The Baptism in the Holy Spirit | Bible Commentary Forever Ministries

Abstract

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a topic that generates significant debate among both Christians and non-Christians. In this blog article, we explore various Bible passages from the Gospels and the Book of Acts to demonstrate that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from the Father, given in the name of the Lord Jesus to all who are open to and believe in receiving this gift. We discuss how the baptism in the Holy Spirit must be accompanied by speaking in tongues as a miraculous sign, both for the believer and those around them, indicating that the baptism in the Holy Spirit has indeed taken place. Within the context of Holy Spirit baptism, we examine three important stages in a believer’s faith journey: 1) a person repents and invites the Lord Jesus to live in their hearts; 2) a person is baptized in water by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; 3) a person seeks the baptism in the Holy Spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus, believing that the miraculous sign of the Holy Spirit baptism must include speaking in unknown angelic tongues. The article is organized into four main sections:

Introduction.
Does the Baptism in Water Replace the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
The Stages of the Holy Spirit Baptism.
Conclusions.

Moreover, the section “The Stages of the Holy Spirit Baptism” is divided into two subsections:

The Holy Spirit Baptism: The Holy Spirit Passing Through Stage.
The Holy Spirit Baptism: The Holy Spirit Dwelling Stage.

For clarity, these subsections are further divided into sub-subsections.

Introduction

The Lord Jesus came to earth as both the Son of God and the Son of Man, born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. He came to show us the way to the Father. As the sinless Lamb of God, He was crucified for the sins of the world. He died on the cross, was buried in the tomb, and on the third day, He rose, in the body, from the dead. He then ascended to the Father, where He is seated at the Father’s right hand. During His time on earth, the Lord Jesus told His disciples multiple times that He would be crucified and would rise again. He promised that if we love Him and keep His commandments, He will ask the Father to send us another Intercessor: The Holy Spirit, who will be with us forever (John 14:15-18). After His resurrection and before His ascension into heaven, the Lord Jesus commanded His disciples to stay in the city of Jerusalem until they would receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49).

The Book of Acts then details the ministry of the Lord Jesus after His resurrection, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The first chapter of the Book of Acts continues the events presented in Luke 24. The resurrected Lord Jesus tells His disciples to go out and tell people about the Lord’s work and His purpose for all. Also, the Lord Jesus commands them to wait for the blessing from the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Not one person but many have witnessed the departure of the Lord Jesus. Humans’ eyes have seen the Lord Jesus being taken up into heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of God the Father (see Acts 7:55-56).

Furthermore, in Acts 2, at Pentecost, as the disciples were waiting in prayer, as instructed by the Lord Jesus, we witness the miracle of the promise of the Father: the gift of the Holy Spirit is poured on the Lord Jesus’ disciples. Here, we see that the Lord Jesus keeps His promise to send “the promise of My Father upon you,” as stated in Luke 24:49. The mighty works of God have been manifested in this place. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, as they were gathered together in one place and praying, in a powerful way, through miraculous, audible, and visible signs, and baptized all those gathered in that place, so they all began to speak in tongues and prophesy about the mighty works of God Almighty. The power of God has no time or space limit, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit has been given to all, then and now, who seek and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as being the Son of God and the Savior of the world. People from all over the ancient world have witnessed the miraculous work of God and were all amazed. Peter, an ordinary fisherman by occupation, anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit, delivered a powerful message to all those gathered in Jerusalem. Peter testifies that the Lord Jesus, who was crucified and put to death by lawless men, was raised up in the body by God the Father, and He is the One who received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, which He poured out on them as seen by all. The Lord Jesus, who was crucified, is Lord and Christ, seated at the right hand of God the Father, and has the power to save all those who believe in Him. The mighty power of God works in the hearts of people. When people repent and are baptized in the water, then they will receive the promise of the Father if they seek it and are ready. Distance and time have no limit for the Lord; the gift of the Holy Spirit is available to all humans and all generations, past and future. The work of God is powerful throughout every generation of humans, and all people should be in awe at the mighty works of God. When believers join together under the leadership of the Holy Spirit to praise the Lord God Almighty, the work of glorifying God Almighty begins among other people as well.

In this blog article, we explain the gift of the baptism in the Holy Spirit for all believers in the Lord Jesus, evidenced by speaking in an unknown angelic tongue. All believers in the Lord Jesus seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit can receive this gift and be blessed by this gift.

Does the Baptism in the Water Replace the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

In this section, we address a common question among believers: whether they have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit when baptized in water. The answer can be either yes or no. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God the Father, given in the name of the Lord Jesus to all believers who trust in this gift and earnestly seek it. Furthermore, numerous Scripture passages affirm that the Lord Jesus is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Each believer is called to follow the examples portrayed for us in the Bible. The Lord Jesus Himself was baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 3:16-17) when the Holy Spirit descended as a dove upon Him and spoke in a loud voice from heaven saying: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And the Lord Jesus’ disciples, as shown in many places in Acts, have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit by the manifestation of the miraculous signs both visible and audible by speaking in unknown languages (see Acts 2:4-11; Acts 8:17; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6). We see that there is always a miracle accompanying the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, for a true believer in the Lord Jesus, the manifestation of the baptism in the Holy Spirit must have the miraculous sign of the believer speaking at least a word, loudly, in an unknown angelic tongue (spiritual tongue), because at the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit takes control over our soul and spirit (John 3:8). And this must be true; otherwise, how can a believer have the assurance in their soul of being baptized in the Holy Spirit?

The obvious question that arises on the water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism matter is: what happens during water baptism when one is baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? This question has two answers. As a further note, we are referring here to the true baptism in water of a believer by full immersion, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We cannot consider infant water baptism or water sprinkling baptism, as these types of baptism are not commanded in the Holy Scripture, and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit cannot endorse something that the Word of God does not command.

