Springs Article 2020-11 (4)
Acts 2:1-4
Acts 8:14-17
Acts 10:44-48
Acts 19:1-6
What is the meaning of baptism?
- Baptism refers to immersion and fullness!
- Water baptism is immersion into water as a declaration (confession) of our immersion into Jesus Christ when we got born-again
- Holy Spirit baptism is immersion into the Holy Spirit. This means receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit (being filled with the Spirit)
- Acts 1:5-8, 2:1-4, 8:14-17, 10:44-48, 19:1-6
What is difference between being born-again and being baptised in the Holy Spirit?
- A person is born-again when they believe and receive Jesus Christ (the Son of God) into their heart as their Lord and Saviour
- At that moment, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside their hearts, thereby making them a new creation in their innermost being
- The evidence of being born-again is the inner witness of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 5:22-26
- A person is baptised in the Holy Spirit when they believe and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit and they become immersed in the Holy Spirit
- At that moment, the Holy Spirit power comes upon them for doing the works of Christ (thereby becoming true witnesses of Jesus Christ)
- The evidence of being baptised in the Holy Spirit is power and the gifts of the Spirit, with speaking in tongues being the most basic and most prominent gift
- Acts 1:8, Acts 2:4, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
When did the disciples of Jesus Christ get born-again?
- After Jesus rose from the dead and they believed in Him and confessed Him as their Lord and Saviour
- John 20:19-31, Romans 10:9-10
What is the value of speaking in (unknown) tongues?
- It helps you to speak with God under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (i.e. effective prayer/praise)
- It helps you to speak with men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (i.e. effective prophesying)
- 1 Corinthians 14
How can I speak in (unknown) tongues?
- You have to want to speak in tongues, Mark 16:17
- You have to ask God to fill (baptise) you with the Holy Spirit, Luke 11:13
- You have to believe that you receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, Mark 11:24
- You have to open your mouth and speak out the promptings that the Holy Spirit puts in your heart, Romans 10:10
- You have to speak it out by faith (the Holy Spirit gives you the utterance in your heart and you speak it out with your mouth by faith), Acts 1:8
- You have to keep speaking it out by faith until you get fuller and deeper in the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18-19