As I studied the Holy Spirit in depth, I kept coming up with the same questions. The role of the Holy Spirit in the church has been debated over the centuries, particularly in the last 50 to 60 years in America.
As I read the scriptures, I notice a power and boldness that the early church possessed, which seems to be absent in the church in America. We have made the church overly academic and entrepreneurial. In many ways, the church has become a social, political, or academic environment. I don’t believe any of those are wrong, except if that is all we focus on, then we are missing the element Jesus expressed for the church.
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This power, as we see in scripture, is called two things: the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the filling of the Holy Spirit. This is the power Jesus mentioned in John 14-16 and in Acts.
So this leads us to some questions
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the church today?
Are the gifts for today?
Can I have the Holy Spirit in my life without having the gifts?
What is the transformation, sealing, and renewal of the Holy Spirit?
Is it for today?
Is the renewal and transformation of the Holy Spirit different from the in-filling of the Holy Spirit?
Many other questions just like these ones.
I want to address something right off the bat: some people say that the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased after the apostles died and when the canon of scripture was completed. I challenge that by asking, find that in scripture. Oftentimes, this scripture is quoted to support that line of thought, 1 Corinthians 13:10.
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
They assume that the Canon of scripture, is that which is perfect, but this violates a basic rule of theological understanding: we must interpret scripture in light of scripture, especially within its context. The context from the previous verse is 1 Corinthians 13:8-10.
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
The context is that we will have the gifts until they are no longer needed, which will be when Christ reigns and rules on this earth. The purpose of the gifts is to empower us to be His witnesses, as we read in Acts 1:8.
On a different note, I could technically argue that the Canon of Scripture is not yet closed, as Revelation 10:4-7 alludes to regarding the announcement of the seven thunders.
The scripture Peter quotes in Acts 2:15-21, from Joel 2:28-32, refers to the outpouring of the Spirit in the last days. It states that prophecy, dreams, and visions will all happen and also refers to events that will occur before Jesus’ return. Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, prophesies that the power, gifts, and fruit of the Spirit will be present from 32 AD until Christ comes back. This was a promise from God, not only in Joel 2:28-32 but also in Isaiah 44:3.
We need the power to be His witnesses. One of the things I need you to notice is the “boldness” that appears in the followers of Jesus as their connection to the Holy Spirit deepens.
However, confusion arises regarding the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. Let’s look at a couple of scriptures.
1 Corinthians 12:12,13
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Titus 3:5,6
He (Jesus) saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,*
Ephesians 1:13,14
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Paul states that all who are Christian are baptized into one Spirit, and he continues his thought through Titus to remind us that, as believers, we have not only been washed by the blood of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins but also experience renewal or rebirth through the Holy Spirit.
Now I need to tell you, I was raised to believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is something you receive and seek after salvation as a second work of grace. I have read many books by various wonderful authors—people who have experienced incredible things through the baptism of the Spirit—and they describe it as a second work of grace. However, as I read the Bible, it tells me a slightly different story. Has God done things differently through the ages? Yes, but I believe He is returning to what He said in His word because our world needs to hear the gospel message. If we don’t understand the power we have, our world will be lost. We will be limited in power and unable to fulfill God’s plan for His church. I believe Paul clearly shows here that all believers are sealed, transformed, renewed by the Holy Spirit to be born again and gain the power to change the world.
Peter clarifies that to the crowd in Acts 2:38,39
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
So what about our experiences…we are limited not by God, but by what we have been taught.
What is baptism?
Water Baptism (Outward Sign) – Symbolizes repentance, cleansing, and public identification with Christ (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3–4).
Holy Spirit Baptism (Inward Power) – Fills and empowers believers to live for Christ and be witnesses (Acts 1:4–5,8; Acts 2:1–4).
Water Baptism is symbolic of death to the old life and resurrection to new life (Romans 6:3–4).
Spirit Baptism is the actual power and presence of God working in the new life (Romans 8:11)
Repentance → water baptism → Holy Spirit in-filling is often the pattern in Acts (though sometimes the Spirit infilling precedes water baptism, Acts 10:44–48).
I believe, as I read these scriptures, that at the point of salvation every person, in order to have the power to overcome sin, to be led by the Lord, and to understand scripture, is renewed, sealed and transformed by the Holy Spirit as we just read. We have a relationship not only with God the Father and God the Son, but the Holy Spirit too has made himself real to us.
But if that is true, then why don’t people flow in the gifts?
In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, until Jesus’ ascension, people flow in the gifts and then stop. The infilling of the Holy Spirit gives us the power, but we must choose to keep flowing in the gifts of the Spirit continuously.
In Ephesians 5:18, part of Paul’s command to the church through the Holy Spirit is to be filled with the Spirit.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
This verse doesn’t carry the same power in English as it does in Greek. The Holy Spirit’s proclamation here emphasizes being filled with the Spirit constantly and continually.
The disciples in the upper room in Acts 2 received both the baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit at the same time. They were not only filled with power, but the first step was the Holy Spirit’s work of renewal and transformation within them. Once again, the Holy Spirit’s permanent connection and relationship with the believer only began after the church was born. Most of us were not taught to understand that we can also receive the filling of the Holy Spirit at salvation, as seen in Acts 8:14-17.
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
What happened here? When they came to Christ, did they only receive the Father and the Son but not the Holy Spirit? That simply isn’t possible, so what took place?
Let me argue that they received the sealing, transformation, and renewal of the Holy Spirit, which sealed them for service and God’s call. However, the disciples had to help them understand, as many of us do, that we have the Holy Spirit in us at salvation. All we need to do is submit to His power and flow, and we will receive the power necessary to operate in the gifts.
If people see the Holy Spirit as someone unfamiliar or strange, they may be hesitant to allow Him to move in them with power. However, if we understand that He is already within us and that all we need to do is surrender to Him daily, He will guide us into all truth, as Jesus said. Part of that truth is that we can be filled with His power to flow in the gifts so others may come to Christ. It is not through our own power that anyone comes to Christ, but through His. Reread John 16 if you have questions.
If you have Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have been transformed by the Holy Spirit. You have come to know Him as that still small voice that speaks to you to convict, encourage, strengthen, and guide you into all truth. The question is, will you trust Him to flow through you in power?
John the Baptist said he baptized with water, but that Jesus would baptize with fire. When the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and disciples in the upper room, he appeared as tongues of fire on everyone present that day. This was the symbol of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and they were flooded with power, the filling of the Holy Spirit, began speaking in tongues, prophesying, and moving in divine power.
The renewal, transformation, and sealing of the Holy Spirit is essential for anyone to walk in Christ, you received that at the time of salvation, but His power is needed to be a witness to a broken world! You already have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Why not make it deeper, more intimate.
We have a need in our nation and around the world for the Holy Spirit’s power. I don’t want you to be afraid, and I don’t want it to seem strange to you. You have come to know Him as you have walked with Christ; now it’s time for you to be open to the flood of power that He wants to pour through you so the name of Jesus can be lifted up, and our world can be changed.
This is what I need you to understand—the most basic point as we walk down this path over the next few months. It’s nothing scary or strange. It’s simply a natural growth in Christ; it’s what He planned for us when He told us the helper would come. How does He help us? He fills us with power so we can be Jesus’ witnesses everywhere we go.
For some of you, this may just be nomenclature, terminology but many people are afraid of the Holy Spirit and His power. Once we realize He is in us since salvation and we have come to know Him, being filled with and flooded by power becomes much easier to understand.