First, according to the teachings of the Bible, if a believer believes in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and is seeking this gift, and if the Holy Spirit comes upon them—either before, during, or shortly after they exit the water baptism—and they begin to speak in tongues loudly, then they can be confident that they have been baptized in the Holy Spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Second, if a believer believes in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and is seeking this gift but the experience of speaking in another tongue did not occur before, during, or shortly after the time of the water baptism, then the believer has not experienced the full baptism in the Holy Spirit at that time, and their responsibility is to continue to seek this baptism.

Our second answer leads us to another question: what do we mean by “full baptism in the Holy Spirit,” and what truly happens during water baptism?

In all cases, the believer must seek and believe that the Holy Spirit baptism must have the miraculous manifestation of speaking in an unknown tongue upon receiving the full baptism in the Holy Spirit. The sign of the Holy Spirit’s baptism must show according to the Bible, and we know in our spirit about this act (see Acts 2:2-4). The miraculous gift of speaking in tongues is the confirmation that the human spirit has joined the salvation seal. Speaking out loud, one word or a few words, in a tongue is the sign of the Holy Spirit baptism (see Comments John 1:33). Speaking more in tongues is a gift that comes after, and everyone can get this gift of speaking in tongues by praying and asking for the gift from the Lord. This miraculous gift of tongues is given to everyone; they only need to listen to the very small voice of the Holy Spirit inside their heart. Many are being baptized in water but ignore the small voice of the Lord; it’s not that the Holy Spirit doesn’t come to them. He comes to each heart with a small voice, but many have refused to listen, which is why not many people speak in tongues. However, a true believer must believe in both water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism (see Comments John 3:5 and Comments John 1:33).

Following our comments in Matthew 16:18, after a believer receives the Holy Spirit, the evil one cannot make the believer reject the Lord, but they can still trick the believer. They can make you believe that the Lord left you, and then you yourself reject the Lord or become angry with the Lord; then you can grieve the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30). But remember, the Bible is clear in telling us that the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us (see Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Hebrews 13:5-6, Psalm 55:22). By the will of the Lord, the gates of hell will never open for a person that has the faith (salvation) seal. Therefore, keep in mind that the Lord always gives a way out for everybody, and He will judge by the heart of the person.

As a note, the criminal on the cross did not receive the salvation seal by baptism in water, but he received the salvation seal of the Lord Jesus’ Word on his soul. The Lord baptized him by His Word (see Luke 23:43).

The Stages of the Holy Spirit Baptism

Numerous Scripture passages affirm that the Lord Jesus is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. For example, see Matthew 3:11-12, Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:7-8, Mark 1:9-12, Mark 16:16, Luke 3:16-17, Luke 3:21-22, Luke 12:50, John 1:33, John 3:23, and John 3:32-35. A true believer in the beloved Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, should follow all the teachings and examples set by the Lord Jesus to live a faithful Christian life. After His bodily resurrection, while in Jerusalem with His disciples, the Lord Jesus instructed them to wait for the promise of the Father—the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He told them in Luke 24:49: “And behold, I am sending out the promise of My Father upon you; but remain you in the city, until you be clothed with power from on high.”

As followers of the Lord Jesus, we go through various stages in our faith journey. While there are many experiences, we can highlight three important stages in the growth of a believer’s faith:

A person repents and invites the Lord Jesus to live in their hearts.
A person is baptized in water by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
A person seeks the baptism in the Holy Spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus, believing that the miraculous sign of the Holy Spirit baptism must include speaking in unknown angelic tongues.

Considering these faith development stages, regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit, there are three important questions to consider (see Comments Acts 2:11):

**First**. What happens inside of us when someone repents and invites the Lord Jesus into their hearts? At this stage, the person has much work to do before reaching the next level. Here, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit are simply checking the person’s soul and stirring them to meditate on the Word of God.

**Second**. What occurs within us when a person is baptized in water? At this point, the person has begun walking in the steps of completing and receiving both baptisms: in the water (the baptism of repentance) and in the Holy Spirit (the baptism of fulfillment).

**Third**. What happens inside of us when a person seeks and receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit? At this stage, the spirit of the person joins the salvation seal; the Holy Spirit dwells in the soul of the believer, and He performs His work (using the believer).

In our commentary, we discuss two main stages of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For a believer in the Lord Jesus seeking this baptism, it is important to understand that there are two potential stages: “the Holy Spirit passing through or touching” and “the Holy Spirit dwelling or using” (see Comments John 3:5 and Comments John 3:6). However, these stages occur only when a believer actively seeks the baptism in the Holy Spirit. We emphasize that the stage of the Holy Spirit dwelling in or using a believer represents the complete experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit. Additionally, some believers may receive this baptism quickly, while others may take more time. It’s also worth noting that not everyone will experience speaking in an unknown tongue loudly. Nevertheless, as long as one has faith in the baptism in the Holy Spirit and earnestly seek it, that is what pleases the Lord.

We have organized this main section into two primary subsections, each with a conclusion subsection.

The Holy Spirit Baptism: The Holy Spirit Passing Through Stage
The Holy Spirit Baptism: The Holy Spirit Dwelling Stage

The Holy Spirit Baptism: The Holy Spirit Passing Through Stage

In this subsection, we discuss the baptism of a believer in water and its connection to the baptism in the Holy Spirit. We reference passages from Matthew 3:13-17, Matthew 16:18, and John 3:3-8, and we end with a conclusion subsection.

Matthew 3:13 Then comes Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John was hindering Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and do Thou come to me?

Comments Matthew 3:13-14. This passage of Scripture shows that even the sinless Lamb of God needs to be baptized in water. If the sinless Lamb of God asks to be baptized, how then can humans say they have no sin and do not need to be baptized? Here we see the example we need to follow about baptizing in water.

15 However, Jesus answering him said, Permit just now; for thus it is proper to us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he permits Him.

Comments Matthew 3:15. As it is written, “to fulfill all righteousness,” the Lord Jesus Himself needed to be baptized in water. He is both God and human, serving as an example for humans to follow. If the sinless One has to be baptized in water, then all the people who want to follow the Lord Jesus must also do so. As is the walk through the gate of death, even so, a person baptizing in the water dies from the old life and becomes a new person in the Lord. The old book of life has been destroyed, and a new book of life starts (see Matthew 12:30 and Matthew 12:36-37).

