The Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Seventh-day Adventist Church · Lesson 6 The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Spirit. We are saved by faith, but it is only Christ’s righteousness (holiness)

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SABBATH—DATE

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

READ FOR THIS WEEK’S STUDY: Acts 2:37, 38; Acts 9:5; 1 Corinthians12:1-13; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11; Galatians 3:1-11; Galatians 5:5, 6.

MEMORY VERSE: “Don’t [do not] fill yourself up with wine. Getting drunkwill lead to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18,NIrV).

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF GUESSING AND ARGUMENT IN THE CHRIS-TIAN CHURCH about what the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” means. The Biblemakes it clear that the baptism of the Holy Spirit deals with the Holy Spirit in thelife of a person who has been born again. Without the Holy Spirit’s leading, noone can experience the new birth.1 Those who have experienced the new birthhave been baptized with the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 1:5, Jesus promised His followers they would be baptized with theHoly Spirit. The wonderful events2 of Pentecost ten days later fulfilled Jesus’promise (Acts 2). After the baptism of the Holy Spirit happened, many peopleaccepted Jesus and became His born-again followers.

Anyone who has surrendered in faith and obedience to Jesus has been bap-tized in the Holy Spirit. A loving and lovable Christian is the greatest example ofbaptism of the Holy Spirit. This week, we will look at the promise of the baptismof the Holy Spirit.

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 6.

Easy Reading Edition April 29–May 5

SABBATH—APRIL 29

1 new birth—receiving God’s forgiveness and having the Holy Spirit live in your life to guide you; when Godtakes your life of sin, forgives your sins, then helps you not to sin.

2 events—things that happen.

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Lesson 1 Lesson TitleLesson 6 The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

ONE SPIRIT, ONE BODY (1 Corinthians 12:1-13).

What point is Paul making in 1 Corinthians 12:1-13?

Paul is dealing with a church that wasfighting over spiritual gifts. Paul says“Do not quarrel over this issue.” Or, ashe clearly explained: “We were all bap-tized by one Holy Spirit into one body[the church]. It didn’t [did not] matterwhether we were Jews or Greeks,slaves or free people. We were allgiven the same [Holy] Spirit to drink”(1 Corinthians 12:13, NIrV).

The word translated “by” in 1 Corinthians 12:13 may also be trans-lated “in.” True believers are baptized inone Spirit in the body of Christ. Thisbody is the church. There are otherpoints Paul wanted to make, but onepoint is especially clear: All believersshare the real experience of being bap-tized by the Holy Spirit. This baptismmakes us part of the body of Christ, thechurch.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit, or conver-sion, should come before water bap-tism. Baptism in water is an outwardshow of the change that already hastaken place in the heart. The truebeliever is born by the Holy Spirit (John3:5, 6). The Holy Spirit is the sealingagent3 (Ephesians 1:13, 14). And theHoly Spirit has been given as anearnest (guarantee) and reminder thatone belongs to God (2 Corinthians 5:5).

How important is it that the HolySpirit dwells (lives) in us? Romans8:9.

In accepting Jesus as our personalSavior, we receive the Holy Spirit as aheavenly guarantee of salvation. TheHoly Spirit living in us is a guaranteeand a reminder that someday Jesuswill live with us and the unfallenangels in a place where temptationand sin will no longer touch us. Jesusgives us His Holy Spirit to alwaysremind us that one day we will be freefrom sin.

Every true believer since Pentecosthas received the guarantee of theHoly Spirit. This is the same experi-ence as the baptism of the Holy

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3sealing agent—the One who keeps us safe. Also see the footnote for the word seal in Sabbath’s study forLesson 2.

Baptism by water is a symbol of havingbeen baptized by the Holy Spirit.

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Lesson 6 The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Spirit. The important question for usis: How willing are we to receive theHoly Spirit?

If someone were to ask, “Haveyou been baptized in the HolySpirit?” how would you answer?

GUILT AND THE HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 2:37).

Notice the action in Acts 2:14-37.Quoting the Old Testament, Peter waspreaching about Christ’s death, resur-rection,4 and going to heaven. Peterwas preaching the plan of salvation.

