- 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (the body of Christ is already there, someone converted, HS baptise new believer into the Body of Christ) 

- Matthew 3:11 (Christ is the one who baptise us in the Spirit. Acts 1:5-8. Disciples already saved and there is a subsequent, separate baptism) 

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Spirit falling UPON US vs Spirit Indwelling WITHIN US

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a) Eze 36:25-27 

- Ezekiel was describing a future phenomenon, written 50 - 60 BC

- The way Ezekiel describes Spirit Indwelling is very different from previous OT text describing Spirit ON us (enablement) 

- Romans 8:4 New Spirit living in us so that we can fully live out God's laws. 

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b) John 7:38-39

- 'later to receive' those believes already following Jesus, haven't received the Spirit living in them. The Spirit was only released to them when Jesus go the the cross and die. Once Jesus died on the cross then we started the New Covenant

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c) John 20:21 - 22

- Jesus ascended on day 40, the Pentecostal happened on day 50. 

- "receive the HS" whoever is saved will receive the HS (indwelling) - every believer has the Spirit. 

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d) John 14:16-17

- 'will give you another advocate" 

- future tense. Jesus not yet crucified when He said this to the disciple. 

- now He lives AMONG you, in the future He will live IN you. 

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Conclusion:

- OT people cannot say they have the Spirit living IN them. They Spirit only fell ON them

- believers only start to have Spirit living IN them when Jesus died on the cross 

- Spirit lives in you (symbol of salvation, gives you life- Bible never say how we can know, never say what is the evidence)

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1) Differences in denominations mainly is due to major historical events that occurred, not because we all read the bible differently.

2) In the past, there's no way for them to tell who is Christian. They will go to them and force them to say "Christ is cursed" and "

3) A person who consistently walks with the Spirit, eventually will bear the fruit of the Spirit. (not just have Spirit in you means will have fruit. New believer also got spirit but not necessary got fruit) 

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LESSON 2: HISTORICAL SURVEY OF SPIRIT BAPTISM

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Apostolic Period (early 1st CE)

- normal for believers to experience Spirit baptism near or at the same time of water baptism

- experienced with a sense of power 

- Authors that write on Spirit Baptism (Luke in Luke-Acts, Paul in letters) 

- Paul asked "did you receive the Spirit when you believe", tells us that we are supposed to KNOW if we received. also tells us that when we believe, as early as we can there should be HS baptism. 

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Patristic and Medieval Period (church leaders after apostles died. Late 1st to 16th CE)

- dynamic sense of spirit was lost and understanding of spirit baptism changed

- manifestations of spirit are affirmed (gifts & tongues)  - late 1st CE

- activities of spirit still mentioned but authors need to stressed that it's still around - 2nd to 5th CE

- in Augustine's time (4th CE), there's probably already no one speaking in tongues etc. "For who expects in these days that those on whom hands are laid that they may receive the HS should immediately begin to speak with tongues" - Agustine. Because of this statement which was unfounded by scripture, this began the basis for Roman Catholic church - when you are baptised, no need to speak in tongues)

- near 5th ce, activity of Spirit is uncommon and began limited to Apostolic Period

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- NT bible is largely written for first Gen christians. (receive Christ from pagan bg). ie. second gen experiences are not clearly represented in the Bible. there seems to be no "before and after Christ" for 2nd gen. For 1st Gen, it's clear to distinguish that i overcome cause of the Spirit. 

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- Spirit baptism tied to infant water baptism. (they started to believe that they must be water baptised to be saved. hence, infants are baptised to ensure they are 'saved'.) 

- 312 AD, Emperor Constantine became a Christian, persecution stopped. The next Emperor made Christianity the official religion. Tables turned, now if they are not Christians they will be persecuted. Suddenly got alot of Christians (by name, not by choice) 

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- Infant baptism: sprinkle infant with water, use oil to annoint the forehead and declare that they are spirit baptised. (this happened for many many generations). Many people now call themselves christians because they were baptised as infants. 

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- because of this, christian life became set apart from Spirit's work.  

