~~Introduction
This year, we are focusing on the HOLY SPIRIT. This is a very interesting and important study for us. The first two studies clarified His identity and deity.We also understood His attributes and His works in the believer's life.
Last week, we started examining the difference between salvation and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
There are schools of thoughts within Christendom that erroneously believe that at salvation, we are already filled or baptized in the Holy Spirit. We shall scripturally differentiate between these two wonderful experiences in this study.
1) Philip’s Encounter in Samaria; Acts 8:5-8,12
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and PREACHED CHRIST unto them.
6 And the people with ONE ACCORD GAVE HEED UNTO THOSE THINGS which Philip
spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed
with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city... .
12 But when they BELIEVED Philip preaching THE THINGS CONCERNING THE
KINGDOM OF GOD, and THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, they were baptized, both men
and women.
Jesus instructed us to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Salvation comes through the
preaching of the gospel, the Word of God. MARK 16:15,16. Philip did just that in Samaria, and the people believed, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. He went further in verse 12 to baptize them in water, since it was established that they were born again by believing the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ.
Then, in Vs 14-17, “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD [con-cerning salvation], they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.)17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST.”
Mighty miracles were constantly being manifested in Philip's ministry and many people were being saved. Yet notice that in Acts chapter 8, not one person received the Holy Spirit under Philip's ministry. Evidently, that was not a part of Philip's ministry, but getting folks saved and healed. However, the Bible says that when the apostles at Jerusalem heard about the wonderful things God had done through Philip's ministry in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to lay hands on the new Samaritan converts so that they might receive the Holy Ghost.
There is no record that anyone upon whom Peter and John laid their hands failed to receive the Holy Ghost because Peter and John had more of a ministry along this line. The Bible says, "Then laid they [Peter and John] their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost" (Acts 8:17).
The spiritual encounters in Samaria clearly nullify the assumption that salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are one and the same thing.
2) Saul’s Encounter with Jesus; ACTS 9:15-17
15 But the Lord said unto him [Ananias], Go thy way: for he I Saul] is a CHOSEN VESSEL UNTO ME, to bear MY NAME before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for MY NAME'S SAKE.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him
[ Saul] said, BROTHER SAUL, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way
as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
The passage in Acts chapter 9 which records Saul's conversion and baptism in the Holy Spirit also shows us that receiving salvation and receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences.
Saul had a supernatural encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on his way to Damascus in Act 9:1-9.
Saul got converted on that spot. Act 9:3-6;
“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
There are three evidences of Saul’s conversion when he met with Jesus;
a) Acts 9:15,16; Jesus, speaking to Ananias in a vision, called Saul His chosen vessel.
“ But the Lord said unto him [Ananias], Go thy way: for he I Saul] is a CHOSEN
VESSEL UNTO ME, to bear MY NAME before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of
Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for MY NAME'S SAKE.
b) ACTS 9:17; Ananias greeted Saul by calling him "Brother Saul." Ananias recognised that Saul was already a Christian brother in the faith despite his past reputation.
“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him [ Saul] said, BROTHER SAUL, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mighest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
c) We also know that Saul was already saved when Ananias came to lay hands on him to
receive the Holy Spirit, because the Bible says in Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall
call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Saul called Jesus, "Lord" during his conversion on the Damascus Road.
It is clear then that even though Saul had received Jesus as his Lord, he was not yet baptized in the Holy Spirit until Ananias came and laid hands on him to receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 9:17.
Conclusion: Salvation and the baptism in the Holy Ghost are two separate experiences. There are other examples in the Bible like the Gentiles of Cornelius' Household in Acts 10. The men of Cornelius' household were all Gentiles, and they were not saved until Peter came and preached the gospel to them and got baptised in the Holy Ghost immediately.
We also have scriptural accounts of those who were saved and then immediately following salvation, they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 19.
This study was extracted from Kenneth E. Hagin’s book; The Spirit and His Gifts
Contributor: Alex Alajiki.