When you merge under the water in the name of the Father, the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, your soul is touched by the Lord in that water. And when you come out from that water, the Lord becomes the guide of your soul in the unseen world and the master of your life in this world. Water baptism is important for a new believer, but the person must meditate on the Lord’s teaching and seek and ask for the Holy Spirit baptism as well. When you have received the Holy Spirit baptism, the Holy Spirit goes through your soul and guides your soul. All humans need to be born of water and the Holy Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of heaven (see John 3:5). Your life living on this earth must follow according to the master of your life. If you do not baptize in the water, your soul will not have a chance to be counted in; after the Lord’s crucifixion, all must be baptized in water. For the soul of a human, the baptism in the water is the same way as a butterfly emerging. The soul itself is wrapped with many layers of sins. When you submerge into the baptismal water and when you come out, most of the layers of sins covering your soul are left in that water, and you come out with a purer soul, free; this is the new birth in the spiritual world. However, the Holy Spirit baptism, when it happens, will cleanse the soul thoroughly, making a complete cleansing of your soul.

16 Now, Jesus, having been baptized, ascended immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, alighting upon Him;

Comments Matthew 3:16. The door of heaven was opened to the Lord Jesus for the Lord to see His house: the Father’s throne. The Lord Jesus misses His home. The Father misses His Son. This here is a reunion between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity of God).

17 and behold, a voice from out of the heavens, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Comments Matthew 3:17. John saw part of the reunion act between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All the other people present only heard the voice of the Father. See also Comments Mark 1:9-11.

In Matthew 16:16, Peter testifies that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God. In response, the Lord Jesus blesses Peter, telling him that his revelation of faith has come from the Father in heaven, and this faith that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God is the foundational rock upon which the Church of the Lord Jesus will be built.

Matthew 16:18 Moreover, I also say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Comments Matthew 16:18. This verse refers to the believer’s faith.

“You are Peter, and upon this rock” indicates that Peter is the first one to whom the Father revealed who the Lord Jesus is, and on this rock of knowledge, the church will be built on. After the Lord Jesus fulfilled the Father’s will, this knowledge that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God will keep going on, and it will build more people’s faith in the Son of God, the Holy One. At this time, Peter’s faith had been established; he could die for what he believed.

“Upon this rock” refers to the truth that Peter received. The rock is the truth about the Lord Jesus that He is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

“I will build My church” means that the Lord Jesus will build His church on the truth that Peter received, which is the rock, the foundation of the church.

“And the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” means that the gates of hell have no power to stop the Lord Jesus from building His church. The Lord Jesus opened the gate of the heavens (see Matthew 3:16) and put the seal of His blood on the gates of hell when He was there (at the gates) during the three days (see 1 Peter 3:18-20). The Lord Jesus put the seal on the gates of hell, which is the blood of the Lord Jesus, and it is a forbidden seal; no evil can touch this seal or remove it (see Exodus 12:13). All His children have the salvation seal of the Lamb of God on them. The gates of Hades will never open for those who have the salvation seal of the Lamb of God on them. The salvation seal is put on a believer’s heart when the person believes and gives his heart to the Lord Jesus, and then goes and is baptized in the water (complete baptism: heart and water, meaning soul and body). The believer’s responsibility is to keep this seal by staying in faith, studying the Word of God, and keeping the Word of God in the heart until the end of life on this earth. If you have the Word of God in your heart, you have a shield of protection.

In John 3:1-12, Nicodemus comes to the Lord Jesus by night. In this passage, the Lord Jesus explains to Nicodemus what it takes to enter the kingdom of God. The Lord Jesus says that we must be “born from above” to enter into the kingdom of God. Being “born from above” means being baptized in water and the Holy Spirit. All true believers must be baptized in the water in the name of the Father, of the Son Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit, and believe in the Trinity of God to enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except anyone is born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.

Comments John 3:3. “Except anyone is born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.” What the beloved Son of God has talked about here relates to those born according to the will of the Father, those who will accept the beloved Son of God and have a chance to enter into the kingdom of God.

“Born from above.” Born by the will of the Father to know the light and accept the beloved Son of God as their own personal Savior.

4 Nicodemus says to Him, How can a man be born being old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?

Comments John 3:4. In this verse, Nicodemus gives a question from a human mind’s point of view.

5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except anyone is born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Comments John 3:5. “Except anyone is born of water and of Spirit.” This verse clearly tells all humans that everyone should be baptized in water and seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. But also, we must remember that the Holy Spirit baptism has two kinds: “the Holy Spirit going through” and “the Holy Spirit using or dwelling in.” “The Holy Spirit going through” occurs during water baptism, when the person feels the Holy Spirit, and we can call this the Holy Spirit checking the person’s heart. So, by “the Holy Spirit going through,” we mean as the Holy Spirit touching that person’s heart, and the person feels it as well. When the Holy Spirit prefers to use that heart for work, He will dwell and use that heart; this is “the Holy Spirit using or dwelling in” and happens after the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues (see Comments John 1:33).

“He cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The person must be baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit, and believe in the Trinity of God to enter into the kingdom of God. Being “born from above” means being baptized in the water and the Holy Spirit. All true believers must be baptized in the water and in the Holy Spirit.

6 That having been born of the flesh, flesh is, and that having been born of the Spirit, spirit is.

Comments John 3:6. “That having been born of the flesh, flesh is.” Every human is born of the flesh; if the person does not accept the Trinity of God and does not worship Him, the flesh will remain as flesh only.

“That having been born of the Spirit, spirit is.” So, any human that accepts the Holy Spirit and has invited Him, and the water baptism also has been completed in that time, then the Holy Spirit has touched that person’s heart, and that person has already been born through the Holy Spirit as well; the person will feel in their heart some feeling going through them, but that person has not yet received the complete baptism in the Holy Spirit; still, this can count as having been touched by the Holy Spirit (the Holy Spirit going through baptism).

