“And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples just before He ascended off the Earth to take His just and apt place at the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20). Jesus told the apostles they were not to leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit anointing came upon them with power, and this happened ten days later on the Day of Pentecost. This, Jesus proclaimed, was the “power from on high.” Jesus also disclosed that this was the promise of His Father. Since Jesus spoke what the Father told Him to speak (John 5:19), and since They are unified and One (John 10:30), whenever Jesus gives us a promise it is also guaranteed and given by the Father Himself. The same is true in regards to the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit: the promise came from both the Father and the Son. The Source of the power is from on high and comes from the Father.
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples just before He ascended off the Earth to take His just and apt place at the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20). Jesus told the apostles they were not to leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit anointing came upon them with power, and this happened ten days later on the Day of Pentecost. This, Jesus proclaimed, was the “power from on high.” Jesus also disclosed that this was the promise of His Father. Since Jesus spoke what the Father told Him to speak (John 5:19), and since They are unified and One (John 10:30), whenever Jesus gives us a promise it is also guaranteed and given by the Father Himself. The same is true in regards to the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit: the promise came from both the Father and the Son. The Source of the power is from on high and comes from the Father.
When Jesus spoke with Nicodemus in John 3:5, He told Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” When Paul wrote to the congregation in Rome in Romans 6:4 and said, “We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life,” the “newness of life” of which Paul writes is the same thing Jesus said of being “born of water and the Spirit.” This is why Jesus further told Nicodemus in John 3:7, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’” The transformation is performed by God through the power of the Holy Spirit, and this occurs at baptism. This is also why John wrote in Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power. . . .” We share in the first resurrection when we share in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ when we are buried with Him in baptism (Romans 6:3-4). Hopefully, you can by now see that our burial with Christ in that watery grave of baptism is also the baptism with the Holy Spirit. They are one and the same. And if we refuse baptism, then we are not Christ’s, for we do not have His Spirit. Peter said it was at baptism that we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), and the Apostle Paul wrote that if we do not have the Spirit of Christ then we are not His: 9. But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. 10. But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness. 11. If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit Which dwells in you. (Romans 8:9-11) And only those who have the Spirit of Christ can be called the sons of God: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:14).
Being baptized with the Holy Spirit means we have been anointed with the Holy Spirit. John says in 1 John 2:23-29, 23. No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25. And this is what He has promised us, eternal life. 26. I write this to you about those who would deceive you; 27. but the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you; as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in Him. 28. And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming. 29. If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who does right is born of Him.
Being baptized with the Holy Spirit means we have been anointed with the Holy Spirit. John says in 1 John 2:23-29, 23. No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25. And this is what He has promised us, eternal life. 26. I write this to you about those who would deceive you; 27. but the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you; as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in Him. 28. And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming. 29. If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who does right is born of Him.
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