Can the Bible be trusted?

We constantly place our trust in things that fail us. Companies want to be productive so they buy PCs. Parents want the best for their kids but rob them of the highest level of security -- staying married and in love. People recycle but continue to buy bottled water and the world crumbles. First time home owners get mortgages they can't afford just so they can live the dream. We get the latest gadget only to find it's obsolete in a few weeks. Sound familiar? We think we are smart but we make dumb decisions all the time.

We make all our decisions based on what our desire is for -- nothing controversial there. But, are you smart about the amount of trust you've placed in your views? Have you considered the validity of the conclusions you draw about life? What have you placed your trust in? What we spend our money, time and resources on normally reveals what our hope is in "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Luke 12:34. Do you believe this statement? If you do, then you have some faith in the words of Jesus already.

In tackling this subject it is my desire to give the guy on the street a cross section of nuggets to draw from in handling biblical trustworthiness, the fancy term is "inerrancy" (without errors). This means the Bible contains no historical, moral, scientific, spiritual, cultural or any other type of mistake or contradiction. It is the very words of God himself, divinely communicated through some men throughout history and preserved as a record of his grace towards us prideful humans.

This is an important issue for all Christians but especially for those in the church planting scene wishing to engage doubters in a relevant and well thought out way. After all, church planting is all about reaching people who doubt Jesus and the Bible. These arguments are really a means to disarm hostility and engage with genuine doubt, not as an end to themselves. The end is to show people the real Jesus!

The exclusivity

It is highly suspicious, but very telling, that a society full of religious relativists would so disdain Christians and the Bible. But that is where we are. Diversity is celebrated, Jesus is rejected. Plurality is prized, the Bible is scorned. The rejection of the Bible is really a rejection of diversity. The suppression of Jesus is the denial of religious relativism itself -- it is strangely selective!

The high standard our culture places on religious relativism, that all paths lead to the same God, is a cover up for something else. Someone who TRULY embodies universal inclusiveness would never single out the Bible or Jesus for exclusion. So, what really is spiritual pluralism then? It can only be one thing: an exclusive belief system. To embrace all beliefs naturally excludes those that rely on exclusivity to be true. Uh? (read it again if you need to)

The faith

What then is non-belief? It is by definition a set of alternative views in which one places their absolute trust. It is a collection of faith-filled assumptions and conclusions. Therefore, all viewpoints, even doubts, are leaps of faith. In fact, to say that the Bible is untrustworthy and cannot be from God is an expression of faith. You cannot empirically prove it either way and it is not universally accepted. For example, the most venomous atheists have more faith and belief in their doubts than some Christians have in the Bible. Now that takes a lot of faith especially if you became an atheist at the age of 6 like someone I recently met.

The uniqueness

The Bible is a very unique book. It is made up of 66 individual books with 40 authors spanning thousands of years. You may be surprised to know that it contains one coherent and timeless message. The message is that God made everything, we broke it and Jesus came to fix it. Ultimately the Bible is about the person of Jesus. The theme is something that a bunch of guys over the last few thousand years, who mainly didn't know each other because they lived at different times, could never have created in their wildest dreams.

No other authors have been able to right anything like it. In fact, the very things Jesus said could really not have been thought up by anyone. The original authors were killed for writing it and none of them recanted their faith in it.

There is really no book like it. It has served as the pinnacle of inspiration for human creativity:

"More poems have been written, more stories told, more pictures painted, and more songs sung about Christ than any other person in human history, because through such avenues as these the deepest appreciation of the human heart can be more adequately expressed."
-- Cynthia Pearl Maus

The probability

There are 300+ prophecies from the Old Testament which were fulfilled in the person of Jesus hundreds and thousands of year later. Peter Stoner, a mathematician and scientist, applied the rules of probability to these prophecies. The chances of just 8 of them being fulfilled are 1 in 10 to the 17th power (1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000)! The chances of 48 being fulfilled are 1 in 10 to the 157th power which is 1 in 10 with 157 zeros¹. So, the fact that they were fulfilled in Jesus makes the Bible the most astonishing and accurate book ever written.

Compare that to the mathematical probability of a single celled organism coming about by chance 1/10340,000,000, the fraction 1 divided by 1 followed by 340 million zeros². By the laws of science the Bible is more probable than evolution.

