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In this guide, I will walk you through everything you need to know about Holy Spirit baptism.
Why should you listen this teaching?
I’ve spent years meditating on the person of the Holy Spirit, striving to get a correct Biblical interpretation of the topic.
I also pastor a church, hold a Master of Arts in Biblical Languages, and am pursuing a PhD in Bible Exposition.
Also, here's a startling fact that proves we need a teaching on the Holy Spirit:
We must take a Biblical approach to the baptism of the Holy Spirit and not rely solely on experience.
And in this study, I'll answer top questions about the Holy Spirit.
Let’s get right into it.
How to Easily Understand Holy Spirit Baptism (With This One Power-Packed Bible Study)
Jamey Escamilla
What Exactly Is Holy Spirit Baptism?
Answer: The baptism of the Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit coming to live inside you the moment you place your faith in Christ.
The coming of the Holy Spirit was one of God's main promises in the Old Covenant.
In the Old Covenant, God did not live “inside” of His people. He primarily met with the Israelites in temples and tabernacles.
However, the Messiah (Jesus) was prophesied to bring in a New Covenant that would be totally unlike their old one.
One of the main clauses of this coming New Covenant would be that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh and live inside His people.
Joel 2:28-29
28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
These scriptures speak of a New Covenant where God would be within His people.
Many Christians today are unaware of what it means to be under a New Covenant and ignorant of the fact that God’s Holy Spirit lives inside them.
But it is a present reality if you’ve placed your faith in Christ.
When/how Do We Receive the Holy Spirit?
Answer: You receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit when you believe in Christ.
In other words, the moment you decide to believe in Christ, place your total faith in him and follow him, at that moment, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of you.
You might think, “But I’ve already done that and didn’t sense or feel anything.”
There is not always a “feeling” or “sensation” when baptized in God’s Spirit. It’s more of a simple, Biblical truth—something you should be confident of since the Word declares this to happen at the moment of your conversion.
Not everything that happens to you in God will be experienced in the natural—with your senses and emotions.
Many things will happen to you in the Spirit, which you won’t always perceive or understand in the natural.
Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
You were sealed with the Holy Spirit when you believed in Christ, period.
That Holy Spirit was the “guarantee (literally, the “down payment”)” of your salvation. It was something that was promised to you when you truly began to believe.
You also might think, “But isn’t that kind of “too easy?” All we have to do is believe, and God gives us His Spirit?”
Yes, it is that easy. However, this requires true belief.
Of course, plenty of people might show up to a church service, experience something, and feel God's tug.
They might even say they will give their life to God and truly believe in Him, only to simply walk away from this experience a short time later.
I would argue that if there is no significant change in a person’s life, it’s possible that they never truly believed in the first place. Therefore, they never had God’s Spirit.
John 1:12-13
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Romans 8:9
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
John says believing makes you a child of God, reborn by Him.
But Romans also says that having the Spirit of God dwelling in you makes you “belong to him.”
As you can see, the two events are interchangeable. “Believing” and “having the Spirit of God” make you a true child of God.
Why? Because they happen at the same time, and you cannot have one without the other. You cannot truly believe and not have the Spirit of God in you.
You instantly receive the Holy Spirit baptism and become His child when you believe. Here are two main points to support this conclusion:
1 Corinthians 12:13
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
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1 Corinthians 12:13 explicitly affirms that all believers have been baptized into one body and have received the Spirit's indwelling, symbolized by being made to drink of the Spirit. This was said to the diverse Corinthian church—including members at various stages of spiritual maturity—demonstrating that even those struggling with carnality are not excluded. [1]
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No scriptural exhortation instructs believers to “seek” Holy Spirit baptism. This absence suggests that all believers, regardless of spiritual condition, have already undergone this experience. [2]
What Are the Signs of Holy Spirit Baptism?
What happens when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit?
I think when most people ask this question, what they’re really asking is:
“Someone told me that when I get baptized in the Spirit, I will talk in tongues. Is this true?”
Let’s start with this passage:
Mark 16:17-18
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
We should understand that signs will follow all people who believe and are therefore baptized in God’s Spirit.
