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Monday, March 16, 2009

Baptism of the Spirit

My views on the baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit have been anything but consistent. I used to believe that the Baptism/Filling of the Holy Spirit happened only at conversion. I have also held to the belief that a person was baptized with the Spirit at conversion and then subsequently filled with the Holy Spirit at a later time for ministry. Currently I believe that Scripture uses the terms "Baptism" and "Filling" interchangeably in regards to the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:5 and 2:4) and that after conversion believers must constantly pursue subsequent baptisms/fillings of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 4:29-31). For further reflection on this, check out the following:

1. John 7:39; 14:15-17; 20:22; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:4
2. Luke 3:21-22 (see also Mark 1:10 and Matthew 3:16)
3. Acts 4:29-31 (cf. Acts 13:52)

Any thoughts?

1 comments:

Eron said...

Chance,

You and your...thinking.

Two thoughts:

You said you think Scripture "uses the terms "Baptism" and "Filling" interchangeably in regards to the Holy Spirit." So, are we baptized again and again?

Also, you said, "believers must constantly pursue subsequent baptisms/fillings of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 4:29-31)." But, is this an example where believers "pursued" this filling, or were just filled in the context of worship by the sovereign act of God? What about Peter (4:8)? Believers are commanded to "be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Eph 4), but is Acts 4 and Eph 4 the same thing?

Thoughts?
Plev