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- In Medieval Period (rise of clericalsim -  start to have roles and responsibilities all on one man, not everybody required to serve.  influx of converts - become mega kindergarten. local church with only that handful of leaders fail to disciple properly.  rise of formalism) Christian life that don't need to be spirit filled. 

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Reformation (16th - 19th CE) to Pentecostal Revival (20th CE)

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- Renewed understanding of "priesthood of all believers" (you don't need a priest to mediate between you and God, Jesus is your Priest) - all believers can pray, can go to God etc Every believer becomes a priest. Everybody read the bible, learn to pray, involved in ministry.

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-  Puritan-Reformed (16th - 17th CE) 
Ephesians 1:13 (spirit baptism as a sealing of Spirit giving assurance of salvation

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- Wesleyan Holiness Tradition (18th CE)
Spirit baptism as a sanctifying event (i.e will still sin but no longer willfully want to sin) 

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- Keswick Movement (19th CE)

Spirit baptism give you power to live an overpowering life - "victorious christian'

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(during reformation, different groups couldn't accept that Spirit baptism is just Spirit indewelling. different groups start to ask what is Spirit Baptism, they become more open) 

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Pentecostal Revival & Beyond

- spirit baptism as immediacy and empowerment of the Spirit

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a) Pentecostal Revival

-Azusa Street revival (not church conference, anyone can come) 

-Majority of christians from different denominations went to the conference and experienced speaking in tongues. They brought back to their church (at that time church's stand is no move of spirit)

Some of them 'kicked' out of their old church, they gathered and formed into churches/denominations (Pentecostal) 

- They initially gathered as fellowships, not Denominations (i.e. there's no bishop at the head to command) But as they gathered to trash our their difference and became a denomination, with a statement of faith.

- 1910 - 1950 they keep running revivals (ppl experience then they convert) 

- 1930 they started to run Bible Schools (so that ppl root their beliefs) 

Bible school will start publishing journals & publications. Ppl can start to read why Pentecostal believe what they believe. (Gordon Fee. Ppl started to realize you can have experiences and be biblical at the same time) 

- Invested in missions (cause they believe Spirit empower them to plant churches) 

   Within 40 years, Pentecostal became the majority in US. 

    The traditional mainline church suddenly had ministers also speaking in tongues. The church cannot kick them out. So Mainline split into 2 groups (mainline, causational and mainline, charismatic) 

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- Charismatic (believe Spirit still moves today) church is NOT a denomination. (it came out from a denomination) 

- 3 big groups (mainline; traditional. mainline; charismatic. Pentecostal) 

- the difference between Pentecostal and Charismatic is not about tongues but about how we understand Spirit Baptism (the theology of it) 

- Mainline Charismatic can still believe in infant baptism. 

 

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1) Not all Christians are filled with the Spirit, what does it mean for a Christian to be Spirit filled?

 

2) When our experience don't match what we read in Scripture, there's two things we can do: Force yourself to conform to scripture and question why we are not experiencing it as scripture described or reinterpret scripture.

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3) If I'm not required to serve, what do I need to do as a Christian? Just attend church? Less and less requirement for a lay person to live up to the standard of scripture. (Clergy higher standard, attendees lower standards) If there's nothing you need to do, why do you need empowerment? If you only need to come church you don't need empowerment of the Spirit, you only need an alarm clock. 

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4) When we listen to sermons and teachings we are consuming "statements". But we need to train ourselves to identify what is the theological assumption behind that statement. Not just based on whether I agree or not. 

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LESSON3: THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANING OF SPIRIT BAPTISM (BASIS OF OUR THEOLOGY)

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2 Understanding of Spirit Baptism in Churches

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1) Within ONE Christian Experience

- spirit baptism happens together with the singular 'conversion' experience

(eg. catholic classes to be converted) 

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2) Second of a TWO stage Christian experience. 

 

- Spirit baptism happens separate and subsequent to conversion experience

- The main thing that sets Pentecostal apart is NOT tongues. (it's that spirit baptism is separate and subsequent)

 

 

Lukan Pneumatology

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in ancient culture, they are writing history to make a point, not to record history. 

it's not because the Bible described spirit baptism like this means we must experience it literally like this.
Descriptive statements are not always prescriptive statements.

