In Concise Theology, discipleship is another term for sanctification. We need more empowerments and infillings of the Spirit for an inward holy life (deeper sanctification)  and outward ministry. After all, the Spirit filled Peter three times (Acts 2:1-4; 4:8, 31). This is a paradigm for us today.

Let’s begin our study.

I. Introduction

A. Next step

In this post, we assume that you have already repented of your sins and placed your trust and faith in Christ. Your sins are forgiven. You have been justified. God’s free gift of righteousness is yours now, for it has been imputed to you. The Spirit has caused you to be born again. The Spirit lives in you. Now what?

B. Lifelong journey

You have been launched into a lifelong journey of growing in holiness and conformity to the image of Christ. This process is called sanctification. Discipleship consists of activities and a lifestyle by which you grow in holiness and in conformity to the image of Christ.

C. Ethical justification

Sanctification is sometimes called “ethical justification,” by which you prove and demonstrate by good works–living the life of a disciple–that you have been forensically or legally justified, that you have been declared righteous. You work out what God has worked in you and declared you to be.

D. Life in the Spirit

The section on pneumatology shows that we disciples are filled with the Spirit. Sanctification and discipleship assumes that the Spirit lives in us. We cannot live a holy life without the Holy Spirit and grace empowering us.

We saw just above that Peter was filled and empowered with the Spirit three times. He is our example. One key verse to support this:

¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18)

The verb tense of “be filled” is present continuous. Be filled and keep on being filled. Pray regularly for this.

And now let’s explore more deeply the reality of living life in the Spirit, first by looking at how the Spirit first engages in the person as revealed in Greek terms.

II.. Key Terms

A.. List of Greek terms

This list reveals the activity of the third person of the Trinity. His Spirit empowers us to worship Jesus Christ and God the Father and to live godly lives in the image of his Son. Let’s look at the words that describe this biblical truth. Please apply the reality behind them to your life. Don’t leave them as mere words.

