Can you share insight on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? Is this when the Spirit of God takes up residence in a believer?
Answer
The “baptism of the Holy Spirit” is not a phrase found in the Bible. If it were it would be a confusing phrase. Would it mean immersion with the Holy Spirit or immersion that comes from the Holy Spirit?
Since I believe that everyone comes to belief because of the Holy Spirit, the word of God, then every immersion for remission of sins would be a baptism of the Holy Spirit. One cannot believe unless he has heard the word. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15) I do believe that when one is immersed for forgiveness of sins, what some might call ordinary baptism, the Spirit then takes up residence in that person. “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:6)
This does not mean that one receives any miraculous gifts because of this baptism. Please see my topical list of questions and look up “Speaking in Tongues” for my previous answers about that.
A few people were promised that they would be baptized “with” the Holy Spirit. The first time that occurred was about fifty days after the crucifixion (Acts 2). The second, and last, time it happened was about ten years later, when Peter preached to the first non-Jewish audience. (Acts 10,11) It has not happened since, and there is no reason for it to happen again. This “immersion with the Spirit” was accompanied by miraculous signs. The people who received this immersion could pass on the ability to perform miracles, but once they died the ability to perform miracles (healings, speaking in languages not learned, etc.) died with them.