A free subscription to our monthly e-mail-newsletter: click this link !

The Gift of the Spirit: an instant present during baptism?

From Acts 2:38 we learn the following:
'Then Peter said unto them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'

Does this mean, that everyone that is baptised in the Name of Jesus will receive the Gift of the Spirit immediately and automatically?


Baptism in the Name of Jesus doesnot lead to 'instant Gift'
The Holy Bible provides us with the answer in Acts chapters 8 and 19. In these chapters people were baptised in the Name of Jesus, but they didnot receive the Spirit. Only after a special prayer with the specific question for the Gift with the laying on of hands the Spirit was received.

Acts 8:15-17 - In spite of the 'Jesus-baptism' no Gift had been received !
'...they sent unto them Peter and John, 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, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.'

Acts 19:5-6 - Baptism followed by the laying on of hands did have result!
'When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.'

No Gift because the baptism was only in the Name of Jesus...?
Some people think - funny enough many of them believe in the Trinity- that a baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (see *PS* footnote!) would have resulted in receiving of the Gift. They claim 'the Name of Jesus is not enough'.

Not only do these people contradict their own Trinity-doctrine (because Jesus, the Father and the Spirit are supposed to be 'all-the-same right ?!), but they also contradict what we learn from Acts chapter 2. This chapter -in which Paul states that every baptism in the Name of Jesus will result in the receiving the Spirit- proves the Trinity-followers wrong. But then: why did they not receive the Spirit?!


Acts 2: a very special occasion;
- The descent of the Holy Spirit -

The fact that Paul promised 'instant receiving of the Spirit'(Acts 2) must have had a very special reason, because in later chapters of Acts we do read, that the Spirit had not been received immediately after the baptism in the Name of Jesus...

I think it is save to suggest that the special event that was taking place at that moment was the cause of the immediate/automatic receiving of the Spirit after being baptised: the descent of the Spirit. The Spirit of God was present at that moment !!!

A critical Bible-reader could say: 'well, when I read Acts 2 I also read just after the part about the immediate receiving of the Gift the following: 'For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all who are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.'(Acts 2:38)

'Though 'instant receiving of the Spirit was promised by Paul -even for all the children-; the reality of Acts 8 and 19 show us, that this promise is not for all time, but only for the moment the Spirit was poured out during and shortly after Paul made the promise.

After the pouring out of the Spirit the emhasis should be, that everyone that is baptized in the name of Jesus can and may receive the Spirit. From Acts 8 and 19 we learn, that after a special prayer with the laying on of hands the Gift of the Spirit were received!


What does this knowledge should mean for Christians?
The knowledge, that the Gift of the Spirit doesnot follow instantly after baptism in the name of Jesus requires an active and new awareness; an awareness that laying on hands and special prayer is needed after the baptism-ceremony in the name of Jesus. Simply because only by Jesus (by baptism) a person can come to GOD by laying on of hands afterwards.

From other studies from the Bibleabout 'laying on hands' we also know, that:

Delay in the receiving of the Spirit: for your own protection!
With all this knowledge you now know, that receiving the Gift of the Spirit means taking part in the Spirit of God. And you know, that it has certain 'obligations attached' which will have a great impact on choices in the future.

And I think, that this is why 'receiving the Spirit by laying on hands' is done after the baptism. Only after you have grown in knowledge and in faith you can receive the Spirit. And in this way we cannot harm ourselves with ignorance. And of course: God decides when you are ready to become a spiritual partaker!

*PS*
Matthew 28:19 has been falsified concerning '3 needed names under which one should be baptized'. Only the name of Christ (Yeshua) is needed. We simply now that because:

In short: biblical Faith (1Cor8:6) in 1 GOD ánd 1 Lord only requires 1 name: the name of Yeshua (Jesus); to the honour and Blessings of GOD.


Door: Hein Kuipers dd. 15 oktober 2003
Back to Reading-room
Read more about 'the receiving of the Spirit'
Read more about'what the Bible tells us about laying on hands'
HOME