Those who received only formal baptism and did not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit

 

Those who received only formal baptism and did not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit

 

Baptism performed in the church is an outward expression of becoming God's people. It is called water baptism. However, as an inner expression, there is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We need to know the difference between water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism. Water baptism literally means entering and coming out of the water. This water baptism, first, has the meaning of washing away sins. In Acts 22:16, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Second, water baptism has the meaning of death for sins. In Romans 6:2-4, “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. In the verse, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

When we are baptized, we can know whether we have only been baptized with water or have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, depending on the state of our hearts. In Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

Baptism in the church today is to baptize according to the command of Jesus. Baptism means dying to sin and being born again by the Holy Spirit. Baptism is an expression of being born again. Just because you had a baptismal ceremony, it does not necessarily mean that you are truly born again. There may be some who have been formally baptized but have not been born again of the Spirit. Some may receive it without knowing the true meaning of baptism.

If so, what does the baptism of the Holy Spirit mean? Acts 1:4-5 『And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

After Jesus was resurrected, he stayed with his disciples for 40 days. And as Jesus ascended to heaven, he gave this request, and as a result, we can see that the Holy Spirit came upon Mark's upper room on the day of Pentecost. In Acts 2:1-4, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to preach to the assembled people. At that time, diasporas from neighboring countries were gathered in Jerusalem. Suddenly the disciples spoke in tongues and their tongues were twisted, some said they were drunk, while others were pierced by Peter's sermon about the resurrected Jesus.

In Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Here we see that there is a four-step process of salvation. Repent, be baptized in the name of Christ, receive forgiveness of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In other words, all human beings realize that they are destined to die to God, turn to God, believe that they died together with Jesus Christ who died on the cross, and the dead are set free from their sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this process, we must remember the words of Romans 6:7 that the dead are set free from sin.

Another event of the coming of the Holy Spirit is the story of Acts 8. It happened in the city of Samaria, where deacon Philip went there and preached a lot and performed miracles. There was a man named Simon the magician, who also believed in Jesus and was baptized when he saw the miracle of healing the sick. However, they did not know about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The apostles, including Peter, who were in Jerusalem went to them and had them be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 8:16-20, “(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost . And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.”

Here, Simon the magician was baptized but tried to buy the Holy Spirit with money. Peter told Simon that his heart was evil and told him to repent. Water baptism is apparently a participation in the ceremony. But internally, it is believing that the old man dies in the water and is reborn into a new life by the power of the Holy Spirit. God gives the Holy Spirit as a gift to those who are reborn into a new life. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift from God to those who are truly born again. It would mean to keep the faith and evangelize to your neighbors until the end of your physical life in this world.

The next incident of the coming of the Holy Spirit is the story of Peter in Acts 10-11 and Cornelius, a centurion in the army called Italia's army. In Acts 10:3–5 we read, “He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

Peter was staying in a place called Joppa, the famous story of which was a vision in which a bowl like a cloth came down from heaven, and in it were all kinds of four-footed beasts on the earth, creeping things, and things flying in the air. However, there was a voice, saying, “Peter, get up, kill and eat.” As Peter continued to deny that he was unclean, he repeatedly told him to eat three times, and Peter had a vision of a bowl resembling a cloth ascending into heaven again. However, at the same time, a man sent by Cornelius knocks on Simon's (Peter)'s door, and the Holy Spirit tells him to follow Peter without doubting.

So, Peter followed them and baptized Cornelius and his family, but when the co-workers heard that "Peter was with the uncircumcised," they denounced Peter. The scene where Peter explains the incident can be seen in Chapter 11. In Acts 11:15-16, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.”

When we think through these biblical facts, it can be said that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift from God given to those who have been baptized with water. If people today think of baptism only as the washing away of sins, they misunderstand the meaning of baptism. Baptism is the death of the old man, which is an attribute of sin in man, and the forgiveness of sins through it. There is no forgiveness of sins without death.

In the Old Testament, sinners killed animals and sprinkled their blood on the altar to receive forgiveness from God. The sinner does not die, but instead the animal dies. At this time, unless they realize that the dead animals are themselves and do not repent, there is no remission of sins. It will be just a formal ritual. Even today, if the body of sin (the old man) does not die with Jesus and prays for forgiveness every day, it is no different from the person who formally killed an animal and sprinkled blood on the altar in the Old Testament times.

Those whose old self did not die with Jesus Christ still have their sins and do not have the baptism of the Holy Spirit from God. No matter how much I shout, Lord, Lord, the Holy Spirit does not come on me. But whoever realizes that I am mortal to God and believes in being united with the dead on the cross with Jesus Christ, God will regenerate them into new life and give them the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to save. Then he promised to give the Holy Spirit as a gift. No one seeks the Holy Spirit, but when they repent, realize that they are mortal to God, and believe that they are united with Jesus on the cross, the power of the Holy Spirit will come upon them. If we are not united, it is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but only a formal baptism.

In the parable of the ten virgins, it is also metaphorically telling whether or not they have received the Holy Spirit. Matthew 25:1-2 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.”

All ten virgins had lamps. But the five wise virgins have other barrels of oil. The wise five virgins would have received the light of the Holy Spirit of her life. So they could shed some light. But the five foolish virgins received God's light through the word of the law, but she did not receive the Holy Spirit, so she eventually returned to darkness.

Oil means olive oil. In the Old Testament, olive oil was used to anoint kings, priests, and prophets. In Luke 4:18, “And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.” The Bible explains the coming of the Holy Spirit as an anointing.

In the end, the five wise virgins can be said to be those who have received the Holy Spirit and completely believe in the Word of God. Become a light in Christ and become a person who can share the life of light with others. The five foolish virgins are people who hear God's Word and judge with their fleshly hearts, do not completely believe in God's Word, but selectively accept it. They say they believe in Jesus Christ and go to church diligently, but they think they have to do something. These people correspond to the five foolish virgins, who are not of the old self, do not have the Holy Spirit.