Hello
Friends!
Welcome back! As we learned and discussed in our prior
studies of The Holy Spirit: His Work & Ministry
we considered The BIRTH of the Church BY the Holy Spirit! according to God’s wonderful
Word…
Therefore,
let’s now consider the THIRD critical concern regarding this
important subject matter surrounding the third PERSON
of the thrice Holy Trinity within the Godhead – The BAPTISM
of the Holy Spirit at SALVATION!
The Holy Spirit: His Work & Ministry (Part 3)
The BAPTISM
of the Holy Spirit at SALVATION!
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: The initial “baptism” of the “Holy
Spirit” has been another UNECESSARY
area of contention and confusion of which the Word of God indeed succinctly and solemnly
addresses. And as “we” will CLEARLY find from the “Holy Scriptures” themselves, ALL
true “Christians” rightly “receive” absolutely ALL of the “Holy Spirit” at the MOMENT
of “salvation” conversion IN
our Lord “Jesus Christ” for BOTH Jewish & Gentile “saints” in Him = ONE
TIME event for
ALL
true “believers” today!
As
we begin to investigate this next critical issue in our serious
study series, we MUST consult God’s
wonderful Word! And to lay a FIRM
foundation of solid “theology”
on which to further “build”
upon, we turn to the following “Scriptures”
supporting this VERY important “doctrine” surrounding the “baptism” of the “Holy
Spirit” power rightly RECEIVED within our “Christian”
lives…
But ye
are not in the flesh, but in
the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the
body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit
of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead
shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you – Romans
8:9-11
But of
him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption – 1
Corinthians 1:30
For as
the body is one,
and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one
Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether
we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body
is not one member, but many
– 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
In whom
ye also trusted,
after that ye heard the
word of truth, the gospel
of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise – Ephesians 1:13
For through him we both have access by one
Spirit unto the Father – Ephesians 2:18
Even
the mystery which
hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in
all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto
I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily – Colossians
1:26-29
And he
that keepeth his
commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which
he hath given us – 1 John
3:24
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit
– 1 John 4:13
DOCTRINAL DANGERS! Contrary to the many “false
teachings” within the “body of Christ” today,
the Bible speaks to only ONE true “Baptism” of INDWELLING power RECEIVED from the
“Holy Spirit” at the MOMENT of “salvation”
for the truly REPENTANT and SUBMITTED lost “sinner” unto God. However, there ALSO exists a very POPULAR but non-sense notion of which is
being espoused within modern-day evangelicalism speaking to a
so-called “second blessing” of which incorrectly demands the promotion
of strange “doctrinal” directives causing dire DELUSION and constant CONFUSION among the brethren. And sadly, this man-made
terminology is thus leading millions of UNSUSPECTING and spiritually immature “followers” of “God”
within professing Christendom today in TWO helplessly HERETICAL directions – HOW?
ONE: The so-called “second
blessing” of the “Holy Spirit”
will follow
sometime AFTER
ones “salvation” state – UNBIBLICAL!
TWO: The so-called “sinless
perfection” of the “believer”
is attained
sometime BEFORE
ones “glorified” state – UNBIBLICAL!
Incidentally,
while the concept of a “second blessing” and/or “sinless
perfection” is tantamount among a
WIDE variety of main-line DENOMINATIONAL and freaky FRINGE groups today, these FALSE PHRASES are found – NO WHERE in the Scriptures!
MANGLED MANIFESTATIONS! The MANGLED meaning of this so-called “second blessing” is widely
promoted throughout the modern-day hyper Charismatic
and Pentecostal movements and is fueled
by a disastrous “doctrine” rooted in a
peculiar “baptism” of the “Holy Spirit” experience. This “false doctrine” is also variously
described as the “crucial blessing” of which is to be adamantly sought
after and is therefore the ultimate EXPERIENCE
to strive
for throughout
one’s spiritual “life” in the FLESH. However, is this POMPOUS and POPULAR
position actually BIBLICAL in nature? – NO WAY!
Rather,
the Holy “Scripture” is our plumb
line of TRUTH regarding God’s
redeeming “Gift” of “Grace” through the “indwelling”
Son of God “Jesus Christ” by the POWER of the “baptism”
of God the “Holy Spirit” as the IMMEDIATE reigning REALITY
of which to “believe” and “rest” in BY
the AUTHORITY of – GOD’S
WORD!
Conversely,
according to these tantalizing and tangled “teachings”
of maniacal men, the initial evidence of the “baptism” of the “Holy
Spirit” is said to be expressed through a daunting display
of “speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance”
in menacing miss-applied fashion. Consequently, rather than
considering the HISTORICAL and BIBLICAL narrative of which is DIVINELY directed throughout the book of Acts, these “false
doctrines” are thus drawn COMPLETELY
out of their appropriate APPLICATION
and – PROPER CONTEXT!
ENSUING
EXAMPLE: The Assemblies of God official website (https://ag.org/Beliefs/Statement-of-Fundamental-Truths)
heavily promotes this major MISUNDERSTANDIG found luminously listed
as FOUNDATIONAL “false”
FACTS within their list of SIXTEEN sensational “Statement of Fundamental Truths” section. And posted under point number SEVEN
is tenaciously titled “The Baptism in the Holy Spirit” as it WRONGLY states:
“All believers are entitled to and
should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the
Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command
of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all
in the early Christian Church…”
“…this experience is distinct from and
subsequent to the experience of the new birth.”