7 Marvel not that I said to you, It behooves you to be born from above.

Comments John 3:7. The verse tells all readers clearly that to be born from above is to be born through the water and the Holy Spirit: when you come out of the water, you are renewed, and you complete the process by being baptized in the Holy Spirit, you are reborn again. The only way to be born from above is through the water baptism and the Holy Spirit baptism in the name of the Father, the Son of God (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. For this earth to be born from above, everyone must go through the water baptism and the Holy Spirit baptism (see verse 5).

8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but be aware not from where it comes, and where it goes; in this manner is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Comments John 3:8. As the verse tells all believers, you do not know where the Holy Spirit is, not by eyes nor by ears, but only by the heart being touched by Him. Unlike anything else on this earth, all have shape and sound, but the Holy Spirit does not have shape and sound for humans to perceive, but by the feeling when He touches you.

Conclusions of the Subsection “The Holy Spirit Baptism: the Holy Spirit Passing Through Stage”

From the comments in the main section, we deduce four main fundamentals of faith in the Lord Jesus.

**First**. From Matthew 3:13-17, we conclude that all believers must be baptized by immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as a command and example from the Lord Jesus Himself. When a believer submerges in the baptismal water and comes out, most of the layers of sin covering their soul are left behind in that water, and they come out with a purer soul, free; this is the new birth in the spiritual world. However, all humans need to be born of water and the Holy Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. When the Holy Spirit baptism occurs, the Holy Spirit will thoroughly cleanse the soul, providing complete cleansing.

**Second**. From Matthew 16:18, we conclude that regardless of which comes first, the baptism in the Holy Spirit or water baptism, all believers must be baptized in water to complete the transformation of a person in the body and the spirit. The Lord Jesus put the seal on the gates of hell, which is the blood of the Lord Jesus, and it is a forbidden seal; no evil can touch this seal or remove it (see Exodus 12:13). All His children have the salvation seal of the Lamb of God on them. The gates of Hades will never open for those who have the salvation seal of the Lamb of God on them. The salvation seal is put on a believer’s heart when the person believes and gives his heart to the Lord Jesus, and then goes and is baptized in the water (complete baptism: heart and water, meaning soul and body). The believer’s responsibility is to keep this seal by staying in faith, studying the Word of God, and keeping the Word in the heart until the end of life on this earth. If you have the Word of God in your heart, you have a shield of protection.

**Third**. Being “born from above” means being baptized in the water and the Holy Spirit. All true believers must be baptized in the water and in the Holy Spirit. Any human that accepts the Holy Spirit and has invited Him, and the water baptism also has been completed in that time, then the Holy Spirit has touched that person’s heart, and that person has already been born through the Holy Spirit as well; the person will feel in their heart some feeling going through them, but that person did not get the complete baptism in the Holy Spirit yet; still this can count as has been touched by the Holy Spirit (the Holy Spirit going through baptism).

**Forth**. Therefore, we are talking about two types of indwelling of a person by the Holy Spirit: the indwelling of a person by covering the heart and the soul and the indwelling of a person by dwelling deep inside the heart and the soul. At the salvation stage, a believer will be indwelled by the Holy Spirit by the Holy Spirit covering their heart and soul, and at the Holy Spirit baptism stage, the believer will be indwelled by the Holy Spirit dwelling deep in the human heart and the soul.

The Holy Spirit Baptism: Holy Spirit Dwelling Stage

In this subsection, we address four main questions. First, why must the baptism in the Holy Spirit be evidenced through the miracle of speaking audibly in an unknown angelic tongue? Second, how can a person begin to speak in an unknown angelic tongue? Third, what is the best practice for receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit? Fourth, is the baptism in the Holy Spirit necessary today, and does it still manifest through speaking in an unknown tongue? To help answer these questions, we comment on a few passages of Scripture: John 1:33; Acts 2:4-11; Acts 8:17; Acts 10:44-46; and Acts 19:6. This subsection is organized into four subsections:

The Lord Jesus Baptizes with the Holy Spirit
The Miracle of Speaking in Unknown Tongues
The Best Practices for Receiving the Holy Spirit Baptism
Conclusions of the Section on “Baptism in the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit Dwelling Stage.”

The Lord Jesus Baptizes with the Holy Spirit

In John 1:33, John the Baptist identifies the Lord Jesus as the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit saying:

John 1:33 But I knew Him not; but the One having sent me to baptize with water, He said to me, Upon whom you will perceive the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

Comments John 1:33. As the verse tells all readers, John himself had not known the Lord before until he had seen the Holy Spirit descending upon Him. After that, he will realize who He is that the Father has told him, which will make an impact on every heart, with the Holy Spirit baptism, to the one who has faith and trust in the beloved Son of God, which is the gift of life to give to all who believe in Him.

Here we can ask a couple of questions. Why does the Holy Spirit descend on the beloved Son of God at this time, this way? Wasn’t the Holy Spirit already upon the Lord Jesus? The Holy Spirit was already on the Lord Jesus, but at this time, there was a need to show all humans who is the One in whom the Father is within as well.

“He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit will be given to the one who has faith and trust in the beloved Son of God and confesses with the mouth and heart regarding the beloved Son of God; the Holy Spirit will also come and dwell in that person. The Holy Spirit will give the feeling to the person of being close but not within the Holy Spirit, not as to be one with, but as the shell covering, as the Holy Spirit using to cover. The Holy Spirit dwells in the person, not the person dwells in the Holy Spirit; the feeling between these two will be different. The Holy Spirit dwelling in a person and baptism in the Holy Spirit are different: Holy Spirit dwelling in the person is only a deep feeling of the heart, while baptism in the Holy Spirit involves speaking in tongues as well and dwelling in the soul.

Not everyone who is baptized in the Holy Spirit will be speaking in tongues, even if the person has the word but is afraid to say it out loud because of a lack of understanding and uncertainty of what the words mean. Also, at that time, the apostles performed miracles accompanied by baptism in the Holy Spirit, but nowadays, no miracles will accompany when anyone is baptized in the Holy Spirit; it is just the miracle gift of speaking in tongues and the understanding of the Word of God.

