What the Holy Spirit Does in Baptism

There is a sense in which all Christians are baptized in the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). Moreover, this “Spirit” is more specifically identified as the “Spirit of God.”

But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11b

The three passive verbs (“washed… sanctified… justified”) imply the activity of God. Thus, according to Paul, baptism is not only an act which unified the Corinthians in Christ, it was specifically the Spirit of God who does the washing, sanctifying, and justifying.

Paul makes a similar statement in his letter to Titus.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7

Paul states that Christians are saved “by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit”, which results in “being justified” so that we “become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” The reference to “washing” and “renewal” is almost certainly intended as as reference to baptism. As was observed in the previous part of this study, Paul saw baptism as the moment when someone was united with the death and resurrection of Christ (Rom. 6:1-4) and was put “into Christ” (Gal. 3:27). From Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 12:13, among other passages, we know this was closely connected to the work of the Spirit. Here, as in 1 Corinthians 6:11, we see that it is the Holy Spirit who does the washing, renewing, and justifying in baptism.

This parallels nicely with several other passages in the New Testament. The verses below refer to God’s act of sanctifying, cleansing, washing, or to the act of being “brought forth” or “born” again, all of which are terms closely connected with baptism.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.
Ephesians 5:25-26

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:13

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
James 1:18

Having purified your souls by obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.
1 Peter 1:22-23

Interestingly, with the exception of 2 Thessalonians 2:13, none of these verses mention the Spirit. Instead, they speak of the “washing of water with the word” or being “brought forth by the word of truth” or being “born again… through the living and abiding word of God.” From our earlier study on the Spirit (Parts 1, 3, and 4) it was observed that God’s “Spirit” or “Breath” was always closely connected to His “Word.” Whether, then, we speak of the “Spirit of God” or the “Breath of God” or the “Word of God”, He is the one who does the washing, sanctifying, justifying, cleansing, and purification in the new birth of baptism.

Pentecost Set the Stage for Baptism

Having surveyed the New Testament’s doctrinal explanations of the role of the Holy Spirit in baptism, we can now see why Peter would respond to the surprising events of Pentecost by saying

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.
Acts 2:38

Just as it is necessary for a swimming pool to be filled with water before someone can be immersed in the pool, and just as it is necessary for water to be poured out into a bathtub before someone can be washed in the bathtub, so it was necessary for the Holy Spirit to be poured out in order for believers to be washed, sanctified, and justified in the Holy Spirit. That is why Peter’s command of baptism was the logical response when the Spirit was poured out on Pentecost, and why it was again the logical response when the Spirit was poured out on Cornelius’s household (Acts 10:46-47). Without Jesus sending the Holy Spirit, immersion in water would be no different than John’s baptism. But now that Jesus has ascended into heaven and has sent the Spirit, we too can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit when we believe and are baptized in Him (cf. Acts 19:2-6).

Or as Paul put it in Galatians 3:14:

In Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

All Christians are Baptized in the Spirit

On April 8, 2023 By Tyler BoydIn Holy Spirit

This article is part 12 of an ongoing series on the Holy Spirit. For previous posts in this series, click here.

Baptism is described as the moment when someone is put into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-13). Baptism is what puts one “in Christ” in a way that can be described as having “put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). To be more specific, baptism is centered on the cross, producing union with Christ’s death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5).

While baptism was clearly centered on Christ, it is also closely connected with the Spirit. The book of Acts continually describes a close connection between the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the necessity of baptism (Part 11). But it is in the writings of Paul where the find the clearest doctrinal explanations of the role of the Holy Spirit in baptism.

Here it will be observed from the writings of Paul that there is a sense in which all Christians are baptized in the Spirit. The next part of this study will examine the writings of Paul further with a focus on what the Spirit is said to do in baptism. Once we consider everything Paul says about the role of the Holy Spirit in baptism, we can return to the book of Acts with a greater understanding of why the spectacular outpouring of the Spirit was followed with a command to be baptized (Acts 2:38; 10:47) or otherwise closely connected with the act of baptism (Acts 8:16-17; 19:5-6).

The Corinthians Were All Baptized in the Spirit

Paul speaks of baptism as the moment when one is initiated into the body of Christ.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13

In this text, baptism is clearly associated with the Spirit. It is stressed that all Christians were baptized in the Spirit. It does not matter one’s ethnicity (Jew or Greek) or one’s position in life (slave or free). All Christians were made to drink of the same Spirit. All of them. This is the foundation of Paul’s discourse on the importance of Christian unity.

The Galatians Were All Baptized in the Spirit

Paul makes a very similar statement in his letter to the Galatians.

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 3:26-29

Just as in 1 Corinthians 12:13, here Paul points to baptism as the basis of Christian unity. Jews, Greeks, slaves, free, males, and females are all one in Christ, because they were all baptized into Christ. Baptism is the means by which a person becomes “in Christ.” Because they are all in Christ, they are all considered as Abraham’s offspring.

