THE HOLY SPIRIT

Isn’t baptism in the Holy Spirit promised to all Christians by John (Mt. 3:11) and Jesus (Ac. 1:4,5)?
The question is not whether baptism in the Holy Spirit was promised and received, but whether that promise was special—for a select group of people to satisfy a vital but temporary need, or general—for all Christians of all ages.

John Preaches Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Read Mt 3:1-11; Mk 1:1-8; Lk 3:1-17.
When John said, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire,” he was not specifying any particular persons to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. John was not discussing the subjects of Holy Spirit baptism, but the administrator. He contrasted himself and the Messiah: he (John) baptized in water; the Messiah would baptize in the Holy Spirit (compare Jn. 1:19-34, especially v33).
When John said, “I baptize you with water for repentance,” did he mean he had baptized everyone in that audience? Note Mt. 3:7-10 and compare Mt. 21:25 and Lk. 7:30.
Point: the “you” is indefinite—John did not intend to designate WHO he had baptized. Likewise, when he said, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire,” he did not intend to designate WHO would receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is mistreatment of John’s statement to make it a general promise of Holy Spirit baptism to ALL of his audience, much less all men of all ages.
That the “you” is indefinite is further indicated by the fact that John said, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Two of the three gospel writers (Matthew, Luke) mention the “fire,” one doesn’t (Mark). The two who mention the “fire” also mention a group of people in the audience that Mark does not. Who are they?

Observe the imagery used in the two accounts mentioning the fire. There is a separation between the “wheat” and the “chaff.” What happens to the chaff?
Point: Does “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” refer to two different baptisms (a baptism in the Holy Spirit and a baptism in fire) or to one (a baptism in both the Holy Spirit and in fire, the fire symbolizing the consuming of ungodliness within the individual and the purifying of the soul)?

Jesus Interprets and Applies the Promise of Holy Spirit Baptism Preached by John - Acts 1
Jesus makes reference to John’s statement and makes the application, Acts 1:1-8. According to Luke (author of Acts) and Jesus...
• WHO was to receive this promise (observe the pronouns and their antecedent noun)?
• WHERE were they to receive it?
• WHEN were they to receive it?
• WHY were they to receive it? (What purpose would it serve?)
• WHAT were they to receive when they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
? v4 -
? v8 -
ANY interpretation of Mt. 3 (John’s statement about baptism in the Holy Spirit) MUST concur with Jesus’ interpretation and application!

Quick Quiz
Choose all correct answers in the following.