At first, the Holy Spirit will touch you, but when the Holy Spirit baptism takes place, the Holy Spirit dwells inside your heart. So, first, at the water baptism, the Holy Spirit touches your heart. If your heart is open and willing to follow the Holy Spirit’s baptism, then the Holy Spirit will dwell inside your heart, but not work; He will dwell because of being invited. Then, when the right time comes, the Holy Spirit will work; when the Holy Spirit is working, the person will have more understanding and will speak more in tongues. [Think of the stages of being baptized: physical, mind, and spiritual.]

As we all have seen, there are many ways of faith, but you cannot have faith alone in the beloved Son of God; you must believe in the Trinity of God as well. When you have faith in the Trinity of God, that person also has faith in the Holy Spirit, and when you invite the Holy Spirit into your heart, then the Holy Spirit dwelling in the heart will happen, and we call this the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but the baptism at this stage is incomplete. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the time when this person may have only one word in a tongue, but not every person may say it out because of the lack of understanding. When the person has the feeling of the hearing of the word inside of their heart, even without understanding, but still should say it out loud, this is the sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

At the Holy Spirit baptism, the person has the word of a tongue but does not speak it out, so it is not that there is no speaking in tongues, but the person did not speak it. Therefore, the baptism in the Holy Spirit must always be accompanied by speaking in a tongue, even just one word; the person who receives it must speak out, and that is considered to claim the ability to speak in a tongue. If the person did not speak the word out loud, then the speaking in tongues for that person would not generate further knowledge; that person will have only that word until the person accepts the gift deep in the soul, not in mind, but in the heart; the gift here is the knowledge of that word which the Lord has given even one single word. The person is considered completely baptized in the Holy Spirit when they speak at least one tongue word out loud and accept that tongue word as a miraculous sign of the Holy Spirit baptism for themselves.

Here we can raise the question: Can the Holy Spirit indwell a person at water baptism, or when they simply express faith in the Trinity of God? The person can be considered baptized in the Holy Spirit only when that person says the tongue word out loud, even just one time, one word, but must say it out loud. The difference between being baptized in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit touching the heart is this: the Holy Spirit touches the heart at the water baptism, and at the Holy Spirit baptism, there must be speaking in tongues as evidence of the Holy Spirit baptism.

When a person has been baptized in the Holy Spirit, that person has been touched from the inside of their soul, and the feeling of that person will be different. So, when the person has been touched this way, if the person does not ignore the little voice (of the Holy Spirit) that tells the person of any word, even one to remember, even if the person hears many words but can remember only one word, and says that word out loud, by saying out loud that word, it will lead the person to speak more. Every time when the person feels they don’t have any words to pray, bring that word and say it repeatedly, and the Holy Spirit will follow and guide more words to come; that word for that person is considered a leading prayer for the soul in a tongue.

When the Holy Spirit dwells in that person’s heart, whenever that person prays or meditates on the Word of God, the heart of that person will go and beg the Holy Spirit to act out accordingly to His own will; you can say as a consistent invitation of the soul for the Holy Spirit to act and give more words of speaking in a tongue when the Holy Spirit dwells in that person.

Another question we can ask is: How does the Holy Spirit touch a person at water baptism, and how does the Holy Spirit dwell inside such a person? This person is touched by the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit does not dwell deep inside that person’s soul; the Holy Spirit just covers the human heart itself and the soul of the person.

Therefore, here we are talking about two types of indwelling of a person by the Holy Spirit: the indwelling of a person by covering the heart and the soul, and the indwelling of a person by dwelling deep inside the heart and the soul. At the salvation stage, a believer will be indwelled by the Holy Spirit, by the Holy Spirit covering their heart and soul. At the Holy Spirit baptism stage, the believer will be indwelled by the Holy Spirit dwelling deep in the human heart and the soul.

The Miracle of Speaking in an Unknown Tongue

In Acts 2, at Pentecost, as the disciples were waiting in prayer, as instructed by the Lord Jesus, we witness the miracle of the promise of the Father: the gift of the Holy Spirit is poured on the Lord Jesus’ disciples (Acts 2:4-11).

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

Comments Acts 2:4. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Give attention to what the word says: all, not part, but all were filled with the gift from the Father.

“And began to speak in other tongues.” Here, it confirms the sign of the gift: when you are baptized with the Holy Spirit, the gift of other tongues will also be there. And this also shows humans that the will of the Lord has been spoken out for all to know.

The question that arises here is: What type of tongues were given here as the sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit? Human language does not need interpretation, but the angelic language must be accompanied by interpretation. Here, the disciples spoke both angelic and human languages.

“As the Spirit was giving them utterance.” When the will of the Lord has been proclaimed, understanding will also come. When the word says, “giving them utterance,” that means they spoke in angelic languages and then translated into various human languages as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Here, utterance means a spoken word about the work of God.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

Comments Acts 2:5. In this verse, it tells all humans as well that the Lord has performed a miracle, and everyone will notice the power of God.

“Jews, devout men.” These are a group of males who devoted themselves to searching for the truth about God.

“From every nation under heaven.” This generally means that all nations from under heaven were there and had seen the miracle.

6 Now this sound having happened, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

Comments Acts 2:6. “Now this sound having happened, the multitude came together, and were confounded.” In this place, when humans hear a mighty sound by ear, it has worked and stirred their minds to think, and their reaction of the heart from what they hear with their ear has stirred their hearts to think about what truly happened. Now, their hearts are opened with eagerness to know the truth.

“Because each one heard them speaking in his own language.” Now, the wonder in their hearts has come to their heads: how can these people know their language? Each person’s heart has been touched by this.

