Note: The following article resulted from answering a respondent searching for scriptural answers to give to one who believes in faith only and no baptism. He said that this individual believes that water baptism was of the Old Testament and now it is Holy Spirit baptism without water.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The Apostle Peter & I Peter 3:20-21,

In dealing with situations such as mentioned in the prelude to this brief study it should be suggested that individuals look more closely at I Peter 3:20-21. Peter is not talking about Holy Spirit baptism here, but immersion in water (baptism) that saves and is "into" the body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13). Hear Peter, "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:20-21). Dear reader you will notice that Peter plainly states, "baptism doth also now save us." This means that one cannot arrive at salvation by bypassing baptism! Moreover, I Peter 3:20-21 is not the only passage giving baptism in water as necessary for salvation. Among several such passages there is the eunuch's conversion in Acts 8:26-40 that clearly displays the necessity of baptism as stated by Peter in I Peter 3:20-21. (For a enlightening and detailed study of the Ethiopian eunuch's conversion you may go to our series "Fundamental Lessons on the Church," Lesson Three Membership Requirements According to the First Century Revelation upon your completion of this brief study.) Dear reader the same apostle Peter who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) included himself in the baptism in water that saves one in I Peters 3:21! And that is exactly what the respondent's friend needs to pay close attention to and learn to see his error. I suggested that the respondent ask his fallen brother if he will (is willing to) believe the apostle Peter who actually did receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and is the same apostle who said of baptism in water that "baptism doth also save us"? If he cannot believe Peter then he will remain in his lost condition.

The promise of the Holy Spirit received by the apostles on the day of Pentecost, (Acts 1:4-8, 2:4, 43, 4:16, 5:12, 32.)

The first recorded case of Holy Spirit baptism was on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. Luke who wrote the book of Acts tells about the Apostles receiving the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus before His ascension. (For a study of this promise and how God revealed the New Testament to the apostles, thus guiding them into all truth you may go to our series "Fundamental Lessons on the Church," Lesson Two, The Head And Authority of the Church after completion of this brief study.) Here is brief portion from that study showing the promise was fulfilled on Pentecost in Acts 2:

"Concerning Jesus promise that the Holy Spirit would be sent in His name so that the apostles might be taught all things and guided into all truth He said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). Also in John 15:26-27 Jesus says, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: [27] And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.” Repeating this promise He said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:13-14). In accord with His promise the apostles received the promise of the Holy Spirit as recorded on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two."

That only the Apostles received and used this baptism on the day of Pentecost is shown through the events recorded by Luke (Acts 2). In order to familiarize oneself with those events, and know how to instruct others concerning Holy Spirit baptism, one should note carefully the evidence that marked "this" baptism of the Apostles. First, Luke tells of a sound from heaven. Hear Luke, "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting" (Acts 2:2). Then Luke tells of divided tongues appearing. Hear him again, "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them" (Acts 2:3). With these evidences he then states concerning the apostles, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4). So-called baptisms of the Holy Spirit are sadly lacking in these evidences today! Notice that it is only the apostles who were filled and thus speaking, "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?" (Acts 2:6-7). The apostles' speaking miraculously in "tongues" (known languages) is their immediate use of the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:7, 14). Moreover, "tongues" from the very outset in the New Testament church were known languages spoken by the peoples of the nations; the languages are identified in Acts 2:8-11. Dear reader these languages were certainly not the gibberish that comes by putting certain syllables together that various aspects of Pentecostalism only calls tongues today!

The apostles possessed miraculous power as a result of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Hear Jesus promise prior to his ascension, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This miraculous "power" was necessary for them to be His witnesses to all men everywhere. The miraculous signs they performed confirmed or established their words as being the true word of God (Mark 16:20). Today the confirmation is in the written word just as John says in writing his gospel, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: [31] But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:30-31). (To begin a thorough study of miracles as they relate to the apostles and the confirmation of God's word you may go to A Study of the Miracles of the New Testament ~ Part One when you have completed this brief study.) Dear reader the first few chapters of Acts that tell about the beginning of Christ's church is replete with references to the apostles' miracles and signs (See Acts 1:4-8, 2:4, 43, 4:16, 5:12, 32). It was in this way that the people knew that their word was indeed God's word and their command to be baptized for the remission of sins was essential to salvation (Acts 2:38). Hear Peter on the day of Pentecost as he tells them what they must do, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).