The quantity

The New Testament documents are better preserved and more numerous than any other ancient writing. There are presently over 24,000 total supporting New Testament manuscripts in existence⁶. Most scholars agree that these were written before the close of the first century and some just a few years after the actual events. The manuscripts affirm one-another in recording the truth about Jesus.

In comparison we only have 7 copies of writings that Plato authored from between 427-347 B.C., of which the earliest copy we have is 900 A.D., almost 1200 yrs after it was penned⁷. Yet no one doubts Plato existed? That takes real faith when you consider the quantity of New Testament manuscripts.

The claims

In these sections the Bible claims that it is trustworthy; Psalm 119:24, Psalm 119:130, Proverbs 1:4 & 2 Timothy 3:15. The authors of the Bible also claim that God is speaking to them; Deut 18:17-19, Jeremiah 1:9, 2 Timothy 3:16 & 2 Peter 1:21. It is important to recognize that nearly all other literature does not claim this of itself. Plus the magnitude of Jesus' claims of divinity are too great to be ignored especially considering the quality of his life.

Some might object that this is a circular argument. Surely we need an outside source to verify this? However, any search for a higher authority makes the new source an absolute authority. Absolute truth can therefore only be claimed by itself. This does not mean that all claims are true. For example, David Koresh self claimed that he was the final prophet. His life is not worth studying at all because the guy committed sexual crimes against minors amongst other atrocities.

The contradictions

Some claim that the Bible contains many contradictions which therefore must prove it to be untrustworthy. Wayne Grudem writes "it is surprising how often it turns out that a careful reading just of the English text of the passage in question will bring to light one or more possible solutions to the difficulty"³. Most people who claim these types of mistakes do not know the sections of scripture, nor the context, and are not claiming contradictions because they have honestly explored it, but because their faith in their doubts is stronger.

I'll deal with one common misconception about the time Jesus was crucified. Mark 15:25 states that it was at "the third hour" but John 19:14 states that Jesus trial was still going on at "about the sixth hour". Firstly, you'd think that scribes throughout the centuries or the early church would have changed this apparent error to cover it up, I mean it is so obvious! Unless of course there is a simple explanation. John likely wrote his book in Ephesus, a Roman city, around A.D 90 and therefore likely used the official numbering system of the Roman civil day which would make the time signatures the same⁴.

The mistakes

In Bart D. Ehrman's book Misquoting Jesus he claims that scribes changed the Bible as they copied it over time. On page 10 he also affirms that "Most differences [between manuscripts] are completely immaterial and insignificant". They apparently amount to a difference in spelling. The claims of discrepancy only affect 1-2% of the total Bible⁵, and it's a big book if you haven't seen it recently! No need to throw the baby out -- many other scholars find plausible explanations for these.

On page 175 Ehrman writes "Christian scribes of the second and third centuries were involved with the debates and disputes of their day, and occasionally these disputes affected the reproduction of the texts over which debates raged". This assumption cannot be empirically proven. This is unfortunately a leap of faith and the theory does not fit. For example, one of the earliest controversies was over circumcision for the Gentile Christians. In light of the great conflict it is remarkable that Jesus says nothing in the Bible about circumcision. Therefore, the early church felt no need to fabricate the text to win an argument as Ehrman claims.

The eyewitnesses

The amount of coherence and testimonials in the Bible concerning Jesus is staggering. Many of his followers were persecuted so strongly for their faith and tortured to death -- yet without denouncing it! It is amazing when we consider how strong and vast the evidence is for people who literally witnessed the events and recorded them. Checkout this amazing resource for a compressive list of eyewitness to Jesus.

The errancy

If Christians claim that some parts of the Bible or all of it are open to claims of error then what is the result of this? In The Battle for the Bible Harold Lindsell points out that groups who claim errancy do not usually survive. As one example he says that the overseas missionary work of the United Presbyterian Church has shrunk by more than 50% and its Sunday school enrollment and membership is in decline. Lindsell explains on page 159:

"But the weight of history and all the evidence it supplies leads me to no other conclusion than that even if these friends [Christian groups who have abandoned inerrancy] are able to stop at this point, those who follow after them will not stop where they have stopped. The second generation will follow through on the implications contained in the abandonment of inerrancy and will make concessions on the questions that pertain to matters of faith and practice as well as to matters of history, science, and chronology."

