David Miller wrote: >> There are many who are saved who have >> not yet received the Holy Ghost.
Kevin wrote: > Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, > if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if > any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none > of his. This is one area where we must be careful not to depart from context. In Romans 8:9, he is speaking about whether a person is being led of the Spirit or being carnal and walking in sin like the previous chapter, Romans 7, described. All believers are called to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and so this assumption is carried forward here, but such does not deny any distinctions that can be made between when a person experiences being born again and being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Being baptized into Christ is a work of the Spirit but it is not identical to being baptized into the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ, but Christ baptizes us into the Holy Spirit. These two different works are meant to go hand in hand, but they do not necessarily happen simultaneously, as many passages of Scripture teach us. One passage that helps illuminate this concept is John 14:17. John 14:16-17 (16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. Notice that Jesus teaches us how the apostles here knew the Holy Spirit as opposed to the world which did not know him nor even see him. A little later in John 15:3, Jesus makes it clear that they were already born again by saying that they are clean. Yet there was another work of the Holy Spirit which they had not yet experienced. There was another level of intimacy. So in this passage, Jesus draws attention to this by using the phrase, "he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." The word choice here is helpful in making the distinction, but I should point out that other passages speak of the Holy Spirit being in people who had not yet experienced this baptism of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is now informing us about (e.g., Gen. 41:38, Ex. 31:3, Num. 11:25, Num. 27:18, 1 Sam. 16:13, Isaiah 63:11, Eze. 3:24). Therefore, we cannot make absolute distinctions using the words "with" and "in." In this way, language tends to fail in communicating the distinction, but we can understand through context and comparison of Scripture with Scripture what is the truth. Acts 8 gives us an example of how Philip preached in Samaria and baptized new converts, but they did not receive the Holy Ghost until later when Peter and John came down. Such gives us a clear distinction how a person can be baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ but not yet be baptized by Christ into the Holy Spirit. When we read Acts 19 and Paul's question to the Ephesians about whether or not they had yet received the Holy Spirit since they believed, we come to understand very readily that in those times just like now, many people come to saving faith in Christ but have not yet experienced the fullness of the Holy Spirit which is promised them. Acts 2:38 says, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye SHALL RECEIVE the gift of the Holy Ghost." The implication here is that while the gift is definite and all those in Christ will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, it might not happen instantaneously at the same time when they repent and are baptized. In summary, while we might find some difficulty nailing down these spiritual concepts with specific absolute words, the understanding of these different spiritual works (being born of the Spirit and being baptized in the Spirit) is readily discernable. Jesus speaks of "sending the Spirit" at a later time, yet he also speaks about how the Holy Spirit was already in contact with them and how they already knew the Holy Spirit. These are not contradictions but simply different concepts being illuminated through different contexts. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