Cornelius was saved by "words" given by Peter

(Acts 10:6, 22, 32-33, 11:14),

Each verse in parenthesis to this subsection is important because they show conclusively that the process of saving Cornelius and his household lay in the words Peter spoke. This too refutes the false belief that the only baptism in the New Testament is Holy Spirit baptism. The Spirit falling upon Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-46) is often stated as the second of only two recorded instances of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. The first, of course, would be that of the apostles on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. With regard to Cornelius and his household being saved they were saved by hearing words from Peter (Acts 10:33; 11-13-14). Hear the angel's statement to Cornelius about Peter, "He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do" (Acts 10:6). This is how Cornelius was told by God that he would learn what he must do to be saved. Hear the men Cornelius dispatched to bring Peter, "And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee" (Acts 10:22). Hear Cornelius explain to Peter what the angel told him and note his conclusion as to why they are present before God in the presence of Peter, "Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. [33] Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God" (Acts 10:32-33). This Peter confirms in giving an explanation later. Hear Peter, "And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved" (Acts 11:12-14). It should not be necessary to repeat this again for it was by Peter's words that they would be saved. This illustrates exactly how the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for all men (Rom. 1:16). We are taught that faith comes by hearing the word (Rom. 10:17). Moreover the only faith that saves is one that leads to obedience in baptism (Mark 16:16; Ja. 2:26).

We have established that God through the angel told Cornelius he would be saved by the words Peter spoke (Acts 11:14). Cornelius was not told by God that he would be saved by the Holy Spirit falling upon him. Luke records, "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. [45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. [46] For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God" (Acts 10:44-46).

The astonishment of the Jewish chritians present gives evidence of the purpose of the Holy Spirit falling upon the gentiles as they were listening to Peter speak. This even happened "while Peter yet spake." Thus Peter's words were interrupted for the purpose of God giving the Gentiles the gift of the Holy Spirit. Compare Peter's explanation later in Acts 11:15-17,

"And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?"

From this event Peter understood that he could not withstand God. God's acknowledging the Gentiles was accepted by the amazed Jews who were present and Peter knowing what this meant asked, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts 10:47). To forbid their baptisms would have been to withstand God's providing salvation for both Jew and Gentile alike! Sometime later again in Acts 15 Peter said,

"Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. [8] And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; [9] And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:7-9).

Dear reader Peter was chosen by God to be the first to preach the gospel to the Gentile. At that time as recorded in Acts 10 God "bare them witness" which means "bore testimony or approval" of this by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did the apostles at the beginning in Acts 2. One's soul is purified in obeying the truth (I Pet. 1:22). Hence it was necessary for Peter to continue on with the words of salvation. What was interrupted by the falling of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles is continued with Peter's words of, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days" (Acts 10:47-48). It is essential that you see that Peter continued on in giving instruction to those present (Jews) and in commanding the gentiles to be baptized for the remission of their sins. Belief on the part of Cornelius and his household lead them to obey Peter's command to be baptized (Acts 10:48). Baptism is a command of God! The command to be baptized is essential to salvation just as belief (Mark 16:15-16). Hear Jesus, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16). Peter's preaching to the gentiles in Acts 10 is his fulfilling of the commission for them to "preach the gospel to every creature." Moreover, we have learned that Peter's command to be baptized was part of the words by which Cornelius and his household would be saved (Acts 11:14).