If you believe, the power to speak in tongues is inside you.
Unfortunately, many believers will never speak in tongues for various reasons.
I think all believers should speak in tongues, as it has tremendous power.
But just because you may have not spoken in tongues, this doesn't mean that you do not have God's Spirit.
Getting baptized in God’s Spirit is more than just speaking in tongues. It’s even more than performing outward miracles, such as healing or casting out demons.
You won’t always feel goosebumps or hear a booming voice from heaven to ensure you have the Spirit.
You need to learn to just be comfortable with your faith—knowing that you have the Spirit because the Bible says so.
The main sign of Holy Spirit baptism is a changed life, which shows that one walks after the Spirit.
It will reflect in your words, thoughts, and actions.
It doesn’t mean that you won’t ever make mistakes or become a holy robot on day one of getting God’s Spirit, but you’ll have a growing, spiritual desire to seek after God.
In short, the sign of the Spirit will be your fruits.
What is the Purpose of Holy Spirit Baptism?
As a Christian, you must know about pneumatology.
Pneumatology - the branch of Christian theology that focuses on studying the Holy Spirit. It deals with the nature, role, and work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers and the world.
The Holy Spirit has a primary role and various other roles in your life, which we can discover by reading a few scriptures. Let’s start with the primary role.
The Primary Purpose of Holy Spirit Baptism
Primary Role: So God can live in you, which is one of the most significant objectives of the New Covenant, making you His saved child.
Remember, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit when you believed so you could become His faithful child, saved and ready to live for Him.
Other Purposes of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
I’ll now list some other reasons for obtaining God’s Spirit.
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So you can have power - Acts 1:8
Without God’s Spirit, one can argue that you don’t really have the genuine power to be His witness and live the life He wants you to have.
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So you can have righteousness, peace, and joy - Romans 14:17
Being baptized in God’s Holy Spirit also means you are righteous before Him. It also means you can have true peace and joy in this world.
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So you can be comforted - John 14:26
The Holy Spirit lives in you so you can lean on him for comfort.
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So you can operate in the gifts of the Spirit - 1 Corinthians 12
The Holy Spirit allows his children to work with the gifts of the Spirit, such as healing. These gifts are done through his children to benefit the church. However, a person cannot be used in them if he doesn’t first have this Holy Spirit.
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So you can have the fruits of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23
The “fruits of the Spirit” are the good, Godly attributes you receive when obtaining His Spirit, like gentleness and love.
Verses About Holy Spirit Baptism
Now, we’ll examine all the verses discussing the Holy Spirit's baptism.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Fire
Let’s begin with a familiar scripture associated with Holy Spirit baptism.
Matthew 3:11
I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
John the Baptist was baptizing people in water for repentance. He was doing this to make people aware that it was time for the Messiah and to prepare the way.
What does he mean by “fire?”
First, notice that the addition of “and fire” is only in Matthew and Luke:
This is common when reading the four Gospels. They each give their version of what they saw and how they understood the event.
There are two possibilities for the interpretation of “fire” here:
1. When Matthew and Luke say that Jesus would baptize them with “the Holy Spirit and fire,” it’s a pleonastic way of saying it.
By adding “fire,” they’re bringing out another important aspect of this baptism—the purifying agent that comes with the Holy Spirit.
In the Bible, “fire” can represent many things. When used figuratively, it could mean purification.
When we receive the Holy Spirit, it not only empowers us but also purifies us.
More significantly, the preposition en ("with") in Greek is used only once before "Holy Spirit" and "fire." This usually implies a unified idea. In this case, "Spirit-fire" or something similar. [3]
In other words, it doesn’t say we would be baptized in the Holy Spirit and in fire. It’s “in Holy Spirit-fire.” One “in.”
2. Many view this as two different baptisms: one in the Holy Spirit for the saints and another in the fire for judgment against the unrighteous. [4]
The “judgment” would refer to the fire and destruction 40 years later, in AD 70, when the Romans would burn their city and destroy the unbelievers.
