Quote:
Originally Posted by TRFrance
That's been addressed here many times before.
What people had previously was not the same Holy Ghost experience as what the NT church later received.
John himself said the Holy Ghost would not be given until after Jesus was glorified. John 7:39: The Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.
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In the Old Testament people were moved, filled, and energized by the Spirit. The Spirit is said to have been in them and to have come upon them. Under the New Testament we have all of that but we also have an experience called a baptism in the Spirit. Both John the baptizer and Jesus spoke of an experience in the Spirit that is similar to baptism in water.
Also, in the Old Testament, the work of the Spirit seems to be limited to certain people, places, and conditions whereas in the New Testament the work of the Holy Spirit is available to anyone at any time and in any place.
The New Testament is the day, age (or dispensation) of the Holy Spirit.