The New Testament analogy of the Fish Gate and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Part 3

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The New Testament analogy of the Fish Gate and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Part 3.

We have been noting some of the fantastic privileges which come from understanding our union with TLJC by means of the baptism of the Spirit. As implied in the book of Nehemiah through the “Fish Gate” which points to the salvation ministries of God the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, we have begun to study the ministry of God the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. The main one we have been noting now is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

And so this morning we begin with the fact that the Greek word baptisma for baptism means the identification of one thing with another resulting in a change. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is one of the seven ministries of the Holy Spirit at salvation, whereby the invisible omnipotence of the Holy Spirit takes every believer and enters him into union with Christ. That is known as a real identification. In other words, even though you may not have felt anything when you were baptized by the Spirit, it really did happen. You were really taken at the moment of your salvation and really put into union with TLJC, although you didn’t experience it or feel it.

This is very vital for you to understand because the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the means of making you a brand new creature or a brand new spiritual species creating you a member of the royal family for TLJC as the king of kings and the Lord of lords during the Church-age. You see, the baptism of the Spirit has a two-fold function:

1. For us as believers it makes us brand new creatures in Christ, 2CO 5:17, also known as the “new man.”

2. For our Lord, it provides for Him a brand new Royal family also known as the last Adam and the new creation, or the head and the body, the shepherd and the sheep, the vine and the branches, the chief cornerstone and we are the stones of the building, the groom and the bride, the King of kings and the royal family of God.

All of these titles have a relationship in some way to the baptism of the Spirit. The last Adam represents the royalty of TLJC and His rulership of the world. The new creation is the royal family of God made up of all Church-age believers. These particular synonyms are found in 1CO 15:45-47; 2CO 5:17; GAL 6:15.

1CO 15:45-47, So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life‑giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.

The head and the body is another synonym for the baptism of the Spirit as the head focuses in on the authority of our Lord as the King of kings and Lord of lords over the Church. Christ is the head and we are members of the body. g members of the body emphasizes our difference in personality and function. This synonym is used in EPH 1:22-23; EPH 2:16; EPH 4:4-5; EPH 5:23;1CO 12:11-28.

A third synonym is the shepherd and the sheep used in the gospels prophetically. This is found in HEB 13:20; 1PE 2:25; 1PE 5:4.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Shepherd and we as members of the body of Christ are His sheep. This emphasizes the providential ministry of the Lord.

A fourth synonym is the vine and the branches, Joh 15. There is a very strong relationship between a vine stem and its branches. They are integrated together and this emphasizes the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

A fifth synonym is Christ as the chief cornerstone and we are the stones of the building, EPH 2:20; 1PE 2:4-8. Christ is the founder of the church and we are the stones in the building or in union with Christ.

The 6th synonym is the High Priest and the royal priesthood. This emphasizes our privacy and freedom, HEB 7:25; HEB 10:10-14; 1PE 2:5, 9.

The 7th synonym is the groom and the bride analogy which points to the future of the church as royal family, 2CO 11:2; EPH 5:25-27;l REV 19:6-8.

The 8th is the King of kings and the royal family of God, 1PE 2:5; 2:9; REV 1:6. So, we will close this doctrine by reviewing the fantastic privileges which come from understanding the baptism of the Spirit:

– The baptism of the Spirit and being in union with Christ brought in a brand new set of provisions called intensified provisions for the intensified conflict that we all face in the Church-age. One of the reasons for the intensified provisions is because we live in a day and age where we are scattered from one another. And although every believer is a priest because of the time in which we live and the differences of lifestyle, it is inevitable that we are scattered from one another. And so in the period of the intensification of the angelic conflict, we are all scattered out, and we get together through face-to-face and non face-to-face means. And this is God’s plan and God’s order for the intensification of the angelic conflict is as follows:

HEB 10:25, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but gather together for the purpose of encouragement.

EPH 4:11-12, submit to the teaching of your P-T who is given to you for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

And, when we disperse we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we are indwelt by the Person of Christ, we are in union with Christ, we are his personal ambassador‑representative, we are a priest representing ourselves before God.\

And we might find ourselves very isolated when we leave here, but we’re still His representatives…we’re in the intensification of the angelic conflict, and we’re fighting under dispersed conditions.

So the intensification of the angelic conflict is here.

This is why the night before our Lord’s death we read in JOH 13:31, “When therefore he [Satan] had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;”

The Son of Man emphasizes the humanity of Christ. He’s the God‑man, but this emphasizes His humanity, and His humanity which is going to be glorified. For in HEB 1:3c-5, When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent title than they. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee”? And again, “I will be a Father to Him, And He shall be a Son to Me”?