While Paul does not explicitly state that that the Galatians were baptized “in one Spirit” as he does in 1 Corinthians, there are several indications that this was the case.

A few verses earlier, Paul asked the Galatians a pointed question:

Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by work of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Galatians 3:2-3

This question implies that the Galatians had all received the Spirit at some point in the past. What’s more, Paul specifically refers to them as having “begun by the Spirit”, indicating that they received the Spirit at the beginning on their Christian walk, that is, at the time of their conversion. This of course would have been the time of their baptism. Paul goes on to say that the Spirit was supplied to the Galatians by faith, which is why they can be identified sons of Abraham.

Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith – just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
Know then that it is those who are of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
Galatians 3:5-7

Paul goes on to write:

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying “Abba! Father!”
Galatians 4:6

Paul says the Spirit is sent from God to all those who are sons of Abraham. Who did Paul just identify as the sons of Abraham? Those who were baptized into Christ:

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ… And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 3:27-28

All the Galatians, both Jews and Gentiles, who were baptized into Christ, were now to be considered as sons. All those who were sons had received the Spirit at the beginning of their life in Christ. Paul goes on to speak of the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23) and to encourage to Galatians to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25), both of which assume the presence of the Spirit in the lives of all those in the churches of Galatia.

So while the exact wording “baptized in the Spirit” is not used in the book of Galatians, baptism is described the means by which a person becomes “in Christ.” And throughout the book of Galatians, it is assumed that all those who are “in Christ” received the Holy Spirit at the time of their conversion, which would have been the time of their baptism.

The Romans Were All Baptized in the Spirit

As with Galatians, the book of Romans nowhere explicitly states that the Holy Spirit is received at the moment of baptism. However, there are several passages that demonstrate a close connection between baptism and the Spirit.

For example, Paul writes that baptism is what unifies someone with the death and resurrection of Christ and gives new life in him.

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Romans 6:3-5

From here, Paul goes on to write:

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 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.
Romans 8:9-11

The presence of the Spirit described as a necessary and defining characteristic all those who are “in Christ.” Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. From his previous statement, we know that baptism is what put them “in Christ”. That means that the Spirit is a defining characteristic for all those who are baptized. It was baptism that gave the Roman Christians hope of resurrection, and it was the presence of the Spirit which is necessary for that resurrection. Reading these passages in unison demonstrates that the Romans, like the Corinthians and the Galatians, were all baptized in the Spirit.

Furthermore, just as in Galatians 4:6, Paul says the Holy Spirit plays a key role in the Roman’s adoption as sons of God.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the Spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:14-17

In the book of Romans, Paul describes baptism as the moment when we are united with Christ’s death and resurrection and begin our new life in Christ. Paul also teaches that we have hope in the resurrection because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is a necessary and defining characteristic of all those who belong to Christ. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that just as in the church at Corinth, and just as in the churches of Galatia, all of the Roman Christians had also been baptized in the Spirit.

All Christians are Baptized in the Spirit

From these Pauline passages we can conclude that there is a sense in which all Christians are baptized in the Spirit. This truth harmonizes nicely with the teachings of Jesus, who said:

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:5

And:

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive.
John 7:38-39

These passages also harmonize with the words of Peter on Pentecost:

Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38

Keep in mind that the sense in which all Christians are baptized in the Spirit must not be confused with those unique and miraculous outpouring of the Spirit, which is described only on a few special occasions in the book of Acts (See Part 11). The role of the Spirit in baptism is however closely related to these miraculous outpourings. This close connection will be explored further in the next part of this study.

Speaking in Tongues as a Sign of the Spirit

On March 10, 2023 By Tyler BoydIn Holy Spirit

There are three, and possibly four instances of speaking in tongues recorded in the book of Acts. In each instance, the ability to speak in tongues served to signify the presence of the Holy Spirit. Recall from part 1 the close connection between “Spirit” and “breath” and “words.” When people were given the ability to speak words in unfamiliar languages, this could only mean that it was not the speaker’s own spirit giving utterance to the words. The ability to speak in tongues convinced both the receiver and others in attendance that the Holy Spirit had been poured out.

Speaking in Tongues on Pentecost

In Acts 2:1-3 we read about the mighty rushing wind that filled the house where Jesus’s apostles were sitting, and tongues of fire rested over each one of them. It is here that we find the first instance of speaking in tongues:

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:4

This shocking and observable event naturally prompted many questions (2:12-13), leading to Peter’s Pentecost sermon (2:14-36). At the conclusion of this sermon, Peter challenged his Jewish audience to respond in repentance and baptism.