This seems to align more with the following verse:
Matthew 3:12
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.
There would ultimately come a time when the faithful saints would be separated from the unbelievers.
Both views are reasonable and good. In the end, they are both true.
Rivers of Living Water
John 7:38-39
38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
From this scripture, Jesus clearly said that God would give the Holy Spirit to those who believe.
However, the giving of the Holy Spirit was not yet a “thing” because Jesus had not died, risen again, and ascended yet.
Jesus later told the disciples that when he went away (ascended from Earth), the Holy Spirit would come to them and be with them forever. (John 14:15-19)
Verses in Acts
The Holy Spirit is a massive theme in the Book of Acts, so many of our questions about baptism in the Holy Spirit can be answered here.
Acts 1:4-5
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Again, Jesus tells them they would be “baptized with the Holy Spirit” days from that point. This happened in the next chapter:
Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
As they were waiting for this promised Spirit, it came upon them.
Take a quick note of how the verse states that they were “filled” (Greek - ἐπλήσθησαν - eplēsthēsan) with the Holy Spirit.
However, previous verses have said that they would be “baptized” (Greek - βαπτίζω - baptizō) with the Holy Spirit.
This is perhaps a good indicator that being “baptized” or “filled” with the Holy Spirit can sometimes mean the same thing.
Acts 2:16-17
16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
When they were filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter told them that this fulfilled Joel’s prophecy (the one we read earlier).
Acts 4:31
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
After Peter and John were commanded not to talk about Jesus, they returned home to their friends and told them what had happened.
They said a prayer, the place began to shake, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
The word used again is “filled.” Also, notice how it states that they “all” were filled.
Peter and John were again “filled” with the Holy Spirit. I’ll discuss this point further later.
Acts 8:14-17
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Now, we see that these Samaritans “received” the Holy Spirit. This was the first time it had come upon them.
Let’s slow down a bit. I just want you to note all these “happenings” concerning the Holy Spirit.
It was “received.” They were “filled” with it. They were “baptized” in it. It “falls” on people.
Sometimes, they were “filled” with the Holy Spirit, and later, they were “filled” again.
You might have questions about what we’ve been reading, but we’ll answer them shortly.
Take a breath, and let’s keep going with just a few more Acts scriptures.
Acts 10:44-47
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
The Holy Spirit “falls” on the Gentiles and is “poured out” on them. Peter also calls this “receiving” the Holy Spirit just as they had.
Acts 11:14-18
14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
In this passage, Peter tells the story of how Cornelius was saved. These are the events of our last passage, Acts 10:44-47.
Here are some essential things to see in this passage:
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Salvation would come as a result of Peter coming to him and his family. (v. 14)
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The Holy Spirit “fell” on Cornelius and his family. (v. 15)
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Peter says this “falling” of the Spirit is the same as the “baptism” of the Spirit. (v. 16)
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God gave this gift to them “when they believed.” (v. 17)
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This Spirit-baptism showed them they were saved (“leads to life,” v. 18)
Acts 13:52
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Again, the disciples were “filled” with the Holy Spirit… and “joy.”
Acts 19:5-6
5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
Paul finds some disciples in Ephesus who were previously baptized into John’s baptism.
This means that at some point, they had heard John the Baptist’s message on repentance since the kingdom was drawing near. On hearing that message, they got baptized.
However, they were apparently unaware of or did not understand that the kingdom had already come and that Jesus had already been glorified.
They didn’t even know that the Holy Spirit had begun to be poured out on all flesh (v. 2).
So, after Paul explained this to them (and more than likely told them about Jesus and the Holy Spirit), they were baptized again “in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
This new baptism for them represented that they now believed and understood the Gospel.
Paul then laid his hands on them. The Holy Spirit “came on them,” and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
We’ve looked at many vital scriptures regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Now, we’ll explain this all and answer some crucial questions.
What is the Difference Between Receiving the Holy Spirit and Holy Spirit Baptism?
Answer: Technically, there is no difference between “receiving the Holy Spirit” and “being baptized in the Spirit.”