However, before this ultimate glorification, we have the epitome of humiliation. He will go to the cross and die for our sins.

PHI 2:8, In fact, although having being discovered in outward appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of spiritual death, that is the death of the cross.

After this, He will be resurrected, He will ascend, and when He is seated at the right hand of the Father, that is the glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ triggers the intensification of the angelic conflict.

JOH 13:31, When therefore he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified,”

He says, “Now” because this refers to the approaching crisis for which Jesus Christ will go through the humiliation of the cross, and the glorification of resurrection, ascension, and session. Glorified is an aorist passive indicative of doxazo which means to be honored, to be magnified, it means to be clothed with splendor. And so we have the intensification of the angelic conflict.

It’s divided into 2 parts, the Church‑age, which is the hidden stage, and the Tribulation which is the overt stage. The Church‑age is the most intensive hidden part of the angelic conflict, and in this particular age the life of every believer is a target, in contrast to the fact that in the Old Testament dispensation, Christ and the line of Christ was the target. But, once the Lord Jesus Christ was seated at the right hand of the Father in the Church‑age, every believer becomes a target of Satan. Now, that makes this the most intensive time in the angelic conflict. Since every believer is a target of Satan, divine provision for every believer is intensified, and this is why you now possess as an individual believer, certain things that believers did not possess before.

So, we have a brand new set of provisions, this is what we call intensified provisions for an intensified conflict.

So, our first point;

1. The baptism of the Spirit and being in union with Christ brought in a brand new set of provisions called intensified provisions for the intensified conflict that we all face in the Church-age.

2. The baptism of the Spirit means that God the Holy Spirit has placed every believer in union with Christ and being in union with Christ, we share in everything that He is. This is one of the seven ministries of the Holy Spirit at salvation, whereby the invisible omnipotence of the Holy Spirit takes every believer and enters him into union with Christ. That is a real identification. You were really taken at salvation and really put into union with Christ, although you couldn’t feel it.

3. With our union with Christ plus our very own portfolio of invisible assets, prepared for us by God the Father in eternity past, we are given the ability to do things that Old Testament saints could not do. The privileges are greater, and therefore, the responsibilities are greater.

4. At the moment of entering the believer into union with Christ (positional sanctification), the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit creates a new spiritual species through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, 2CO 5:17; GAL 6:15.

GAL 6:15, For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

This new creation is also called a new creature (2CO 5:17😉 or the new man (EPH 4:24), the inner man 2CO 4:16. This new spiritual species is designed for the extraordinary availability and delegation of divine power.

5. This intimate union with Christ, the baptism of the Spirit, is also called positional sanctification or the sanctification of the body, the church, as in EPH 5:25‑27. In this passage, marriage is used to illustrate the principle of intimacy.

EPH 5:25-27, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.

6. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an experience, 1CO 12:13, all our baptized, 1CO 12:13, For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free,

7. There is only one baptism that unifies the royal family of God, the baptism of the Spirit, EPH 4:4-5.

EPH 4:4-5, There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

8. The many references to the baptism of the Holy Spirit are often found in the preposition phrase en + the locative of Christos, translated “in Christ.” Almost everywhere this phrase is found, it is a technical reference to the baptism of the Holy Spirit and resultant positional truth. (The exception is the phrase believing in Christ which has a different meaning.)

ROM 6:11, newness of life in Christ

ROM 8:1, no condemnation in Christ Jesus.

ROM 12:5, we are one body in Christ,

1CO 1:2, sanctified in Christ Jesus,

2CO 5:17, new spiritual species in Christ,\

GAL 3:28, all are one in Christ Jesus.

EPH 1:3, spiritual blessings in Christ,

EPH 2:6, seated us in Christ Jesus,

Col 1:28, complete in Christ.

Perfect righteousness, 2CO 5:21.

Destiny, EPH 1:5.

Sonship, 2TI 2:1.

Heirship, ROM 8:16‑17.

Priesthood, HEB 10:10‑14.

Royalty (Kingship), 2PE 1:11.

ROM 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are “in Christ Jesus”.

ROM 8:38-39, For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

9. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is related to the Church-age only. This ministry of the Holy Spirit is not found in the Old Testament, and there are no eschatological references to it beyond the Church-age.

10. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not the function of any spiritual gift, as alleged by the holy roller heresy, which equates the baptism of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues. No one has legitimately spoken in tongues since A.D. 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed and there was no longer a need for God to warn the Jews.

Notice this in 1CO 12:12-13, For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Notice that all believers have been baptized by the Holy Spirit.

And the apostle Paul makes it crystal clear that not only have all believers been baptized by the Holy Spirit but they all did not speak with tongues.

