Category: baptism with the Holy Ghost

Joel and Dispensationalism

Monday, July 27, 2015

“…I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come” (Joel 2:28-31 KJV).

What can the Prophet Joel teach us about dispensational Bible study?

A half-dozen Old Testament passages combine Jesus Christ’s two comings: these prophets saw one coming. In hindsight, however, we see two prophesied comings. Why were two comings not originally apparent? (There were two secret comings hidden between!)

Today’s Scripture explains Messiah coming twice: first to pour out His Spirit, then to pour out His wrath. These two comings are according to prophecy, “that which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21). The Old Testament prophets did not know that there would be two additional comings of Jesus Christ to divide the two prophesied comings—one coming to start our Dispensation of Grace (save Saul of Tarsus and start the Body of Christ) and one to end it (save the Body of Christ from enduring the seven-year Tribulation). These are the two comings according to mystery, that “which was kept secret since the world began” but was manifested through Paul’s epistles (Romans 16:25,26).

Today’s Scripture (cf. Acts 2:16-21) first predicts Jesus Christ pouring out the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost (First Coming). Then, it delineates how He will pour out His wrath on His enemies (Second Coming). Joel knew nothing of our Dispensation of Grace and the Body of Christ—we are between Joel 2:29 and 2:30. The mystery was “hid in God” (Ephesians 3:9) and completely hidden from Israel’s prophets. God kept a secret from Satan—He would use Calvary’s crosswork to form the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). The Dispensation of Grace (and its two comings) was also withheld from the Old Testament prophets, including Joel. Wow!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Why did Jesus say to throw the net on the ‘right’ side?”

The Spirit of God and the Word of God #3

Thursday, March 21, 2013

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

As today’s Scripture demonstrates, the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God.

For approximately three years, the Lord Jesus Christ ministered throughout the land of Israel. After the Jews had crucified Him, and after He resurrected, another prophecy needed fulfillment—His ascension to His Father’s right hand (Psalm 110:1). Once He ascended, His apostles and disciples were to continue His work on earth by leading all of unbelieving Israel to trust Him as Messiah. These Jewish believers were just ordinary people, weak and fallible. How could they execute the work that Jesus Christ had started?

The Lord Jesus promised: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he [a Person, not a force!] may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16,17).

Jesus Christ asked His Father to send the Holy Spirit on this “little flock” of Jewish believers, thereby equipping them to carry on His ministry in His absence. The Holy Ghost—“the Spirit of truth”—would testify of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost would speak to unbelieving Israel via the believing Jews “bearing witness” (John 15:26,27). Christ explains: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:… when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth… He shall glorify me” (John 16:7-14).

When the Holy Spirit was poured out on believing Israel in Acts chapter 2, they were then able to preach God’s Word as Jesus Christ had done earlier….

The Spirit of God and the Word of God #2

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

As today’s Scripture demonstrates, the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God.

When God wants something done, He speaks it, and it happens. For instance, during the creation week, as described in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, we repeatedly read the phrase: “And God said… And God said… And God said…,” et cetera. The various systems of creation came into existence and became operational whenever the Lord Jesus Christ spoke: the heaven, the heavens, the earth, all life forms, and so on appeared whenever their Creator commanded them to be so. Furthermore, we read in Genesis 1:2: “…And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Although “God created all things by Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3:9), the Holy Spirit was also present during the creation week, and He too was active in the creation of the universe.

Our Lord Jesus Christ told His Jewish disciples, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he [a Person, not a force!], the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:12,13). Christ is referring to the (future) day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2), when He will baptize Israel’s believing remnant with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4,5). The Holy Ghost will then speak words through them so unbelieving Jews can hear God’s Word, know what God is doing, and how to be saved from their sins. Later, the Holy Spirit will cause those men to write the New Testament Scriptures (the “all truth” and “things to come”).

The Holy Spirit does not operate haphazardly, nor does He work apart from God’s Word. Wherever the Holy Spirit is, the Word of God is present; wherever the Word of God is, the Holy Spirit is present….

Israel’s Three Prophetic Baptisms #8

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” (Matthew 3:11 KJV).

