Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea
David Bernard in his book the New Birth in his chapter discussing repentance attributes not being filled with the Spirit w/ the evidence of speaking tongues, or having diffiiculty in receiving the HG ... to be lacking in repentance and/or faith.
Why don't some receive the gift of the Holy Ghost w/ the evidence of speaking in tongues ... right away ....
We've heard of some who complete either step 1, or steps 1 and 2 .... and for years cannot speak in tongues or struggle to be filled .... Why, is this so? Do you agree w/ Bernard?
Is it more lack of repentance? Lack of faith? Are they not linked?
If one is forgiven at repentance ... and/or after baptism but can't speak in tongues were you really ever forgiven at step one or two?
If we all accept that we are saved by grace through faith but the reason one does not speak in tongues is because a lack of faith ... then did that person ever obey the plan of salvation at least partially ... or exercise salvific faith in the first place?
And tangentially ... do you agree w/ Bernard's altar worker suggestions?
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Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Every single one - absolutely no exceptions whatsoever - that is born of the Spirit is like the wind - you don't know where it is coming from or where it is going, but you hear the sound thereof.
A sound will accompany every single one that is born of the Spirit - in Acts that sound was tongues.
Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Notice "the" gift of the Holy Ghost, not "a" gift of the Holy Ghost - the promise of the Father (
Joel 2)
How did the jews know that on the gentiles was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost?
Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Acts 10:46 - For - Strong's Concordance - A primary particle; properly assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
The reason why the Jews knew that the Gentiles had rec'd the Holy Ghost was because they heard them speak with tongues just like they did in
Acts 2.
Peter explaining after-the-fact -
Acts 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Acts 8 is very interesting in this context...
Act 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Act 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Act 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
Act 8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
Act 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
The way some people believe, they would've told the Samaritans - "look you believe, have great joy, and have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, you must have the Holy Ghost!". They would have just left them thinking that they were saved and had the Holy Ghost and would've had them deceived into thinking the same thing.
But thank God that Philip knew better! He knew they hadn't rec'd the Holy Ghost yet. How did he know? Because he didn't hear the sound that Jesus taught about in
John 3:8 and the sound that they had rec'd in the upper room in
Acts 2 and the sound that the Gentiles exhibited in
Acts 10 that Peter in
Acts 11 said the Gentiles rec'd the Holy Ghost just like they, the Jews, had in
Acts 2.
Thank God that Philip, Peter, and John realized that although they had rec'd the word of God, believed it, apparently repented and were water baptized in the name of Jesus Christ; they hadn't rec'd the Holy Ghost yet and prayed for them until they did.
Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
The rest and the refreshing is the baptism of the Holy Ghost evidenced by another tongue and can be evidenced also by stammering lips.
Jesus spoke of how refreshing it is...
First note that Peter called the baptism of the Holy Ghost "the gift of God" -
Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Jesus spoke about this refreshing gift...
Joh 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Joh 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
Joh 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Never thirst again - how refreshing is that?
What is that refreshing water that is the gift of God? ...
Joh 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Joh 7:39 (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.)
That refreshing gift of God is indeed the baptism of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance.
Incidentally, the NT baptism of the Holy Ghost did NOT come into effect until AFTER Jesus was glorified. No one had rec'd the NT baptism of the Holy Ghost until
Acts 2. Hence, no one was NT born of the Spirit until
Acts 2. Hence, the thief on the cross was not NT born again not only because he wasn't NT born of the Spirit, but also because...
Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
But I think that most of this is teaching to the choir.
Hybrid Mode
