Do People Receive the Spirit "Twice"?Despite what many, "for filthy lucre's sake" preach, there is no such thing as receiving the holy Spirit prior to receiving the holy Ghost baptism. There is no such thing as belonging to God's family without being baptized into the "body of Christ" by the holy Ghost (1Cor.12:13). There is no such thing as "two experiences" of receiving the holy Spirit (i.e. - once upon "accepting Jesus as Lord"; and another, upon receiving the baptism of the holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in tongues). The truth is, that nobody really has Jesus as their Lord until receiving the latter experience, for "no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost" (1Cor.12:3). In Paul's letter to the congregation at Rome, in an arresting and sobering statement, he clearly told them "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Rom.8:9). Paul is declaring in no uncertain terms that until one receives the holy Ghost, he is not a member of the family of God. Paul was talking about an experience which is a "sign to unbelievers" (1Cor.14:21-22) of the right way of Christ - the baptism of the holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. For men this is difficult to believe, because men "look at appearance", but God "knoweth the heart". When a person speaks well of Jesus, or claims "Jesus as their Lord", it is a test of our faith to believe that the one speaking may not really know Him at all! Paul said, "Let God be true, but every man a liar..." (Rom.3:4). It should not move the sincere children of God what other men say "about" Jesus. In order to judge "righteous judgment", we must look for the "witness of the Spirit", "for the Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Rom.8:16). In short, what man says is no good. "Profession" of Jesus as Lord is nothing. But "confession" is something that the Spirit does when we receive it, for the Spirit always "confesses" when it comes in. In truth, "confession" is only possible to those who have been baptized with the Spirit, because Jesus then makes that person able to confess that He has come into their bodies: "Every SPIRIT that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God" (1Joh.4:2). Notice that the apostle John said every SPIRIT, not every person that confesses. If the "holy Spirit" you received did not "confess" (in tongues) when it came in, you have not received it. And sadly, most settle for a substitute that does not amount to much . . . and in the end Jesus may say to them, "depart from me . . . I never knew you". The Apostle Paul, "as a wise master builder", laid the foundation of the congregation (1Cor.3:10). One of the seven unshakable "pillars" of that foundation, is that there is "ONE SPIRIT" (Eph.4:4-6). My friends, believe me when I tell you that it comes from evil, and leads to more evil, to teach that the Spirit of Christ (or the holy Ghost) enters a person twice - once upon believing, and again on being baptized with it. The intent of that doctrine is to provide a hiding place for souls unwilling to completely surrender to God. In other words, the intent of Satan is to embolden some to claim to have the holy Spirit, even if they have not been baptized with the holy Ghost. Do not be deceived. The foundation of God is sure, though many have tried to subvert it. We all should know that it is by being baptized with the holy Ghost that one becomes a member of the body of Christ. Again, as Paul wrote, "By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (1Cor.12:13). Some feel that this is a hard saying, but it is filled with love from God. Is not the baptism of the Spirit for "whosoever will"? Is not the door open freely to all? Anyone without the Spirit can ask God for it, and "Every one that asketh, receiveth." It appears to me that sometimes we can seek to disguise our stubbornness by condemning the truth. But there is no need for anger or strife. Let us receive his mercy, not quarrel with it. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (1Cor.12:13). This is an unmovable rock. Get on it, and stand there. It is the prerogative of every child of God to free himself from every unclean thing. Thousands have firmly set their minds to advance the theory that one receives the Spirit before being baptized with the holy Ghost, though the Master himself plainly taught otherwise. To those who believed in him, yet had not received the baptism of the Spirit, Jesus said, "He [the Spirit of truth] dwelleth WITH you, and shall be in you" (John 14:17). This is the condition of every one today who has begun to follow Jesus, but who has not yet received the baptism of the holy Ghost. The Spirit may be with them, guiding them, convicting them, reassuring them, but until they experience the baptism of the Spirit, the Spirit is not in them. And they are not "born again" yet, but being born again is receiving, or being born of the Spirt. If you have been persuaded to claim to have the holy Spirit, yet you have never spoken in tongues, please reconsider your position. Who is authorized to tell us that we have God's Spirit, but God? We can't even know it ourselves without the Spirit's witness. No one know's man's heart but God. Now, suppose in the end, the Spirit of God did not actually dwell in you? Suppose you have never fully repented, believed, or obeyed (read Acts 5:32)? Then you are in the flesh; that is, you are carnally minded and cannot please God. That is what the Spirit of God will change if you receive it. If you have the holy Ghost now, but believe it is possible to receive the Spirit without being baptized with it (with the evidence of speaking in other tongues), you are dangerously entangled with an "instead-of-Christ" (or "Antichrist") Spirit. John gives warning to all who claim the Spirit without having the Spirit's witness: "Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. And this is that spirit of Antichrist..." (1 Joh.4:3). Do not yield to this pretender to the throne of God. Those in whom the real Spirit of God dwells are to receive everlasting life. The Spirit of God is "the Gift" of God (Acts 11:15-17), and the gift of God is eternal life (Rom.6:23). What else should we want?
Questions? Log onto the Internet, Click Here, |