Again, when people hear about the faith and believe, they “receive” the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 3:2-3 and 2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
This was also called “being baptized with the Holy Spirit” or “filled” with it.
The people in Acts used different terms, phrases, and verbs to describe the same event happening to the believers.
If you have honestly believed in Christ, you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit!
However, there is one main reason why people differentiate between “receiving the Holy Spirit” and “being baptized in the Spirit.”
The Doctrine of Subsequence
This Doctrine of Subsequence teaches that the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” is a separate event that happens after a person repents (it doesn’t happen at the exact moment they repent).
The doctrine says that Holy Spirit baptism can occur almost immediately after a person repents, but it can also take a long time. They must seek it, ask God for it, and genuinely desire it.
Pentecostals mostly hold this doctrine.
There could be two views of subsequence. Let’s quickly analyze both.
View #1 on Subsequence - Mainstream Pentecostalism
This view says that, at repentance, the person obtains the single, initial reception of the Spirit and is technically “converted.” [5]
Afterward, a subsequent event, “the baptism of the Holy Spirit,” has to happen in the believer’s life.
This baptism in the Holy Spirit is an additional, empowering encounter with the Spirit for those who are already believers, which will result in speaking in tongues.
It can be seen as a "release" of the Spirit’s power to operate more fully in their lives. [6]
They call the distinction “receiving the Holy Spirit” (conversion) and “being baptized in the Spirit” (given more empowerment).
At repentance → the person receives the Spirit and is saved and converted.
At Holy Spirit baptism → the person is empowered for other possible reasons (to live holy, fulfill a ministry, experience more of God, or “have more power”).
View #2 on Subsequence - Oneness Pentecostalism
View #2 says that when a person repents, this is not complete salvation but only the beginning stage to be qualified for Holy Spirit baptism. [7]
After repentance, the believer must receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit to be saved. Therefore, as they would describe salvation as “one whole,” it is still a multi-step process:
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Faith in Christ
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Repentance
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Being baptized in water in Jesus’ name
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Being baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues
As you can see, Oneness Pentecostals hold a distinct view of salvation compared to Mainstream Pentecostals. [8]
The interesting part comes when we consider the fate of a person who has repented but has yet to receive the Holy Spirit baptism. What happens when they die?
A Oneness Pentecostal would say that they cannot be judged for sins that have been forgiven, but without being born of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [9]
In other words, they’re probably still going to hell because they’re not fully saved.
I was saved in a Oneness Pentecostal church, so I can speak from experience on this matter.
When you start coming to a Pentecostal church, they’ll recognize that you probably have already begun believing in Christ and repented.
However, their main focus will be getting you “baptized” in the Holy Spirit.
This is usually done by bringing you to the front of the church during worship or prayer time. The church will surround you and begin to pray for you.
You’ll hear them speak in tongues. They’ll pray hard for you with their hands on your head, back, and shoulders.
They do this because they want you to “get” the Holy Spirit. You’ve already believed, yes. But you’re not really saved yet. You need the Holy Spirit.
And they do this service after service until you get it.
How will you all know that you got it? Because you’re going to speak in tongues.
Speaking in tongues and receiving the Holy Spirit go hand-in-hand with Oneness Pentecostalism. You can’t have one without the other.
I did a separate study on tongues that you can read here.
History of Subsequence
Pentecostalism began in the early 1900s, around the time of the Azusa Street Revival. It emerged from within “Holiness” circles.
Holiness was a branch of Christianity that focused heavily on doing and being holy in everything you do.
A woman named Phoebe Palmer was one proponent who made Holiness big.
Phoebe Palmer said she had an experience (what she called “entire sanctification”) on July 26, 1837. [10]
This happened during the Second Great Awakening when individualistic beliefs were forming apart from academic learning.
Much emphasis was on experience, revival, and reading the Bible for yourself rather than theology and exegetical studying.
Phoebe said she took the Bible as her life rule, not “the opinions and experience of professors.” [11]
Phoebe taught that there is usually a moment in a believer’s life when they experience a deeper cleansing of the heart from sin, allowing them to live a more holy life.
