Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Scripture is clear if we are open, right | Acts 11:1 | Phillip | 4813 | ||
Ray, I think you may be a bit quick to assume from the scripture which Sharp quoted "that we must speak in tongues to prove that we have received the Holy Spirit". The focus here is upon HOW Peter and all the circumcised believers KNEW that Cornelius and his close friends and relatives (Acts 10:24) had received the Holy Spirit. Verses 45 and 46 clearly state how, [45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.] NASU. God used signs and wonders to begin His church (Acts 2:43, 4:29-30,5:12, 6:8, 14:3, Rom 15:18-19 and Heb 2:4) first with the Jews Acts 2:1-4, and then with the Gentiles starting with Cornelius, (see Rom 1:16) . This was promised by Jesus in Mark 16:17, ["These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;] NASU However, this was not to be the case for all believers as Paul relates in 1 Cor 12:30 [All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?] NASU. Furthermore, Perter stated in Acts 2:38, ["Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.] He did not include speaking in tongues OR that tongues that appear as fire must fall upon those receiving salvation even though that very thing had just happened to him and his fellow believers that very day! Some may contend that the gift of the Holy Spirit which Peter refers to means the sign of tongues but that seems to be disputed by Paul's statement above and the gift of the Holy Spirit is not limited to tongues. The term "gift of" for both phenomena seems to separate them as all other gifts are separated, and no other gift is expected to be immediately evident for salvation. Every believer receives the "gift of" the Holy Spirit to be sealed and to be enabled for ministry by receiving gifts of the Spirit, [1 Cor 12:4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. and 1 Cor 12:8-10, 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.] NASU. So although God chose to show evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit in the early church by pouring out the gift of tongues upon salvation, He did not continue the sign to all believers. As for being baptised in the name of Jesus, Peter is clearly stating that requirement. Paul finds a group of followers in Acts 19 who were in need of this very thing, [Acts 19:1-6, 1 ... Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.] NASU. These believers help to explain that water baptism does not save as they were baptized into John, [Matt 3:11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.] NASU. John told the people to "believe in Him who was coming after him" which is what places us into the baptism of Jesus. It is by belief (trust) in Jesus that we are baptised into Jesus name, [Rom 10:9-10, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.] NASU. By the way, these believers also prophesied but no one claims that prophesy must be an evidence of salvation. If I have helped at all, to God be the Glory, Phillip |
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2 | Scripture is clear if we are open, right | Acts 11:1 | Makarios | 6901 | ||
Amen Phillip! I have been confronted by this idea- 'that one should speak in tongues upon receiving the Holy Spirit' before and I must say that you gave a great response! The two people that have confronted me on this issue (because of their church) were women who believed that you must speak in tongues to inherit salvation. This couldn't be farther from the Truth! I believe that speaking in tongues is one of the many gifts of the Holy Spirit (a gift that I do not have), but it is not in any way, shape, or form a prerequisite for salvation or 'evidence' that one has received the Holy Spirit. You gave the best and most succinct answer available by saying that the best 'evidence' for one receiving the Holy Spirit is a changed life! Amen! God bless, Nolan | ||||||
3 | Scripture is clear if we are open, right | Acts 11:1 | Hiram Abiff | 6908 | ||
I was raised in a Oneness Pentecostal church (tongues required for salvation) till the age of 15, at which point I quit and didn't go to any church until age 42. I was recently saved at a church that believes in tongues as a sign but not a requirement. This is also my present belief based on reading the Bible. I've seen people praying for hours in a very highly charged emotional atmosphere, being pulled on, rocked and yelled at until they seem to be experiencing physical and emotional fatigue. This seems to be the point that most speak in tongues. It would be very interesting to see a study of how many people who were brought to Christ in this manner continue to be practicing Christians after say six months. | ||||||
4 | Scripture is clear, right? | Acts 11:1 | Hank | 6912 | ||
Dear Hiram Abiff, your name sounds as though you are from the East, or have been to the East! Your post is as a note, but it contains a question, to wit: "The Scripure is clear if we are open, right." Well, there are parts of Scripture that are indeed clear, even to a simple person like me. And there are other parts of Scripture that are not clear, not to anyone this side of heaven. But the Scripture is crystal clear on who Christ is and what one must do to be saved......I'm quite unacquainted with the beliefs and practices of certain faiths, including the procedure you outline in your note of being "pulled on, rocked, and yelled at" in order to bring someone to Christ. I have never read any Scripture that would even remotely appear to support such a practice as you describe. Do you happen to know how these people justify their ritual, or whatever it is? By the way, Hiram, welcome to the Study Bible Forum. --Hank | ||||||
5 | Scripture is clear, right? | Acts 11:1 | Hiram Abiff | 6931 | ||
Thanks for the warm welcome. I am actually a redneck from Katy TX. The screen name came from a running joke on another board about the Freemasons trying to take over the world. The practice is not so much a ritual as a tradition I suppose. It seems to be done through over-enthusiasm, but with the sincere desire to win souls for Jesus. I should have made my point clearer. I feel that focusing intensely on one gift or feature of salvation and the wonderful “Jesus experience” can be so counter productive as to drive a person away from Christ. (Other interesting features of this doctrine, men may not wear short sleeves or have facial hair. Women cannot cut their hair, wear any makeup or jewelry including wedding rings. Television, G rated movies and the Internet are all sins. Etc., etc.) Being a new Christian that counts his time in the church in weeks, and has little bible knowledge, I am very grateful for this board. Of course I realize that not everything I read here is correct or accurate, but it is still a blessing for a young Christian. Christian, Husband, Texan, American |
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6 | Scripture is clear, right? | Acts 11:1 | Hiram Abiff | 6935 | ||
Dear Hank, I just reread your comment and realized I went off on a tangent and didn’t answer your question. Their whole doctrine is based on the 2nd. chapter of Acts. Their reading of the account of the day of Pentecost is that not only did the people who were saved on that day speak in tongues but also this set the rule for all future people who are saved. This makes tongues at the time of salvation a requirement. If you debate the issue with them they usually say tongues is the (not a) sign that the Holy Ghost has entered your body, but if you do not experience tongues you are not saved in their eyes. I personally have no desire to be saved in any human’s eyes, but in Jesus eyes and my heart. By the way I believe the full plan of salvation is Acts 2:38. Christian, Husband, Texan, American |
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