John the Baptist said it.
Matthew 3:11 (KJV) [SUP]11 [/SUP]I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
[HR][/HR]Luke 3:16 (KJV) [SUP]16 [/SUP]John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
How did you miss that?
Let's see -
Baptize - verb
Baptism - noun
So we are still not talking about the same phrase, really?
This verb phrase was from John the Baptist speaking before Jesus was baptized, before he had his ministry and before he died on the cross, was resurrected and then the Holy Spirit came down on the Day of Pentecost to start the church and the Holy Spirit was given to each person who believed and was baptized.
"[SUP]8 [/SUP]I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [SUP]10 [/SUP]And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. [SUP]11 [/SUP]And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:8-11
Sounds like Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit, right? Except Jesus always had the Holy Spirit, so perhaps the verses are not talking about some baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Or since you prefer the verses in Matt 3 and Luke 3:
"[SUP]17 [/SUP]His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Luke 3:17
"His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Matt 3:12
These follow the verses you have mentioned, Stephen, in context. Sounds like the fire here is not a very good one to me! Burning off the dross, or the chaff. Which basically is those who are not saved, I think??
So you have John the Baptist saying once, "he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
Still no sign of the words "Baptism of the Holy Spirit". Instead, just a future promise that Jesus would send the Holy Spirit after his resurrection and after he went to heaven to be with the Father. Acts 2 also points out the ONE time the tongues as of fire appeared above the disciples' heads.
So is there really a "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" in the Bible? Or just the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon all those who would believe? Jesus and the apostles never use the term once. Jesus was baptized in water, and his Father's approval was shown. John the Baptist says one time 'baptize you in the Holy Spirit" and it is Biblical grounds for not just a major doctrine, but in fact, an entire movement?? A movement which has somehow constructed a second baptism where none appears in the Bible. An unnecessary baptism, since water baptism is what Jesus commanded his followers to do before he ascended.
"And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [SUP]19 [/SUP]Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," Matt 28;18-19
And once again, this is why I left the Pentecostal movement. Not because of a bad church, or bad people, but because of BAD DOCTRINE!
You do not make an entire movement out of one verse in the Bible. God makes it very clear the things that are important by repeating the same thing over and over. Take the cross. I'm sure we can agree it appears many times. Or repentance. Of course, there are other places where Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit, such as in John.
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever," John 14:16
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me." John 15:26
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." John 16:13
Of course Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we would not be able to be saved! And every believer has the Holy Spirit from the moment God saves them. But this nebulous "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" which actually does not appear one time, although a verb form does appear once, with qualifiers that render it somewhat confusing in the Luke and Matthew versions.
And to make a whole movement out of this second baptism which is nowhere found in scripture? That is bad hermeneutics. It is the classical example of bad doctrine.
So here are millions and millions of Pentecostals and Charismatics worldwide, basing their entire basic, founding doctrine on a phrase that isn't in the Bible, using instead the verb phrase connected it to the common practice of water baptism (the mikvah, in Jewish terminology) which is what John the Baptist practiced.
No baptism of the Holy Ghost promised to each individual, just a one time event, complete with tongues as of fire in Acts 2. One time, when the church was birthed. And certainly not what Jesus said to his disciples - he never talked about some kind of "baptism in the Holy Spirit."
Of course, if you want to keep on believing bad hermeneutics of a bad doctrine, just go right ahead. I know it is hard when someone challenges the root belief of a whole denomination. Sad though, to think that on the basis of twisting one verse by John the Baptist, before Jesus even started his ministry, you have a whole movement based on something that is not even in the Bible.
But wait, maybe you have experienced it?? Sure, let your experience stand over the Word of God. That is the worst doctrine of all in this movement.
And as for you, Kerry, do you ever use Bible verses, or just vague phrases like "It's all over the New Testament"? If it is then just kindly put up the quote of the passage, ok?