	Greek Terms	Meanings
1	pimplēmi	Pim-play-mee; “fills”: Luke 1:15 (John); 1:41 (Elizabeth); 1:67 (Zechariah); Acts 2:4 (the 120 disciples); 4:8 (Peter); 4:31 (disciples); 9:17 (Paul); 13:9 (Paul)
2	plērēs	Play-rayss; “full” or “filled”: Luke 4:1 (Jesus); Acts 6:3 and 5 (seven deacons), 6:8 (Stephen); 7:55 (Stephen); 11:24 (Barnabas)
3	plēroō	Play-ro-oh; which means “fills” or “fulfills”: Acts 2:2 (house); Acts 13:52 (disciples); Eph. 5:18 (Ephesian Christians). In Eph. 5:18, it is in the present tense, so one is continually filled
4	oikeō	Oi-keh-oh; “lives” or “dwells”: 1 Cor. 3:16 (The Spirit lives in God’s church); Eph. 2:22 (God make his church his dwelling place by his Spirit)
5	menō	Meh-noh; the Spirit “remains,” “abides” or “stays” with you (John 1:32; 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:13)
6	lambanō	Lahm-bah-noh; “takes,” “takes hold of,” or “grasps,” but in the context of the Spirit, it is best to translate it as “receive” or “accept”: John 7:39 (The Spirit was about to be received by disciples); John 14:17 (the world cannot receive him, implying his disciples can); John 20:22 (disciples); Acts 1:8 (the disciples will receiver power through the Sprit); Acts 2:33 (exalted Jesus received promise [Spirit] of Father and then poured Spirit out); Acts 2:38 (Jews hearing Peter at Pentecost); Acts 8:15-17 and 19 (Samaritans); Acts 10:47 (Cornelius and his household); Acts 19:2 (Ephesian disciples); Rom. 8:15 (Christians received Spirit of sonship); 1 Cor. 2:12 cf. 2 Cor 11:4 (Corinthians have not received spirit of the world but the Spirit); Gal. 3:2 (Galatians Christians)
7	ekcheō	Eh-khoh; “pours out”: Acts 2:17 (the Spirit poured out on all flesh); 2:18 (same as 17); 2:23: (same); 10:45 (on Cornelius and his household); Rom. 5:5: (God’s love poured out by Spirit on Christians)
8	chrio	Khree-oh; “anoints”: Luke 4:18, quoting Is. 61:1-2 (Spirit anointing Jesus); Acts 10:38 (God anointed Jesus with Spirit); he anointed us, set his seal of ownership, and put his Spirit in our hearts (2 Cor. 1:21-22)
9	pempō	Pehm-poh; “sends”: John 14:26 (The Father sends the Spirit); John 15:26 (Jesus sends the Spirit who proceeds from Father)
10	exapostellō	Ex-ah-po-stel-loh; “sends” or “sends out,” or “sends forth”: Gal. 4:6 (God sent forth the Spirit of his Son to Galatians)
11	epi	Eh-pea; “upon,” and combined with verb “be”: Luke 2:25 (The Spirit was upon Simeon); Luke 4:18, quoting Is. 61:1-2 (Spirit was upon Jesus)
12	epipiptō	Eh-pea-pip-toh; “falls upon” or “comes upon” (the prefix epi– usually means “upon”): Acts 8:16 (Samaritans); 10:44 (Cornelius and his household); 11:37 (Peter reporting Spirit falling Cornelius and household)
13	katabainō	Kah-tah-by-noh; “descends” or “comes down”: Matt. 3:16 // Mark 1:10 // Luke 3:22 // John 1:32-33 (Spirit descending on Jesus)
14	erchomai	“comes” or “goes”: John 16:13 (Spirit of truth will come); Acts 19:6 (Paul laid hands on Ephesians and Spirit came on them)
15	eperchomai	Eh-pehr-kho-my; “comes upon” (the prefix epi– usually means “upon”): Luke 1:35 (The Spirit comes up Mary to conceive Jesus); Acts 1:8 (The Spirit comes on disciples)
16	ekporeuomai	Ehk-por-eu-oh-my; “goes out” or “proceeds”: John 15:25 Jesus sends the Spirit who goes out from the Father
17	tithēmi	Tih-they-mee; “puts” or “places”: Matt. 12:18, quoting Is. 42:1-4 (God puts his Spirit on Jesus)
18	didōmi	Dih-doh-mee; “gives”: John 1:34 (The Father gives the Spirit without measure); Acts 8:16 (Spirit was given by laying on hands); Acts 15:8 (Peter reporting to council God giving Spirit to Cornelius and household); 1 Thess. 4:8: (God has given his Spirit to us)
19	baptizō	Bahp-tih-zoh; “immerse” or “plunge” or “dip”: Matt. 3:11 // Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:26 (crowds); Acts 1:5 (on 120); Acts 11:16 (Peter repeating what John and Jesus said); 1 Cor. 12:13 (Spirit baptized Corinthian church into one body). When the rich man was in Hades, he asked Lazarus to dip his finger in water to refresh him. The Greek word for dip is baptō. So what does baptism mean? John the Baptist’s water baptism was immersion. He could have been called John the Dipper. The Spirit immersed spirit and soul, and even their bodies (Rom 8:11), just as water immersed John’s candidates. The main point is that Jesus is the Baptizer (Matt. 3:11; Mar 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:26). One could also say he is the “Filler” or “he who fills” or “Immerser” or “he who immerses” with the Spirit. The body too, since the Spirit inspiring them to speak affected (but not forced) the physical tongue
All of these Greek terms are verbs, except no. 2 (plērēs), which is an adjective, and no. 11 (epi), which is a preposition.

B.. Summary

What can we learn from the table? I like what Craig Keener says in his commentary on Acts:

Neither Luke nor 1 Peter (1:11; 4:14) strictly follow the supposed distinction between the NT Spirit being “in” (often Paul, following Ezek. 36:27) and the OT being “upon” people; “in” reflects more common Greek anthropology whereas “upon” reflects more Hebrew idiom. Nevertheless, Luke generally prefers “upon” (Luke 1:35; 2:25; 4:18; Acts 1:8; 2:17; 10:44-45; 11:15; 19:6) reflecting OT idiom for empowerment to prophesy (Num 11:17. 25-26, 29; 24:2; 1 Sam 10:6, 10; 19:20; 23:1; 1 Chron. 12:18; 2 Chron. 20:14; probably 2 Kgs 2:9; Is 59:21; 61:1; Ezek 11:5; 37:1) to lead (Judg 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 1 Sam 16:13) or to exhibit superhuman strength (Judg 14:6, 19; 15:14; 1 Sam 11:6). (Craig S. Keener, Acts, New Cambridge Bible Commentary, [Cambridge UP 2020], p. 305, note 1120, emphasis original)

