Post by Admin on Apr 21, 2018 16:36:03 GMT
Looking for the members here to explain their understanding of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. I will give my own and leave the thread open to comments and criticism.
Point One: The first point I would make and ask those participating is that men were not Baptized with the Holy Ghost prior to Pentecost. As support for that statement I give...
Matthew 3:11-12
King James Version (KJV)
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
John the Baptist prophesies of Christ baptizing with the Holy Ghost. These Baptisms (with the Holy Ghost, defined as being gathered unto Christ, and with fire, defined as being "burned up with unquenchable fire," or in other words, Eternal Judgment) are said to follow John's ministry, Christ will come after John.
Acts 1:4-5
King James Version (KJV)
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
This is spoken of the Lord on the Day of the Ascension, or in other words, when Christ returned to Heaven.
And we see that the Disciples of Christ are not yet Baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Point Two: The Baptism with the Holy Ghost is immersion into God in Eternal Union, not a subsequent event to the event of salvation in the individual's life. As support for that statement I give the teaching Christ refers to in Acts 1:4 (wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me)...
John 16:7-9
King James Version (KJV)
7 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.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
The Comforter is the Promised Spirit the Lord refers to in Acts 1:4, and again we see that the coming of the Comforter must await Christ returning to Heaven. He, the Comforter, will reprove the world of sin, because "They believe no on Jesus Christ."
John 14:15-18
King James Version (KJV)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Here we see the eternal indwelling of God, where we see the Spirit is sent that He might abide with them (and us) forever, contrasted to Christ announcing His departure, the reason for their hearts being troubled (v.1).
We also see Christ stating "...I will come to you." He is speaking about His personal indwelling of the Disciples, and again, I would remind you this is a future event for the Disciples at the time of His teaching them.
John 14:20-23
King James Version (KJV)
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Again, as John's prophecy of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost speaks of a future event, note here that being indwelt by God the Father (v.23), Son (vv.18, 23), and Holy Ghost (vv.16-17)is also future (vv.16, 18, 20-23).
The Disciples of Christ are not yet indwelt eternally by the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Point 3: The Baptism with the Holy Ghost is the moment men receive eternal life. As support for that statement I give...
John 7:38-39
King James Version (KJV)
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Here Christ contrasts physical water with "living water," which represents eternal life. It is tied to the coming of the Spirit that is to be given (again, a future event) to them that believe on Christ. We also see that it will not be until Christ is glorified that the Spirit will be given. Coupled with Christ's teaching that He must leave, else the Comforter cannot come, we can be dogmatic that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, hence the bestowal of eternal life through being immersed into God in eternal union...has not occurred in the lives of men yet.
As the final passage in which we see, without controversy, that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is the moment of salvation, the moment one is immersed into God, I give you...
Acts 11:13-18
King James Version (KJV)
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 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.
17 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?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
If you read the account of Cornelius' conversion, you will see that what Peter states here is true, the Holy Ghost "fell on them" while he was still...preaching the Gospel. Cornelius was a justified Old Testament Saint, but still needed...
...life.
To be specific, eternal life.
And that Eternal Life is only obtained by believing on Jesus Christ.
In this we see:
1. The "words" Peter spoke are the words by which men are saved. That is the Gospel;
2. Peter recalls the Word of the Lord (Acts 1:4-5) when the Holy Ghost "falls on them," and it is the Baptism with the Holy Ghost that he defines the event as;
3. Those who believe on Christ receive the Gift of God, which is salvation;
4. Even the circumcision (v..2) view the Baptism with the Holy Ghost as "repentance unto life," or in other words, receiving eternal life through believing on Jesus Christ;
5. The Baptism with the Holy Ghost is contrasted with being baptized in water.
So three primary points to address, and please address the Scripture given as support. If you feel they are used out of context, let me know.
God bless.
Point One: The first point I would make and ask those participating is that men were not Baptized with the Holy Ghost prior to Pentecost. As support for that statement I give...
Matthew 3:11-12
King James Version (KJV)
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
John the Baptist prophesies of Christ baptizing with the Holy Ghost. These Baptisms (with the Holy Ghost, defined as being gathered unto Christ, and with fire, defined as being "burned up with unquenchable fire," or in other words, Eternal Judgment) are said to follow John's ministry, Christ will come after John.
Acts 1:4-5
King James Version (KJV)
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
This is spoken of the Lord on the Day of the Ascension, or in other words, when Christ returned to Heaven.
And we see that the Disciples of Christ are not yet Baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Point Two: The Baptism with the Holy Ghost is immersion into God in Eternal Union, not a subsequent event to the event of salvation in the individual's life. As support for that statement I give the teaching Christ refers to in Acts 1:4 (wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me)...
John 16:7-9
King James Version (KJV)
7 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.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
The Comforter is the Promised Spirit the Lord refers to in Acts 1:4, and again we see that the coming of the Comforter must await Christ returning to Heaven. He, the Comforter, will reprove the world of sin, because "They believe no on Jesus Christ."
John 14:15-18
King James Version (KJV)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Here we see the eternal indwelling of God, where we see the Spirit is sent that He might abide with them (and us) forever, contrasted to Christ announcing His departure, the reason for their hearts being troubled (v.1).
We also see Christ stating "...I will come to you." He is speaking about His personal indwelling of the Disciples, and again, I would remind you this is a future event for the Disciples at the time of His teaching them.
John 14:20-23
King James Version (KJV)
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Again, as John's prophecy of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost speaks of a future event, note here that being indwelt by God the Father (v.23), Son (vv.18, 23), and Holy Ghost (vv.16-17)is also future (vv.16, 18, 20-23).
The Disciples of Christ are not yet indwelt eternally by the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Point 3: The Baptism with the Holy Ghost is the moment men receive eternal life. As support for that statement I give...
John 7:38-39
King James Version (KJV)
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Here Christ contrasts physical water with "living water," which represents eternal life. It is tied to the coming of the Spirit that is to be given (again, a future event) to them that believe on Christ. We also see that it will not be until Christ is glorified that the Spirit will be given. Coupled with Christ's teaching that He must leave, else the Comforter cannot come, we can be dogmatic that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, hence the bestowal of eternal life through being immersed into God in eternal union...has not occurred in the lives of men yet.
As the final passage in which we see, without controversy, that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is the moment of salvation, the moment one is immersed into God, I give you...
Acts 11:13-18
King James Version (KJV)
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 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.
17 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?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
If you read the account of Cornelius' conversion, you will see that what Peter states here is true, the Holy Ghost "fell on them" while he was still...preaching the Gospel. Cornelius was a justified Old Testament Saint, but still needed...
...life.
To be specific, eternal life.
And that Eternal Life is only obtained by believing on Jesus Christ.
In this we see:
1. The "words" Peter spoke are the words by which men are saved. That is the Gospel;
2. Peter recalls the Word of the Lord (Acts 1:4-5) when the Holy Ghost "falls on them," and it is the Baptism with the Holy Ghost that he defines the event as;
3. Those who believe on Christ receive the Gift of God, which is salvation;
4. Even the circumcision (v..2) view the Baptism with the Holy Ghost as "repentance unto life," or in other words, receiving eternal life through believing on Jesus Christ;
5. The Baptism with the Holy Ghost is contrasted with being baptized in water.
So three primary points to address, and please address the Scripture given as support. If you feel they are used out of context, let me know.
God bless.