Is baptism synonymous with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

Question:

Your views, on baptism as being synonymous with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit gift of miracles, appear baseless. None of the references to baptism I could find support a parallel with the bestowing of the Holy Spirit gifts that I could see, and most mentioned nothing of the Holy Spirit gifts on the occasion of a newly baptized individual.

Answer:

The association between baptism and the Holy Spirit is confirmed by the Biblical record of several instances where baptism was practiced (See Acts 8:15-16; 9:17-18; 10:46-48).

It is important to realize that the Bible uses “baptism” with two separate meanings.

  1. Literal water baptism as when Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan or when Paul was baptized following his conversion.
  2. the “one” baptism spoken of by Paul in which we are baptized into Christ’s death.

It is the first and not the latter which was dispensational and which was accompanied by the Holy Spirit power. With this in mind let us review some passages of concerning literal water baptism and the Holy Spirit power.

In Acts 9:17-18, Ananias is saying that Jesus sent him so that Saul “might receive [his] sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Saul’s receiving of his sight was coupled with his baptism.

In Acts 16:33 a baptism was preceded by a dramatic demonstration of the power of God, a great earthquake which opened the doors of the prison and loosened all the prisoners’ bands.

In Acts 19:5-6 Paul baptizes a group of disciples “in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” Here again literal water baptism, performed under the commission given by Jesus, is accompanied by Holy Spirit power.

Although Acts 16:15 tells of a baptism without referring to the Holy Spirit, but neither does it possess a command that the rite be continued forever.

It seems the weight of the argument is definitely on the side of literal water baptism usually being accompanied by a dramatic demonstration of the Holy Spirit, and usually performed by a person who had Holy Spirit power to bestow. Not having the Holy Spirit to give or receive at this time, we are under no necessity to baptize or be baptized.

Regardless, in no event are we to substitute the outward act of immersion for the inward cleansing of the heart and mind from sin. Peter clearly states that literal washing in water does not effect a cleansing from sin (1 Pet. 3:20-21).