Saved WithOut The Holy Ghost ?

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by Revelationist

In addition to what Bro. Scott has posted, how about this scripture about John the Baptist?

Luke 1:15
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. KJV

The Holy Ghost had not been given, how was John filled with the Holy Ghost?

Well, the scripture states explicitly that the Holy Ghost was not yet given.

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.)

There's no contradiction with the rest of the scriptures on this because...

...What John received was not the same experience we now know as the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:21) . Zechariah, Johns father was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:67), and Bezalel, who worked on the tabernacle in the Old Testament was filled with the spirit of God (Ex 31:3) but still this was not the same experience as what believers receive in the church age.

John spoke of the experience to come, and he was the first to use the term "baptized with" the Holy Ghost. Matt 3:11

" I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire"

Jesus referred to this same experience shortly before Pentecost when he said

" For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." (Acts 1:5)

So although, its the same Holy Ghost, experientially it is still a different impartation from what had ever been given before. That is why John wrote that the Holy Ghost had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified. (John 7:39)