The
Assemblies of God organization also
pompously PROMOTES under point
number EIGHT another luminous “lie” of “The Initial Physical Evidence
of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit” as it continues to WRONGLY state:
“The baptism of
believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of
speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.”
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: The true “Christian” in “Jesus
Christ” is NEVER
commanded ANYWHERE in the “Scriptures” to SEEK
after this BLATANTLY counterfeit “baptism” of the “Holy
Spirit” nor are “we”
ever INSTRUCTED to pragmatically PRAY to “receive”
it as such. WHY? Because the PRACTICAL
work of our “sanctification” through the on-going
fantastic “filling” of the “Holy Spirit” takes place subsequent
to our “salvation” and in CONNECTION with our humble responses
to “God” through a SUBMITTED
and loyal “life” of OBEDIENCE and RIGHTEOUSNESS
unto Him. And as we have also diligently determined directly
from God’s Word, the “tongues”
spoken by the “apostles” during the Birth of the Church were LITERAL
and INTELLEGABLE actual languages and dialects.
WHY? For the direct PURPOUSE
of communicating
the saving “gospel” of “Jesus Christ: our Lord! Incidentally, this
BIBLICAL truth is also in direct OPPOSITION to the Assemblies
of God phony promotion of an “initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues” as noted above
and according to their foolish “theology”
are NECESSARY for “salvation”
evidence. This non-sense notion is wrongly INTERPRETED,
MISAPPLIED and thus taken COMPLETELY out of its PROPER literal CONTEXT
causing MUCH unnecessary CONFUSION in the “body”
of “believers” today – Contextual
MAYHEM!
Conversely,
Doctor Luke rightly records
for “us” in the book of Acts the TRUE
activity of “Holy Spirit” power:
And
there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and
were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another,
Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how
hear we every man in
our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the
dwellers in Mesopotamia,
and in Judaea,
and Cappadocia,
in Pontus,
and Asia,
Phrygia,
and Pamphylia,
in Egypt,
and in the parts of
Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues
the wonderful works of God – Acts 2:5-11
Then they that gladly received his
word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about
three thousand souls. And they continued
stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread,
and in prayers.
And fear
came upon every soul: and many
wonders and signs were done by the apostles – Acts
2:41-43
Subsequently,
the “Scriptures” are abundantly CLEAR that “God”
through “the offering of
the body” of “Jesus Christ”
has fully COMPLETED His omnipotent
“once for all”
poignant POSITIONAL
work of “sanctification” in lieu of “salvation” for ALL true “Christians” in Him:
By the
which will we are sanctified
through the offering of
the body of Jesus Christ once for all – Hebrews
10:10
There
are NO spiritual supplemental
religious ceremonies or human EFFORTS
that could ever augment nor improve upon the SUFFICIENT saving “atonement”
for “sin” that “Jesus” has fully ACCOMPLISHED
on the “cross” as HE willingly “bowed
his head” and “gave up the
ghost” through HIS
physical DEATH and subsequent RESSURECTION from the grave:
When Jesus therefore had received the
vinegar, he said, It is
finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost – John
19:30
The
wonderful “work” of REDEMPTION is
COMPLETE, the “sacrifice”
was MADE and the PROVISION
for “salvation” is settled in Heaven FOREVER!
It is indeed a “finished” act by “God” Himself on the “cross”
of “Jesus Christ” our Lord – Halleluiah!
In
fact, when Paul wrote to the “sanctified”
congregation of “saints”
within the “Corinthian” assembly, he PERSONALLY addressed them ALL in this manner as the “church of God” itself:
Unto
the church of God
which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that
in every place call
upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's – 1
Corinthians 1:2
To
be “called” of “God”
and “sanctified” in “Christ Jesus” is to be SET APART for “God,”
DEDICATED unto “God”
and made HOLY in “God” Almighty! This is the ONE-TIME
occurrence of which is the “power”
unto “salvation” by the plan OF our great “God”
for ALL of them that “believeth” on Him:
For I
am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also
to the Greek
– Romans 1:16
Therefore,
“everyone” that “believeth” firmly STANDS before “God”
in an empowered POSITION of HIS eternal HOLINESS
through “Jesus Christ” via HIS mighty ONE-TIME loving “sacrifice” and perfect PAYMENT for our “sin”
debt – Praise the Lord!
Beloved,
as we are “learning” in this serious
study series, the Bible DOES
quite OFTEN speak of the TRUE indwelling POWER
of the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit”
at our SALVATION as well as an
on-going SANCTIFICATION of
born-again “believers” in “Jesus Christ” our Lord. However, the “Scriptures” do NOT
ascribe to the man-made notion of a so-called
necessary “second blessing” representative of a
quasi “crucial blessing” of sorts within the “life”
of a SAVING forever “faith”
in our Creator “God” Almighty – UNBIBLICAL NONSENSE!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Our “walk” with the Lord is NOT one of PERFECTION but one of DIRECTION!
There is a distinct
difference concerning
our eternal RELATIONSHIP with God verses our earthly FELLOWSHIP with Him. There are MANY FILLINGS received FROM
the “Holy
Spirit” in your
“sanctification” and YOU have ALL of HIM at
the MOMENT of your “salvation”
in “Jesus Christ” alone – HOWEVER… Does HE have ALL of
YOU?
Don’t miss our next exciting study – “The Holy Spirit: His Work &
Ministry”
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
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