[This is continuing a blog series titled "Is the Holy Spirit Real?" It is entries of the book by the same title authored by the late Dr. Paul E. Paino.]
The Holy Spirit was given to fill every believer. In Ephesians 5:18-21, we read the following words, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” [emphasis mine]. On the day of Pentecost, believers will filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
The early church sought the Lord when Peter and John were thrust into prison, and it is recorded that those who were assembled together were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31). To the proportion that a believer is filled with the Spirit, he portrays the character and nature of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul said that the “fruit of the Spirit” (love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance) will be manifested in the life of a Christian to the degree that a Christian is filled with the Spirit of God. Christian character is produced by the Spirit of the Lord.
The Apostle Paul made a contrast between the “works of the flesh” and “the fruit of the Spirit.” We are admonished to walk in the Spirit so we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:22-26). A Christian will not walk after the flesh if he is filled with the Spirit (Galatians 5:17-18).
It is possible for a Christian to be filled with the Spirit when he has not ever received the experience of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. This is the reason that there are committed and spiritual Christians with beautiful Christian character who have never spoken with tongues and have never received their spiritual baptism. This is also the reason that there are those who have received a spiritual baptism and still rejoice in the blessing, glory, power, and emotion of the experience but do not demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit.
A Christian can be baptized in the Spirit and not be filled with the Spirit; and, a Christian can be filled with the Spirit and never experience the Baptism in the Spirit.
January 22nd, 2007 at 2:37 am
I’m a little confused. I’m not exactly sure how Acts 5:22-26 fits in where it is. What does the Apostles being in the temple preaching rather than in the jail have to do with walking in the Spirit so that we don’t fulfill the lust of the flesh?
I would also love to see a little bit more biblical evidence regarding a Christian who has great Christian character but not the baptism of the Holy Spirit versus a Christian who has the baptism of (or is it ‘in’) the Holy Spirit not demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. I’m not sure I fully grasp this one. Doesn’t the Bible tell us that we will know them by their fruit (If it applies to the false teacher, then doesn’t it make sense that it applies to the upstanding Christian?)? (Matthew 7:15-23)
January 22nd, 2007 at 3:53 am
@Joe: The Acts 5:22-26 was a typo. It’s corrected now in the blog.
As far as your other question. It sounds like you’re understanding the details, but missing the main point: THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE INFILLING AND THE BAPTISM. They are two completely separate things. This blog series is a general overview of the function of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians: regeneration, infilling, anointing, and baptism.
January 22nd, 2007 at 5:56 am
OK, yes, I am not sure I understand the difference between the infilling and the baptism.
It’s hard for me to separate being filled with the Spirit as it’s referenced in Ephesians 5:18-21, Acts 2:4, and Acts 4:31, from the actual baptism. Am I missing something?
January 22nd, 2007 at 2:37 pm
@joe: Part 2 of “The Work of the Holy Spirit in Infilling” spends a lot of time focused on the difference. Most people have “infilling” and “baptism” of the holy spirit connected as the same thing. Part 2 explains the difference. Hold your horses.