THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 2:1–4 NASB95

¹ When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.

² And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

³ And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.

⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Acts 2:38 NASB95

³⁸ Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:9–15 NASB95

⁹ However, you are not in the flesh but in 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.

¹⁰ If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

¹² So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—

¹³ for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

¹⁴ For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

¹⁵ For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

THE PROPHETS SPOKE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

• —foretold that God would use stammering lips and another tongue (Isaiah 28:9-12). Paul referred to this prophecy in one of his epistles. (See I Corinthians 14:21.) Isaiah described the joy of this experience as like draw- ing water from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:1-6).

• —foretold the outpouring of the Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28-29). Peter informed us that the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy (Acts 2:16-18).

• —All four gospel writers recorded John’s prophecy of Christ baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). Jesus himself declared that John the Baptist was a prophet (Luke 7:24-30).

• —“Prophet of all prophets” is a proper and fitting title for our Lord. In the truest sense of the word, Jesus was a prophet (Luke 24:19; Acts 3:22-23). He prophesied of many things such as the destruction of Jerusalem, the rising of false christs, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

1. He described the Holy Spirit as rivers of living water (John 7:37-39). The Holy Spirit is the living water of John 4:10-14.

2. When Jesus spoke of being born of the Spirit, He meant being baptized with the Holy Spirit. (See John 3:1-8.)

3. He foretold of the coming Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit (John 14:16- 17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-13).

4. He promised His followers right before His ascension to heaven that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit a few days from then (Acts 1:5). Jesus fulfilled his promise on the Day of Pentecost. (See Acts 2:1-4.)

WHAT IS THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

1. —Also called the Spirit of God because Jesus is God (Romans 8:9-11). Jesus spoke of being with us and of being in us; the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God coming into our lives. (See Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:16-18.)

2. —The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an inundating, overwhelming immersion in the Spirit. God’s Spirit baptizes us into one body (I Corinthians 12:13). Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is the “one baptism” of which Paul spoke (Ephesians 4:5).

3. —Two distinct elements constitute the born-again experience, namely, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit baptism (John 3:1-8). Jesus equated the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the birth of the Spirit.

4. —God gives us the Holy Spirit to seal us for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). “Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13). (See II Corinthians 1:22.)

5. The of our Inheritance—As great as this experience is, it is only a down payment on, or part of, what we will receive in the end, if we are faith- ful (II Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14). Paul referred to this experience as “the firstfruits of the Spirit” (Romans 8:23).

6. —Jesus invited people to come to Him and find rest for their souls (Isaiah 28:12; Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:1-11). In Christ we have ceased from our labors and have entered into the rest (sabbath) of the Holy Spirit. Every day is a holy day of rest, peace, and joy in Him.

7. Spirit of —Through the Holy Spirit, we have been adopted as children of God, crying out “Abba,” which means “daddy” or “father” (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:5).

8. —Those who have drunk of the spiritual drink and of the spiritual Rock (I Corinthians 10:1-4) know the depth of this term. Living water sounds refreshing and revitalizing. Jesus said the Holy Spirit is like that (John 4:10-14; 7:37-39).

9. —We are weak creatures, needing power outside the human realm. Through the Holy Spirit, God has provided this needed power— power to be witnesses (Acts 1:8) and to live as God directs us in His Word. We need to be endued with power from on high. (See Luke 24:49; Acts 2:1-4.) This power comes from the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven (I Peter 1:12).

10. —Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, a guide, a testifier, and a reprover (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-13).

WHO CAN RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

1. God’s promise of the Holy Spirit is to all flesh—sons, daughters, servants, and handmaidens (Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:16-17).

2. John the Baptist did not exclude anyone in his preaching about the Holy Spirit baptism (Matthew 3:11).

3. Peter declared that the Holy Spirit is for the Jews and for Gentiles (Acts 2:38- 39).

4. God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32).

5. Those at Samaria and the Ethiopian received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:1-40).

6. Cornelius and those in his home received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48).

7. Persons from every kindred, tongue, and nation can receive the Holy Spirit (Revelation 5:9).

EVIDENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. Isaiah prophesied of God speaking through another tongue to his people (Isaiah 28:9-12).

2. When the New Testament church began, the believers spoke in other tongues (Acts 2:1-4).

3. Though not explicitly stated, the evidence reveals that the Samaritans spoke in tongues (Acts 8:1-25).

4. Cornelius’s household, which was Gentile, spoke in tongues (Acts 10:44-48).

5. Disciples of John the Baptist were re-baptized and spoke in tongues (Acts 19:1- 6).

SYNONYMOUS TERMS FOR THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. with the Holy Spirit—Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; Acts 1:5; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:5

2. with the Holy Spirit—Acts 2:1-4; 9:17

3. of the Holy Spirit—Acts 2:38; 8:20; 10:45; 11:17; Romans 5:5; 6:23

4. the Holy Spirit—John 7:37-39; Acts 8:15-19; 10:47; 19:2

5. Holy Spirit —Acts 1:8; 19:6

6. Spirit —Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:17; 10:45

7. Holy Spirit from heaven—I Peter 1:12; compare with Acts 2:2 and the “sound from heaven.”

8. Holy Spirit —Acts 8:16; 10:44; 11:15

9. Holy Spirit on us—Acts 2:33; Romans 5:5; Titus 3:5-6

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. Without the Holy Spirit, we will not be in the catching away of the church (Romans 8:11; I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

2. Without the Spirit of Christ, we are none of His (Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:3; II Timothy 2:19).

3. We cannot call Jesus “Lord” except by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:3).

SALVATION

1. —Cleansing comes through the blood, water, and Spirit, as a result of our faith in Christ and obedience to the Word of God (John 13:10; I Corinthians 6:11; I Peter 1:22; Revelation 1:7).

2. —The Bible compares being saved from sin to being made alive and being resurrected (Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 2:13; Romans 6:1-11).

3. —Newborn babies come into the world, behold its beauty for the first time, and then grow up to enjoy all the exciting things that life brings. When people are born into the family of God, they are nourished by the Word and grow up to be useful workers for God’s cause (John 1:13; 3:l-8; Galatians 4:29; I Peter 1:23; I John 2:29).

4. —Spiritual circumcision of the heart (Jeremiah 4:4) occurs today when we obey Acts 2:38. Together, water baptism and Spirit baptism fully circumcise the heart (Romans 2:28-29; Galatians 3:29; Philippians 3:3; Colossians 2:10-13).

5. —Spiritually we are translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Romans 6:4-5; Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 1:13).

6. Being in the of God—God’s kingdom is a spiritual entity that we become part of by being born again (Matthew 16:19; Mark 12:34; Luke 12:31- 32; John 3:1-8; Acts 8:12; Romans 14:17).

7. Being —Salvation is accomplished in our lives by the washing of regen- eration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5; See Acts 2:1-4), which comes through obeying the gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-4).

8. Being a —“Creature” in this instance means “creation.” Only in and through Christ can we become new creations (II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15).