Our identification in the body of Christ

Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but wait for what the Father had promised, “Which, He said, “you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ Acts 1:4-6

What is very interesting is the definition of this word "baptized". As you look at the context of where a word is mentioned. The context will determine the definition.
Baptized defined:
• The word “baptized” baptizo, comes from bapto (meaning to dip) and is “to immerse, submerge, overwhelm, or saturate.”
• It is “the introduction or placing of a person or thing into a new environment or into union with something so as to alter its condition or relationship to its previous environment or condition.” It means to be identified with.
• Boice says, “The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptize is a text from the Greek poet, and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be ‘dipped’ (bapto) into boiling water and then ‘baptised’ (baptize) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptizing the vegetable, produces a permanent change.’ Bible Study Magazine, James Montgomery Boice, May 1989.

What's the difference in the Old Testament verses New Testament in regards to the Holy Spirit?
Old Testament we know that when we see the mention of the Holy Spirit as coming and going. The Holy Spirit did not permanently indwell a believer. Ezekiel 36:25-27 we see the promise of the Holy Spirit to come.
In Acts we see the transition of the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. The Holy Spirit has come to permanently indwell believers. The pickle definition confirms that it cannot be undone. What you see through the Epistles is that each letter is addressed to believers, alot on their "walk" "their behavior" "fruit of the spirit" etc. How to live in our Christian walk. Our Sanctification. How the Spirit works in the life of a believer.

The Term “baptism of the Holy Spirit is not used in the Word of God. However, there are six references in which the words “baptized with the Holy Spirit” are used.
A preposition precedes “Holy Spirit” in each of these verses. The preposition en is translated either “with”, “in” or “by”.

• Mark 3:11 “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”
• Mark 1:8 “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit”
• Luke 3:16 “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”.
• John 1:33 “He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit”
Matt 28:18-20 “Although “baptized with the Holy Spirit” is not used in these verses, this is the other place in the gospels where both “baptizing and” and “Holy Spirit” are used together.
• And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the ages.”
• I Corinthians 12:13 is the last passage in the Word of God that uses the words “baptized” and the “Holy Spirit”. The prepositional phrase en “by” can be translated “in,” “with”, or “by”.
o For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Jesus speaking to the Apostles:
Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
• We see the fulfillment of Acts 1:4-8 in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost. Mystery of the church. Our identification into one body. No longer separated. Jesus tore down that barrier wall at the cross. Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile).
o When? Day of Pentecost – Fifty days after Passover & Firstfruits.
o Who? Jew and Gentile into one body = beginning of the Church
o What? Baptized = identification into one body.
• Who? When? Acts 2 – Salvation to the Jews first. (However not all Jews believed)
• Who? When? Acts 8 – Salvation to the Samaritans – more later
• Who? When? Acts s10 – Salvation to the Gentiles – more later

Day of Pentecost has come, the Apostles who were told to wait in Jerusalem for the promise to come. You will be baptized (identified) with the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be My witnesses…. Permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. There was now a permanent change within. What was once not there is now living within each believer. We are about to hear Peter who once denied Jesus now witness about Him with great boldness. What must take place for this gift of the Holy Spirit to take place? Allowing scripture to interpret scripture, Ephesians 1:14-15 "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who is given as a pledge of our inheritance,....

According to scripture they were sealed with the Holy Spirit upon listening to the message of truth and believing they were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (back to that promise in the Gospels).

The baptism of the Holy Spirit according to scripture takes place at salvation. The believer upon hearing and believing the gospel is baptized "identified" into the body of Jesus Christ. Acts is the beginning of the church what was a mystery is now being revealed to the 12 Apostles first and then Peter with boldness "declares the mighty acts of God" to others and many more were added to the church that day.


Continuation to follow………………