What is the difference between the seal of the Spirit and the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

The disciples of Jesus were converted and received the seal of the Spirit when Jesus breathed on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). Nevertheless, this was not the end. They did not receive all there was to receive, because Jesus also told them to, “Tarry in the city of Jerusalem,” and wait “for the promise of My Father” (Luke 24:49).

Many Christians are in a similar position, Jesus has breathed on them and they were sealed with the Spirit at conversion (Ephesians 1:13), but they have not tarried in their Jerusalem to be baptised in the Holy Spirit, as the apostles did in Acts 2:1-4.

Being sealed by the Spirit is conversion, being baptised in the Spirit is immersion – it’s like meeting the Person for the first time and feeling His love, joy and peace. It’s another world and the result is a desire to conform to Christ’s will for us.

The world presses us to conform to its standards from the outside, the Holy Spirit presses us to conform to the image of Christ from the inside (Romans 8:29-30).

This is an excerpt from the book ‘Holy Spirit Power! Knowing the Voice, Guidance and Person of the Holy Spirit’ by Paul Backholer and is used by permission.