She called this “entire sanctification,” later known in the Holiness movement as the “Second Work of Grace.” [12]
Later, Pentecostalism formed from these Holiness ideas. Pentecostals also emphasized a significant post-repentant experience in the Christian life.
But they called theirs the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” and focused on the idea that it was the Spirit that makes people genuinely holy and powerful.
My point is that Holiness started by stressing a post-repentant moment in a believer’s life.
Then, Pentecostalism came and seemed to expound, change, or add to this concept by saying that the “second experience” is actually the person being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
This shows us the history of the idea that Holy Spirit baptism differs from repenting and having faith in Christ.
The Conversion View and Subsequent “Fillings” and “Experiences”
Again, the Bible conveys that when people repent, they are converted and receive the Holy Spirit (the same as being “baptized in the Holy Spirit”) at that exact moment.
I believe this. The technical term for this belief is the Conversion View in the area of soteriology.
However, one problem with the conversion view is that it sometimes ignores the power of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives.
It brings out the reception of the Holy Spirit rather than the ongoing experience of the Holy Spirit.
You see, even though there is one reception of the Spirit at repentance, there could be many “fillings” or “experiences” afterward.
The best word for these Holy Spirit occurrences is “fillings” because the Bible describes them this way.
As you can see, every verb used in the New Testament besides “filled” seems to describe the Spirit's reception at initial conversion consistently.
However, the verb “filled” is sometimes used to describe this initial receiving of the Spirit and other times to describe something that happens to a person after they’ve already received the Spirit the first time.
For example, let’s look at Acts 4:
Acts 4:5-8
5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…
Peter was “filled” with the Spirit when he gave his speech to these unbelievers. What does that mean?
He had already been “filled” before (Acts 2), so what was this “filling?”
The filling here signifies a distinct moment of divine inspiration that enhances and activates the ongoing presence and work of the Holy Spirit in every believer's life. [13]
Fillings like this occur in Acts 13. Paul speaks against a false prophet while “filled with the Spirit.” And when the disciples later left the district, they were “filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
In Ephesians 5:18-21, Paul tells the already Spirit-indwelled Ephesians that they shouldn’t get drunk with wine but be “filled with the Spirit.”
Again, these “fillings” differ from the event that happens to a Christian the moment they believe when the Spirit comes to fill them for the first time.
Here are some other ways in which we can describe this kind of filling that can occur after initial salvation at later times for a believer:
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A “special endowment”
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An “enablement”
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A “special moment of inspiration”
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A “complimenting”
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An occurrence where a function of the Spirit is brought to focus
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A “refreshing”
The Mainstream Pentecostal view sees all of this a bit differently. It does teach that believers receive God’s Spirit at the moment of belief, and I agree with this.
However, it goes on to say that believers need a separate experience after salvation known as the “Baptism of the Spirit,” which gives them additional empowerment to overcome sin, do powerful works, etc.
This part is not correct for a couple of reasons:
1. The “baptism of the Spirit” is the same as everything else in the Bible—the receiving, the filling, the pouring out, etc. Authors use these phrases interchangeably and playfully.
2. People do not “get more empowerment” after a secondary “Holy Spirit baptism" that they didn’t have before.
When you place your faith in Christ, everything you need to overcome sin, live a holy life, and do the work of the Lord is placed inside of you.
Sure, some believers appear to lack this power. But it’s not because they haven’t been baptized in the Spirit yet. There are plenty of other logical reasons why this may be.
Consider these scriptures:
Ephesians 1:16-19
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
He says there is great power for those of “us who believe,” not those who have obtained a subsequent baptism of the Spirit.
But before that, he says that his prayer was for their eyes to be opened and for them to get a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ.
Because when you know that, you know the power, the hope, and the riches of the inheritance for you.
Some Christians seem to not have the power because they are just unaware of it or simply do not operate in it.
So, if your big question is, “Why can’t I receive the Holy Spirit baptism,” here is your answer: If you believe, you already have it!
You just need to have the eyes of your understanding opened. Believe it, walk in it, speak it, and wake up to it.
