What is baptism of the Holy Spirit?
"I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." —Mark 1:8
You might already be familiar with what baptism is—the act of being submerged underwater as a way of publicly declaring your faith. But an interesting phrase repeated throughout the Bible is something called "Baptism of the Holy Spirit."
During the ministry of John the Baptist, he proclaimed that the "one coming after him" (that is, Jesus) would baptize people with the Holy Spirit, unlike his own baptism with water (Matthew 3:12). Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he was talking with his disciples and again brought up the topic of the baptism of the Holy Spirit:
"Once when [Jesus] was eating with them, he commanded them, 'Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'" —Acts 1:4-5 (NLT)
So it's clear from these verses that "water baptism" and "Spirit baptism" are two different things. Does this mean the Bible teaches two different baptisms we have to undergo?
The Basics of Baptism
Before we go into different types of baptism, it's important to first understand the meaning of the word "baptism" in the first place. The Greek word that's translated as "baptism" is "baptizó," which literally means "immersion."
When we think of water baptism, we think of an immersion under water. So if we're talking about a Spirit baptism, we can think of it as being "immersed" in (or indwelt by) the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament, we see sparse examples of temporary indwelling by the Holy Spirit (Judges 15:14, Psalm 51:11, Ezekiel 11:5), but in the New Covenant, established by Jesus, believers are permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Immersed in the Holy Spirit
"The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit." —1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NLT)
Unlike water baptism, baptism of the Holy Spirit isn't a specific act we perform, but rather an event that happens TO us. Sometimes Christians say how Jesus "lives in our hearts" or how God "indwells us." Another way people often describe being renewed and baptized by the Holy Spirit is being "born again" (John 3:5-7). These are just simplified ways of describing being baptized by the Holy Spirit.
Being immersed (or "baptized") in the Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit (the third member of the Trinity) becoming permanently present with us in our souls. This was something new promised in the New Covenant for ALL believers in Jesus.
So baptism of the Spirit isn't just for certain believers. If you've accepted Christ as your Savior, you've been baptized by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9)! Believing in the gospel, in Jesus' saving work on the cross, brings us from death to life—and, at that moment of faith, we are given the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
What Baptism of the Holy Spirit Does
"[Jesus] saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit." —Titus 3:5 (NLT)
When a believer is baptized in the Spirit, they are made into a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17). They are now forgiven by God and able to have a relationship with Him. In an instant, His Spirit binds to their soul, renews their spirit, and begins to change their life (Titus 3:4-7).
When we receive the Holy Spirit, we begin the process of being shaped into a new person, growing more and more like Jesus as we forsake sin and pursue God and His righteousness. While we will never attain perfection, the fact we have God's spirit living within us is proof that we're capable of improving our character and growing in our relationship with God.
The Holy Spirit helps guide us through life (John 16:13), gives us spiritual gifts for serving the church and God (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), convicts us of sin (John 16:8), and prays for us when we don't know what to say to God (Romans 8:26).
How To Be Baptized By the Spirit
There's no specific action you must perform or specific prayer you must pray. You simply seek forgiveness for your sins by believing and trusting in salvation through Jesus. If you've already placed your faith in Jesus' saving work on the cross, then there's nothing more you need to do. You're already baptized in the Spirit!
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." —2 Corinthians 5:17
ALSO SEE:
TL;DR
Baptism of the Holy Spirit refers to the indwelling or "immersion" of the Holy Spirit for all believers who have placed their faith in Jesus (Romans 8:9). When we receive the gift of salvation, we're made into new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve God (John 16:13, 1 Corinthians 12:7) and turn away from sin (John 16:8). If you've accepted Christ, you've already been baptized by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-7).
Writer: Andrew Stout
Andrew Stout is a young adult who converted to Christianity at age 15 in 2021. In addition to writing articles, he is a member and moderator of the 412teens Discord server and makes short form videos for the 412teens social media channels. His hobbies include hiking, making videos, and discussing theology.
