Subject: hoyy spirit bap. evidence tounges? |
Bible Note: I believe that these terms are not synonymous. I am in agreement with what JVH0212 previously stated: "Let me begin by saying there are three things to keep in mind here: 1) My main point is: There is ONE baptism, but MANY fillings. 2) Because the Bible itself makes a distinction between "baptized by the Holy Spirit" and "filled with the Holy Spirit", we too must make a distinction between the two terms. Baptized and filled do not both mean the same thing. Filled is not just another way of saying baptized. 3) We don't prove the Bible by experience. Instead, we prove experience by the Bible. 1 Cor 12:13 NASB For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. The Bible in 1 Cor 12:13 says: "By one Spirit we were all baptized." Notice that this verse, in contrast with Acts 2:4, DOES use both Spirit and baptized in one sentence. This is how we were initially placed into the body of Christ. It ocurred to each of us ONCE -- when we received Christ as Savior and were born again. QUESTION: Since "by one Spirit we were all baptized" (when we were placed into the body of Christ), then what else could the baptism in, of, by, or with the Holy Spirit be? Surely there are not 2 or more different kinds of Holy Spirit baptism, are there? Also note that in Acts 2:4, the text there does not say: "And they were all baptized with the Holy Spirit." It uses the word "filled". "And they were all FILLED (emphasis mine) with the Holy Spirit." Filled, not baptized. Not according to the plain text of the Scripture. So, each individual believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit (placed into the body of Christ) ONCE, when he is born again and first becomes a Christian. However, the filling with the Spirit is a repeated reality in the life of the believer. I.e., there is ONE BAPTISM, BUT MANY FILLINGS. The fullness of the Spirit affects all areas of life, not just speaking boldly. Also note the Bible teaches that ALL believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9). --JVH0212" schwartzkm, I am not trying to 'prove' that you are wrong here or anything like that. But I believe that there is a fundamental difference between being 'baptized' by the Holy Spirit (which comes first), and then being 'filled with the Holy Spirit' (which comes many times after baptism). Are we being baptized by the Holy Spirit again every single time that we are 'filled with the Holy Spirit'? This 'association' between "baptism" and "filling" simply does not make sense to me. I believe that one could, in a sense, be 'filled' with the Holy Spirit when the Holy Spirit baptizes that person upon conversion, but baptism is a one time event that happens to all believers, and the Holy Spirit has sealed us (2 Tim. 2:19). However, our bodies remain 'temples of the Holy Spirit' wherein the Spirit dwells, and where we are frequently 'filled with the Holy Spirit'! Nolan |