It's either all true, or all false. Christianity after all is a fundamental belief system. When you take away the earthy dynamic faith in God's divine communication then you become wishy washy and effectively never recover.

The Spirit

Finally it is important to recognize that without the help of the Holy Spirit we cannot fathom the deep wisdom of the Bible. Heck, some people were surprised when Jesus showed up and the prophecies had been staring them in the face for centuries! If you read the Bible and do not understand it in a spiritual way pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." -- John 14:26

I firmly believe in the trustworthiness of the Bible not because I have studied all the material concerning it, just as the doubters haven't studied it all. But I believe in it's truthfulness in all regards because when I read it I know it is true. When I drink it in my heart is refreshed. The person of scripture is alive and therefore his words are alive -- Jesus!

References:

1. hediedforme.com
2. nodnc.com
3. p98 of Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology
4. p363 -364 of Gleason L. Archer's Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties
   
5. contenderministries.org
6. carm.org/evidence/textualevidence.htm
7. carm.org/evidence/textualevidence.htm

Additional resources:

• The Battle for the Bible by Harold Lindsell
• Misquoting Jesus by Bart D. Ehrman's
• The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
• Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties by Gleason L. Archer's
• 5 sermons by John Piper on Why we believe the Bible
  
• A deeper article on Biblical inerrancy
  
• Here is a blog post with comments strongly disagreeing with biblical inerrancy
• Here is a list of bible contradictions (which I do not agree are contradictions)
  

Men & Women: Equal but different?

Special update: I wrote a book for churches to give to first-time guests. It’s had a huge impact at bringing more people back as second-time guests and adding them into the church community. Get the Kindle version of Unforgettable: Your purpose in Christ here and the print version from unforgettableness.com. Those outside the USA may need to order print copies from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.eu.

The role of men and women is a hot topic in today's culture. In general men have become followers -- being selfish, submissive and reactionary. This lack of loving leadership in men often leads to two extremes. Either frustration, aggression and abuse or passivity, indifference and isolation. Men often feel like failures because of this.

On the other hand women have become the leaders -- taking a lead with responsibility and authority. This compensation leads to two extremes. Either domination and control over men (usually non-violent) or the disrespect and distrust of men. Struggles between men and women often result in insecurity and brokenness in both.

It is highly important for church leadership to understand this topic from a biblical and cultural perspective and be able to lead confidently in respect and love. This brief study deals specifically with roles within the church. There are two main positions. 1) Egalitarian, meaning God created male and female as equal in all respects and 2) Complementarian, meaning male and female were created by God as equal in dignity, value, essence and human nature, but also distinct in role whereby the male was given the responsibility of loving authority over the female, and the female was to offer willing, glad-hearted and submissive assistance to the man.

Conclusions from the Bible:

1. Men and women share the same nature (made in God's image) and are equal in dignity and value. Both are to rule the earth. Gen 1:26-27.
2. Men and women are also equal because gender is not a consideration for salvation, Gal 3:28. Also true of gifting, 1 Cor. 12:7-11.
3. Women (wives, in this text) are to be treated with honor because they are fellow-heirs of the grace of life in Christ. 1 Pet 3:7b.

Even though we are equal in value, there is evidence that men and women were created for different roles:

1. Men were created first which indicates an intentional design of responsibility and leading, Gen 2. Also see, 1 Cor. 11:8-9 & 1 Tim. 2:13.
2. God entrusted Adam with instructions for Eve not to eat the forbidden fruit, Gen 2:16-17.
3. Eve was created as Adam's helper, Gen 2:18.
4. The original word for helper is "Paraclete". It literally means "called to one's side for help". It is used in to describe the Holy Spirit in John 14:16. It is a HIGHLY honorable word for women because it is used of God. It is not denigrating.
5. Adam named Eve, a sign of authority, Gen 2:23 & Gen 3:20.
6. God approaches Adam as the one ultimately responsible for sin although Eve sinned first, Gen 3:9.
7. Sin is a disruption of God-intended gender roles. Women will therefore desire their husbands authority, Gen 3:16.
8. Jesus stood against cultural beliefs that were in opposition to God's kingdom, Matt 15:3-9. Yet, Jesus chose 12 men, not women, to be his primary leaders (governmental) indicating this is not just cultural, Matt 10:2-4. (Note: Jesus had, and has, many female followers)
9. To be deacons (a role open to both genders) in the church, men and women should be of certain character, 1 Tim 3:8-12.
10. Eldership (governmental rule over the church) is restricted to men of certain quality. If they are married, they must have one wife and they need to be able to lead their families, 1 Tim 3:2 & Titus 1:6. (Note: If they are widowed or divorced they should still be "one women" kinda guys -- appropriate in relationships.)
11. Teaching and preaching is a key function of elders for primary direction in the church (governmental direction). Women, and non-elder men, should not be the primary teachers but can teach under the oversight of the elders, 1 Tim 3:2, 2 Tim 4:2 & Titus 1:9. (NOTE: Elders are not given the right to delegate their primary (governmental) leadership role and tasks)
12. Women are encouraged towards all roles within the church excluding eldership. This is because of God's design, not because of ability or value. Women are specifically encouraged and given instruction about how to contribute to public meetings (example: prophesy), 1 Cor 11:5 & 1 Cor 14:34-36.
13. To save on time and length I have purposefully excluded references to household governing and exclusively focused on church roles.

What are the critical points?

1. Men and women are different. Men should be men, women should be women. We should not try to be like the opposite sex as this goes against God's plan for us.
2. Men are not better than women, and women are not better than men. Men are not given authority because they are more important but because of God's design. Men and women are designed and desired to fulfill different roles.
3. Believers in Jesus should desire to discover how God wants us to live from his word not what is easier to fit into culture.
4. Doing things God's way always works best. It is important to be convinced which way God wants it to be.
5. Women can hold any leadership role in the church (example: worship leader) except that of the office and responsibilities of an elder. This is not because women are unable, quite to the contrary, many women have success in leadership. This is because of God's design. This is to reflect the beauty of God's divine authority and submission within himself (example: Jesus submitting to His Father and the Holy Spirit as our counselor). This view of women holds them higher in value than the Egalitarian position because they are especially chosen to be submissive like Jesus and a counselor like the Holy Spirit.
6. Men must be submitted to authorities in the church and primarily to God. If a man is not submitted to God he is not worth following -- he is not worthy of respect. Men should model submission to their wives. Men are NOT ultimate authorities -- God is.
7. Women and non-elder men are able to teach in church -- if they can! But, this should be under the oversight and authority of the elders.
8. As we find life in Christ we should look to restore ourselves to Gods design -- rather than living in the brokenness of sin. Men should loving lead their wives and wives should willingly help their husbands. This reflects the interpersonal authority and submission of a Trinitarian God. The willful harmony is glorifying to God.

Summary:

Loving authority and joyful submission are a beautiful combo. It is the nature of God. The more we can grasp loving authority (without force) and joyful submission (without ignorance) we will bring glory to God.

Gender roles are ultimately a way to worship God. It must never be an excuse or opportunity to suppress women and elevate men. Men and women alike should be released into their God given gifts within the church under the oversight of godly elders and based on the teaching of the Bible.

Resources:

1. Summaries of the Egalitarian and Complementarian Positions on the Role of Women in the Home and in Christian Ministry
2. Article: What is the role of an elder? (John Piper)
3. The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
4. Wikipedia article on Complementarian
5. Mark Driscoll on 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 (This is an amazing message from a complementarian perspective)
6. DVD marriage course: Love and Respect
7. Egalitarian Christian Council
8. Wikipedia article on Egalitarianism

Baptism in the Holy Spirit: A theological study

Throughout history there have been many Godly Christians who have held very different beliefs about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This subject has massive impact to the practice of ministry within the church. It impacts prayer, worship, new Christians, teaching and discipleship. So it is important to have a strong theological understanding.

As a church planting intern it is very important to grasp this doctrine from a biblical perspective so that I can effectively and appropriately incorporate it into new church ventures in the future. This study does not cover all aspects of the doctrine, but looks to answer this question: Is Baptism in the Holy Spirit synonymous with conversion or a separate experience available for all believers?

What happens in the Bible?

1. Redemption is the story of the Bible (John 3:16). The result of redemption is reconnection to God i.e. being in God's presence. This is what God wanted at the beginning and gets at the end. Therefore the Bible is full of people who experience an intimate relationship with God. God's presence is tangibly experienced by people throughout scripture. The New Testament sees this multiplied especially with power-encounters and spiritual gifts.
   
