Is baptism of the Holy Spirit the key to salvation, like in the case of Cornelius?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the SURE SIGN of salvation. In Acts 10, the Apostle Peter has been led of the Lord to visit Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian army (Acts 10:1). Peter was sent to share the Gospel message with this man. This was very unique because Cornelius was not a Jew. He was a Gentile. With Peter’s act, we see that the Gospel was now being offered to all men everywhere. Let’s look at the results of Peter’s preaching in Acts 10:44-48, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, WHICH HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST AS WELL AS WE? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” It was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon these Gentiles that manifested that the blessing of salvation had been extended to them.
Peter, upon speaking of this event said in Acts 11:15-17, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as GOD GAVE THEM THE LIKE GIFT AS HE DID UNTO US, WHO BELIEVED ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST; what was I, that I could withstand God?” Peter is referring to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Jewish believers on the day of Pentecost. We read about that in Acts 2:1-4, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” This is the day that the church was formed. This is the day the Holy Spirit indwelt EVERY BELIEVER on the Lord Jesus. Of course, on the day of Pentecost, these believers were all Jewish. Now, with the conversion of Cornelius and his house, we understand the Holy Spirit would also indwell ALL believers, Jew and Gentile alike.
Notice in Peter’s words in Acts 11, he stated that the Holy Spirit fell on those “who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Faith, or belief, in the Lord Jesus Christ will cause the Spirit to indwell all who believe. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins so that we might put our faith in the Lord Jesus. We read the Lord’s words concerning the Holy Spirit in John 16:7-8, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” It is the Spirit that reproves, or convicts us of our sinful state.
After we put our faith in the Lord Jesus, the Spirit takes His abode inside each of us. His work in us is to teach us and to glorify our blessed savior. We read in John 16:13-14, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
Does the Holy Spirit indwell EVERY believer? YES, He does! Romans 8:9 says, “…Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” The Spirit indwells all believers. If one is not indwelt by the Spirit, he is “none of His.” He is not saved! We also read in Ephesians 1:13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED WITH THAT HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.”
Will the Holy Spirit ever leave us? NO, He won’t! Ephesians 4:30 says, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION.” (344.4)