The Role Of The Holy Spirit In The Old And New Testaments?

[SDG]

being born of God is being born of God

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Bro.Sam did the Holy Ghost do a regenerational work in the OT?
Or did individuals receive regeneration by The Holy Spirit in the OT ?

Well, I think so, but there are differences of opinion on that.

When Jesus said, "We speak what we know and testify what we have seen..." when He was speaking to Nicodemus, I think He meant that He and His disciples were familiar with a "new birth" experience and that folks at that time had been born again.

In my opinion, the differences between OT and NT experiences in the Spirit are:
1. In the OT, the Holy Spirit seemed to be limited in His activity to Israel while in the NT He is universal in His activity. He is poured out on all flesh.
2. In the OT, folks did not seem to have a confidence in the abiding of the Holy Spirit. I think He hung around God's people and even indwelt them but they did not have the assurance of His every day presence like we do in the NT.
3. The Holy Spirit was with/in all of God's people but His power and gifting was only evident in a select few. He would "come upon" a person and through them would do exploits. He gifted them in special ways for special ministries. He "bubbled up" from within and caused men and women to prophesy. (I have heard somewhere that one of the definitions of the word navi or prophet was bubble up). In the NT He comes into our heart at regeneration and also comes upon us in power equipping us and releasing gifts in us. In my opinion, that would be the difference between salvation and the Holy Ghost baptism. In the OT, these folks upon whom the Spirit moved in these special ways were few and far between but in the NT we all can have that special enduement of His power and release of His gifts.
4. As far as I know, the experience of a baptism/immersion/saturation/overwhelming in the Holy Spirit was first prophesied by John and then promised by Jesus. This metaphor was not used in the OT. Filling with the Holy Spirit is both an OT and NT experience.

Note, these are my opinions.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Originally Posted by Sam

Well, I think so, but there are differences of opinion on that.

When Jesus said, "We speak what we know and testify what we have seen..." when He was speaking to Nicodemus, I think He meant that He and His disciples were familiar with a "new birth" experience and that folks at that time had been born again.

In my opinion, the differences between OT and NT experiences in the Spirit are:
1. In the OT, the Holy Spirit seemed to be limited in His activity to Israel while in the NT He is universal in His activity. He is poured out on all flesh.
2. In the OT, folks did not seem to have a confidence in the abiding of the Holy Spirit. I think He hung around God's people and even indwelt them but they did not have the assurance of His every day presence like we do in the NT.
3. The Holy Spirit was with/in all of God's people but His power and gifting was only evident in a select few. He would "come upon" a person and through them would do exploits. He gifted them in special ways for special ministries. He "bubbled up" from within and caused men and women to prophesy. (I have heard somewhere that one of the definitions of the word navi or prophet was bubble up). In the NT He comes into our heart at regeneration and also comes upon us in power equipping us and releasing gifts in us. In my opinion, that would be the difference between salvation and the Holy Ghost baptism. In the OT, these folks upon whom the Spirit moved in these special ways were few and far between but in the NT we all can have that special enduement of His power and release of His gifts.
4. As far as I know, the experience of a baptism/immersion/saturation/overwhelming in the Holy Spirit was first prophesied by John and then promised by Jesus. This metaphor was not used in the OT. Filling with the Holy Spirit is both an OT and NT experience.

Note, these are my opinions.

I appreciate your views and I consider what you say.