Notice the people’s quick answer.Was it joy? Gladness? Happiness?No. They were “pricked in their heart.”The Greek word means “to pierce.”The people were pained. They suf-fered. Their conscience botheredthem. This is no surprise. Read Acts2:36. In a way we are all just as guiltyas these people. The sins of all of usbrought Jesus to the Cross.

It was guilt, sorrow, and pain thathelped bring the people to Christ.

In your own words, write whatPaul is saying in 2 Corinthians 7:9-11. How does 2 Corinthians 7:9-11relate to the experience of theJews at Pentecost?

It is now easier to understandChrist’s words, “Blessed are the poor

in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom ofheaven” (Matthew 5:3). The gospel isa message of joy, peace, and hope.But salvation, repentance,5 and growthin Christ do involve some suffering(Acts 14:22). One of the acts of theHoly Spirit is to make us aware of sin(John 16:8). We become aware of sinwhen our hearts are “pierced” overhow sinful we have been.

How has the Holy Spirit“pierced” your heart? What feel-ings of guilt did you have? Howhas the Holy Spirit been able todirect the feelings of guilt towardyour own spiritual growth?

REPENTANCE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 2:38).

Read Acts 2:38. Peter promised thegift of the Holy Spirit to those whorepent6 and are baptized. But it is onlythrough the Holy Spirit that we can bebrought to repentance. So, we cansee here the real work of the HolySpirit in every part of a person’s rela-tionship to his or her Creator. Biblestudiers sometimes speak of this workas “common grace.”

Repentance is a change of mindand life. The words for repentance inboth Hebrew and Greek involve theidea of change, including a change ofmind and direction. This change hap-pens when one admits that he or she

MONDAY—MAY 1

4 resurrection—coming back to life after dying.5 repentance—to be sorry for your sins and, with the Holy Spirit’s help, to want to stop sinning.6 repent—to say you are sorry for your sins and then to turn away from your sins with the Holy Spirit’s help.

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has been wrong.This admission leadsto sorrow and change. Repentancemeans turning to Jesus for help. Truerepentance (2 Corinthians 7:10) ispowerful proof that a person has beenbaptized with the Holy Spirit.

How do Romans 2:4; John 15:26;and John 16:13, 14 help us under-stand the Holy Spirit’s work inbringing us to repentance?

The Holy Spirit is Christ’s Represen-tative on earth. The Holy Spirit’s workis to show us the truth about Christ.Only through the Holy Spirit’s workcan we feel guilty about sin andbrought to true repentance. Onlythrough the Holy Spirit’s work can webe moved to surrender our sinfulways and live for Christ. By showingus God’s love, the Holy Spirit touches

us and gives us the only true reasonfor wanting to serve God. The truereason is a thankful heart that loves aGod who first loved us (John 4:10).

We cannot force ourselves to loveGod. The Holy Spirit comes andtouches us. We have the freedom tosurrender to His touch or to push Himaway. The choice is ours. And oursalone.

Write a paragraph explainingyour own experience with repent-ance. Where were you when youfirst had a feeling of guilt? How didyou respond? What changes tookplace? Be prepared to share yourexperience with the class.

OBEDIENCE AND THE HOLYSPIRIT (Acts 2:37; Acts 9:5, 6).

Review how the Jews actedtoward Peter’s sermon. Acts 2:37.Compare7 what the Jews did withwhat Saul did. Acts 9:5, 6. Withboth the Jews and Saul, what proof shows that their conversion(change) was true?

“We are witnesses8 of these things.And so is the Holy Spirit. God hasgiven the [Holy] Spirit to those whoobey him” (Acts 5:32, NIV). Acts 5:32suggests that obedience is one of therequirements for receiving the Holy

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7 compare—show how things are the same.8 witnesses—people who see something happen.

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Spirit. We are saved by faith, but it isonly Christ’s righteousness (holiness)credited (recorded) to us that savesus from the final result of sin.The finalresult of sin is eternal9 death. So, wecannot live in disobedience to God.The Holy Spirit’s job is to make usfeel guilty for our sins. Then the feel-ing of guilt is to lead us to obedience.

