Distinguishing Between Being Filled with the Holy Spirit
Distinguishing Between Being Filled with the Holy Spirit
The concept of being filled with the Holy Spirit is rooted in biblical teachings, particularly in Ephesians 5:18, which instructs believers not to get drunk with wine but to "be getting filled in Spirit" [1]. This filling is associated with the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, distinct from other experiences or baptisms involving the Spirit.
The baptism with the Holy Spirit is mentioned in passages like Mark 1:8, where John the Baptist distinguishes his water baptism from the Spirit baptism that Jesus would administer [2]. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is seen as a crucial aspect of the Christian life, with the Spirit guiding, quickening, and enabling believers to bear fruit (Torrey's Topical Textbook [4]).
Different Christian traditions interpret the filling of the Holy Spirit in various ways. Some associate it with sanctification, the process of being made holy, which is seen as the work of the Holy Spirit (Easton's Bible Dictionary [3]). Others link it to the fruit of the Spirit, such as goodness, righteousness, and truth (Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:9 [9]).
The fruit of the Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22, includes love, joy, peace, and other virtues. According to Adam Clarke, this fruit is the result of the Spirit's work in transforming the believer's nature (Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:22 [6]). The indwelling Spirit is also seen as a proof of adoption and a means of guiding believers into all truth (Torrey's Topical Textbook [4, 5]).
In understanding the distinction between being filled with the Holy Spirit and other spiritual experiences, it's essential to consider the biblical context and the interpretations of various Christian traditions. While some traditions emphasize the baptism with the Holy Spirit as a distinct experience, others see it as an integral part of the believer's life, associated with regeneration and sanctification (John Gill on 1 Corinthians 12:13 [10]).
The Eastern Orthodox tradition, as represented by John Chrysostom, emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers, highlighting the Spirit's work in guiding and sanctifying them (CCEL/NPNF [7, 8]).
Sources
- Ephesians “Ephesians 5:18 (Rotherham) — And be not getting drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be getting filled in Spirit;—”
- Mark “Mark 1:8 (BSB) — I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.””
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, The — In his Church, as his temple -- 1Co 3:16. In the body of saints, as his temple -- 1Co 6:19; 2Co 6:16. Promised to saints -- Eze 36:27. Saints enjoy -- Isa 63:11; 2Ti 1:14. Saints full of -- Ac 6:5; Eph 5:18. Is the means of Quickening. -- Ro 8:11. Guiding. -- Joh 16:13; Ga 5:18. Fruit bearing. -- Ga 5:22. A proof of being Christ's -- Ro 8:9; 1Jo 4:13. A proof of adoption -- Ro 8:15; Ga 4:5. Is abiding -- 1Jo 2:27. Those who have not Are sensual. -- Jude 1:19. Are without Christ. -- Ro 8:9. Opposed by the carnal nature -- Ga 5:17.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anointing of the Holy Spirit — Is from God -- 2Co 1:21. That christ should receive Foretold. -- Ps 45:7; Isa 61:1; Da 9:24. Fulfilled. -- Lu 4:18,21; Ac 4:27; 10:38; Heb 1:9. God preserves those who receive -- Ps 18:50; 20:6; 89:20-23. Saints receive -- Isa 61:3; 1Jo 2:20. Is abiding in saints -- 1Jo 2:27. Guides into all truth -- 1Jo 2:27. Typified -- Ex 40:13-15; Le 8:12; 1Sa 16:13; 1Ki 19:16.”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit - Both flesh - the sinful dispositions of the human heart and spirit - the changed or purified state of the soul, by the grace and Spirit of God, are represented by the apostle as trees, one yielding good the other bad fruit; the productions of each being according to the nature of the tree, as the tree is according to the nature of the seed from which it sprung. The bad seed produced a bad tree, yielding all manner of bad fruit; the good seed produced a good tree, bringing forth fruits of the most excellent kind. The tree of the flesh”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: 13:17 13:23 James 1:6 2:13 2:19 2:26 3:11 4:3 1 Peter 1:3 1:12 2:13 2:21 2:21 2:22 2:22 2:22 5:5 5:8 5:8 5:8 2 Peter 2:4 3:13 1 John 2:9 3:2 3:8 4:8 Revelation 1 1:4 1:9 1:11 1:16 1:20 2 3 3:12 14:1 14:4 14:13 15:6 20:9 22:16 Tobit 12:9 Wisdom of Solomon 1:4 1:14 11:23 11:24 14:16 Sirach 2:2 2:2 2:4 2:10 2:11 2:27 3:10-12 3:11 5:6 6:14 6:16 6:34 7:6 7:31 9:13 9:15 10:9 10:12-13 11:1 11:2 11:3 11:3 11:4 11:15 11:28 12:13 13:15 14:9 15:9 16:3 18:13 18:13 19:14-15 20:20 21:2 22:21-22 23:17 23:17 25:1 25:1 25:11 26:27 28:6 31:1 32:10”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:11 1:11 1:26 1:26 1:26 1:27 1:27 1:27 1:31 1:31 2:2 2:7 2:17 2:17 2:18 2:23 2:24 2:24 2:24 3:5 3:16 3:24 4 4:9 4:14 6:2 6:3 6:4 6:9 6:12 7:7 8:21 12:1 12:4 12:16 13:10 13:10-11 14:14 14:21-23 15:16 16:5 16:6 17:8 18:11 18:12 18:14 18:21 19:13 19:14 19:24 21:10 21:12 21:12 22:7-8 22:16 22:18 22:18 24:1-67 24:22 24:65 25:21 25:21 26:4 27:46 28:1 28:13 31:42 31:45 32:48 35:18 37:9-10 37:20 39:1 39:6 40:4 40:7 40:8 40:14-15 40:22 41 41:16 42:36 43:14 43:30 45:5 48:15-16 49:9 64:28 Exodus 2:11 2”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:9: fruit of the Spirit--taken by transcribers from Gal 5:22. The true reading is that of the oldest manuscripts, "The fruit of THE LIGHT"; in contrast with "the unfruitful works of darkness" (Eph 5:11). This verse is parenthetic. Walk as children of light, that is, in all good works and words, "FOR the fruit of the light is [borne] in [ALFORD; but BENGEL, 'consists in'] all goodness [opposed to 'malice,' Eph 4:31], righteousness [opposed to 'covetousness,' Eph 5:3] and truth [opposed to 'lying,' Eph 4:25]."”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 12:13: For by one Spirit are we all baptized,.... This is to be understood not of water baptism; for the apostle says not in one, and the same water, but "by", or "in" one Spirit, are we all baptized; the baptism of water, and of the Spirit, are two different things; see Mat 3:11. Besides, all that are baptized in water, are not baptized in or by the Spirit, as the case of Simon Magus, and that of others, show; nor does water baptism incorporate persons into the church of Christ; neither into the invisible church, which is the body of Christ, and here meant; nor into”