Lesson 4. The “Foundations of Christ’s Teachings” School is based on Hebrews chapter 6. These are seven foundational teachings in which the early Christian Church saw the basis of the Christian faith.
What do we know about baptism in the Spirit?
1. John the Baptist spoke about baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Matt. 3:11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I; I am not worthy to carry His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
2. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and said that they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
3. Beginning on the day of Pentecost, Jesus’ apostles and other disciples began to experience baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
When does baptism in the Holy Spirit take place?
1. During a meeting (a sermon, evangelism, or prayer).
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly, a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
Acts 10:44–48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came upon all who heard the word. The believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
2. Through prayer with the laying on of hands.
Acts 8:14–17 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit, for He had not yet come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
There are also other ways in which and times when baptism in the Holy Spirit may take place. People should hunger and pray to receive this baptism as soon as possible, and it will surely happen to them.
What happens after baptism in the Holy Spirit?
1. Initial signs.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came upon all who heard the word. 45 The believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began speaking in other tongues and prophesying.
Usually, immediately after baptism in the Holy Spirit, people begin speaking in other tongues. They may also prophesy after baptism.
However, there are exceptions when tongues and prophecy do not manifest immediately after baptism but appear somewhat later.
2. Secondary signs.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit does not end with speaking in tongues; rather, a person’s life begins to change radically. The fruit of the Holy Spirit’s presence in a person is the best evidence that they have received the Holy Spirit.
From the moment of baptism, the Holy Spirit begins to manifest Himself in a person’s life in various ways and reveal many miraculous things. Seeing this, those around them conclude whether or not the person has been baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Right now, we will examine in detail exactly how the Holy Spirit manifests Himself in a person’s life.
Why is baptism in the Holy Spirit so important?
1. It is God’s gift to those who believe in Jesus.
Acts 10:45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift [present] of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles…
2. It provides an opportunity to receive the power of the Holy Spirit and the ability to be witnesses for Christ.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.
3. It is proof that a person belongs to the Lord.
Romans 8:9 But you are not living according to the flesh but according to the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
God redeemed people and gave them the Holy Spirit as a pledge, thereby assuring them that He will grant them everything else as well.
Eph. 1:13–14 In Him you also, having heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and having believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
What does “guarantee” mean? In Greek, the word “guarantee” [arrabōn] was common in the business world. It was part of the purchase price of any product, paid in advance as a guarantee that the remainder would also be paid in due time.
Many Greek commercial documents containing this word have survived. For example, a woman sells a cow and receives a certain number of drachmas as a guarantee [arrabōn].
4. This is the immersion of believers into the Body of Christ. A person becomes a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 12:12–13 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and were all made to drink of one Spirit.
1 Cor. 12:27 Now you are the Body of Christ, and individually members of it.
Eph. 5:29–30 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the Church, because we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
5. The Holy Spirit bestows gifts and abilities on a person.
1 Cor. 12:7–11 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the benefit of all. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
6. The Holy Spirit reveals the truth to people and makes the Word of God understandable.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.
7. The Holy Spirit teaches believers what to say and how to say it to people, and He Himself speaks through people.
Luke 12:12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
Matt. 10:20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
8. The Holy Spirit is the source of wisdom and revelation for the Christian to know God.
Eph. 1:17…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
9. The Holy Spirit is a partner in ministry and in every area of life.
Acts 11:12 The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
Rom. 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
10. The Holy Spirit intercedes for believers.
Rom. 8:26 Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And He who searches the hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
These are the main manifestations of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life, but not all of them. There is much more good that the Holy Spirit does in the lives of those who receive Him.
Thus, baptism in the Holy Spirit is a very important event in the life of a person who has believed in Jesus and desires to follow Him. After repenting of sins and being baptized in water, a person should hunger, earnestly seek, and ask God for baptism in the Holy Spirit.
End of the fourth lesson.
Source: The Bible, Hebrews, chapter 6
Teacher: Dmitriy Leo
