Baptism of the spirit
The baptism of the Spirit , actually " baptism in the Holy Spirit ", means the baptism by Jesus Christ of the believer described in the Bible , as it was foretold by John the Baptist and appeared for the first time at Pentecost , as well as the recurring preparation for service with the Holy Spirit according to the Acts of the Apostles .
In evangelical denominations of dispensationalism , i. H. Churches in which the Bible is viewed in terms of salvation history , the baptism of the Spirit is viewed as an event identical to the rebirth . This is justified with the Bible passages 1Cor 12,13 EU and Acts 11,1-18 EU . In Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, however, it is seen as a separate event. This is mainly justified with the Bible passage Acts 8 : 15–17 EU .
Pentecostal Movement
In one part of the Pentecostal movement, the baptism of the Spirit is seen as a tangible, independent, and repeatable experience that is independent of conversion and water baptism. The prerequisite for receiving the baptism in the Spirit is the conversion that has taken place and the rebirth experienced in the spirit. The born again Christian may receive the baptism of the Spirit shortly afterwards or many years after conversion and rebirth . In the baptism of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit fills the believer with power to serve. It can be conveyed by the laying on of hands, but it can also occur spontaneously or be sought and received alone in prayer. During the baptism of the Spirit, those affected mostly show spiritual gifts as signs. As an external, visible sign, it is often expected that the person affected will receive the gift of speaking in tongues , but this sign is not explicitly required. Visible signs in the form of spiritual gifts belong in the Pentecostal movement to the full gospel, but are not considered necessary for salvation. Certain charismatic Bible teachers (e.g. Dr. Wolfhard Margies) hold the view that a distinction must be made between spiritual fulfillment and spiritual baptism. According to them, the baptism of the Spirit as a one-time experience represents the conclusion of the first spiritual fulfillment. The spiritual fulfillment, on the other hand, is a repeatable experience.
Another part of the Pentecostal movement regards the baptism of the Spirit as a unique historical event in space and time, namely the ultimate Pentecostal miracle: the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the disciples who were gathered in Jerusalem at that point in time, in the year 33 AD ( Acts 2, 1 ELB ). It is not about an experience of salvation, but about preparing to serve the believers of that time. This is to be distinguished from being baptized with the Holy Spirit of the individual believer, although there are different sub-conceptions regarding the time when this happens (time and period). In any case, the Pentecost event and the Pentecost experience are different things.
Protestantism
In evangelical Protestantism , baptism in the Spirit is usually equated with rebirth , which must be preceded by repentance , conversion and faith . God offers it to man as an undeserved gift ( grace ), but he must consciously accept it. The Pentecostal movement also sees itself in the sign of evangelical, Protestant tradition and sees the sealing with the Holy Spirit at the time of rebirth as a special, because unique, form of the baptism of the Spirit, which, however, must be distinguished from the repeatable arming with the Holy Spirit. Exceptions here are the numerous charismatic churches that exist in Protestantism, some of which are based on the position of the Pentecostal movement.
In classical Protestantism there is less talk of the baptism of the Spirit. The rebirth takes place here with water baptism (cf. Joh 3,5 EU ), which is usually performed on the infant. A “yes” from the person to be baptized can be anticipated for the valid performance of the baptism through the vicarious faith of the parents and godparents. However, a later confirmation of the baptized (a conscious “yes” to God) is expected and is often illustrated in the confirmation .
New Apostolic Church
In the New Apostolic Church , besides water baptism and the Lord's Supper, the “ Holy Sealing ” is donated as a third sacrament . According to this understanding, under the rite of the laying on of hands by an ordained apostle, the Holy Spirit overflows into the believer and thus gives him the status of sonship with God .
The Consolamentum with the Cathars
For the Cathars , who rejected water baptism, the ceremony of acceptance into the circle of the Perfecti existed in the Consolamentum , which was also called Spirit baptism according to Rom 1.12 EU and Col 2.2 EU . The consolamentum was considered the only way to salvation. He was preceded by a novitiate . The consolamentum was carried out in a solemn act in which - under the direction of the bishop or the oldest Cathar of the community or the surrounding area - all Cathars who had already received the consolamentum took part. The delivery of the Consolamentum took place after the forgiveness of sins and the delivery of the Our Father to the novices, by placing the Gospel of John on the head of the candidate. One after the other, those present touched the head of the novice and thus transmitted the spirit of knowledge to him. Women could receive and pass on the Consolamentum just like men. If a Perfectus committed a sin, not only was his consolamentum obsolete, but also those spirit baptisms that were administered by the sinner.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Reinhold Ulonska: Spiritual gifts in teaching and practice. Federal Teaching Work (BUW) in the Bund Freikirchlicher Pfingstgemeinden, Erzhausen 2014, p. 13ff.