MY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE VIEWS OF RICHARD ROGERS and BRIAN GARNETT ON POURING OUT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

By Eusebio Tanicala

Richard Rogers has written a book entitled “A Study of the Holy Spirit of God” published by the Sunset Institute Press.

Brother Brian Garnett of the Nueces Canyon Church of Christ has also authored a book with the title of “Studies About the Holy Spirit”.

Here are some pertinent points from these books that help clarify the issues we explain in this booklet:

1. Both believe that all obedient disciples receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit which is the pouring out (shedding forth) of the Holy Spirit.

Rogers says: “Read carefully Matt. 3:1-12; Mk. 1:1-8; Lk. 3:1-9, 15-17; Jn. 1:32-34; Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:1-4,14-21, 33, 38-39. Based on the preceding verses is that the statement ‘Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit is simply the promise of the outpouring of the Spirit by Jesus on the day of Pentecost one time for all, henceforth, available for all men whom God calls (through the gospel, 2 Thess. 2:14).” (pp. 40-41) Also he says: “[P]eter concludes this promised Spirit, now poured out by Jesus, is not only for the Jews at Pentecost but for their children (all Jews that will ever live) and all that are afar off (the Gentiles, Eph. 2:11-13), even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto Him. (That would be you and me if we are called by the gospel, 2Thes. 2:14).” (p. 44)

Garnett says: “3. This one-time (Day of Pentecost) has benefits that were only for apostles, benefits for those of the apostolic age and benefits for all who respond to the gospel of Christ.” (p. 73) His other declaration says: “B. Holy Spirit BAPTISM is simply, the outpouring of the Spirit, By Jesus, On Pentecost, One time for all time, For all men (all Flesh), as a promise from the Father.” (p. 73)

2. Both believe that baptizing in the Holy Spirit and the outpouring of the Spirit are two ways to refer to the same event.

Rogers says: “The baptizing in the Holy Spirit and the outpouring of the Spirit is just the different ways to refer to the same event.” (Rogers, p. 44) He adds: “Therefore, the ‘baptizing in the Spirit’ was the ‘outpouring of the Spirit.” (Page 45)

Garnett says: “The ‘Out Pouring’ of the Holy Spirit or Holy Spirit Baptism is the process that made the Holy Spirit available to all flesh.” (p. 72) On another page he says: “H. ‘Out pouring’ and ‘Baptizing in the Holy Spirit' are different ways of saying the same thing. When the Spirit was ‘poured out’ He ‘baptized’ the world.” (p. 74) On page 75, in a summary: he adds: “B. Holy Spirit Baptism simply made the Spirit available to all who obey the gospel after that (Acts 5:32; 2:38)” (see p. 75).

Question: Do I understand that brothers Rogers and Garnett believe that all believers are immersed in or baptized in the Holy Spirit? Yes, I understand that both believe that ALL disciples are immersed in the Holy Spirit.

3. Pour means abundance.

Rogers says: “The word ‘pour’ from Joel and from Acts 2:17 has the same idea of super-abundance. Jesus was indicating to what extent the Holy Spirit would be given when he said ‘Ye shall be baptized. . .’” (pp. 49, 50)

4. Miraculous power does not define what Holy Spirit baptism is.

Garnett says: “Receiving the Holy Spirit does not mean one can work miracles nor speak in tongues. It means that you, when properly baptized, become the temple of the Holy Spirit. He lives within you. (Romans 8:9; 1Cor. 3:16; 1Cor. 6:19).” (p. 75)

Do you mark and unfriend the two American brethren who wrote the two books mentioned above just because they believe that the pouring out of the Holy Spirit is the same event as the baptizing in the Holy Spirit? Do you mark them because they believe that all obedient disciples participate in that poured out Holy Spirit? As for me, and my coauthors in this booklet, we do not mark nor unfriend them. We love them and want to compare our research with them.

(NOTE: This article is taken from a booklet published in 2019 on the topic of Immersion in the Holy Spirit.