Holy Spirit Baptism

Can You Tell Me About the Holy Spirit Baptism?

When we are talking about the number of times the baptism of the Holy Spirit was administered, people seldom confuse that with the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The gift of the Holy Spirit refers to the miraculous gifts that were given to others when the apostles laid hands on them (See 1 Corinthians 12 for a list of these gifts).  Now, they did not receive the Holy Spirit baptism, but merely, part of that gift.  In Acts 2:17-18, we read there of this pouring out of the Spirit upon the Jews and later, the Gentiles (Maids and Handmaidens).  But, this was not baptism.  Baptism is defined as “to plunge or dip,” not pour.  In Acts 8:17, we have another example of this gift.  Now, as to Cornelius in Acts 10, he too received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:45), but the text does not say that this was the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Also, the text does not point to only Cornelius, but to other Gentiles who were there (Acts 10:44).  As to the number of times the baptism of the Holy Spirit was administered, there are two and they all involve the apostles.  But, let’s look a little further into the matter.

In Matthew 3:11-12, John the Baptizer said that Jesus was coming to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  From this passage, we learn first, that Jesus is the one who administers this baptism.  The Holy Spirit or anyone else cannot perform this baptism.  Second, knowing that the purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was to reveal the word of God and to confirm the word of God (1 Peter 1:10-12), we learn that John is saying that either you will receive salvation from the word that will be presented or you will receive judgment because you have rejected that word.  You see, this verse is talking about inspiration, not salvation or something else.

Now, this baptism of the Holy Spirit was promised by God to the apostles in that they would be guided into all truth (John 14:26).  How do we know it was them?  Because the text says that the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance what Jesus had already taught them.  Furthermore, when we look at Acts 1:5, it states, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”  Who is Jesus talking to?  He is not speaking to the multitude with him.  If you will take the time to follow the pronouns from this verse all the way through Acts 2:4, you will clearly see that only the apostles received this baptism of the Holy Spirit, that is, they were full of Him.  And, these men all received authority (Acts 1:8), they were all made ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:18-20), they were all witness of the resurrected Lord (John 15:27) with Paul also being a witness (Acts 9), they were guided into all truth (John 14:26) and they were confirmed as true teachers of the truth (Hebrews 2:1-4).

Now, if someone says that we have the Holy Spirit baptism today, one needs to find out exactly what they mean because without a great deal of studying in the matter, it can become confusing.  I mean, we do have the consequences of the Holy Spirit baptism today.  It is called truth (John 17:17).  However, remember that the Holy Spirit baptism was limited to the apostles.  As for Paul, when you look at Acts 9:1-16, you will see that he too was baptized with the Holy Spirit.  But, as to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit today, what this means, according to the Bible, is that you believe Christians have the ability to perform miracles.  But, the problem with this is that people do not get wisdom miraculously today otherwise there would not be so much division in the church, they do not get knowledge of the word of God miraculously today because Paul said it vanished (1 Corinthians 13).  We are not given faith miraculously today, no one is able to heal miraculously today otherwise the hospitals would be empty.  No one can work a variety of miracles today as Moses did in Exodus otherwise they could end world hunger and give the glory to God.  No one receives prophecies miraculously today because Paul said they would cease and they have.  No one can miraculously discern or read the hearts, minds and soul of men.  No one is able to miraculously begin speaking a different language that they know nothing about, nor can one interpret miraculously a foreign language they have never heard otherwise the mission fields would be filled of them and would have no need of translators.  None of these gifts of the Holy Spirit exist today because miracles were designed to confirm the word of God (Mark 16:17-20) and it has already been confirmed.  Besides, the only way that the miraculous could be given was by the laying on of the apostles hands (Acts 8:14-19) and they are all long gone.

Now, indeed a person does change into a new creature, but according to Romans 6:1-4, it happens at baptism.  They arise from baptism and walk in newness of life.  Being baptized is the only way God will remove our sins (Acts 2:38) and without being born again from baptism, we cannot inherit eternal life (John 3:1-5).  It is only then, that a man becomes a Christian and allows the word of God, which was given by the Holy Spirit, to dwell in his heart.

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Lord, To Whom Shall We Go

“LORD, TO WHOM SHALL BE GO?”

The question in our heading is a question that the apostle Peter posed many years ago to the question from the Lord, “will you also go away?” There have been many times in my life that I have mentally asked myself the same question that Peter ask, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” The Bible reference reads, John 6:68, “Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” ASV

PETER’S ANSWER

The answer that Peter gave to the question that Jesus ask him indicates that Peter knew for sure that there was no other person to whom one could turn to gain the knowledge of salvation from sin. The understanding that Peter reveals to us about his estimation of Jesus knowledge indicates that he believed very deeply that Jesus was the Messiah. We can have the same kind of confidence in Jesus today because we have the completed Bible that attests to His Divinity.