   
2. The Old Testament looks forward to a time when the Holy Spirit will be poured out in a larger measure. Joel 2:28 "I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy".
   
   
3. The gospel's look forward towards what Jesus will do, namely baptism in the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:11 "...He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
   
   
4. The epistles look back assuming it has happened. Eph 1:13 "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit."
   
   
5. The book of Acts shows us how it happened. Acts 8:16 "because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus".
   
   
6. Not one epistle tells a believer to be baptized in water or by the Holy Spirit, yet both occur independently in Acts. This is probably because both forms of baptism are the norm, they are assumed.
   
   
7. How would a first century Jew understand the phrase "receive power"? Simple. From what they knew of when the Spirit came upon characters like Gideon, David, the Judges, the prophets and the priests. Just as these insignificant and fearful people were suddenly transformed, given power gifts and often thrust into leadership roles, so they would be too. Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you".
   
   
8. All four gospels share the same statements by John the Baptist regarding Jesus being the Lamb of God and bringing a baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is also repeated in Acts. This introduction is the primary way Jesus is to be understood, substitution for sin and filling with God's power. John 1:29 "Look, the Lamb of God [Jesus], who takes away the sin of the world!" and John 1:33 "... he [Jesus] who will baptize with the Holy Spirit."
   
   
9. Jesus makes bold statements about his purpose on the earth, a Baptism of fire as John predicted. Luke 12:49 "I have come to bring fire on the earth".
   
   
10. Jesus, being the Son of God, received the Holy Spirit after water Baptism. This shows that having the Holy Spirit descend on you, or poured out on you, has nothing to do with receiving forgiveness of sins, but rather power for ministry -- preaching and healing. Luke 3:22 "the Holy Spirit descended upon Him" Luke 4:14 "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit" v15 "He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all". Luke 5:13 "He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately the leprosy left him".
    
    
11. Jesus says to his disciples pre-Pentecost that they already know the Holy Spirit and that he is already with them, but will also be in them as a counselor. This shows a distinction between these two things "know" and "being with", to "being inside a person". John 14:16-17 "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth ... But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
    
    
12. One of Jesus' main purpose, according to John, was to be a Baptizer in the Spirit. However, Jesus did not say much about it especially at the beginning. Jesus had not yet dealt with sin or been seated in the place of all authority and so the Spirit could not be poured out until after that time. John 7:37-39 "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."
    
    
13. The book of Acts, being narrative, is qualified as being directly inspired by God and beneficial for doctrine. We can therefore discover a practical post-crucifixion first century experience and doctrine of Holy Spirit Baptism. 2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness".
    
    
14. The disciples in Samaria received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit after they were saved. Some label this as a "Samaritan Pentecost" but the Bible does not claim it to be the first out pouring on the Samaritans. During Pentecost in Acts 2, with the vast amount of nations involved, some Samaritans could have theoretically had a direct or indirect experience. This makes a definitive "Samaritan Pentecost" an unstable and unprovable position. Labeling this event a particular Pentecost requires a "Paul Pentecost" label later on in Acts and subsequent labels for each people groups first experience of Gods power -- an "Eskimo Pentecost" for example. Superimposing "labels" where the bible does not would undoubtedly pigeonhole ones theology and potentially conceal biblical truth. Acts 8:14-16 "When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus."
    
    
15. Peter explains that the day of Pentecost (the first mass Baptism in the Holy Spirit) and the Samaritans experience (a subsequent mass Baptism in the Holy Spirit) are equally the fulfillment of the same promise in Joel 2:28-19 that Jesus taught about. This shows that the Pentecost experience was not an isolated one-time only event, but it is a one-time event for all believers. Acts 11:15-16 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'"
    
    
16. Paul (formerly Saul), a Jew, experienced Baptism in the Holy Spirit separately from conversion, after Pentecost. Ananias refers to Paul as a "Brother" meanings a Christian Brother, one already saved, and as one about to receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 9:17 "Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
    
    
17. The Gentiles at Cornelius's house receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit during conversion, as they were receiving the gospel from Peter. After they exercised spiritual gifts, a common sign of Holy Spirit Baptism, they were baptized in water. This particular sequence shows that it can happen at conversion as well as afterwards. But there is no question of a power encounter in addition to repentance and forgiveness. Acts 10:44-46 "Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God."
    
