DEFINITIONS:
The BAPTISM in the Spirit is that work of God whereby the believer is immersed into Jesus Christ and into His body, the Church (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27).
The FILLING of the Spirit is that work of God whereby He enables the yielded believer to participate in carrying out His will (Acts 2:4; 4:8; Eph. 5:18).
COMPARISONS:
The BAPTISM is presented as a fact to be believed (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27).
The FILLING is presented as a command to be obeyed (Eph. 5:18).
Every believer has had this BAPTISM (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:26-27).
Not every believer is FILLED with the Spirit although he should be (Eph. 5:17).
The believer is never commanded to be BAPTIZED in the Spirit.
The believer is commanded to be FILLED with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:16).
PAST TENSE: "For by one Spirit WERE we all baptized into one body" (1 Cor. 12:13).
PRESENT TENSE: "BE FILLED with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18).
The BAPTISM is a once for all work of God never to be repeated.
The FILLING needs to be repeated for us to be useful to the Lord.
The BAPTISM places one into Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; 2 Cor. 5:17; Acts 2:47).
The FILLING empowers one to be a witness and servant for Christ (Acts 1:8).
The BAPTISM requires faith in Christ (Acts 16:31; Gal. 3:26-27).
The FILLING requires repentance and confession of sin (1 Jn. 1:9).
The BAPTISM involves POSITION: "IN CHRIST" (2 Cor. 5:17 and Rom. 8:1).
The FILLING involves POSITION: "IN FELLOWSHIP" (Acts 1:8; 4:31, 33).
The BAPTISM will never be "undone" (Eph. 1:13; 4:30; 5:25-32).
The FILLED will become "unfilled" by sin (Gal. 5:16, 23; Eph. 4:30; 1 Thes. 5:19).
God alone does the BAPTIZING into Christ.
The believer plays a key role in being FILLED with the Spirit.
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