The baptism of the Holy Spirit - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

By one Spirit we were all baptised into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13

The baptism of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of the Holy Spirit was announced by both John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Himself. The baptism was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost after the Lord's ascension to heaven. On that day the one church, the unity of all the redeemed as the one body, was formed; and it has continued until this day. The Holy Spirit is the unifying power and bond of the church of the living God. The baptism with the Holy Spirit was a corporate blessing, a unique event that was never and will not be ­repeated. When someone finds living faith in the Lord Jesus now, he is "added" to this unity of believers through the possession and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

In Holy Scripture baptism always symbolises a burial. That is the case here, too. With the baptism of the Holy Spirit all national and social barriers are abolished. The apostle makes use of such extreme examples as Jews and Greeks (or: heathens) and slaves and freemen to make it clear that something completely new was created through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, namely a unity that was previously unthinkable.

Drinking into the Holy Spirit means that the Spirit of God not only dwells in the believer but directs and controls him thoroughly. It is then up to us not to hinder the Spirit, but to permit Him to form our life, He will then guide us to practical communal fellowship among believers.

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 23:12-21 · Revelation 11:1-11