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NASB | John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 7:38 "He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, 'From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.'" [Is 58:11; John 4:14] |
Bible Question:
Greetings all! I have recently written in one of my posts that I believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation. If you disagree with this statement, then when exactly does the Baptism of the Holy Spirit occur, since water baptism can only be undergone when a believer has shown evidence of faith and the Baptism that has happened within? |
Bible Answer: This could be scary, for me. Recently in my Christian life I had the privilege to here a friend and fellow believer (but from a different camp) relate to me what he meant when he used the phrase “baptism of the Holy Spirit”. For him it centered around the action of the Holy Spirit Baptizing us all into one body, the Body Of Christ. It started to alarm me that my friend was claiming the without the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” we could not be saved or enter into heaven. Now for me the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is understood in a classic Pentecostal format, (second work of Grace) empowerment to be a Witness Unto Him, Acts 1 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. I realize that not everyone shares this view. My life was radically changed when I prayed for and received the “Baptism” at Jesus ’74 near Mercer, Pa. I and we (the Christians I fellowshipped with) referred to this experience as the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit”. I often wondered how nonpentecostal believers treated this phrase and the pertinent scriptures. Some would like to say that there is but one baptism, Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, ; this is obviously referring to the action of the Holy Spirit inserting us into one body. To make a doctrine out of one baptism though would be hard since Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. I was taught that baptizo can also mean to be penetrated by not just immersed into. I knew that I had received Jesus as my savior before this and was confident of my being found in Him on that last day, but I was severely lacking in my ability to speak up for My Lord. Afterward I found (to my employers frustration) that I could not be quiet any longer. This was the evidence that Father reminded me of when I asked Him if I had indeed received the “Baptism”. I do not think it is correct though to officially label this action “The Baptism of the Holy Spirit “ since I don’t find this exact phrase ever used in the Word for this specific event in a Christian life. The phrase “infilling of the Holy Spirit” might be less arbitrary. I said all that to set the seen for my answer. From my experience that has brought meaning and life to the Word of God I accept that there is I different and subsequent work of Grace to be done in each and every believer. The book of acts records at least two different types of examples that are clear to me. At the house of Cornelius we see that the knowledge of “sins forgiven” and the infilling with the resultant speaking with other tongues occurred together. When Philip preached His message many heard and believed, but Peter and John found it needful to pray for the converts to receive The Holy Ghost of which they had not heard of. Cornelius’ did not hear of The Holy Spirit either, but they received Him none the less. For those the have not considered, salvation is a life long experience (growth), and without The Spirit of the Living God to aid us or even do the work of transforming us we would remain spiritual babes , always in need of milk, never learning or exercising our senses to be able to discern both good and evil. I do not hold that a believer must have the Pentecostal experience to either be saved or grow in the Lord, but He sure cuts through a lot of inability’s that I could not have done easily without The Holy Spirit penetrating every fiber of my being (something that needs constantly refreshed). Romans 8v26-28. |