Presentation on theology of Holy Spirit by Todd Linn, PhD; pneumatology; Holy Spirit in Acts

1. Pneumatology: The Doctrine
of the Holy Spirit
Review:
What’s going on in Acts?

2. When do we receive the Holy Spirit?
At the moment we become Christians.
When we become Christians, we are both
“sealed” by the Holy Spirit and “baptized” in
the Holy Spirit . . .

3. Ephesians 1:13-14
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;
in whom also, having believed, you were
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who
is the guarantee of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession,
to the praise of His glory

4. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
For as the body is one and has many
members, but all the members of that one
body, being many, are one body, so also is
Christ. For by one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body—whether Jews or
Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have
all been made to drink into one Spirit.

5. The “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” occurs
at Salvation
Definition:
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the act
whereby the Holy Spirit makes the believer
an integral part of the body of Christ.
Note: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is
experienced by all believers.

6. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
For as the body is one and has many
members, but all the members of that one
body, being many, are one body, so also is
Christ. For by one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body—whether Jews or
Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have
all been made to drink into one Spirit.

7. One of the prevailing misconceptions of
the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the notion
that it is a special privilege of only a few
Christians.
The Scriptures make it plain that every
Christian is baptized with the Holy Spirit at
the moment of salvation (cf. Romans 8:9).
Next week: Difference between “The
Baptism” and “The Filling” of the Holy
Spirit.

8. Question . . .
If every Christian receives the Holy Spirit
at salvation, what is going on in Acts? It
appears that a person can be a Christian
without having received the Spirit.
Acts 8:14-17
Acts 10:44-48
Acts 15:1-11
Acts 19:1-6

9. Acts 8:14-17:
Now when the apostles who were at
Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent Peter
and John to them, who, when they had
come down, prayed for them that they
might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet
He had fallen upon none of them. They
had only been baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them,
and they received the Holy Spirit.

10. Some have interpreted these passages to
mean that Christians may experience a
“double blessing” of the Holy Spirit . . .
Some believe it is possible to be a
Christian and not have the Holy Spirit—or
at least not have “as much” of the Spirit as
one would have if he were to experience
this “second blessing.”

11. But the Bible teaches (Ephesians, 1
Corinthians) that we receive the Holy Spirit
at salvation, so what’s going on in Acts?

12. “Descriptive” vs. “Prescriptive”
Much of the Bible is “descriptive;” that is,
the Bible often records things “that
happened.”
This is to be distinguished from parts of
the Bible that are “prescriptive;” that is, the
parts of the Bible that are expressly
instructional.

13. Examples:
Polygamy
Slavery
Lying

14. The book of Acts is, in the main,
“descriptive.” It is a record of history that
describes how God acted in the lives of
Paul, Peter, and others.
The books of Ephesians and 1
Corinthians, however, are, in the main,
“prescriptive.” These books provide
specific instruction to Christians regarding
doctrine and other matters.
Consequently, we interpret the books
differently.

15. Reading the passages in Acts, then, we
understand that we are reading history that
occurred before Paul even writes
Ephesians and 1 Corinthians.
This point in history was a time of
transition between the OT and the NT.
The Holy Spirit has come (Acts 2) in a
remarkable way, empowering the apostles
as they begin to spread the gospel.

16. So why do we read of some in Acts
who have not received the Spirit?
Note that they are not Jews, but Gentiles
Remember that Jews and Gentiles didn’t
get along! (John 4:9; Mark 7:24-30).
Note in Acts that God is bringing Jews
together to the Gentiles and giving the
Gentiles the Holy Spirit—at times even
through the hands of the Jews (Acts 8).

17. Acts 8:14-17:
Now when the apostles who were at
Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent Peter
and John to them, who, when they had
come down, prayed for them that they
might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet
He had fallen upon none of them. They
had only been baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them,
and they received the Holy Spirit.

18. God brings Jews and Gentiles together.
Furthermore, the Jews actually witness the
Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit.
The fact that the Gentiles received the
Holy Spirit at all was a sign to the Jews
that God had accepted the Gentiles.

19. Therefore . . .
It would be wrong for us to read into these
Acts passages that Christians today need
to be “baptized in the Holy Spirit” as a
secondary experience.
We received the Holy Spirit at salvation.
There is no need for a “second blessing.”
However, there is a difference between
“baptism” of the Spirit and “filling” of the
Spirit.

20. “Baptism” v. “Filling” of the Holy Spirit
BAPTISM
1 Corinthians 12:13
Never Commanded
One time experience
Happened in Past at
Salvation
Experienced by all
believers
FILLING
Ephesians 5:18
Commanded
Repeated, Continual
Experience
Happens in Present
for Sanctification
All Christians should
have this experience,
but many do not

21. “Baptism” v. “Filling” of the Holy Spirit
BAPTISM
No Prerequisite
(except Faith in Christ)
Brings Union with
Christ
Brings Relationship
with Christ
FILLING
Depends on
Yieldedness
Brings Communion
with Christ
Maintains Fellowship
with Christ

22. “Baptism” v. “Filling” of the Holy Spirit
BAPTISM
Introduces us into the
Body of Christ
Results in a Position
FILLING
Empowers Individual
Members of the Body
of Christ
Results in Power

23. Results of a “Spirit-Filled” Life
Ephesians 5:18ff
Galatians 5:22-26