    
18. The believers at Ephesus received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit after they had believed and after they were baptized in water. Paul asks if they had received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit after they had believed. If Baptism in the Spirit and conversion are synonymous then the question could be interpreted "Were you converted when you were converted?" -- which is a mute question. Why would Paul, the primary author of New Testament theology, ask such a ludicrous question? Acts 19:2 "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" v5-6 "As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied."
    
    
19. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is part of the salvation package. Biblical salvation in the New Testament is not just repentance but it encapsulates: repentance, faith, water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism. These characteristics are always present in the biblical narrative. Can someone be saved without water baptism? Yes. Can some be saved without Holy Spirit Baptism? Yes. But the Bible expects and assumes that believers will desire to receive all that God has for them. The totality of salvation is still to come and will not fully come until Jesus returns. These verses show that salvation is a process and that Baptism in the Holy Spirit is identified as a separate event. Romans 13:11 "our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed". Titus 3:5-6 "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior". Gal 4:6 "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts". (Note: in this verse sonship had already happened, and because of this the Spirit is sent which indicates a separation of identity and Spirit power).
    
    
20. Positions which emphasize Baptism in the Holy Spirit and conversion being at the same time, or being the same thing, often rely on this scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:13 "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". Consider these points:
    
    
1. The context/subject of this passage is the unity of believers within the practice of spiritual gifts. This is not intended to be doctrinal statement that inseparably links Baptism in the Holy Spirit with conversion -- otherwise it would make a stronger case for that. Read the whole chapter to get the point.
   
   
2. The baptism referred to in this passage is actually "into one body" which could easily mean water baptism. It does not say "baptized into the Spirit", but it says that this is by the Spirit. Baptism by the Holy Spirit is not the same as Baptism in the Holy Spirit. For example, we don't get baptized by water. Rather, we get baptized in water by a person. The language that describes Spirit baptism it is usually: pour out, upon, anointed, fall on, promise, filled, receive, gift, given, seal and pledge. These phrases do not appear in conjunction with this section. The Contemporary English Version states it like this "God's Spirit baptized each of us and made us part of the body of Christ". I can't find another translation that puts it like this, and I'm not a bible translator by any means, but I think that either way it is unclear to build a doctrine on this especially when so many other scriptures make it clear.
   
   
3. Also note the word "one" before Spirit. Paul is trying to emphasize that we work for the same boss, unity is the primary theme here.
   
   
4. Again, this affirms that Paul assumes salvation is a whole package. He taught and practiced water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism as a whole deal. There is no separation in his mind. If you are around Paul and you believe in Jesus you will receive water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism.
   
   
5. What does "all made to drink of one Spirit" mean? Well, Paul personally baptized a few of the believers in Corinth and could confidently state that they had been made to drink from the one Spirit from first hand experience. As a church they were very active in spiritual gifts which would make a statement like this fitting for them. Again, drinking of one Spirit, assumes a step in salvation that Paul always took if it does refer to Spirit Baptism. It could also just be a reference to unity "one spirit". The word "spirit" in the original Greek could be taken either way.
   
   
6. Because of these points the Corinthian passage does not contradict the narrative sequence of salvation in the book of Acts: repentance, faith, water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism.
   
   
7. Note: John Piper says "I don't think that what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 12:13 is the same as what is happening in Acts ... I think the essence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit is when a person, who is already a believer, receives extraordinary spiritual power for Christ-exalting ministry." See article here.
   
   
21. Often times those who believe that Baptism in the Holy Spirit is synonymous with conversion deny the activity of power gifts for today. This doctrine is somewhat inconsistent because although all believers are supposed to receive power at conversion they cannot use it for anything. It has no more application -- it's redundant. This would make Baptism in the Holy Spirit at the same time as conversion utterly pointless. Why believe in receiving power from above if the reason the original disciples received it has ceased? Some cessationists now acknowledge the fact that God can sovereignly heal people -- but continue to deny other spiritual gifts. Another inconsistency.
    
