THE BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT AND BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
Being filled with the Spirit must be distinguished from being baptized with the Spirit. The apostle Paul carefully defines the baptism with the Spirit as that act of Christ by which He places believers into His body ( Romans 6:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27). It is a sovereign, single, unrepeatable act on God's part, and is no more an experience than are its companions justification and adoption. The purpose of the baptism with the Spirit is not to divide the body of Christ, but to unify it (Ephesians 4:4-6). Unlike the baptism with the Spirit, being filled with the Spirit is an experience and should be continuous.
Believers are to be continuously being filled with the Spirit. Those who would be filled with the Spirit must first empty themselves. That involves confession of sin and dying to selfishness and self-will. To be filled with the Spirit is to consciously practice the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and to have a mind saturated with the Word of God (Colossians 3:16-25; Ephesians 5:19-33). As believers yield the moment by moment decisions of life to His control, they walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). The baptism with the Spirit grants the power that the filling with the Spirit unleashes.
JOHN MacARTHUR - ACTS 1-12
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 2:1-13, pages 41-42)
THE MacARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY
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