Spiritual Gifts
Question
From a question about Speaking in Tongues presented on January 26, 2006.
Continuing Answer
There is a difference between the language of the Gift of the Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. When you refer to the Gift of the Holy Spirit, it begs the question, when do you receive this gift? The common language for that reception is called Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is not my concern to provide a comprehensive study of this idea, but only introduce you to the concept known as the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Depending on who you are talking to when you use this phrase, you will either receive an extreme amount of heat, or if you are fortunate, some light.
The concept of being baptized in the Holy Spirit is presented in the four Gospels (Matt. 3.11; Mark 1.8; Luke 3.16; John 1.33-34). Luke also uses the phrase in Acts 1.5 and 11.16. Jesus is the speaker at Acts 1.5, while Peter is quoting Jesus in Acts 11.16. In all these passages the term is baptize not baptism. It must be noted that the term baptism in the Holy Spirit is not the language of Scripture. As a matter of fact, the term baptism in the Holy Spirit never appears in Scripture.
