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CHAPTER SIX - PART TWO

THEY SEPARATE THEMSELVES, HAVING NOT THE SPIRIT

QUOTE # 6.2 -

• "This baptism with the Holy Spirit was initiated at Pentecost, and all who come to know Jesus Christ as Saviour share in that experience... "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body' (1 Cor. 12:13)...

• "Two things stand out in that verse: first, the baptism with the Spirit is a collective operation of the Spirit of God; second, it includes every believer...

• "To summarize, it is my belief that Pentecost instituted the Church. Then all that remained was for Samaritans, Gentiles and 'belated believers' to be brought into the Church representatively . . .

• "Pentecost was an event then which included not only those who participated at that moment but also those who would participate in the centuries ahead..."

Question # 6.2 - Does l Cor. 12:13 say baptism was experienced once for all time and for all believers on the day of Pentecost, or does it say by one Spirit we are all baptized?

The individual doing the work=

By ONE SPIRIT..are..........

The ones reaping the works's benefits=

WE ALL......

the work being done=

BAPTIZED......

The work's results=

INTO ONE BODY

...Whether we be Jews or Gentiles!

Question # 6.3 - How does every believer share in Pentecost? Were the outward manifestations of the Spirit meant only to be experienced at the one event on the day of Pentecost? Or are the manifestations to be experienced once by every believer as a sign that the baptism of the Holy Ghost has been received?

"...Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God... Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof,... so is everyone who is born of the Spirit" -John 8:5-8.

"For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest...and this is the refreshing: yet for all that they would not hear" -Isaiah 28:11-12.

"In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign..."' -1 Corinthians 14:21-22.

"...Jesus...having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear... The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts 2:32-39. (If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you... The Spirit of truth..." John 14:15-17).

In addition to the scriptures above quoted, there were at least three more scripturally documented cases of individuals receiving personal baptismal experiences with outward manifestations- Acts 8:5-17, Acts ]0:44-46, and Acts 19:1-6. These events stand in opposition to Mr. B's statement- "Pentecost was an event then which included not only those who would participate at that moment but also those who would participate in the centuries ahead."

Question # 6.4 - What of the other occasions of "Pentecostal" Experiences?

QUOTE # 6.3 -

• "There were, it is true, several other occasions recorded in the book of Acts which were similar to Pentecost, such as the so- called 'Samaritan Pentecost' (Acts 8:12-17) and the conversion of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48). Each of these, however, marked a new stage in the expansion of the Church. Samaritans were a mixed race, scorned by many as unworthy of the love of God. Their baptism by the Spirit was a clear sign that they too could be part of God's people by faith in Jesus Christ. Cornelius was a Gentile, and his conversion marked still another step in the spread of the Gospel. The baptism of the Spirit which came to him and his household showed conclusively that God's love extended to the Gentiles as well...

Question # 6.5 - Since the Bible itself does not say that the "Pentecostal" events subsequent to the first one were meant to confirm certain other groups, are we to accept this author's interpretation? Or does the Bible specifically say that there is no difference between Jews and Greeks, that God is no respector of persons, and that He is rich unto all that call upon Him?

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" -Galatians 8:28.

"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek,: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him" -Romans 10:12 & Colossians 3:11.

"For there is no respect of persons with God" -Romans 2:11.

QUOTE # 6.4-

• "John Stott reminds us, 'The 3,000 (Acts 2:41) do not seem to have experienced the same phenomena (the rushing mighty wind, the tongues of fire, or the speech in other tongues). At least nothing is said about these things. Yet because of God's assurance through Peter they must have inherited the same promise and received the same gift (verses 33,39)'...

• "This distinction between the two companies, the 120 and the 3,000, is of great importance, because the norm for today must surely be the second group, the 3,000, and not...the first."

Question # 6.6 - Were the 3,000 converts told they "shall receive" (future tense), or that they "had already received" (past tense) the gift of the Holy Ghost? And how do the 3,000 compare with us today, are we told that the Holy Ghost "has already been given" (past tense) or that the promise is also "unto us" (future tense)?

"...Ye shall receive (future tense) the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you...and to all that are afar off..." Acts 2:38-39.

As compared to-

"And they were all filled (past tense) with the Holy Ghost... -Acts 2:4.