Let us review why Israel’s three prophetic baptisms do not apply to us:

  1. John’s water baptism: God the Father sent John the Baptist to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). John preaches to Israel, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand [approaching, near]” (Matthew 3:2). John’s water baptism is to prepare Israel to become a “kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:5,6; cf. 1 Peter 2:5,9), since Israel needs the Old Testament priests’ ceremonial washing. Jews who listen to John’s message and experience his water baptism form “the little flock,” the believing remnant of Israel that will inherit Christ’s earthly kingdom (Luke 12:32).
  2. The baptism with the Holy Ghost: On Pentecost (Acts chapter 2), Jesus Christ baptized that “little flock” (His apostles and disciples) with God’s Holy Spirit. This was to empower them to continue what He (Jesus Christ) had begun during His earthly ministry (that is, lead Israel to faith in Him as their Messiah-King; Luke 24:47-49; Acts 1:8).
  3. The fire baptism: Jews who refused the two above baptisms would receive the fire baptism, God’s wrath. Unbelieving Jews would never enter Christ’s earthly kingdom. They would perish in the fire baptism (the Tribulation, Christ’s Second Coming, and eventually hellfire), as described in Matthew 24:36-42, Luke 17:26-37, and Revelation 19:11-21.

When we understand that the three “baptisms” in today’s Scripture are unique to Israel’s prophetic kingdom program spoken by the Old Testament prophets (Acts 3:21), and that we Gentiles in the Dispensation of Grace live in the mystery (secret) program which God hid from the Old Testament prophets (Romans 16:25), it becomes apparently clear that we are totally isolated from Israel’s baptisms. When we understand that Paul is our apostle (Romans 11:13), we follow his epistles Romans through Philemon, and faith does not lead us to practice Israel’s water baptism, seek Israel’s “Pentecostal power,” or fear Israel’s Tribulation.

Israel’s Three Prophetic Baptisms #6

Sunday, July 15, 2012

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” (Matthew 3:11 KJV).

Do we in the Dispensation of Grace have any relation to the three baptisms of today’s Scripture?

BAPTISM #2: THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST

Baptism with the Holy Ghost is another confused topic, especially within charismatic circles (seeking the “gift of tongues”). Oftentimes, today’s church members try to follow Acts chapter 2, which they claim is key to “spirituality” (actually, stealing Israel’s doctrine on Pentecost and applying it to us has only caused apostasy).

The above confusion regarding the doctrine of the Holy Ghost baptism is immediately dispelled when we, “Study to shew [ourselves] approved unto God, [workmen] that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). When we study God’s Word dispensationally, we understand that all of the Bible is for us, but not all of the Bible is to us or about us.

We are the Church the Body of Christ, so we must be careful to never confuse ourselves with the nation Israel (which the professing “Church” has done for almost 2,000 years!). All this talk in religion about “being baptized with the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues” is predicated on the false presumption that Acts chapter 2 is our pattern. Pentecost is a Jewish feast day, and has nothing to do with us Gentiles.

Acts chapter 2 does not belong in our dispensation: There is “one baptism” for our Dispensation of Grace (Ephesians 4:5). What is it? “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Our baptism is not Christ baptizing us “with the Holy Ghost” (Pentecost; today’s Scripture). When someone places his or her faith in Jesus Christ alone as personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit baptizes that person into the Body of Christ. Jesus Christ baptizing Israel with the Holy Ghost is totally unrelated to our baptism by the Holy Ghost into the Body of Christ.

Israel’s Three Prophetic Baptisms #4

Friday, July 13, 2012

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” (Matthew 3:11 KJV).

