The Holy Spirit’s Response
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptised, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
Acts 10:44-48
Continuing with answers (albeit brief) to readers’ questions:
Is one being when you get the Spirit when you believe and the other this baptism in the spirit they talk about? Yes. When you become a child of God by accepting Jesus as your Saviour and having the gift of God’s righteousness in place of your own, then you receive the Holy Spirit to live in you. Everyone who has become a child of God has the Spirit of God dwelling inside them. The term Baptism of the Spirit is something separate from that. It is also called the Fullness of the Spirit, the In-filling of the Spirit, the Empowerment of the Spirit and the Second Blessing. I will deal with this concept when we are looking at the passage in Acts 19.
What is the baptism mentioned here? Does it refer to water baptism or baptism in the spirit / being slain in the Spirit?
Water Baptism or the Baptism for repentance of sins.
Why does it keep saying in Bible baptize in the name of Jesus Christ?
Simply because it was a practice of the early church in the time of the Apostles in response to Peter’s command in Acts 2:38 “to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins”. This links the idea Peter preached in Acts 4:12 that being made right and placed in a restored relationship with the God who made you can only happen in the name of Jesus. There is no other way to be made right with God. (see Gems 1422 to 1424). One of the symbolisms involved in baptism was the notion of being baptised into the name of the god you served meant you were giving yourself to be a possession of that god. How much more appropriate in the case of Jesus Christ.
Why do they say at baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost?
The Trinitarian formula: “we baptise you now in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost” became a standardised Church formula for use while baptising and for other Church rites of passage or practice. The purpose was to include the three Persons of the Trinity into the action in order to strengthen the idea behind the action that all three members of the Trinity were involved. A little like quoting from the three sections of the TANAKH, Law, Prophets and Writings strengthen the notion of the truth behind all of the Scripture. But it is not necessary. The prime focus in baptism is to be the name of Jesus Christ. Paul tells us extensively in Romans 6 that we are baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Peter has told us that there is no other name under all of heaven by which we must be saved other than the name of Jesus Christ. It is in His Name and His Name only that we receive the forgiveness of our sins. There is no other. Whether the one baptising strengths the meaning of baptism by including Father Son and Holy Spirit is immaterial. The essential name to be spoken at a baptism is the Name of Jesus Christ. The only name by which we receive forgiveness of sin.
* Find the link to the Shenol story*
Being baptised “in the name of Jesus Christ” can signify three things:
- Your relationship with Jesus Christ is formally commencing as His disciple.
- You are entering into union with Him and therefore service for Him.
- You are being baptised on and under the authority of the name Jesus Christ. You now come under His authority and are His bond slave. He is your LORD.
Surely I don’t need to tell you that all three statements are true at baptism.
This may be a really dumb question, but is Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost different? No, it’s not a dumb question and no, there is no difference. They are just different terms used for the same thing. Ghost and Spirit are interchangeable here with no specific connotation to them. Ghost is not meant in the modern sense we use it – a disembodied spirit of a departed soul.
I’ve been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go.
Abraham Lincoln
Get yourself right before you lead others into the same mistakes.
Hannah Rowton
Religion says, “Try harder.” Jesus says, “Trust me.” Religion says, “Pay your way.” Jesus says, “I’ve paid it all.” Religion fosters fear. Jesus casts out fear. Religion says ‘do’. Jesus says ‘done’. Religion gives rules. Jesus gives rest. Religion requires. Jesus releases. Religion complicates. Jesus simplifies.
Max Lucado
Repentance is the hammer which shatters the barrier that protects God’s Word from the uncommitted.
Robb Thompson
Most Christians have repented enough to be forgiven but not enough to see the Kingdom.
Bill Johnson