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Narrative/description teaches us differently. (teaches through repetition) 

When we have many narratives, we will find areas where the narratives overlap. That's the point they're trying to make. 

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Luke is trying to describe how the faith from Galilee reached Rome (the capital city in 30 years) 

In our worldview, New is Good. But in 1st CE, OLD is good/superior. Not established, not tried and tested.

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1) Luke is an independent theologian

- perspective on the Spirit is different from (but complementary to) that of Paul

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2) Luke focuses on the Spirit Baptism

- use spirit-baptism terms frequently and differently

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3) Luke's theology is charismatic

- Luke is addressing different questions from Paul

- He never talk about the Spirit in relation to salvation or ethical living. it's always about Charismata (empowerment) 

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Separate and Subsequent from Conversion Experience 

 

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1) Separate

- theologically separate, not time is separate

- it's about empowerment, not salvation.  

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2) Subsequent 

- temporally subsequent to conversion

- it's about when we should or can experience this baptism

- Occurs AFTER salvation 

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3) Spirit baptism is about EMPWERMENT, not salvation

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4) Spirit Baptism occurred to believers AFTER, not during their conversions

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- Acts 2 (believers at Pentecost. are the disciples already saved?) 

- Acts 8 (conversion of Samaritans) v14

- Acts 9 (Paul. the emphasis for this chapter is that "such a man converted". but incidentally also shows that spirit baptism is after conversion)

- Acts 10 - 11 (Cornelius. Spirit baptism occurs BEFORE salvation. Peter was unwilling to outreach to Gentiles. 

- Acts 19 (believers in Ephesus.) 

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• Pentecostal: rooted in the understanding of Spirit Baptism 
• Charismatic: emphasis on the present work of the Spirit, without any change in their understanding of Spirit baptism

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Q&A

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1)  How do we know if our denomination (i.e. theology, interpretation) is the closest to Jesus' teachings? 
- we won't know. there must be a group of people committed to Scripture (community). Not someone at the top tell us what to believe then we all believe. 

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2) Spirit Filled Life: Spirit can move THROUGH (not inspite of) flesh to do what the flesh by itself cannot. 

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3) What theological differences sets the denominations apart? If these are crucial to how we know and worship God, does it mean we have to outreach to other denomination?
- Anglican biggest difference is that the queen is the head of the church. Denomination still develops over history. We outreach to cults, as long as they are denomination we don't touch.

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later revelation will clarify earlier revelation

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LESSON 3:  

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Practical Results of Spirit Baptism

Primary purpose is 'receive power to be witness" (Acts 1:8)

- Spirit baptism is not something you have, it's something you experience. (like a product demo. now you know how it's like to be empowered by the spirit) 

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1) Enablement to Speak in Tongues

- Beyond being physical evidence of Spirit Baptism

- Deepen prayer life (Romans 8:26) Edifies individual (1 Cor 14:1-5) 

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2) Openness to Spiritual Manifestations

- 1 Cor 12. (open to the idea that the Spirit can enable your flesh) 

- Initial experience of speaking in tongues indicates that we are willing to submit themselves to something supranational. 

- Diff between Charismatic & Pentecostal.
Charismatic stresses on trusting God to empower us through the Spirit
Pentecostal is "I already know and experienced that the Spirit is able to move through flesh to empower me". 

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3) Empowerment to be Witnesses

- Inner boldness and ability to perform signs and sonders 

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4) Empowerment for Ministry to the Church

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5) Empowerment for Righteous Living

- the question is not whether I can do it or not, but whether this is something I need to do. If I need to do this, Spirit will empower. 

- Spirit doesn't overwhelm you. You still have to make the choice first. You make a choice, the Spirit multiply the choice. 

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Initial Evidence of Spirit Baptism

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According to OT: coming of spirit in an unusual way (Joel 2 - talking about the entire church age) 
When OT ended, there was 400 years of silence because all they needed to know about the Messiah has been given, Spirit activities stopped in Israel. Those with no faith backslide, those with faith were waiting expectantly. They know once the Spirit moves again means the new age has come. 

