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NASB | Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God]. [John 7:39; Acts 2:33] |
Bible Question:
Hi, I am a 25 year-old female who was raised in a baptist church. Currently, I attend a "word-of-faith" ministry. In this ministry, tongues is considered evidence of the holy spirit. Due to my background, I am familiar with tongues and do not find it strange-but is this the only evidence of the Holy Spirit? If so, how do I recieve it? If not, what are other signs of recieving the Holy Spirit? |
Bible Answer: Hi 850Davis, Welcome to the Forum. I was saved in a Baptist Church, so our backgrounds are similar in that sense. I believe the WOF movement places undue emphasis on the "spiritual gifts"-especially tongues! That tongues is considered "evidence of the Holy Spirit" is a stretch. It may be ONE of the evidences but certainly not the only- and at that a lesser of others. Eph. 1:13 tells us that "...having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise..." The believer receives the Holy Spirit upon salvation- 1 Cor. 12:13 makes this abundantly clear. It is both interesting and telling that Paul ends his treatise on love in 1 Cor. 13:13 with, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three, but the greater of these is love." Ask yourself, 'what is the overall emphasis of chapter 13?' Then, he commands us to ,"Pursue love and desire spiritual..." in 14:1. He doesn't say pursue tongues, but love. I think love is most certainly an "evidence" of the Holy Spirit in us. Christ commanded His disciples that if they loved Him they would also love one another (John 15:12) Scripturally, tongues is not emphasized to the extent that it is in the WOF movement today. I always like to ask- a bit facetiously- "do you have the gift of love?" I hope this helps, BrtadK |