Summary of what happened from verse 1 to verse 6:

The disciples were gathered together in one place, praying and waiting for the promise from the Father.
“Suddenly came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind.” The disciples and others heard this mighty sound, which drew attention to itself, and people started to look at where the sound came from. When the sound came, people looked to see where the loud sound came from.
“And there appeared to them tongues parting asunder.” These tongues of fire appeared only in the place where the disciples were praying. At this time, the disciples received the promised gift from the Father and were baptized with the Holy Spirit. They started to speak in angelic tongues and prophecy inside the place.
Then, the Holy Spirit stirred the disciples (all those gathered in the place praying) to go out and prophesy to people about the work of God. When they came out, they testified to people whom they met in those people's birth language, which amazed people and created confusion among them.

Confounded meaning: confused, perplexed.

7 Then they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these who speak Galileans?

8 And how do we hear everyone in our own language, in which we were born?

Comments Acts 2:7-8. This verse tells all humans that when each person hears their own birth language, the Word has worked in their hearts, and each who hears realizes that God is here.

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia,

10 in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and those visiting from Rome, both Jews and converts,

11 Cretans and Arabs, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God!

Comments Acts 2:9-11. As the verses tell all readers, the mighty works of God have been performed here. The people have experienced a miracle, and the Word of God has opened their hearts to think, and all who were there have come to one conclusion: God is there, among people. What happened here has already been told in itself: this is the result of the disciples being baptized with the Holy Spirit.

We believe that baptism in the Holy Spirit completes the salvation seal, meaning that the human spirit has joined the salvation seal of the believer. And speaking in tongues is the sign for the believer that they have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit (see Comments Matthew 16:18 and Comments John 1:33). Why is it essential for a believer to have the baptism in the Holy Spirit and have their spirit join the salvation seal? The Lord God has a plan for that person when their spirit joins the salvation seal; the work from the will of the Father will be performed through that joining. See the examples in this chapter of Acts 2.

In light of our comments on Acts 2:4-11, we would like to emphasize three questions:

Q1: What happens inside of us when a person repents and invites the Lord Jesus to live in their hearts? A: At this time, that person has much work to do before being able to get to the next level. Here, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit are just checking and going through the person's soul.
Q2: What happens inside of us when a person goes and baptizes in water? A: The person has started to walk in the step of completing and receiving both baptisms: in the water (the baptism of repentance) and in the Holy Spirit (the baptism of fulfillment).
Q3: What happens inside of us when a person seeks and receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit? A. The spirit of the person joins the salvation seal.

For these questions, see also Comments Matthew 16:18, and Comments John 1:33. However, the baptism in the Holy Spirit can happen before the baptism in the water when the heart of that person is ready to seek and receive (see Acts 10).

In Acts 10:44-48, The Holy Spirit falls on those listening to apostle Peter. The Gentiles received the Holy Spirit, which was a miraculous event for them. The Holy Spirit is a miracle from God Almighty, and all believers in the Lord Jesus will receive the blessings if their hearts are open. When the Holy Spirit falls upon someone, that person will also receive the gift of speaking in tongues; this miracle will strengthen their faith. In this passage, we see that those baptized in the Holy Spirit were also baptized in water. To fulfill the salvation of their souls, these people were baptized in the water in the name of the Trinity of God.

Acts 10:44 Still, Peter speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those hearing the word.

Comments Acts 10:44. “Still, Peter speaking these words.” The apostle proclaimed the name of the beloved Son of God, Jesus Christ, to all who have ears open to listen.

“The Holy Spirit fell upon all those ...” All believers give attention: the name of the beloved Son of God has the power to draw the Holy Spirit to all who truly believe and listen to His word; when the ears hear the word, the open heart will receive the true blessing from the Lord God Almighty.

45 And those from circumcision believers were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because even on the Gentiles the gift of the Holy Spirit has been poured out.

Comments Acts 10:45. “And those from circumcision believers were amazed ...” When the Lord God Almighty performed miracles through His apostle, it made the people amazed, but this feeling is the first feeling of the heart; they need to learn more; the apostle will have the duty to explain to them, and they must explain from the beginning until now, starting from the creation until performing miracles in front of them. [The Lord Jesus was with God the Father from the beginning; He came to be born in human flesh; He was crucified for the sins of the world; He rose from the dead on the third day; He ascended to the Father and is seated at the right hand of the Father; He sends the promise of the Father to His disciples, the Holy Spirit baptism.]

“Because even on the Gentiles the gift of the Holy Spirit ...” The Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit, and this is a miracle for them, and the apostle must explain to them what it is that came upon them. The Holy Spirit is a miracle from God Almighty; all Gentiles will receive the blessings if their hearts are open.

46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then answered Peter,

Comments Acts 10:46. When the Gentiles magnified and glorified the Lord God Almighty, that made the apostle be amazed as well; now, at this time, the Lord God Almighty called the Gentiles to receive the blessing; when the Holy Spirit falls on someone, that person will also receive the gift of speaking in tongues; this miracle will strengthen the Gentiles’ faith.

47 Can any one forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as also we?

Comments Acts 10:47. “Can any one forbid the water ...” All things come from the Lord God Almighty: the earth is His, and the water also is His. When anyone has received the Lord God Almighty, the first thing to show all the people that they have committed themselves to be believers is that they must be baptized in the water; the water belongs to the Lord God Almighty, and He uses it as He pleases.

“Who have received the Holy Spirit ...” Regardless of who these people are, if they have received the Holy Spirit, they must also be baptized in water, just as the apostles and even the beloved Son of God were baptized in water, as an example.

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain some days.

Comments Acts 10:48. “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” Humans with disobedient hearts always use the Scripture as they see fit. Even if the verse says in the name of Jesus Christ, remember as well that the beloved Son of God Himself is in the Trinity of God; therefore, to be proper and complete, all must be baptized in the names of the Trinity of God: Father, Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

“Then they asked him to remain some days.” When the new believers experienced the miracle of the Holy Spirit baptism, in their hearts, the wish to know more about the Lord God Almighty overpowered them, and they asked the apostle to stay and explain more to them for the sake of their own faith.