III.. Receiving the Holy Spirit

A.. The basis of faith

Receiving the Holy Spirit must be done by placing one’s faith in Jesus, the Son of God. One first repents, believes and receives the Spirit.

⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” ⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. (Acts 10:43-44)

In Samaria, Philip proclaimed Christ to them. And then they believed his words and received the Spirit.

5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. […] 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:5, 12)

Next, Paul met disciples in Ephesus, who had been baptized only by John. Paul preached Jesus to them, the fuller revelation. When the Ephesians heard, they were baptized, implying that they believed the message of the kingdom. Paul then laid hands on them, and they received the Spirit.

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues^[b] and prophesied.  (Acts 19:4-6)

Further, Paul asked the Galatians whether they received the Spirit by obeying the law or by hearing with faith:

² I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?” (Gal. 3:2)

Finally, Paul writes to the Ephesians that when they heard the word of truth, the gospel, they believed and were sealed with the Spirit.

¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” (Eph. 1:13)

B.. Outward Means

1.. Water baptism

This act may precede the receiving of the Spirit.

Peter proclaims that on the repentance baptism of the pilgrims in Jerusalem, they will receive the Spirit:

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

In Samaria, water baptism preceded the receiving of the Spirit. After the Samaritans’ water baptism, Peter and John came down to Samaria and laid hands on them, and the people received the Spirit.

¹⁵ When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 8:15-16)

The twelve disciples who had been baptized by John only. Then they were water-baptized in Jesus’ name, and Paul laid hands on them, and they received the Spirit.

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:4-6)

Water baptism may follow the receiving of the Spirit.

As we saw in Acts 10:43-44, quoted above, Cornelius and his household received the Spirit and then were water baptized.

Saul of Tarsus, later taking on his Roman name Paul, received the Spirit, the moment Ananias laid hands on him. Then the future apostle was water baptized.

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, (Acts 9:17-18)

To sum up, then, these examples demonstrate that water baptism is not a precondition nor a channel for the gift of the Spirit. Rather, water baptism is linked to the forgiveness of sins. Water baptism is a means to receiving the forgiveness of sins. It is best not to see the water as containing any power to save in itself, but I will argue in the post on water baptism that it is sacred when it is consecrated to God for the purpose of baptism (Williams, Renewal Theology, vol. 2, p. 282).

2.. The laying on of hands

We have already observed in the above passages that Christians laid hands those who had just placed their faith in Christ. At this physical act, they received the Spirit. Laying on of hands in an instrument of receiving, but faith must be in Christ, not on the instruments (the hands). Further, the instruments were not only apostolic. Ananias laid hands on Saul, and he received the Spirit. However, Peter did not lay his hands on Cornelius and his household, yet they received the Spirit. Therefore, let’s not turn the mere instruments into a power source in themselves.

C.. Preparation and receptivity

We must prepare our hearts and minds for receiving the Spirit and understand these truths.

1.. God’s sovereignty

We must understand the God is sovereign. Receiving the Spirit is a gift, so humans can do nothing to earn it. God grants it to those who fulfill other conditions, like the ones listed below. He is willing to give his Spirit.

2.. Prayer

We must be in an attitude of prayer.

Jesus prayed during his water baptism, and then the Spirit descended on him and received the fullness of the Spirit.

²¹ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove.  (Luke 3:21-22)

The Father will grant the Holy spirit to those who ask. The one who asks will not receive a snake or a scorpion. So no one needs to fear that he will receive a bad spirit.

¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)

Those verses come just after these important ones:

⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

Keep seeking God for more of his Spirit.