A difference that should be noted from Acts 10:47-48,

The "gift" of the Holy Spirit that Cornelius and his household received was not the same measure as that received by the Apostles on Pentecost (see Acts 1:4-8, 2:4, 43, 4:16, 5:12, 32 above). Like the apostles on the day of Pentecost at the beginning they received power to speak in tongues and magnify God (Acts 10:46). However, it is still an apostle of Christ who must tell them, as God directed Cornelius from the very outset, what they must do to be saved. The Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit here is different in that respect. The Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit as God's witnesses to all nations at the beginning of the church (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 2). To be that "witness" they had received miraculous power (See Acts 1:4-8, 2:4, 43, 4:16, 5:12,32). If Cornelius and his household had received the same measure of the Holy Spirit, along with the same purpose as the Apostles, then they would have know themselves what they should do; they would have instructed themselves. But such is not the case! We still read about the necessity of Peter continuing to instruct those present and commanding the gentiles to be baptized into Christ (Acts 10:47-48). When baptized one is baptized "into Christ" and "puts on Christ." This is true for both Jew and Gentile! (Gal. 3:26-27).

What the proper sequence of events shows,

Through the proper sequences of events, Peter speaking, their hearing, the Holy Spirit falling upon the Gentiles, the Jews being amazed to understand the Gentiles were worthy of the kingdom, Peter continuing by giving instruction to those present and commanding the gentiles to be baptized, and their obedience in baptism we get the complete lesson here. Thus we conclude once again that the very one's who did actually receive the gift of the Holy Spirit were told that baptism (immersion in water) was necessary for them to be saved. Hear Peter once more on salvation! "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21). Salvation came to Cornelius and his household the same way it comes to men today by hearing, believing and obeying the command to be baptized for the remission of your sins (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 10:47; Acts 18:8; 22:16).

The lesson from the conversion of the Samaritans, Acts 8

One's belief in the deity of Christ is be followed with obedience in baptism. Luke writes of their conversions, "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:12). Notice the parallel with Jesus command in Mark 16:16,

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Upon baptism they were saved but they did not have the Holy Spirit,

Act 8:15-16 tells us that the Samaritans heard, believed and were baptized. They were saved having become Christians but they had "not" yet received the Holy Spirit. Here are the verses right from the Bible,

Acts 8:12-21

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. [13] Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. [14] Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: [15] Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: [16] (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) [17] Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. [18] And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, [19] Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. [20] But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. [21] Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

We learn here that the christians Philip converted in the city of Samaria did not have the Holy Spirit. Moreover we read here how the apostles Peter and John had to come there to Samaria and lay hands on them "that they might receive the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:17-21). Through the laying on of the apostle's hands spiritual gifts were given to other christians, as long as the apostles were alive (See Acts 19:6; Timothy as an example, 2 Tim. 1:6; also Rom. 1:11). Philip was not an apostle and he did not have the power the apostles had to impart spiritual gifts to others. Only the apostles had that power and there are no apostles here on earth today to lay their hands on others to give them the gifts. Paul taught that the spiritual gifts were cease in time with the complete revelation of God's word being given and written down for all time (I Cor. 13:8-10).

How the Holy Spirit indwells the Christian today,

We are taught as christians that we dwell in God and God dwells in us. Hear John , "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (I John 4:16). Our physical bodies do not miraculously dwell "inside" of God's person. But we certainly have fellowship with God in the church through Christ as we walk in the light (I John 1:5-7). In the same verse John says we dwell in God he says God dwells in christians. One of the great errors of the "religious" world claiming to believe in Christ is that the Holy Spirit (God, Acts 5:3-4) dwells literally in one's body and directs and guides them apart from the word. These are lead away from the plain teaching of the New Testament, God's will, to follow the emotional dictates of their own feelings and hearts! They will says, "I feel in my heart." The Bible warns us against false standards of religion and one of them is our own "feelings" or emotions. Hear Solomon, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Prov. 14:12). Hear him again, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered" (Proverbs 28:26). What people desire today for the most part is religion without "revelation," i.e. without that which was revealed by the inspired apostles and prophets in the first century and written down in the New Testament, the word of God (Eph. 2:20; 2 Peter 3:1-2). That word revealed is an all-sufficient guide for man until the end of time (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Jude exhorted christians to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). Moreover the apostle Peter whom we have been studying about in this lesson said, "Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (I Peter 4:11). Shortly before departing this world Peter said that he "wrote" by inspiration for this very purpose. Hear Peter, "This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles" (2 Peter 3:1-2). Perhaps you would be interested in studying how the New Testament revelation was made known to man. You may do so by going to our series "Fundamental Lessons on the Church," Lesson Two, The Head And Authority of the Church .

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