AN INVESTIGATION INTO PENTECOSTAL THEOLOGY OF BAPTISM WITH THE SPIRIT: ASPECT OF PNEUMATOLOGY & PENTECOSTAL MISSION

This study investigates the Pentecostal theology of ‘Baptism with the Spirit', an aspect of Pneumatology and Mission. As a result of the Azusa Street revival in the United States, the present Pentecostal movement holds that all Christians must undergo a post-conversion experience called 'Baptism with the Spirit’ (Bartleman, 2005). The Azusa Street Revival often brings to mind the day of Pentecost when God poured out His Holy Spirit on the Disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 2: 1-13). Pentecostal movements associate the Azusa Street Revival to the day of Pentecost phenomenon to place special value on ‘Baptism with the Holy Spirit’ as a standard of living for mission (Matthew 3:11 RSV). However, the Pentecostals practice of ‘Baptism with the Holy Spirit’ is debatable within the Christian doctrine of Pneumatology. According to Cessationists, the Pentecostal practice of Spirit baptism as a follow-up to conversion is contrary to what was promised in Joel 2:28 and fulfilled in Acts 2. Charismatic gifts as practiced by Pentecostals 'have ceased to occur as they once did.' In contrast, the Pentecostals hold that God's providences in answering prayer, as well as natural law, contradict the Pentecostal understanding of Baptism and Mission. The first Chapter will critically explore the Pentecostal doctrine of Baptism with the Holy Spirit in the context of pneumatology to understand the doctrine of God. Chapter 2 will present biblical sources that help to explain the Pentecostal theology of ‘Spirit Baptism’. Chapter 3 will identify the distinctive characteristics of the Pentecostal mission with particular reference to the role of the Holy Spirit. I will use desktop methodology for gathering quantitative data, biblical exegetical methodology for expounding biblical sources, and sociological methodology for developing historical interpretations and linguistic understandings of Pentecostalists' theology of Spirit Baptism (Anderson, 2005).