A Sophisticated Pentecostal View

The number of views re Spirit-Baptism is amazing and is well-catalogued here by Sam Storms. One would have to conclude from this variety that the subject of the Holy Spirit Baptism is not an easy one!!

Douglas A. Oss in Are Miraculous Gifts for Today: Four Views presented a case for a Pentecostal/Charismatic understanding of the present work of the Spirit that is more sophisticated than what is normally given. He argued that just as the Holy Spirit's work in the Old Testament is both "inner-transforming" (in anticipation, Jer 31:31-34; Ezek 11:19-20; 36:26-27; 37:14) and "empowering" (Num 11:24-27 etc; Judg 14:6.19 etc) so it is in the New Testament.

Oss raised the important issue as to whether the writings of St Luke and St Paul have different emphases regarding the Spirit and he answers that affirmatively. Their emphases are different but complementary. St Paul focuses strongly on the "inner-transforming" nature of the Spirit while St Luke focuses almost exclusively in Acts on the empowering of believers for proclamation of the gospel.

Therefore, Oss contended that it is an error to conflate these two different works of the Spirit.

The prophet Joel specifically sees the Day when the empowering by the Spirit will be universalised (Joel 2:28-32), which occurred on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17-21) when the Spirit filled the 120 (pace those who say it was only the 12 apostles). Luke's emphasis on the Holy Spirit as empowerment is borne out by the writer's mention of Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit after his water baptism (Lu 4:1) and returning after His temptation in the power of the Spirit (v.14) to speak in the synagogue at Nazareth with "the Spirit upon Him" (v.18). Interesting too that Luke phrases the "prayer" material in his account (ch 11) to climax with the words, "how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him" (v.13, cf Matt 7:11, where Matthew has "good gifts").

Luke ended his gospel account with Jesus promising the disciples that they would be "clothed with power from on high" (24:48) and opens Acts repeating the promise of power (1:4-5,8). Not that Luke was completely unaware of the regenerative power of the Spirit (Acts 15:8-9) but his main emphasis is on empowerment.

On the other hand, St Paul also knows the empowering of the Holy Spirit for he warns against quenching the Spirit and despising prophesying (1 Thess 5.19-20).

Hence, Oss' conclusion is that Pentecostals believe all Christians receive the Holy Spirit at conversion but a charismatic receiving of the Spirit is also available to all the saints of God, a filling that needs to be constantly renewed (Eph 5:18).