2 Peter 1:3-4
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
We get “divine power” and everything we need for life and godliness when we believe.
We should help people renew their minds and realize who they are, not try to get them baptized in God’s Spirit for power when this has already happened to them at salvation.
You can experience “fillings” after being baptized in God’s Spirit at repentance, but these are not to get a power you did not have before.
You might think, “But isn’t that the same thing as the Mainstream Pentecostal view? They believe that you get “additional empowerment” from it later. You’re simply saying that something does happen to you later, but you’re just refusing to call it “empowerment.”
To be clear, I would probably advise against calling these subsequent fillings “empowerments” simply because it can be confusing, making people think they did not have power beforehand.
I think the best way to describe these fillings is as follows:
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Temporary moments of extreme refreshing or Spiritual sensation
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Powerful movings of the Spirit on you
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Moments when the power is brought to focus for a particular function or
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Times of “overflow,” where the water spills over the brim of the glass, so to speak
The Holy Spirit’s ability to move believers at different moments in their lives, including for miraculous works, doesn't imply these empowerments are separate instances of receiving the Spirit each time. [14]
To conclude, there is no difference between “receiving the Spirit” and being “baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
A person is baptized in God’s Spirit when they get saved. It is the same thing as receiving the Spirit.
“Fillings” can and should happen after a person gets saved, but these are not instances where you get something you didn’t have before.
Addressing Two Scriptures That Are Primarily Used to Teach Subsequence
While I think the Conversion View accurately describes the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I also acknowledge that one scripture is difficult to explain from that standpoint.
This first passage is the one that most advocates of the Subsequent view present to prove their case:
Acts 8:14-17
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
As you can see, these Samaritans “received the word of God” and were “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Source: https://frankboulet.wordpress.com/2024/06/22/the-spirit-works-in-samaria-2/
This is clear evidence that they had already begun believing in the Gospel.
However, it says that they had not received the Holy Spirit. When the apostles came to lay their hands on them, then they got it.
At first glance, this seems to contradict the Conversion View, which says that people get the Holy Spirit at the moment of their belief.
An advocate of Oneness Pentecostalism would say, “You see? Believing alone is not enough. You need to receive the Holy Spirit afterward.”
Mainstream Pentecostalism would say, “The Samaritans did get the Holy Spirit when they believed, but they still needed the baptism of the Spirit later, which is what happens here.”
Here is how I would explain this scripture from a Conversion View.
1. We should recognize that forming an entire doctrine or belief system based on one scripture alone is not good.
When we use any scripture to prove our beliefs, it’s best to do interpretive correlation, which is simply backing up this belief with other scriptures.
There is simply no other scripture in the Bible where a person believes in Christ yet does not get the Holy Spirit until a little later.
All other scriptures teach that reception of the Spirit happens at conversion, so we should not let this “anomaly” be our rule of thumb.
2. The nature of the Book of Acts was more historical rather than theological.
Let me explain.
Many scholars argue that Luke and Paul shared the same theological perspective but differed in emphasis.
While both connected the gift of the Holy Spirit to salvation, Luke highlighted the Spirit's vocational role in preparing the church for service and mission. [15]
Luke was simply recording any and everything that happened, even if it seemed to be an anomaly.
He even recorded things that were said and done by early believers that were probably not theologically correct. (Consider Peter’s statements about unclean animals in Acts 10)
He did this because Acts is a historical account of what happened, not necessarily one theologically-correct statement after another, as it Paul's epistles.
A little training in recognizing genre in the Bible goes a long way (Is it an epistle, a narrative, a parable, poetry, etc?).
This differs from Paul’s letters, where every statement is a Biblical truth and should be accepted as doctrine.
This is why believers should carefully get theology from the book of Acts.
It’s not that Luke was wrong, but that his emphasis was on something else.
3. There is a good explanation for the Samaritans receiving the Spirit at a later time.
The passage could express an “exception to the rule” because it marked a pivotal moment in salvation history when the Spirit visibly signaled divine approval for this new missionary expansion beyond Judaism. [16]
The chapter states that the church in Jerusalem heard Samaria had received the Word.