The Best Practice of Receiving the Holy Spirit Baptism

In Acts 8:14-25, Peter and John pray and lay hands on the Samaritans to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. These Samaritans had good hearts and were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit; however, due to their lifestyle and lack of understanding, the Holy Spirit had not come upon them. Peter and John had the ability and skill to advise people regarding their lifestyle. They came to them, prayed, laid their hands on them, and, as shown in Acts 8:17, the Holy Spirit fell upon all of them.

Acts 8:17 Then they laid the hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Comments Acts 8:17. “Then they laid the hands upon them.” When the apostles laid their hands upon the people, the Holy Spirit also went upon that hand as well; in the spiritual world, laying a hand on a person is like having a bridge stretching out to the soul, between the Holy Spirit and the soul of the person.

“And they received the Holy Spirit.” When the apostles laid hands upon the person, that soul of the person was also humbled and waiting to receive the gift as well. The soul that humbles makes the Holy Spirit rise upon that soul as well, but this is the first part of receiving in the Holy Spirit. The second part will be when the soul is baptized in the Holy Spirit and speaks in tongues.

When the apostles lay hands upon them, that becomes as a bridge: the Holy Spirit goes through, and the soul of the person feels joined with the Holy Spirit; in another way, we can say they feel the touch of the Holy Spirit. At this moment, they are not yet baptized in the Holy Spirit, but receive the touch from the Holy Spirit upon their soul. Later on, when the person fully understands what baptism in the Holy Spirit means, the Holy Spirit will work and make the person feel they have a word to say out loud. When baptized in the water, the person goes underneath the water, which is a sign to show that the physical body died under the baptism water, and the body that comes up after is a new body that has been cleansed from the sins; when the Holy Spirit baptism the soul of the person and the Holy Spirit are joining, and the soul becomes the servant under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 19:3-6, at Ephesus, the apostle Paul teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and believers must repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. By laying on of the hands, the Holy Spirit came upon a group of men who were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:3 Then he said, Into what then were you baptized? And they said, Into John's baptism.

Comments Acts 19:3. A simple and straightforward question was asked. At that time, the messenger baptized many people, but they came to be baptized because they believed the messenger was the man the Lord God Almighty had sent to save them.

4 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that in the One coming after him they should believe, that is, in Jesus.

Comments Acts 19:4. “And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism ...” Give attention, the messenger of the Lord proclaimed the truth he had received. The Lord God Almighty used him as His own messenger to announce that for the people to receive forgiveness of sins, they must repent, feel sorry for the sins they committed, and seek repentance and forgiveness from the Lord God Almighty.

“Saying to the people that in the One coming ...” The messenger of the Lord proclaimed to all people the truth that he had received from the Lord God Almighty regarding the coming of the beloved Son of God to save the whole world. The Lord God Almighty sent His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be the Savior of the world.

5 Then having heard, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Comments Acts 19:5. “Then having heard.” The blessed humans, by hearing with the ears, the truth will make the heart accept and acknowledge the Lord God Almighty. The clean hearts will make the ears open.

“They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” In the name of the beloved Son of God, the heart that is open makes the soul ready to receive forgiveness. The baptism in the water in the name of God the Father, God the Son (the Lord Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit is the next step after the heart has received the blessing. The messenger of the Lord gave the baptism for repentance, but the apostle of the Lord gave the baptism not only of the body but of the soul as well.

6 And Paul having laid the hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them; and they spoke in tongues, and prophesied.

Comments Acts 19:6. “And Paul having laid the hands ...” The apostle got the direction of laying hands above someone, signifying that the person is under the authority and protection of the Lord God Almighty.

“The Holy Spirit came upon them.” When the physical body accepts the cleansing, and the heart also accepts the teaching, the Lord God Almighty blesses that soul with the Holy Spirit baptism.

“And they spoke in tongues ...” Speaking in tongues is the sign of the completion of baptism: both physical and spiritual have been counted in the protection. That person belongs to the Lord God Almighty, but they must remain faithful to the gift and keep their heart with the teaching, meditating on the word regularly to receive complete protection over them.

Conclusions of the Subsection “Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Holy Spirit Dwelling stage”

To understand the work of the Holy Spirit in a person’s body, heart, and soul, one must think of the stages of being baptized: physical, mental, and spiritual. We can summarize the key points discussed in the section titled “Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Holy Spirit Dwelling Stage” into six main fundamental concepts about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

**First**. In Acts 2:4, the disciples of the Lord Jesus received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and in Acts 10:45, the Gentiles received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which was a miraculous event for them all. The apostle Peter needed to explain to them what had come upon them. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God Almighty, and all believers—both then and now—can receive these blessings if their hearts are open.

**Second**. The Holy Spirit dwelling in a person and the Holy Spirit baptism are different: Holy Spirit dwelling in the person is only a deep feeling in the heart, while baptism in the Holy Spirit involves speaking in tongues and dwelling deeply in the heart and the soul of the person. These days, unlike the apostles’ time, no miracles will accompany anyone when they are baptized in the Holy Spirit, except the miraculous gift of speaking in tongues and the understanding of the Word of God. For a believer, the miraculous gift of speaking in an unknown angelic tongue is a sign to the believer and to those around that the baptism in the Holy Spirit has been given.

**Third**. When a person has been baptized in the Holy Spirit, that person has been touched from the inside of their soul, and the feeling of that person will be different. So, when the person has been touched this way, if the person does not ignore the little voice (of the Holy Spirit) that tells the person of any word, even one to remember, even the person hears many words but can remember only one word, and say that word out loud, by saying out that word it will lead the person to speak more. Every time the person feels they don’t have any words to pray, bring that word and say it repeatedly, and the Holy Spirit will follow and guide more words to come; that word for that person is considered a leading prayer for the soul in a tongue. The person is considered completely baptized in the Holy Spirit when they speak at least one tongue word out loud and accept that tongue word as a miraculous sign of the Holy Spirit baptism for themselves. When you have faith in the Trinity of God, that person also has faith in the Holy Spirit, and when you invite the Holy Spirit into your heart, then the Holy Spirit dwelling in the heart will happen, and we call this the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but the baptism at this stage is incomplete. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the time when this person may have only one word in a tongue, but not every person may say it out because of the lack of understanding. When the person has the feeling of the hearing of the word inside of their heart, even without understanding, but still should say it out loud, this is the sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the baptism in the Holy Spirit must always be accompanied by speaking in a tongue, even just one word; the person who receives it must speak out, and that is considered to claim the ability to speak in a tongue. Refer to Comments Acts 2:4, comments Acts 10:46, and Comments Acts 19:6 for additional insights.