JESUS HAS WHAT ALL MEN NEED

There is not a person living today that does not need to be saved from their sin. Since this is man’s condition he needs to hear and heed the words of Jesus. As Peter says of the Lord in the context here, “… thou hast the words of eternal life.” Nothing in this world is more important than knowing to whom we must turn {i.e., heed} so that we will be able to solve the problem of sin in our life today. Jesus later says, “And ye shall know the truth and  the truth shall  make you free” John 8:32. We must always be aware of the fact; Jesus has the answer to sin in our life. Indeed, man can be saved from his sin if he is willing to seek it in the teaching of Christ and in his apostles teaching also.

AM I AS FAITHFUL AS I SHOULD BE?

There may be many Christians that periodically ask themselves the question, “Am I as faithful as I should be?” The question is a valid exercise in self-examination that each disciple ought to consider regularly. The Bible instructs us “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? –unless indeed you are disqualified” 2 Cor 13:5. {NKJV}

HOW TO DETERMINE FAITHFULNESS

How do we determine if we are faithful? The Bible is our rule or gauge in determining the quality of our religion. We cannot and must not seek to determine the degree of our faithfulness based upon the faithfulness of other disciples cf., 2 Cor 10:12, “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” NKJV.  We must be honest about ourselves and our relationship to God based upon whether we are abiding within the teaching of Christ – cf., 2 John 9, “Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son” ASV. 

JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT

As we look personally within our own heart we will be able to judge ourselves correctly based upon how we are reacting to the instruction of Christ. Indeed, we can know what is expected of us by the Lord by reading the Word of God. We can also know whether we are applying the truths as we learn them from God’s Word.

IDENTIFYING THE TRUTH

Jesus said of the truth, “and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” – John 8:32. Jesus also tells us how to identify the truth in John 17:17 where He says, “Thy word is truth.” I cannot think of a greater bit of information for the disciple of Jesus than to know that God’s Word is TRUTH. We may know whether we are as faithful as we ought to be because we have the truth to guide us in our lifestyle. If we are living according to the Divine instructions we know that we are faithful if we are not then we know that we are unfaithful, This is not hard to understand for the person that really wants to know.

EXAMINE SELF!

Always examine self; don’t spend your time examining others. Many times we cannot judge another’s actions because we cannot read their mind. We may know them by their fruits but we must not attribute to other people’s actions, motives because we can not know why a person does what they do all the time. Let us keep a close check on self and remain faithful.

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Prom and Promiscuity

Each year, around April and May, High Schools typically hold a dance called Prom.  Traditionally, this dance features boys and girls of the school decked out in gowns and tuxedos.  Historically, the dance oft represented the first celebratory steps into adulthood.  Families work together with their young folks to make the event memorable.

Typically, young men escort their female “Prom date” from home, to the dance, and back again.  While the “Prom date” is still the most prevalent feature, increasingly young people opt instead to come in groups of boys and girls instead.   Sometimes the young people will be escorted by a prominent actor or actress as a publicity stunt.  Recently, one girl decided not to come with a young man, but instead arrived with a cardboard cutout of famous NFL quarterback Tim Tebow.  Everyone at the dance embraced the cutout with great humor.

The other day I went to the local “mom and pop” store.  The store sits about three blocks from the local High School.  Gathered around the store counter, the store owner and some of his clientele stood talking.  The topic of the hour happened to be Prom.  The adults talked of the alcohol they consumed at their proms and the same alcohol consumption they see surrounding prom every year.  They talked not with disappointment about how the students would make foolish decisions during the evening, but with resigned chuckles.  The store owner pointed out how young folks come in for condoms so they can have sex with their dates.  When they don’t have the change, he just hands the condoms over for free.  “We don’t want them to have any accidents.”  As I overheard him, I commented, “The decision to have sex doesn’t happen by accident.”  More chuckles rose from the group with affirmative “yups”.

The store owner and the others around him accepted without any religious bias the fact that prom is an event surrounded by lust (James 1:15), lasciviousness (Matthew 7:21-23), premarital sex (I Corinthians 10:8), alcohol (I Thessalonians 5:8), and other worldly actions.  Many Christian parents refuse to accept the reality of this sinful event or at least they choose to ignore its reality. Prom exposes their children to a stumbling block (Matthew 18:6) and temptation (2 Timothy 2:22).  All of these activities find condemnation in scripture.

The girls at the events typically dress quite immodestly.  There attire often exposes most or part of their thighs, stomachs, backs, breasts, and shoulders.  God identified this as nakedness and covered those areas completely in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).  Young men should be ashamed for such girls and blush at the sight of them.  However, their lusts drive them forward and they no longer know how to blush (Jeremiah 8:12).  The girls’ thoughts dwell on the grand event.  The boys’ thoughts dwell on the bodies of the young women.  The girls in their foolishness defraud the boys (I Thessalonians 4:3-6).  The boys acting as willing accomplices pursue the girls (Proverbs 5).  Prom and promiscuity walk hand in hand.

At many proms, open homosexuality now displays itself along with the other sins.  The pit gets deeper and deeper, the mire thicker and thicker.  Parents with common sense, most Christian parents and some parents with no religion at all, refuse to allow their children to participate in prom.  They understand prom endangers the purity of their child (Proverbs 6:27).  They want their children to be good examples, not bad.  They desire their children to focus on purity not evil (Philippians 4:8).  This year as the opportunity arises, encourage grandparents, parents, friends, and young people to give prom a big thumb down.  Just say “No” to Prom.

