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NASB | 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. |
Subject: why is baptism important |
Bible Note: AMEN! We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit at baptism. You seem to disagree that there are 2 different aspects of the Holy Spirit here. In Ephesians 1 Paul talks about the Holy Spirit as a seal and pledge. (vv 13 and 14). This in no way implies "Spiritual gifts" of miraculous proportion. This is an internal Spiritual function, a mark, a sign, a seal, a guarantee. Not all New Testament Christians had miraculous ability. Miraculous ability was no evidence of spiritaul maturity either. Just look at the Corinthian church where some were claiming superiority because they spoke in tongues while others did not. Paul does not praise them but tells them to grow up. Paul speaks of these miraculous manifestations as signs to unbelievers (1 Cor 14:22). These are Christians. They have received the "indwelling" Holy Spirit or the Seal of the Holy Spirit as a sign to God that they are His. But in 1 Cor 14:1 Paul tells them to desire Spiritual Gifts (implying that some of them may not have had these gifts). In the Language of Acts 2:1 and following the Spirit came "upon" them. In Acts 10 the Spirit was "Poured out" on them. A gift external with external signs. A gift "of" something can be "from" that person or thing or a gift of that person or thing him/it-self. This is not a divided Spirit but different aspects of the Spirit received at different times by the same person/s. There is a receiving by outpouring and a straight gift and these are two different things. Or is this impossible? Yours in Christ Tim Sheasby |