06.04.2016 Views

Baptism

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Here baptism followed the preaching of the word. But they did not receive<br />

the baptism of the Holy Spirit until the apostles laid hand on them.<br />

Acts 8:16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they<br />

had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.<br />

Acts.8: 18 Spirit was given through the laying on of Apostles hand.<br />

Here they were given the instructions in Jesus and then baptized. Then they<br />

received the Holy spirit. There is no order we can assign to the baptism of<br />

Holy spirit.<br />

What is the conclusion? Is baptism a necessary or sufficient condition for<br />

receiving the Holy Spirit?<br />

How do we understand this verse now?<br />

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the<br />

name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the<br />

gift of the Holy Spirit.<br />

Receiving of the Holy Spirit does not follow from baptism, but from believing<br />

Jesus.<br />

Galatians were asked point blank this very question: "This only would l learn<br />

of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of<br />

faith?" (Gal.3:2). The answer was obvious-God's gift of salvation was<br />

received the moment they heard the word of the Gospel and accepted its<br />

invitation. It was certainly not as a result of being baptized. So we come to<br />

the basic conclusion:<br />

<strong>Baptism</strong> is neither necessary nor sufficient to be saved or to receive the<br />

baptism of the Holy Spirit.<br />

What does this salvation mean here? For personal salvation baptism is not<br />

74

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!