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In Early Church

Spirit baptism and its phenomenon were important. This shows people that we are in the new age, this is what we have been waiting for. 

What is Glossolalia

- it's a language, not a sound. 

- it can be intelligible (Acts 2) or unintelligible to the hearers (Acts 10:46; 19:6). Majority of occurrences in the bible refers it to unintelligible, only once it was intelligible.

- It is almost definitely unintelligible to the speakers. 

- recognized as being inspired by the Spirit.(acts of God, not something human) 

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Glossolalia is difficult to translate because it was not a term used in Greek language, it only started to exist after the early church (Christians invented it) 

- if they wanted to describe someone speaking a foreign tongue, they would use xenolalia

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- Hebrew word Naba (means prophesy, but can be with or without message)

- Greek word Prophesize (need a message) 

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Positions of Glossolalia

1) Cessational 

- any form of miraculous ceased, therefore no tongues anymore today

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2) Charismatic 

- tongues is spiritual gift, therefore tongues is not for all. 

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3) Pentecostal

- initial evidence of Spirit baptism, therefore tongues should be for all. (Cor is talking about the misuse of the gift of tongues) 

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Biblical Precedents in Acts 

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1) Disciples at Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-21)

- there was a phenomenon that make people think they were drunk. 

- Acts 2:16 & Joel 2:28 

   (peter repeated in the last line that 'they will prophesy'. - naba) 

- in this incident, all who were spirit baptized, spoke in tongues, with no exceptions.

- Peter said this was the fulfilment of Joel 2:28-29, stressing that prophetic utterance is a key feature of this fulfilment, tongues is same nature as prophesying. 

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2) New Believers in Samaria (Acts 8:14-20)

- Simon 'saw' that the Spirit was given, implying that something observable took place. 

- Simon won't ask to learn to 'lay hands', he saw a phenomenon

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3) Saul in Damascus (Acts 9:17)

- Luke doesn't record details of Paul's spirit baptism but we know Paul spoke in tongues often (1 Cor 14:18). 

- Seems legitimate and logical to infer that he first spoke in tongues at the time Ananias laid hands.

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4) Cornelius' Household in Caesarea (Acts 10:44-48, 11:15-17)

- Peter identified the experience with that of Pentecost disciples (acts 11:17, 15:8) 

- Observable manifestation convinced Peter's Jewish-Christian companions that the Spirit had fallen on the Gentiles 

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5) Disciples in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7) 

- the Ephesians were expected to know whether they received the Spirit, there is a form of observable phenomenon.  

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If I want to do what God wants to do I need 3 things.

1) Knowledge

2) Motivation (motivated by Gospel) 

3) Power (spirit baptism) 

 

someone who is spirit baptised but living below standards, is not a power problem, it's a Gospel problem. 

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Important Matters

- we receive the Spirit as the Gift, not tongues. 

- not we have more Spirit in us, but the Spirit have us.

- there should be other evidences of the outworking of the Spirit's activity in our lives

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Spiritual Gifts

- is to benefit other ppl

- if i am wise, i primarily benefit myself. but if i have the gift of wisdom it's to edify other ppl, give a people. 

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Q & A

- For Hope church to be member, tongues is the normal initial sign of Spirit Baptism. But how if people can't speak in tongues? 
(prepare them well, don't focus the baptism on things like confessing sins or God loves you. We need to understand how people who don't receive spirit baptism, don't leave them to fend for themselves. it's a state of 'i want to, but i can't.' 

Ask them 'why do you need the power for. what's something in your life that you feel completely powerless to do"

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- 1 Cor 14. Is referring to trying to speak to someone else in tongues. Praying in congregation in tongues is still a private moment. 

 

- HS Baptism doesn't create a yearning for the Word.  Yearning for the Word is your response to the Gospel. 

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- Presbyterian believe in infant baptism. - they take it like it's circumcision. Initiating a person into the household of faith. 

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