The Person of the Holy Spirit

.... Let’s begin this lesson by correcting a common misunderstanding. Anyone who has attended church for awhile, or has watched Christian television for any length of time, has heard reference to the term ‘the baptism of the Holy Spirit’; but we should carefully note that this term is a misnomer. The baptism ‘of’ the Holy Spirit implies that the Holy Spirit administers this baptism, which is not the case. It also casts the baptism itself in a purely functional light, which is simplistic and therefore inaccurate.

.... ‘John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire".’

(Luke 3:16)

.... The correct understanding is that Jesus baptizes us ‘with’ the Holy Spirit or ‘in’ the Holy Spirit, and therefore this is the baptism of Jesus Christ. Far from being semantic, this distinction is very important. It tells us that Jesus Himself administers this baptism that we may be joined with Him, by the Holy Spirit, in a much deeper sense. And to understand this deeper sense, we must understand just who the Holy Spirit is:

.... "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you."

(John 16:7)

.... The Holy Spirit is a distinct Person sent from God, another helper like Jesus Himself (John 14:16). But more than this, He is One with the Father and the Son (Isaiah 48:16). The Holy Spirit is, to God, what our own spirit is to us: a living part of our personality that is distinct from our soul (which is our mind and seat of emotions – 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

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.... And just as our spirit is the living, perceptive part of our being that is in touch with God (1 Peter 1:22), it is through the Holy Spirit that God communicates with us (see 1 Corinthians 2:11-12). See further notes in the ‘comments’ section.
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.... Since the Holy Spirit is an actual, Divine Person, let’s understand what this means! To be baptized ‘in’ or ‘with’ the Holy Spirit implies a deeper walk with the Lord Himself in some very intimate, interpersonal terms! Our spirit is joined with His in some deeper way. In fact, an alternate term for this baptism is that we have been ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ (see Acts 2:4).
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.... The Holy Spirit takes the things that belong to God, which He has revealed through the life of Jesus, and He ministers them to us in a very personal sense that transforms our lives to make us more like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). To do this, He searches the deepest aspects of God’s own character traits and He works to develop those same traits in us (1 Corinthians 2:10-12).

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Daily Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13