Galatians 5:16 – “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

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The Insult that Became a Compliment

It was a time where the Jewish religious leaders were opposed to Jesus Christ. They had not listened to anything that He had to say, and they were pushing towards the time when they would murder Him through the hands of the Romans. One such religious leader—a lawyer—came to put Jesus to the test. His motive was to tempt or trap Jesus through His words, and specifically, through His knowledge of the Law of Moses—something that the lawyers (at this time, those who were “experts” in the Law of Moses) supposedly knew quite well. One of the amazing things about this occasion is that it completely changed our conception of a word. Before the unfolding of this event, the word “Samaritan” was an insult that might have had none uglier. As a matter of fact, on one occasion when Jesus backed the Pharisees into a corner through His argumentation, they exclaimed in exasperation, “…thou art a Samaritan…” (cf. John 8:48). Nevertheless, should one refer to us today with the words, “He or she is a good Samaritan,” we would count it as one of the highest compliments that we could receive. What has made the difference? It was the story that Jesus told “a certain lawyer” on a fateful day (Luke 10:25-37).

In response to the question from the lawyer, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus tested the ability of this lawyer in two ways. First, He questioned his knowledge — “You have been reading the Law of Moses; so you ought to know what is written.” Second, Jesus questioned him, “How have you been reading it?” These are two important questions for all students of the Bible. It is very important to be good readers of the word of God, but it is equally important how we read (and interpret) it.

Evidently, he was good at what he did, because he gave the correct answer (Luke 10:27-28) by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. On another separate occasion, another lawyer comes to Jesus (Matt. 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34) with the question, “Which is the first and great commandment?” In this instance, Jesus quoted the very same passages that this aforementioned lawyer gave. Thus, the lawyer in Luke 10 had evidently learned some things from his studies.

Yet, the problem arose with its execution—the lawyer asked, “And who is my neighbor?” Thus, Jesus provides an infamous parable to teach the lesson that love serves. The problem with this religious leader is not what he knew, but in its execution—an important lesson for many of us today. Far too often, the problem we have is not in our knowledge of the Bible, but it is in our execution of what it says. Rather than asking ourselves, “Am I as the Samaritan, or am I as the priest or Levite?” maybe we should rather ask ourselves, “Am I as the Samaritan, or am I as the lawyer?”

Do not forget that this account began with a theological question—“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus took the question (and subsequent answer) out of the temple (where the Levite and priest would work and associate) and put it down on the rugged road from Jerusalem to Jericho. I have seen many congregations post a sign in their buildings above their doors, “Enter to worship; exit to serve.” This is the practical answer that Jesus gave. If we truly have love for God and our neighbor, then we will practice such outside of our assemblies wherever people have need. We should never limit redemption to our place of worship—this is what the priest and Levite did—but we should practice the principles of redemption on the roadside. Sorrow, need, sympathy and mercy know no racial boundaries or nationalities.

Jesus epitomized completely everything stated about this unnamed Samaritan. His mission was to spend His life doing good for others while accomplishing the will of the Father. Through His influence, He intends to make Good Samaritans out of us all—Jesus will accomplish this when we love God and love our neighbors as He taught in this parable. How much more may I accomplish in service to my God? There are always people in need, and there is room for growth in my life. I need this in my life! If the church at Southwest (or anywhere else for that matter) wants to grow, things will change as we strive to become Good Samaritans—no longer an ugly insult, but a glorious compliment, especially by the Son of God!

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Can You Sin In Heaven?

IF YOU ARE IN HEAVEN, CAN YOU SIN AND GO TO HELL?

This is an excellent question.  Now there are some who logically assume that you can sin in heaven.  Otherwise, Jehovah has spent a lot of time and effort protecting free will, only to take it away.  And, since Satan and his angels rebelled in heaven, we know that we can rebel and be kicked out.  And so, there are many who believe that you can have free will to do what you want in heaven.  Furthermore, they think that since Satan and his demons were cast out of heaven, since there can be no sin in heaven, therefore, a person who willfully sins while in heaven, would lose their privileges and be exiled from heaven.  Well, there is a Hebrew word for this explanation: H O G W A S H.

There will be no more sin.  In fact, you could say that there would be the impossibility of sin.  Everyone is purified.  Even though people may have free will, we will not be able to sin because the creator, originator and designer of sin is Satan and since he is not there, there will be no sin.  Today, we have the choice of free will to chose Satan and sin or God and his will.  But in heaven, Satan can no longer compete for our choice.   This is somewhat like Henry Ford’s exclamation regarding the color choices available for the Model T, “You can have any color you want as long as it’s black!”  In heaven, you can have any righteousness you want as long as it’s God’s righteousness.

Now, in Rev. 21:4, it states, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”  In Rev. 21:27, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”  And so, since sin brings forth death (Rom. 3:23-33), without death, in heaven we will be without sin.  Nothing will enter that will defile.

Thus, as Paul points out in Rom. 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  There will be a glory that is nothing like we know here.  And we will be forever with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:17).  Forever paints the picture of the impossibility of leaving heaven.

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