THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BELONGS TO ALL BELIEVERS

I must strongly object to understanding that the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” (as evidenced by speaking in tongues) only belongs to a particular group of believers – the “overcomers.” For one thing, the unity that we are supposed to share is disrupted by the teaching that some have the Spirit and some don’t; some have this baptism and others don’t. However, Paul claimed that there is only one baptism, which all believers share:

·       Ephes. 4:3-5 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, ONE BAPTISM;

If some have the baptism in the Spirit and others don’t, then there is a biblical basis for disunity – the very thing that Paul denies. Instead, Paul tells us that ALL believers have the Spirit:

·       Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

He also claimed that ALL believers are “baptized by one Spirit into one body”:

·       1 Cor. 12:13 For we were ALL baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were ALL given the one Spirit to drink.

Therefore, the believer should not pursue the baptism of the Spirit. No should the believer seek to be part of the Body of Christ. He is automatically baptized into this Body when He believes.

Besides, being in Christ, we already have all “fullness in Christ”:

·       Col. 2:9-10 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given FULLNESS IN CHRIST, who is the head over every power and authority.

Speaking in tongues is also not evidence of Spirit baptism. Why not! Because not every believer is supposed to speak in tongues:

·       1 Cor. 12:27-30 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

Not all have the gifts of healing, teaching, or prophecy. Likewise, not all have been given the gift of tongues.

Not only is this understanding of the “baptism of the Spirit” unbiblical, it is also highly divisive, creating two groups of Christians: the haves and the have-nots.