"...The Holy Ghost fell (past tense)... For they heard them speak with tongues..." -Acts 10:44-46.

"...The Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning... as God gave (past tense) the like gift as He did unto us..." -Acts 11:15-17.

Question # 6.7 - In the book of Acts do we ever find new converts told that they "had received" (past tense) the Holy Ghost without it being told us specifically that there were outward manifestations?

Never once!

Question # 6.8 - Do the Apostles use the manifestations of the baptism of the Holy Ghost as evidence of God's acceptance of an individual?

"...On the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues... Peter rehearsed the matter... I saw a vision... and I heard a voice saying... What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common... And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how that He said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as He did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?" -Acts 10:45-11:17.

This same attitude can be found in James 2:15-17- "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

QUOTE # 6.5 -

• "Pentecost was an event then which included not only those who participated at that moment but also those who would participate in the centuries ahead. Perhaps we can use the atonement here by way of analogy. Christ died once for all; He died for members of His body who were not yet born or regenerated. Thus, you and I became members of His body by regeneration through the one time shedding of His blood. So also you and I in similar fashion now participate in the new reality, the Church. What was formed by the baptism with the Spirit at Pentecost is, on our part, entered into when we were made to 'drink of one Spirit' (l Cor. 12:13) so that each believer comes into the benefits of it at the moment of his regeneration even as, at the same time, he comes into the benefits of the shed blood of Jesus for justification..."

Question # 6.9 - How does the Bible use the Atonement by way of analogy? Since Jesus died "for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2) has the whole world been atoned through His death? Or does the Bible's analogy of the atonement necessitate any manifestations in those in whom the atonement is applied?

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" -l Corinthians 15:20-22.

"...The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a guickening spirit... The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven" -1 Corinthians 15:45-47.

"...If...we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled we shall be saved by His life. (The Spirit is life because of righteousness. Rom. 8:10). And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned... For if by one man's offences death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinner's, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" -Romans 5:10-19.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" -Ephesians 2:10.

"...If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you... If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, -ye shall live" -Romans 8:10-13.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" -Titus 2:11-12.

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" -Hebrews 12:14.

Question # 6.10 - Do these scriptures not show that each soul who truly partakes in the atoning work of Christ will outwardly manifest that new life in righteousness? God has promised us a glorious gift that the angels and Old Testament prophets have desired to look into. If we say we have received, past tense, that gift in faith, and yet have not received any thing especially glorious, then haven't we belittled the testimony of the prophets, and the promise of God?

QUOTE # 6.6 -

• "The clear indication is that baptism with the Spirit is connected with our standing before God, not our current subjective state; with our position and not our experience.

• "This becomes still clearer if we examine the experience of the Israelites described in 1 Corinthians 10:5. In these verses there are five alls. 'All under the cloud,' 'all passed through the sea,' 'all were baptised,' 'all ate,' 'all drank.' It was after all these things happened to all the people that the differences came: 'Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased' (1 Cor. 10:5).

• "In other words, they were all part of the people of God. This did not mean, however, that all lived up to their calling as God's holy peolpe. In like manner, all believers are baptised with the Holy Spirit..."

Question # 6.11 - In what way were those that came out of Egypt with Moses our examples according to the scriptures? Since they were being led to their promised land, can they be used as examples for those who are reaching for the promise of the Holy Ghost? And, what kept some of them from reaching the place of promise even though God Himself promised it to them, and led them every step of the way there?

"...All our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all bap[tised unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted, Neither be ye idolaters...commit...fornication...tempt Christ...neither murmer ye... Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" - 1 Corinthians 10:1-12.

"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end...Harden not your hearts (Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as you fathers did, so do you. Acts 7:51), as in the day of provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbielf. Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we hich have believed do enter into rest, as He said...(If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter... John 14:15-16; ...With stammering lips and another tongue... He said this is the rest, and this is the refreshing...Is. 28:11-12; The wind bloweth...and thou hearest the sound...so is everyone that is born of the Spirit... John 3:8) ...Let us labour therefore to enter into rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief" -Hebrews 3:14-4:11.

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" -Hebrews 10:35-36.

"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. For the promise is unto you..." -Acts 2:38-39.

End of Chapter Six. Please Continue with Chapter Seven

Bibliography for The Commandments of God, and the Traditions of Men Bible Study

Tom Raddatz