Let us review Israel’s three prophetic baptisms listed in today’s Scripture:

  1. John’s water baptism: John the Baptist preached, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand [approaching, near]” (verse 2). The first step in anointing believing Jews to become priests in Christ’s kingdom was to have them wash with water like Israel’s priests did before entering the ministry (Exodus 29:4). Israel needed to prepare for her coming Messiah (Jesus) by confessing her national sins (breaking the Old Covenant) and being water baptized of John.
  2. The Holy Ghost baptism: Israel’s Messiah Jesus will baptize her with God’s Holy Spirit (Acts chapter 2). This was the second and final step in anointing believing Jews to become God’s priests. After washing with water, Israel’s priests were anointed with oil (Exodus 29:7). Oil in Scripture is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the “anointing” that believing Jews received on Pentecost (John 7:39 cf. 1 John 2:20,27).
  3. The fire baptism: A Jew needed both John’s baptism and the Holy Ghost baptism in order to function as a priest in Christ’s kingdom: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). This is why water baptism was necessary for salvation in Israel’s program (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Any Jew who refused the two above baptisms would receive the fire baptism, God’s wrath. Unbelieving Jews would never enter Christ’s earthly kingdom, previously perishing in the fire baptism (Christ’s Second Coming, and eventually hellfire). Joel 2:28-32 and Acts 2:16-21 indicate this fire baptism would have occurred shortly after Acts chapter 2 (the Holy Spirit baptism). However, God interrupted and temporarily suspended Israel’s program: our Dispensation of Grace postponed this fire baptism, which is yet future (notice Israel’s prophetic timeline of Joel 2:28-32 and Acts 2:16-21 knew nothing of our dispensation occurring between baptisms 2 and 3).

Israel’s Three Prophetic Baptisms #3

Thursday, July 12, 2012

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” (Matthew 3:11 KJV).

Today’s Scripture demonstrates that, contrary to church tradition, “baptism” in the Bible does not always mean water baptism. We want to examine the three “baptisms” found in today’s Scripture. By searching God’s Word, we will discover precious truths that traditional Bible teaching overlooks.

BAPTISM #3: “He shall baptize you with fire.”

Read today’s Scripture with its context (John the Baptist is warning Israel’s unbelieving religious leaders): “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire… he [Jesus Christ] that cometh after me is mightier than I… he shall baptize you… with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (verses 10-12; cf. Luke 3:16,17).

Like John’s water baptism and Pentecost’s “Holy Ghost baptism,” this “fire baptism” was prophesied in the Old Testament. The LORD had told Israel through the prophet Joel (2:30,31) that after He would pour out His Spirit: “And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come [Christ’s Second Coming].” This will be fulfilled during the seven-year Tribulation, culminating with Christ’s Second Coming to establish His kingdom (Matthew 24:29,30a; cf. Mark 13:24-26; Luke 21:25-27).

Why will Jesus Christ baptize Israel with fire? The context of today’s Scripture (verses 10-12) explains this “fire baptism” is God’s wrath: the fire at Christ’s Second Coming will purge out and remove from earth the unbelieving Jews in Israel (Zechariah 13:8,9; cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Consequently, only believing Jews will remain to ultimately enter Christ’s earthly kingdom (only saved Jews can be God’s priests).

Israel’s Three Prophetic Baptisms #2

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” (Matthew 3:11 KJV).

Today’s Scripture demonstrates that, contrary to church tradition, “baptism” in the Bible does not always mean water baptism. We want to examine the three “baptisms” found in today’s Scripture. By searching God’s Word, we will discover precious truths that traditional Bible teaching overlooks.

BAPTISM #2: “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”

In the context of today’s Scripture, God the Father has sent John the Baptist to water baptize repentant Jews in the river Jordan (verses 1-6). When John sees many Pharisees and Sadducees (Israel’s religious leaders) coming to his baptism, he explains to them that he is baptizing with water, but Israel’s Messiah (Jesus) will later “baptize [Israel] with the Holy Ghost” (today’s Scripture; cf. Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33,34).

Like John’s water baptism, this “Holy Ghost baptism” was prophesied in the Old Testament. The LORD had told Israel through the prophet Joel (2:28,29): “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”

In Acts 1:5 Jesus reminded His Jewish disciples, “…Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” John the Baptist, Joel, and Jesus Christ are certainly speaking of the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2). In fact, the Apostle Peter tells Israel on the day of Pentecost that God pouring out His Holy Spirit on them and their speaking in tongues are the fulfillment of what Joel had spoken 800 years earlier (Acts 2:16-18 cf. Joel 2:28,29).

Why is God pouring out His Holy Spirit on Israel? He is preparing them for their kingdom, when His Holy Spirit will empower them to do His will in the earth (Luke 24:47-49)!