    
22. As we have seen from the book of Acts, one can be a disciple of Jesus, having been baptized in water and unified with the Spirit of Christ, but not have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Therefore verses like Romans 8:9 "... if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ" do not apply to believers who have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

What does Baptism in the Holy Spirit achieve?

Assurance of Salvation

1. Because we have been saved by Jesus He sends his Holy Spirit which causes a deep cry within our spirits toward God. This results in a Godward passion from the identity that God is our Father. Gal 4:6 "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
   
   
2. Receiving the promise of power creates a mark, or a seal, a guarantee for the believer for the totality of salvation. This guarantee is not for God's benefit, as if he would forget, but for ours. It is an inner assurance for us. It is the presence of power within that makes those nagging doubts ("Am I really saved") go away. Again, if we don't have it we are not any less a believer. Salvation is based on faith, not feeling. This is therefore about inner conviction rather than butterflies in your stomach.Eph 1:13-14 "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory"

Power gifts for worship, witnessing and the edifying of believers

1. A main result of Holy Spirit Baptism is the delivery of Spiritual gifts, boldness for worship, witnessing and the edifying of believers. Acts 19:6 "Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied"
   
   
2. Other references: Lk 4:14-18, 24:48-49; Jn 15:26-27; Acts 1:8, 2:4-12, 2:14, 2:17-18, 4:31-33, 5:32, 6:5-10, 9:17-20, 10:45-46, 13:9-10, 19:6; 1 Ths 1:4-8

The initiation of more "fillings" by the Spirit

1. At the beginning of the book of Ephesians Paul makes it clear that they have already received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13-14 and 4:30). In chapter 5 verse 18 he commands them not to be intoxicated with Alcohol but to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Urg!? If they have received it how can they receive it again? This phrase literally means "be being filled" with the Spirit. It is an ongoing experience of God. Eph 5:18 "Don't destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life".
   
   
2. Paul continually prays for the Colossian church that they would be "filled" with Spiritual wisdom. This is not a reference to Baptism in the Holy Spirit. We see instruction here to actively engage with the Spirit for "fillings". Again, this is Col 1:9 "we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding"

What does it NOT achieve?

1. It does not make some Christians better than other Christians. If that is ever taught, communicated or imposed then it is wrong wrong wrong.
   
   
2. It does not necessarily improve your maturity or character. Just as knowledge puffs you up, so power gifts can puff you up. But the solution is not to remove either knowledge or gifts. It is actually far more important to love others more than we love ourselves. However, this does not remove the desirability of Baptism in the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts as they are great vehicles for people to see and experience God's love. But, it is a warning to use them for the benefit of others, which is how they are intended. 1 Cor 13:2 "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."
   
   
3. Character is developed through experience and walking by the Spirit through each situation. Just simply exercising gifts and having power encounters does not result in Godly wisdom and humility. Being led by the Spirit, following him by walking along side produces fruit. We can live by the Spirit through using His gifts, but if we never walk by the Spirit we never mature through situational opportunities. Gal 5:16, 22 & 25 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh ... But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law ... If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit". (It's possible to live, but not walk).
   
   
4. The Corinthian church excelled in Spiritual gifts but lacked wisdom in practice and maturity as disciples -- these things are not synonymous. Paul wrote to them saying "My friends, you are acting like the people of this world. That's why I could not speak to you as spiritual people. You are like babies as far as your faith in Christ is concerned." (1 Corinthians 3:1).

How can this be practiced in the church?

1. Taught in membership.
   
2. Practiced in worship times both corporately in large and small gatherings.
   
3. A step in the process of water baptism (not forced but an environment created for explanation and receptivity).
   
4. The only biblical qualification to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to be thirsty. It is otherwise open to every believer. If someone is theologically not convinced or not hungry for more of God then attempting to lay on hands and pray is not going to be beneficial. Opportunities for this to happen need to be created: John 7:37 "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink."

Resources:

1. Terry Virgo on Baptism in the Holy Spirit from Together on a Mission conference 2007. Download mp3
   
2. John Piper on Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
   
3. BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT pdf article by Charles Leiter
   
4. Wikipedia article on Baptism in the Holy Spirit
5. Jack Deere: Surprised By the Power of the Spirit/By the Voice of God
6. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Joy Unspeakable
7. Baptism In The Holy Spirit (alternative view)