Quote:
Originally Posted by renee819
Jason wrote,
Jason, I believe that is what the Great White Throne of Judgment is for.
Those that are born again, as Peter told us in Acts 2:38, will rise at The First Resurrection. All others, will come up at the GWT.
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Those that BELIEVE in Jesus, are BELIEVERS. But until they receive the Holy Ghost, they are not 'born again.' The Spirit of God, which is the Holy Ghost does not DWELL in them.
The Samatitians were Believers, until Peter prayed for them.
The Ephesians in Acts 19, were Believers, until Paul baptized them in Jesus name and they received the Holy Ghost.
I believe that we have a nation of Believers, that need to be baptized in Jesus name and receive the Holy Ghost. And it is a shame that we have thousands of Pentecostal and Apostolic Churches, that are majoring on the minor things, like hair and clothing. Building Temples with peoples tithes. And living like Kings over a little Kingdom or if not dictators, then running their church as a business and a movie theater. I mean by that performers, usually paid performers on stage, while the saints become spectators.
It is my opinion that God is leaving the churches, but is stirring up individuals. |
Renee I don't have a problem with
Romans 8:11, nor will you find me in any of my nearly 4,000 posts arguing someone can be saved without the Spirit.
I would argue the Bible does not make a distinction between (genuine) believers and those who are born again, both terms refer to the same people.
John 1:12 and
Ephesians 1:13-14 equivocate genuine belief as the point of regeneration. Which Paul also teaches earlier in Romans chapter 4. Throughout the ministry of Jesus the emphasis was on belief not Spirit baptism. Jesus certainly spoke of the baptism of the Spirit, but never taught it as something we must "do". The "do" was to BELIEVE then the Spirit was to be a gift for all true believers (cf
John 7:37-39).
This does not discard what God did with tongues in Acts or subsequently but does suggest that regeneration can be accomplished apart from speaking in tongues.
Furthermore tongues is never related to any passage explaining salvation in the NT. In particular Believers are told the EVIDENCE of rebirth is love for other believers, love for Christ and obedience to His commands, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, and ALL of the tests in 1 John for the genuine believer. None of which suggest (nor explicitly teach) that tongues is necessary for salvation/regeneration.