Bible Question (short): curious about your response |
Question (full): I consider myself part of the Pentecostal-charimatic movement and was wondering how you deal with their reasoning behind the "initial Physical evidence" belief? 1st argument: In the Book of Acts the accounts of people being "baptized (filled) in (with) the Holy Spirit" usually occur after a persons salvation. An example would be the day of Pentecost. So, the Baptism or infilling of the Holy Spirit must be a subsequent act follwing a believers Salvation. (Non-Pentecostals came up with a doctrine called the second-work of Grace after observing this pattern in the book of Acts. Salvation was the first work of Grace and Complete sanctification was the second work of Grace.) 2nd Argument: Every account recorded in the book of Acts except 2 follows with the Baptizee speaking in Tongeus. The 1st exception was the Apostle Paul who we know spoke in tongues because of his testimony in 1 Cor. and what better time to receive the gift of tongues than at his Baptism. The 2nd instance, Simon the Sorcerer saw something dramtic happen to the individuals who were baptized in the Holy Spirit and scripture records that he wanted to purchase the ability to administer the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Something spectacular must have happened to solicit this response--I read one commentary that stated that Simon saw the "changed lifes of the believers" and wanted to have this ability. That is kind of weak in my opinion. Something more dramatic had to have happened than that to solicit that kind of response. 3rd argument: The gift of tongues covered in 1 cor. refer to a special gift used in church and is different from the tongues that accompany the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (surprisingly RC Sproul believes this as well!) I talked to my Pastor about this and he said that a person can speak in tongues one time at his baptism and never again and be considered "baptized in the Holy Spirit." I am very curios to your, or anybody else who is part of the Pentecostal-charismatic movement, response to these two arguments. I personally agree with you on this issue, but I guess 10 plus years believing a certain teaching will take time to work through. |