And Peter said to them, “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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.
Acts 2:38-39

Observe:

The ability to speak in tongues was directly connected to their being filled with the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit that gave them the ability to utter foreign words.
This event was in the context of a large Jewish assembly in Jerusalem (2:5-12).
Peter says the promised Holy Spirit was not limited only to the apostles who were given the ability to speak in tongues, but would be given to those who would repent and be baptized

The gift of the Holy Spirit to be received in baptism was not offered until after the Holy Spirit was poured out in astonishing fashion upon the apostles. Because of the mighty rushing wind, the tongues of fire, and the ability to speak in tongues, Peter thus concluded that the promised Holy Spirit was available not only to the Jews and to their children, but to “all who are far off.”

Speaking in Tongues in Caesarea

In Acts 10 we read of another occurrence of speaking in tongues. What makes Acts 10 unique from Acts 2 is that the individuals involved were Gentiles (Cornelius and his household) who believed in Jesus.

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain some days.
Acts 10:44-48

Observe:

Peter knew the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles because he heard them speaking on tongues as observable proof.
Once again, we see a close connection between the miraculous outpouring of the Spirit and baptism. Here Peter saw that the Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles and responded by commanding the Gentiles to be baptized, just as he had commanded the Jews on Pentecost.

Speaking in Tongues that Occurred in Ephesus

Just as in Acts 2 and Acts 10, we read of another occurrence of the ability to speak in tongues in Acts 19. Acts 19 is unique in that the Holy Spirit was poured out specifically upon disciples who had only been baptized with John’s baptism, and were previously unaware of the Holy Spirit.

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking on tongues and prophesying.”
Acts 19:1-6

Observe:

Just as on Pentecost and in Caesarea, when the Holy Spirit came on them, they began to speak in tongues.
Just as on Pentecost and in Caesarea, the presence of the Holy Spirit is once again closely connected with baptism. Here they were baptized, then Paul laid his hands on them, then they were given the ability to speak in tongues.
Unlike Acts 2 and Acts 10, where the outpouring of the Holy Spirit resulted in the command to be baptized, here we see the reverse order. They were baptized, but did not receive the ability to speak in tongues from baptism itself, but when Paul laid his hands on them giving them the ability to speak in tongues and prophesy.

Speaking in Tongues that (Probably) Occurred in Samaria

There is one other instance in the book of Acts, where the ability to speak in tongues is not explicitly mentioned, but is likely implied. In Acts 8 we read about Philip preaching the gospel to the Samaritans, who responded in baptism. But here, Luke finds it noteworthy to mention that even though they were baptized, they had not yet received the Holy Spirit.

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 8:14-16

Notice that by this time, the apostles recognized that baptism that did not result in the reception of the Holy Spirit was an abnormality. They recognized the absence of the Holy Spirit following the Samaritan’s baptisms as a problem in need of a resolution. Up to this point, the Holy Spirit was given to all those who obeyed him in baptism (Acts 5:32; cf. Acts 2:38-39).

And so we read happened:

Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 8:17-18

When the apostles laid their hands on the Samaritans they were given the Holy Spirit. Simon recognized this because he saw the Spirit’s power in some observable way. Since speaking in tongues was the outward sign in other recorded instances where the Holy Spirit was poured out on people, it is very likely that speaking in tongues occurred here in Samaria as well. Just as in the other passages, it is once again closely connected to baptism, though not received through the act of baptism itself. As in Acts 19, the ability to speak in tongues was given through the laying the apostle’s hands.

The Significance of Speaking in Tongues

It is helpful to notice that Luke highlights the ability to speak in tongue at critical moments in the early church’s history. Recall that Luke opened the book of Acts with two of Jesus’s promises about the Holy Spirit. First, Jesus reminded his disciples of the difference between his baptism and John’s baptism.

“John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:5

Then Jesus told his disciples how when they receive the Holy Spirit, they would be his witnesses, first in Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria, and finally to the end of the earth.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8

The key moments in the book of Acts where the outpouring of the Holy Spirit resulted in the ability to speak in tongues, corresponds precisely with these introductory verses. First, we see the ability to speak in tongues when the gospel was first preached among the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea (Acts 2). Then, we read about the Holy Spirit being given in a powerful manner in when the gospel was first preached in Samaria (Acts 8). We read about the ability to speak in tongues in Caesarea, when the gospel was first preached to the Gentiles (Acts 10), which opens the door to Paul’s mission to carry the gospel “to the ends of the earth”. The final occurrence circles back to highlight the contrast between John’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism with the Spirit (Acts 19), showing that John’s promise had in fact been fulfilled.

In each instance, the miraculous ability to speak in tongues served as undeniable proof that God’s Spirit had been poured out. First we see the Spirit’s presence with the Jews, then the Samaritans, then the Gentiles, then among John’s disciples. In each instance, the outpouring of the Spirit severed either to prove that baptism was now needed, or to demonstrate the Spirit’s approval of baptisms which had just occurred.

How exactly does the outpouring of the Spirit lead to the necessity of baptism? How is baptism connected to those times when the Spirit was poured out in such an amazing way? What role does the Spirit play in baptism today? These questions will be the focus of the next part of this study.