Spirit baptism is one of the key issues that differentiates Charismatic/Pentecostal believers from other Christians, and I Corinthians 12:13 is one of the key verses that they say demonstrates that there are two baptisms of the Spirit, not just one.
There is usually little disagreement about the first half of this verse. Paul is teaching us that when we put our trust in Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ, that is, the Church. We become members of the universal Church. Whether we are "Jews or Greeks...slaves or free" we are all equally members of Christ's universal Body.
The second part of this verse is where disagreement begins. Charismatics/Pentecostals say that the drinking of one Spirit is a 'second blessing' or second baptism of the Holy Spirit, and this one is for enablement and power. These Christian brothers and sisters also claim that this second baptism is something we have to 'pray' for, 'ask' for, 'be yielded' for, etc. In other words, we have to simcerely want it and want it bad enough that God will give it to us.
The problem with all this is that the last part of I Corinthians 12:13 says nothing about human effort, in fact, the verb here is passive, "we were all made to drink". The text is clearly saying that whatever is being talked about here, it is something that God does for us without any effort on our part. We are passive participants in whatever is being described.
Another problem with the Charismatic/Pentecostal perspective here is that Paul says "we were all made to drink". I don't think there is any doubt that not every Christian has received the 'second blessing' or second Spirit baptism that Charismatics/Pentecostals urge us to receive. I haven't yet. Therefore, whatever Paul is speaking of, it has to be something that every Christian has received.
I believe that Paul is referring to what our Lord spoke of in John 7:37-39. Jesus says, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink". He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, "from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water." Verse thirty-nine goes on to say, "He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive."
The best understanding of the latter part of I Corinthians 12:13 is that Paul is saying that when we are baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, Christ also gives us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. So, this is speaking not about another baptism of the Spirit, but the gift of the Holy Spirit as promised by our Lord.
I am not saying that this one verse is the end of all discussion about one vs. two Spirit baptisms. What is clear is that I Corinthians 12:13 does not fit with the Charismatic/Pentecostal view of a second baptism.
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