Peter and John, two church pillars, came to pray for them.
They came to pray and see what was going on because, at that time, the Gospel had not gone out of Jerusalem to Gentiles or Samaritans.
It would have been very profound and curious to see believing Samaritans.
So, it’s likely that the Spirit had not yet fallen on them because it was a new thing. God was waiting to bestow the Spirit until the apostles came to verify and witness that these Samaritans were indeed believers, and the Gospel was now going out into all the world.
Two chapters later, the Spirit would be poured out on Gentiles for the first time.
Something was happening here. As a ripple goes out from the point of impact on water, the Word was making its way outward.
Verification from the mother church was not an uncommon thing. Even Paul went to Jerusalem to verify his ministry to the church and the original apostles. (Gal. 2)
Acts 8:14-17 is an exception to the rule of Spirit reception at conversion. God sometimes breaks those rules.
The wind blows where it pleases, so it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)
Here is the second passage we need to address:
Acts 19:1-6
1 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
Many Pentecostals will use this passage to teach that believing alone does not warrant the Spirit.
But to me, this passage is a lot easier to explain.
Paul asks these disciples if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed because this is how things typically happened.
Source: https://www.ephesustoursguide.com/biblical-turkey/apostle-pauls-journeys-to-ephesus
However, they state that they didn’t even know about the Spirit. Paul then asked them a strategic question about baptism to see what they believed.
As it turned out, they received John’s baptism (John the Baptist) but had not been baptized the “Acts way.”
This means that they did not yet have the complete revelation of Jesus. They were baptized in John’s baptism “to believe in the one who was to come after him,” but they stopped there.
Getting baptized the way everyone else was in Acts meant that they now believed that Jesus was the One and they would receive the Holy Spirit.
So, when they converted here, they got baptized in Jesus’ name and immediately received the Spirit at the same time as usual.
There is nothing in this passage that disproves the Conversion View.
Conclusion
Holy Spirit baptism is a gift that every true believer shares.
Its purpose is to transform you into His saved child, giving you power in this life.
The Holy Spirit is received when a person places their faith in Christ, thus, repenting of their sins.
A Christian can have "fillings" or "experiences" with the Holy Spirit at later points on their journey with God.
Today, if you're a Christian, acknowledge the Holy Spirit residing inside of you.
Ask Him to "fill" you with it and wake you up to it on a more tangible level.
Celebrate this Holy Spirit baptism in your life!
Sources
[1] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 418–419.
[2] Ibid.
[3] D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 105.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Douglas S. Huffman and Jamie N. Hausherr, “Baptism of the Spirit,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
[6] Ibid.
[7] David K. Bernard, Essentials of the New Birth (Hazelwood, MO: Word Aflame Press, 1984), 15-16.
[8] "Oneness Pentecostalism." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Last modified September 30, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneness_Pentecostalism.
[9] Bernard, Essentials, 21.
[10] Randal Balmer, Protestantism in America (New York: Columbia University Press, 2002), 238.
[11] Phoebe Palmer, The Way of Holiness (New York: Lane & Scott, 1845), 20.
[12] D. S. Warner, Bible Proofs of the Second Work of Grace (Grand Junction, MI: Gospel Trumpet Publishing, 1891), 109. https://www.loc.gov/item/unk81012180/.
[13] Richard N. Longenecker, “The Acts of the Apostles,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 9 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981), 304.
[14] Huffman and Hausherr, “Baptism of the Spirit.”
[15] Roger Stronstad, The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012), 81.
[16] John B. Polhill, Acts, vol. 26, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 217–218.
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LAST UPDATED: 10/22/24
About Pastor Jamey
Jamey is the co-pastor of New Covenant Church in El Campo, Texas. He has served in ministry for over 10 years, teaching and preaching the Gospel of grace. He is the author of How to Understand the Bible in 30 Days, a simple guide that helps Christians everywhere understand the bigger picture of the Bible, along with how to study it properly and foundational truths. He continues to serve as a pastor and run newcovenantway.com.