**Fourth**. The baptism in the Holy Spirit can happen before the baptism in the water when the heart of that person is ready to seek and receive (see Acts 10:46). However, those being baptized in the Holy Spirit must also be baptized in water through immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to fulfill the salvation of their souls (see Acts 10:48).

**Fifth**. Many use Acts 10:48 and Acts 19:5 to mislead many into doing things against the Trinity of God. Humans with disobedient hearts always use the Scripture as they see fit. Even if the verse says in the name of Jesus Christ, remember as well that the beloved Son of God Himself is in the Trinity of God; therefore, to be proper and complete, all must be baptized in the names of the Trinity of God: Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. For a complete salvation of the soul, it is essential to follow the proper water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as commanded by the Lord Jesus Himself in Matthew 28:19. The Lord Jesus exemplifies this practice in several passages: Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, and John 1:29-34. It is important to note that the order of water baptism and baptism by the Holy Spirit does not affect the need for this right practice. When the physical body accepts the cleansing, and the heart also accepts the teaching, the Lord God Almighty blesses that soul with the Holy Spirit baptism. Speaking in tongues is the sign of the completion of baptism: both physical and spiritual have been counted in the protection. That person belongs to the Lord God Almighty, but they must remain faithful to the gift and keep their heart with the teaching, meditating on the Word of God regularly to receive complete protection over them.

**Sixth**. Based on Acts 8:17 and Acts 19:6, the best practice for receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit is through prayer and the laying on of hands. Before praying for the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the believer must examine their hearts, confess their sins to the Lord, and ask for forgiveness. Then, when believers baptized in the Holy Spirit lay their hands upon someone, the Holy Spirit also goes upon that hand; in the spiritual world, laying a hand on a person is like having a bridge stretching out to the soul, between the Holy Spirit and the soul of the person. When baptized in the water, the person goes underneath the water, which is a sign to show that the physical body died under the baptism water, and the body that comes up after is a new body that has been cleansed from the sins; when the Holy Spirit baptism, the soul of the person and the Holy Spirit are joining, and the soul becomes the servant under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

In this article, we explore the topic of Holy Spirit baptism. We emphasize that it is the Lord Jesus who promised the gift of baptism in the Holy Spirit. This gift is received from the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus by all who believe and are open to accepting it. We examine the Holy Spirit’s relationship with believers across three main stages of faith. First, when a person repents and invites the Lord Jesus to dwell in their heart, they begin a significant journey of transformation before advancing to the next level. At this stage, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit are actively examining and working within the person’s soul. Second, when a person undergoes water baptism, they take their first steps toward completing both forms of baptism: in the water (the baptism of repentance) and in the Holy Spirit (the baptism of fulfillment). And lastly, when a person seeks and receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the spirit of the person joins the salvation seal.

All believers in the Lord Jesus should seek the gift of the Holy Spirit baptism and expect to receive the miraculous confirmation of this gift by the ability to speak words loudly in an angelic tongue. We discuss the two main stages of Holy Spirit baptism: “the Holy Spirit passing through or touching stage” and “the Holy Spirit dwelling or using stage.” We showed that “the Holy Spirit dwelling or using stage” occurs when the believer speaks at least one word out loud in an unknown angelic tongue. This stage completes the Holy Spirit baptism. At this point, the soul of the person and the Holy Spirit join, and the soul becomes the servant under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

We must emphasize that for the complete fulfillment of baptism in the Holy Spirit, evidenced by the miraculous evidence of speaking loudly in an angelic tongue, our lifestyle also plays a vital role in receiving it. Belief alone is not sufficient; we must also repent and live according to the Lord’s commandments.

A good Bible passage to reflect on before being prayed to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit is Exodus 19:10-15. It’s beneficial to meditate on the entire chapter of Exodus 19 to understand the context of a Holy God coming to meet His people. Similarly, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a sacred event that must be taken seriously by a believer, as the Spirit of the Father, the Holy Spirit, will touch them. When the physical body accepts the cleansing, and the heart also accepts the teaching, the Lord God Almighty blesses that soul with the Holy Spirit baptism. Speaking in tongues is the sign of the completion of baptism: both physical and spiritual have been counted in the protection. That person belongs to the Lord God Almighty, but they must remain faithful to the gift and keep their heart with the teaching, meditating on the Word of God regularly to receive complete protection.

Some Christians argue that baptism in the Holy Spirit is evidenced not only by speaking in an unknown tongue but also by other spiritual gifts that a believer may possess. However, we can question how one can determine that gifts such as faith, love, or wisdom are true indicators of having received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. These gifts are not easily measurable or definable, making it challenging to confirm that the baptism has taken place and that the person’s soul has truly joined with the Holy Spirit to become a servant of the Holy Spirit. How can we differentiate between the quantity or quality of these gifts to indicate that the baptism in the Holy Spirit has occurred?

Therefore, in the spiritual world, a believer needs to experience a clear, miraculous sign that demonstrates that the Holy Spirit has joined the believer’s soul. According to the Bible, the miraculous sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit is demonstrated through speaking in unknown tongues, as established by God the Father (see Acts 2).

Meditation Tasks

Let us take a moment to reflect on the foundation of our faith in our lives. We should pray to the Lord for guidance in receiving both water baptism and the baptism in the Holy Spirit, if we have not done so already, as commanded and exemplified by our Lord Jesus Himself.
We encourage all readers to explore our article titled “Water Baptism for a Christian,” as well as our shorter article, “Holy Spirit Baptism for a Christian.”