What do the following versesshow us about the connectionbetween the Holy Spirit and obedi-ence?

Acts 16:6, 7____________________

_____________________________

Galatians 5:5, 6_________________

_____________________________

Galatians 5:22-26_______________

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1 Peter 1:1, 2___________________

_____________________________

Jesus warned His followers to obeyGod, to walk in the commandments,and to love and forgive one anotheras God loves and forgives us. So, whywould the Holy Spirit advise us to doanything different? Many people saythey have experienced the “baptismof the Holy Spirit” and use “speaking

in tongues [languages]” as proof ofthat baptism. But they still disobeyGod’s commandments. They are theones who are fooling themselves.Thegreatest proof of living by the HolySpirit is living a faithful and obedientChristian life.

FAITH AND THE HOLY SPIRIT(Galatians 3:1-11).

As we learned yesterday, thosewho surrender to the Holy Spirit willbe brought into “the obedience offaith” (Romans 16:26). Most peoplewho are saved in Christ do obey. Butmany people start to believe falselythat their obedience is what savesthem. This is what happened with theGalatians.

9eternal—lasting forever.

Walk in God’s commandments.

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What problem is Paul discussingin Galatians 3:1-11? Note the workhe gives to the Holy Spirit in theseverses.

The Holy Spirit leads people into“all truth” (John 16:13). The center of“all truth” is Christ and Him crucified(1 Corinthians 2:2). The greatest andmost important of all truths is thatChrist died for all sin. Anyone can, byfaith, be forgiven for his or her sinand stand perfect before God. Thetruth is, no one can do enough to“pay” for his or her sins and be for-given (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16).Forgiveness can come only throughJesus. Forgiveness becomes effec-tive in the life of believers and throughfaith (Galatians 3:5, 6). The HolySpirit guides us toward obedience.He also helps us understand that sal-vation is by faith alone. It is clear theGalatians misunderstood salvation byfaith.

Notice, too, the important workPaul says the Holy Spirit is doing(Galatians 3:2-5). See how Paulclosely connects the Holy Spirit withleading people to their faith, not totheir works.

What are some of the traps oflegalism10 we can easily fall into?How can we protect ourselvesfrom these traps?

ADDITIONAL STUDY: Ellen G. White,The Acts of the Apostles,11 pp. 41–46,50; Christian Service, pp. 252–255;Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 283–287,290, 632–634; Testimonies for theChurch, vol. 6, p. 444; Testimonies forthe Church, vol. 7, pp. 211, 212;Exodus 14.

“Let Christ work by His Holy Spirit.Let Christ awaken you as from thedead and carry your minds along withHis mind. Let Christ help you to useyour talents. He has created your everytalent that you may better honor andglorify Him. Dedicate yourself to Him.

FRIDAY—MAY 5

10 legalism—believing you must obey God to be saved.11 apostles—God’s disciples who preached the gospel after Jesus returned to heaven. The word apostles

means “people who are sent out.” The apostles were sent out into the world to tell others about Jesus.

Legalism is a trap Satan puts out to keepus from having faith in Christ.


Then you will see that you are inspiredto do your best for God’s service.”—Adapted from Testimonies toMinisters and Gospel Workers, p. 396.

“We need the baptism of the HolySpirit.”—Adapted from Evangelism,12

p. 66.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:1. Share your answers to Tuesday’s

last question with the class. Whatcan you learn from one another’sanswers?

2. As a class, read Luke 11:11-13.Then talk about how you felt whenyou gave someone you loved a gift

you knew that person would like.Why were you so eager to givethat gift? What good would the giftdo for the person you gave it to?From your experience, what canyou learn about receiving the giftof the Holy Spirit?

3. As a class, see whether you canget some time before the lessonstudy to prepare a small lecture on“baptism of the Holy Spirit” forSabbath School. Try to figure outwhat questions people in thechurch might ask about this topic.Be prepared to answer thesequestions.

12 evangelism—the spreading of the gospel to the world.

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The Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Seventh-day Adventist Church · Lesson 6 The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Spirit. We are saved by faith, but it is only Christ’s righteousness (holiness)