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The phrase "baptism of the Holy Spirit" does not appear
in the Bible.
Religion Today
In the religious community today, "baptism of the Holy
Spirit" is a popular phrase used to denote immersion in
the Holy Spirit, resulting in the ability to perform miracles.
The most frequently cited example of baptism of the Holy
Spirit is on Pentecost when the apostles were baptized with
the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5), whereby they received power
from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) to speak in tongues (Acts
2:1-11).
The Apostles
The tongues spoken by the apostles were known human languages
(Acts 2:4-11). They did not speak the gibberish spoken by
people today, who claim to have received baptism of the
Holy Spirit. It is, therefore, obvious that people today
do not receive baptism of the Holy Spirit. Or else they,
like the apostles, could speak in known human languages
which they had never previously spoken.
Cornelius
On only one other occasion, people were baptized with the
Holy Spirit. When Peter was directed by the Holy Spirit
to preach to the Gentile household of Cornelius (Acts 10),
those Gentiles were baptized with the Holy Sprit just as
Peter and the other apostles had been baptized. That day,
baptism with the Holy Spirit was a sign that God had also
granted the Gentiles repentance leading to life (Acts 10:45-48;
11:15-18).
Christians in the Bible, Given Miraculous Power
Other Christians, but not all Christians in the Bible, were
given miraculous power to perform miracles. But, they were
not immersed in the Holy Spirit as were the apostles and
Cornelius. They received the Holy Spirit and the power to
do miracles by an apostle laying hands on them (Acts 8:14-19;
19:5-6).
Conclusion
"Baptism of the Holy Spirit" is a term used by men to denote
immersion in the Holy Spirit resulting in the ability to
perform miracles (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-11). From the Bible, we
must conclude that:
- Men only received "baptism of the Holy Spirit" (i.e.,
immersion in the Spirit to perform miracles) on two occasions
- once to the Jews (the apostles on Pentecost) and once
to the Gentiles (Cornelius and his household).
- People today do not receive "baptism of the Holy Spirit"
(i.e., immersion in the Spirit to perform miracles).
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