Slice of Bread : Who is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit For?

Who is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit For?

This post and the ones to follow on this topic will be in response to a question that was posed to me about speaking in tongues.

The following post has been taken from the book: Living the New Life, by Pastor Casey Treat.

Continued from The First Evidence.

Ch. 6 pg.35-38

There are those who believe in being filled with the Spirit, but they say it is not for everyone. Let’s check the Bible and see what God says. I’m always more interested in what God’s Word says than in what anybody else says. John the Baptist said,

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’

“I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’” (John 1:29,33)

He said Jesus would take away the sin of the world and baptize with the Holy Ghost. Who is He going to baptize with the Holy Ghost? The same people He took the sin away from. He provided the baptism with the Holy Spirit for them, too. Whoever will accept the forgiveness of sin that Jesus provided can also have the baptism with the Holy Ghost that Jesus provided.

In Acts 2:38,39, the Bible says,

“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.'”

He said, whoever would repent (be born again), and be baptized in water would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then to make it clear that this is for everyone, he broke it down in detail. The promise is for:

1. You (all that were present)

2. For your children (all those born or not yet born)

3. All that are far off (everyone on earth at that time)

4. For all whom the Lord our God will call (all that would be born again throughout time).

There is no one that is left out. The baptism with the Spirit is for all people. Jesus said in Mark 16:17,

” And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues.”

Whoever believes will speak with new tongues. The only people who do not speak with tongues are those who do not believe. God can’t make you do anything. You receive His gifts by faith. If you don’t believe, you don’t receive. Someone said, “If God wants me to speak with tongues, He’ll make me.” Wrong! Jesus said, “This sign will follow those who believe.” In His name they will speak with new tongues.

In 1 Corinthians 12:30, when Paul asks,

“Do all speak in tongues?”

He is speaking of the gift of diverse kinds of tongues that are to be interpreted in the church service. This is one of the nine gifts of the Spirit listed in that chapter for the body of Christ. He is not speaking of the personal gift of tongues for the believer. They are two different things. It is just like the gift of faith listen in 1 Corinthians 12. All believers do not have diverse kinds of tongues that will be spoken out and interpreted in the body, but all can have the ability to pray in tongues for personal edification.

The above writings were taken from the book Living the New Life, by Pastor Casey Treat. Chapter 6, pages 35-38.

Click here  for, The Benefits of Speaking with Tongues.

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