On Sunday, March 12th, within our "Becoming Like Christ" series we tackled the subjects of how Jesus ministered in power, how his disciples were given power & authority, and how the Holy Spirit is with us to this day as we answer the same call that the first disciples did. You can watch the sermon here.

The purpose of this article is to simply highlight some of the scriptures, and the simple thought process from the weekend. And, how these texts inform Oceanside's beliefs in ongoing works of The Holy Spirit, the baptism of The Spirit, and subsequent fillings of The Spirit we see in Acts.

I hope this is helpful. Oceanside is a diverse church and many people who have found a home here come from variety of backgrounds. Let's seek the truth scripture regarding The Holy Spirit together!

Section 1 - How Jesus modelled life with The Holy Sprit & baptized the disciples with it

1 - Jesus' earthly ministry was characterized by The Holy Spirit's power

Acts 10:38 (ESV) – God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

2 - People around him were astonished and marvelled at his teaching, authority and miracles

Matthew 8:27 (ESV) – And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Matthew 7:28–29 (ESV) – And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, ²⁹ for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Thoughout the four gospels Jesus' ministry was accompanied by healing the sick, casting out demonic spirits, miriacles, raising the dead and words of knowledge

3 - In Jesus' earthy ministry He submitted to the authority of Father God

In these ways Jesus was modeling for his disciples and for us how to operate under the authority of God.

John 5:19 (ESV) – So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

John 5:30 (ESV) – “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Jesus looked up towards God before he spoke, made a judgment or did anything related to The Kingdom.

Philippians 2:5–7 (ESV) – Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Jesus was dependant on relationship with God to be able to minister and modelled this for us to follow.

4 - Jesus raised up disciples and at times released power & authority to them

Matthew 9:37–10:1 (ESV) – Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; ³⁸ therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” ^10:1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

Wow!

5 - Jesus promised that the power that acommpanied his ministy would also be present in the great comission

Mark 16:15–18 (ESV) – And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

6 - Jesus promised this power by "baptism with The Holy Spirit"

Acts 1:4–5, 8 (ESV) – And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” [...]
⁸ 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.”

• In Acts 10:8 mysteriously reveals that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power by God.
• In Acts 1:4-5, 8 Jesus promised the same thing to his disciples.
• In Mark 16:17 Jesus promises that this same power will be passed down to "those who believe." Jesus even says "they will ___ " five times referring not to the disciples but to those who believe after them.

7 - Jesus & John the Baptist used the phrase "baptism with the Holy Spirit" to describe the first time the disciples experianced The Holy Spirit

Mark 1:8 (ESV) – I (John) have baptized you with water, but he (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 1:5 (ESV) – for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

John 1:32–34 (ESV) – And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³ I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Here we see why we call it "baptisim with the Holy Spirit." Some arugue that it may be more helpful to call this first experiance with the Holy Spirit simply a "filling" or "a first-filling" as the term "baptism with the Holy Spirit" is not metioned elsewhere. But Jesus calls it a baptism so we should probably stick with that.

Section 2 - Different ways we see the Holy Spirit come in Acts

1 - Believers baptised with the Holy Spirit prior to water baptism

Acts 10:44–48 (ESV) – While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ 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. ⁴⁶ For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

2 - Believers baptised with the Holy Spirit on the same day as water baptism

Acts 19:5–6 (ESV) – On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

3 - Believers baptised with the Holy Spirit for the first time at a significant date after water baptism

Acts 8:12, 14–17 (ESV) – But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. [...]
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, ¹⁵ who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Interestingly the distance between Jerusalem and Samaria is roughly 100km. It would have taken some days for Peter and John to arrive after Philip.

4 - The baptism with the Holy Spirit often comes via impartation / laying on of hands from a Spirit filled believer.

Acts 9:17 (ESV) –[...] And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

We see this with most of the examples given privously. However, we see cases where the laying on of hands is not explicitly mentioned and whole groups are baptised with The Holy Spirit all at once.

Acts 10:44–46 (ESV) – While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ 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. ⁴⁶ For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God.

• We remember that the baptism still belongs to Jesus, not man.

5 - Believers were filled on multiple subsiquent occasions after baptism with the Holy Spirit

Acts 4:31 (ESV) – And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Acts 7:55 (ESV) – But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

Acts 13:9 (ESV) – But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

Acts 13:52 (ESV) – And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

These examples of re-filling often came when the believers needed significant support from God as they went to fulfil His purposes.

Section 3 - Questions

Is baptsim with the Holy Spirit required for salvation?

The elders at Oceanside hold to the teaching of Ephesians 2:8-9 that salvation is by grace through faith alone. For example; we understand that the people in Acts 8:12 were saved through their belief in Jesus Christ even though their baptism with the Spirit came later in Acts 8:17.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Regarding Jesus' words in John 3:5; Jesus is saying that anyone who has a saving faith in Himself has entered into this birth of the Spirit, as 1 Corinthians 12:3 reminds us that “no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.” The saving faith explained in Ephesians 2:8 thoughly spiritual transaction.

John 3:5–6 (ESV) – Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:3b (ESV) – no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

We see salvation and the baptism with the Holy Spirit as seperate events in a Christian life.

Should / does everyone "speak in tounges" when they are baptized with the Holy Spirit?

1 Corinthians 12:29–31 (ESV) – Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

So we know that answer is that not all will speak in tongues. However in v31 and a following chapter Paul encourage everyone to "desire" it.

1 Corinthians 14:4–5 (ESV) – The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵ Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

Section 4 - We hope this helps

I do hope this summary of what we see in scripture about The Holy Spirit helps to communicate some of what we believe here at Oceanside Church. As with all our beliefs we would love to have a conversation with you if you have any questions. Anyone from our Eldership Team would be happy to talk more or help you go deeper with God.

Thank you for reading as we seek out faithfulness to God's word together!

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