Right before receiving the Spirit at Pentecost, everyone was in prayer, without idle waiting:

¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:14)

Before receiving the Spirit, Saul was in constant prayer.

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus  named Saul, for he is praying. (Acts 9:11)

Peter and John prayed for the Samaritan believers, and they received the Spirit (Acts 8:15).

3.. Obedience

This is not works or law keeping. Instead, obedience appears in an atmosphere of faith in Christ. People must place it in him, which is an act of obedience.

³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:32)

Jesus commanded the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, and the promise was the Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4). This waiting required obedience.

Saul was told to go into Damascus and wait; it will be told what he must do (Acts 9:6). He obeyed.

The Lord commanded Cornelius to send men to Joppa, where Peter was staying (Acts 10:5). Peter also had to obey when he had been instructed to go with Cornelius (Acts 10:20). They obeyed and Cornelius and his household received the Spirit.

So we must walk in the way of faithful obedience to prepare our hearts to receive the Spirit. We cannot harbor lust and bitterness and a cold heart. We must instead repent and receive forgiveness of those sins, and then our hearts will be open. We may call this repentance and faith in Christ a certain kind of yielding. We have to yield to the will of God.

4.. Expectancy

We must expect to receive the Spirit. This creates an atmosphere of faith, which is the basis of receiving the Spirit. Peter and John when down to Samaria and saw an atmosphere of salvation and repentance and water baptism. After getting saved and delivered from demons, there was great joy in the city (Acts 8:6).

Peter said that the promise of the Spirit is for our days (Acts 2:39). We must expect that God is glad to give us his Spirit, once we repent and believe and receive the forgiveness of sins.  As noted, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promise in Jerusalem. They must have been expecting the Spirit to come up on them. And he did, at Pentecost.

IV. Reflections

A.. The Scriptures have many verses about the Spirit.

The epistles and entire book of Acts are very charismatic, and the Spirit is behind it all. (The four Gospels are also very charismatic, but they focus on Christ’s anointing, which he extends to his church in Acts and the epistles, but with limits.)

For example, in the book of Acts, in 11:24 Barnabas is said to be full of the Holy Spirit and faith. It is inconceivable that he would not have his prayer language, as an associate of Saul / Paul, who stated the fact that he prays in the Spirit more than all the Corinthians (1 Cor. 14:18).

To that point, Saul was said to receive the Spirit, but Luke does not mention anything about Spirit-inspired languages (Acts 9:17). Luke does not need to mention the fullness or baptism of the Spirit including prayer languages in every verse that talks about this fullness. It would be like Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick, intervening to tell his readers on every other page, “Don’t forget! We’re on a whaling ship!” The author assumes the readers know this from the context—from the entire book of Acts. The same goes for the epistles.

B.. Be hungry

No, all God’s gifts are received when people are hungry and genuinely reach out for it. Analogous example: people receive salvation through hunger and faith. And so it is with the gift of Spirit-inspired prayer languages. You actually need this gift to boost and empower your Christian life. Seek him for this gift, with a hungry and humble and open heart and mind. He will be glad to give it.

Luke 11:9-13:

⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you;  seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13)

Luke links receiving prayer languages with being empowered and (re)filled with the Spirit in three explicit paradigmatic or exemplary instances, and one clearly implied paradigmatic and exemplary instance, and another example that he omits entirely, but the church practiced this gift (Corinth).

C.. Accept the Spirit

I urge people everywhere to accept the fullness of the Spirit. If they receive their prayer language then and there, great! But they can receive it years later, if they want. But they must come with hungry hearts and an open mind. They must not come to God’s wonderful offer with over-intellectualizing mental blocks or an attitude that says, “Oh yeah? Let’s just wait and see!” Or “Maybe, maybe not!” Or “I have my preconceived ideas, and I’m prejudiced against it!” Or “My previous pastor taught against it, and it will take a lot for me to accept it!”

D. One important result

When we are baptized in or with the Spirit, we enter into the church or body of Christ:

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Cor. 12:12-13)

We can drink deeply of the Spirit. Being a member of his body is a wonderful truth. Attend church regularly.

LONGER POST

2 The Infillings and Empowerments of the Holy Spirit

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Works Cited