The baptism with the Holy Spirit

The baptism with the Holy Spirit is part of the salvation process

The United Pentecostal Church International, which is one of the Oneness Pentecostal denominations that teach Jesus is at once the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaches that if a believer is not baptized with the Holy Spirit, he is not born again, thus, he is not yet saved. Jimmy Louis Hall has written: ‘Jesus called the transforming of a person from sin to the kingdom of God a birth of water and the Spirit (John 3:5). This new birth is more than water baptism, for it includes the transforming work of the Spirit of God. A person may be baptized in water in the name of Jesus and still not be born again; he will remain outside the kingdom of God until he also receives the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 14:17.) Without the infilling of the Holy Spirit, a person’s birth is not complete; he may be forgiven of his past sins, but he is not born again. His new birth is not finished. He need a spiritual change of his sinful nature that comes only by the infilling of God’s Spirit. A saved person, then, is one who is both forgiven and regenerated, both pardoned and transformed … the baptism of the Holy Ghost is an essential experience in salvation’ (J. L. Hall and David K. Bernard, editors, Doctrines of the Bible, Word Aflame Press, Hazelwood, MO, USA, 1998, pages 201, 203). This doctrine is held even by some Trinitarian Pentecostals.

Confutation

A person receives forgiveness of sins when he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, for it is written: “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43 – NIV); and he becomes a child of God when he believes in Him, as it is written: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13 – NKJV). In other words, a person is forgiven and regenerated when he repents of his sins, and believes in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever has repented of his sins and believed in Jesus Christ, therefore, can say with all boldness, ‘I am forgiven! I am born again! I am a child of God!’

The baptism with the Spirit is undoubtedly an important experience, but it is not part of the salvation process. For the baptism with the Holy Spirit is an endowment with power from on high, for Jesus Christ – just before He was received up into heaven - said to His disciples: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you ….” (Acts 1:8 – NKJV). Notice that Jesus did not say to them: ‘You shall receive remission of sins when the Holy Spirit has come upon you ….’ or ‘You shall be born again when the Holy Spirit has come upon you ….,’ but ‘you shall receive power …’

Let no one deceive you with empty words, brothers and sisters. Beware of those who teach that the baptism with the Spirit is part of the salvation process, for they lie against the truth.

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