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 PrintableVersion Understanding the New Birth and the Baptism of the Holy SpiritUnderstanding the New Birth and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit Wouldn't you expect a book that sets out to prove that 'the Scriptures teach that the baptism of (in or with) the Holy Spirit is a distinct, supernatural experience subsequent to, and different from, the new birth' to list the Scriptures that mention that baptism and carefully consider them? There are only seven of them; it is not a major task. But this book does not. Even worse, it makes only one reference to what many would consider the key verse (1 Corinthians 12.13), and even then references it as if it says the exact opposite of what it does say: 'There is an experience scripturally known as the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12.13; Hebrews 6.3)' (p.49). Hebrews 6.3, in full, reads: 'And God permitting, we will do so.' I'm not convinced that this verse offers conclusive proof! This isn't the only problem with the book; Old Testament believers, we are told, died in faith but were not born again. Conversion is seen as equivalent to the new birth, rather than being the turning to Christ which inevitably follows (if you're a Calvinist) or precedes it (if you're an Arminian). And: 'The believer receives the Lord Jesus in the new birth (John 1.11-13) and he receives the Holy Spirit in the baptism of the Holy Spirit' (p.50). But the Bible says: 'If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ' (Romans 8.9). If you really want to know what the baptism with the Spirit is, turn to John Stott's Baptism and Fullness. Or you could just try a Bible and a concordance. But don't use this book; it's a classic case of a doctrine being imposed on the Scriptures rather than derived from them. Gary Benfold© Evangelicals Now - December 1999 |
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