A divine act, promised by John the Baptist and by Jesus Christ, whereby the Holy Spirit initiates Christians into realised union and communion with the glorified Jesus Christ, thus equipping and enabling them for sanctity and service.
Baptism with the Holy Spirit promised
John the Baptist anticipates baptism with the Spirit
John 1:33 parallels Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16
I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Jesus Christ promises baptism with the Spirit
Acts 1:4–5 See also Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8
And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
The gift of the Holy Spirit followed Jesus Christ's glorification
Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
Instances of baptism with the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:2–4 at Pentecost; Acts 8:15–17, Acts 10:44–47, Acts 19:6; Acts 10:46–47, Acts 11:15–17, Acts 15:8
The gift of the Holy Spirit is for all believers at the outset of their Christian lives
Acts 2:38–39 See also Acts 2:16–18; Joel 2:28–29; Galatians 3:2–5
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off — to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
This gift of the Holy Spirit links believers together in the one body of Christ
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.