1CO 12:27-30, Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?

Notice that on this list tongues is the least of the gifts mentioned.

So, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not the function of any spiritual gift, as alleged by the holy roller heresy, which says that speaking in tongues is the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is heresy and it is wrong.

11. Therefore, because of the universality of the baptism of the Holy Spirit provided for all Church-age believers, it is not in any sense experiential. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an act of the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit. And any time God uses His divine power, whether it is the omnipotence of God the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit, it excludes any form of experiential cooperation. That’s grace. This is why in 1CO 12:13 it says 1CO 12:13, For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,

12. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was needed also because our Lord Jesus Christ as battlefield royalty had no royal family.

Therefore, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the mechanics for providing Christ with a new royal family. It is unique to this dispensation. Remember our Lord had two royal titles and two royal families. His first royal title – is “Son of God.” The members of His royal family are God the Father and God the Holy Spirit with whom he has eternal and infinite coexistence. His second royal title is “Son of David,” and His royal family is the dynasty of David. As Jewish royalty, our Lord fulfills the Davidic covenant at the Second Advent.

However, after our Lord’s victory over Satan and sin, it was confirmed by His resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of the Father, where He received His third royal title “King of kings, Lord of Lords, the bright morning star.”

REV 19:11-16, And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies [Church-age believers] which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen,, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND Lord OF LORDS.”

When our Lord received this third royal title, He had no royal family to accompany it. Therefore, His third royal family had to be formed. So, God the Father interrupted the dispensation of Israel and inserted the Church age for the calling out (formation, and election) of a royal family to accompany our Lord’s third title. And the mechanics for the formation of this royal family is the baptism of the Spirit, begun on the day of Pentecost, which enters all believers of the church age into union with Christ.

13. Therefore, the baptism of the Holy Spirit could not occur until there was the strategic victory of Jesus Christ in the angelic conflict. The Levitical priesthood was inadequate for the Church age. And there was now a need for a universal priesthood, since every believer was now a target of Satan.

14. The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred first in Jerusalem and included the gift of tongues to warn the Jews of the coming of the fifth cycle of discipline.

ACT 2:1, And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.

Now, Pentecost was a Feast day, it doesn’t mean some holy roller feeling but a holiday where Jews from all over the world visited Jerusalem.

ACT 2:2-3, And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.

Fire is used as an analogy to judgment which is why the John the baptist said in MAT 3:11, “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

The Church-age is beginning and the age of Israel is ending with tongues used to warn the Jews of the discipline which is about to come upon them because of rejecting their Messiah. All these Jews gathered from all over the world are going to hear the Gospel in the native tongue they understand.

ACT 2:4, And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Other tongues refers to foreign languages not the type of gibberish that is going on today.

ACT 2:5-11, Now there were Jews living [actually the Greek says dwelling temporarily] in Jerusalem, devout or religious men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and marveled, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear {them} in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites [they spoke Persian or Russian], and residents of Mesopotamia [they spoke Hebrew], Judea [they spoke Aramaic] and Cappadocia [they spoke Turkish], Pontus [Italian]and Asia [includes many European countries], Phrygia and Pamphylia [Greek], Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene [North Africa], and visitors from Rome [Italian, Spanish, French, and English], both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs‑‑ we hear them in our {own} tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”

So please notice that the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred first in Jerusalem and included the gift of tongues to warn the Jews of the coming of the fifth cycle of discipline but it is not the gift of tongues. The gift of tongues was a gift used for a sign to unbelieving Jews.

1CO 14:21-22, In the Law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers;

15. This union with Christ is a permanent identification which distinguishes Christianity from religion. In religion, man by man’s efforts seeks to gain the approbation of God, which is a satanic function. Religion gives glory to the creature.

ROM 1:25, For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator,

So, in religion, man by man’s efforts seeks to gain the approbation of God, which is a satanic function.

In Christianity, the believer through union with Christ has a permanent relationship with God.

16. Finally, the baptism of the Holy Spirit forms the body of Christ, He being the head, our Lord’s gifts to His body is found in Rom 12; 1Co 12; Eph 4.

The nomenclature for the Royal Family of God formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit is:

1. Church, emphasizing the function of the Royal Family of God during this dispensation.

2. Body of Christ, emphasizing the utilization of the same divine omnipotence used to sustain the humanity of Christ during the great power demonstration of the hypostatic union.

3. Bride of Christ, emphasizing the Royal Family of God after resurrection.

4. Temple, EPH 1:20, emphasizing the eternal state.

REV 21:3, And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the temple of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them.

EPH 2:19-22, So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

So, it is by means of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that we become members of the Royal family of God.