Holy Spirit baptism is no longer needed. There is no need for us dwelling long on this point for we discussed it at length in our last article. Therein we learned that the things that once were accomplished miraculously by the power of the Spirit are now accomplished by the Word. In other words the Spirit works today, but it works through the Word, and separate and apart from the Word there cannot be any work done by the Holy Spirit. However, water baptism will be needed as long as salvation is needed. Since, as we have learned, it is for the remission of sins and people cannot be saved unless they have been baptized, we must then conclude that as long as there are people and as long as these people sin, water baptism will be needed to take away the sins of these alien sinners. Only water baptism can take away the sins of a person not a Christian. Not long ago I asked a woman how she knew that she had been saved, and she replied, "because I had a change of heart." A change of heart is necessary and one cannot become a Christian unless his heart is changed, but such a change is not in itself salvation. A person may change his heart and still have the taint of past sins upon his soul unless he has been baptized for the remission of sins and thus removed those sins. It is not enough just to reform and change our lives unless we also change our state by being baptized into Christ.

"One Baptism" — Which One?

7. Finally, Holy Spirit baptism ceased by the year A.D. 64. I do not mean to leave the impression that it did not cease until that year for it ceased about A.D. 40. But what I am saying is that I know most assuredly that it did not last longer than A. D. 64. The reason that I know this is true is that Paul wrote a letter to the church at Ephesus about the year A.D. 64 and said in that letter, chapter 4, verse 4, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism. . ." This then, limits the number of baptisms that can be in existence. The question now is raised, "Which one is it, Holy Spirit or water?" Let me answer that question by asking another question, "Which one is necessary for salvation?" We have already learned that water baptism is necessary for salvation, thus, it is the one that Paul spoke of in the Ephesian letter. Those who teach two or three different baptisms have one or two too many. The Bible teaches that there is but one in existence today. That one is water baptism. It is our hope and prayer that you can see this as it has been revealed in the scripture and that if you have not obeyed your Lord in belief, repentance, confession and baptism, that you will do so at your earliest opportunity.