Post by Admin on Oct 9, 2018 13:07:16 GMT
The Disciples of Christ did not believe the Gospel prior to Pentecost, because the Gospel was yet a Mystery:
Romans 16:24-26 King James Version (KJV)
24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Ephesians 3:1-5 King James Version (KJV)
3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
I will give two references to each supportive point, though there are numerous more that could be added. In the case of the Mystery of the Gospel, simply do a word study on the word mystery, and also read 1 Corinthians 1-2, which speaks much of the Hidden Wisdom of God. You have probably heard it preached that the quotation of "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" refers to how great Heaven is going to be, but, it is actually a capstone on Paul's doctrinal address of the Hidden Wisdom. In view is the fact that understanding of the Gospel, though it threads it's way throughout Scripture beginning in Genesis 3:15, was not given to men. And here, the point I want you to understand is that the Disciples did not have understanding either, not until the Promised Spirit was given to them which is when they were Baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Our next point speaks directly to that basic Bible Truth:
Mark 16:9-14 King James Version (KJV)
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
John 20:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
This takes place after the Resurrection, and we see they were rebuked for not believing the Gospel, though again it was not given them to understand. Yet they should have still had faith in the Word of Christ, as well as those who witnessed His appearing after the Resurrection.
Next we look at the Baptism with the Holy Ghost itself, and we see that 1) it is Christ Who performs this Baptism, 2) He baptizes with the Holy Spirit, not water, and 3) that it is a future event in the lives of all men, including the Disciples of Christ:
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.
Before I get to the second reference I want to point out that when one is Baptized with the Holy Ghost they are "gathered into Christ's Garner (v.12)," which speak of Eternal Salvation. If they are baptized with fire they are baptized with judgment. Being burned up as chaff with unquenchable fire speaks of Hell (the Lake of Fire). It is not, as our charismatic brethren believe, a subsequent event of empowerment. Ironically, they, and really most Theology Systems, also teach the Baptism with the Holy Ghost as also an subsequent event of empowerment.
I will also point out that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is an immersion into God. Do you think that anyone was in Christ prior to the Promised Spirit being sent? That is how we receive the Eternal Life Christ came to give. We are baptized into Christ. Now think of the fact that we, the Church, are one man in Christ. The separation that existed between Jew and Gentile ended when both were baptized into Christ, and we were, according to Christ's teaching in John 14:15-23...made one with Him through the Eternal Indwelling of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. That is undeniably taught in John 15-23.
So our second passage that shows that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is in fact the first step in being made one with Christ, or in other words...becoming a Christian:
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.
"The Promise of the Father" can be seen in numerous places in the Old Testament. That which Christ taught them can be seen especially in John 14-16. Read that four or five times, and you will see the magnitude of what He is saying. He must leave (which is why their hearts were troubled)that the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth come, that is expedient for them. Why? Because He, the Comforter, will convict the world (all men, including the disciples) of sin (that they are sinners), righteousness (that Christ only is righteous), and judgment (they are made aware of the reality of their separation from God and the eternal destiny that lies before them).
Note that John's prophecy is mentioned: "I baptize with water, but He that is coming will baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire."
And Christ states "You will be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." This is after the Resurrection, and they have not yet been immersed into God in eternal union. Now the last point I would make that you need to understand is that 1) not a single disciple is water baptized on the Day of Pentecost when the Comforter comes, and 2) it is when the other Jews receive the Holy Ghost that they are made members of the (added to) Church.
So this is a shot across the bow, my Mormon friend, and you now have the burden of denying the doctrine presented to you. However, you must refer to the Bible only, because nothing that was added by your religion changes the teaching given us by the holy men used of God to give us this revelation.
Romans 16:24-26 King James Version (KJV)
24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Ephesians 3:1-5 King James Version (KJV)
3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
I will give two references to each supportive point, though there are numerous more that could be added. In the case of the Mystery of the Gospel, simply do a word study on the word mystery, and also read 1 Corinthians 1-2, which speaks much of the Hidden Wisdom of God. You have probably heard it preached that the quotation of "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" refers to how great Heaven is going to be, but, it is actually a capstone on Paul's doctrinal address of the Hidden Wisdom. In view is the fact that understanding of the Gospel, though it threads it's way throughout Scripture beginning in Genesis 3:15, was not given to men. And here, the point I want you to understand is that the Disciples did not have understanding either, not until the Promised Spirit was given to them which is when they were Baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Our next point speaks directly to that basic Bible Truth:
Mark 16:9-14 King James Version (KJV)
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
John 20:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
This takes place after the Resurrection, and we see they were rebuked for not believing the Gospel, though again it was not given them to understand. Yet they should have still had faith in the Word of Christ, as well as those who witnessed His appearing after the Resurrection.
Next we look at the Baptism with the Holy Ghost itself, and we see that 1) it is Christ Who performs this Baptism, 2) He baptizes with the Holy Spirit, not water, and 3) that it is a future event in the lives of all men, including the Disciples of Christ:
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.
Before I get to the second reference I want to point out that when one is Baptized with the Holy Ghost they are "gathered into Christ's Garner (v.12)," which speak of Eternal Salvation. If they are baptized with fire they are baptized with judgment. Being burned up as chaff with unquenchable fire speaks of Hell (the Lake of Fire). It is not, as our charismatic brethren believe, a subsequent event of empowerment. Ironically, they, and really most Theology Systems, also teach the Baptism with the Holy Ghost as also an subsequent event of empowerment.
I will also point out that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is an immersion into God. Do you think that anyone was in Christ prior to the Promised Spirit being sent? That is how we receive the Eternal Life Christ came to give. We are baptized into Christ. Now think of the fact that we, the Church, are one man in Christ. The separation that existed between Jew and Gentile ended when both were baptized into Christ, and we were, according to Christ's teaching in John 14:15-23...made one with Him through the Eternal Indwelling of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. That is undeniably taught in John 15-23.
So our second passage that shows that the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is in fact the first step in being made one with Christ, or in other words...becoming a Christian:
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.
"The Promise of the Father" can be seen in numerous places in the Old Testament. That which Christ taught them can be seen especially in John 14-16. Read that four or five times, and you will see the magnitude of what He is saying. He must leave (which is why their hearts were troubled)that the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth come, that is expedient for them. Why? Because He, the Comforter, will convict the world (all men, including the disciples) of sin (that they are sinners), righteousness (that Christ only is righteous), and judgment (they are made aware of the reality of their separation from God and the eternal destiny that lies before them).
Note that John's prophecy is mentioned: "I baptize with water, but He that is coming will baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire."
And Christ states "You will be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." This is after the Resurrection, and they have not yet been immersed into God in eternal union. Now the last point I would make that you need to understand is that 1) not a single disciple is water baptized on the Day of Pentecost when the Comforter comes, and 2) it is when the other Jews receive the Holy Ghost that they are made members of the (added to) Church.
So this is a shot across the bow, my Mormon friend, and you now have the burden of denying the doctrine presented to you. However, you must refer to the Bible only, because nothing that was added by your religion changes the teaching given us by the holy men used of God to give us this revelation.