Baptism of Holy Spirit

The original Korean text: https://blog.naver.com/stevision/50025357803

 

John the Baptist said that he baptized people with water, but Jesus who would come after him would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mt 3:11). The baptism Jesus gives is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, Jesus himself didn't baptize people during his days of life on earth. His disciples baptized people (Jn 4:2). There was not yet Jesus' baptism of Holy Spirit. It was the descent of the Holy Spirit on the saints in the upper room of Mark's house when Jesus did start giving the baptism of Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5, Acts 2:1-4). At this time, and for the first time, the disciples received Jesus' baptism of Holy Spirit he had promised. So Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)"

 

Today, all Christians are baptized 'in the name of Jesus' (or more specifically, 'in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit'). In other words, the baptism we receive is not the one John gave. The baptism of John is not a baptism of Holy Spirit. The baptism we receive now originated from the descent of the Holy Spirit in Mark's upper room. The event of the upper room of Mark has the planner Jesus, and he gave the baptism of Holy Spirit then. Remember the words of John the Baptist. "He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Therefore, believers receive the Holy Spirit when they are baptized in the name of Jesus who is a very authoritative person.

 

However, some pastors, overlooking these stark biblical facts, like to lay hands on the heads of the saints so that they may receive the Holy Spirit, thinking the saints can receive the Holy Spirit when they impose their hands on them, which could be just an act of showing off their spiritual power. Some pastors are spreading a very erroneous teaching that the evidence of the having received Holy Spirit is 'tongues', that so you have not yet received the Holy Spirit if you haven't received the gift of 'tongues'. According to them, doesn't that mean that many of the seminary professors still haven't received the Holy Spirit?

 

Those who say so confuse the Holy Spirit with the gifts he gives. Everyone is given the Holy Spirit the moment he is baptized in the name of Jesus. However, he is a beginner, so is like a baby so that he can't yet know the power of the Holy Spirit. But if he continues to read the Bible, attend the worship services and volunteer work, and pray, the Holy Spirit gives him various gifts for the various good purposes. Therefore it is not a good argument that the only evidence of the having received Holy Spirit is the 'tongues'. I can say again that the baptism we receive in Jesus' name is the very baptism of Holy Spirit.

 

When you acknowledge that all the baptized that way are baptized with the Holy Spirit, all they do look precious in your sight. If the pastor in charge who misunderstands the baptism of the Holy Spirit regards a jundosa (an evangelist) as a novice who can't speak in tongues, he begins to pick on the jundosa because he thinks that all works the jundosa did came from his own thoughts. However, the senior pastor, who correctly understands the baptism of the Holy Spirit, sees all the works of the assistant pastors and jundosas as done by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that he can deal with them generously and appreciate their works. Thus the church overflows with peace and joy.

 

Forcing someone to try to receive a certain gift is a severe torture. It's tyranny to look down on those who cannot speak in tongues. This climate prevents religious life from becoming a joy and causes an unfair ranking system and unnecessary sense of inferiority in the church. Even in the Corinthian church, a group who received the gift of tongues caused trouble. Truly amazing that history repeats itself like this!

 

Jesus said that unless you are born of water and the Spirit, you cannot see (and enter) the kingdom of God. Water refers to repentance of sins. Being born again by the Holy Spirit means that you have decided to make the Holy Spirit the Master of your spirit.