Are the holy Spirit and the holy Ghost the Same?

From Genesis to Revelation the holy Spirit is given various descriptive titles, such as, "the Spirit of God" (Gen.1:2), "Spirit of the Lord" (Isa.11:2), "Spirit of Grace" (Zech.12:10), "holy Spirit" (Luke 11:13), "Spirit of Truth" (Jn.14:17), "Comforter" (Jn.15:26), "Eternal Spirit" (Heb. 9:14), "Spirit of Adoption" (Rom.8:15), "Spirit of Life" (Rom.8:2), "holy Ghost" (Mt.1:18), and many others too numerous to mention here.

Numerous also are the things we are told the holy Ghost does, which in another place the Spirit is said to do. For examples: Sanctification: by the holy Ghost (Rom.15:16); by the Spirit (2Thess. 2:13). Spiritual gifts given: by the holy Ghost (Heb.2:4); by the Spirit (1Cor. 12:4). Believers taught: by the holy Ghost (1Cor.2:13); by the Spirit (Jn.16:13). Believers pray: in the holy Ghost (Jude 20); in the Spirit (1Cor.14:16). Dwelling in saints: the holy Ghost (1Cor.6:19); the Spirit (Eph.2:2.)

There are many similar instances involving the use of various titles of the Spirit. In 1 Samuel 10:6, Samuel tells Saul that the Spirit of the Lord will come upon him, but when it happens (v.10), we read that "the Spirit of God came upon him". For another example, we find in Acts 5:3 that Ananias and his wife "lied to the holy Ghost", but in verse 9 it was the Spirit of the Lord against which they had sinned. Again, using Joel's voice, God promised that He would "pour out my Spirit upon all flesh" (2:28). When this wonderful prophecy was fulfilled in Acts 2:4, the promised Spirit is called the holy Ghost. And to confirm this, Peter says in verse 16, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." Time and space forbid the presentation of more examples, but the point is amply made: There is one holy Spirit, called by many different names.

Why is this important? Because some wrongly teach the holy assembly that receiving the Spirit of God, and receiving the baptism of the holy Ghost (with the evidence of speaking in other tongues) are two separate experiences. This error is the greatest cause of confusion and division among God's people today. The "born again" experience that Jesus Christ said every member of his assembly was to have IS the baptism of the holy Ghost, and nobody has ever been born again without it despite what Christian ministers will tell you for "filthy lucre's sake". Let that sink in. NOBODY has the Spirit of God, unless they have been baptized with it and spoken in a heavenly language just as the disciples first did on Pentecost morning.

Consider carefully and prayerfully, please, the words of the gospel writers, as each describes the Spirit as it came upon Jesus, when he was "about 30 years of age":

• "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw THE SPIRIT OF GOD descending like a dove, and lighting upon him." (Matthew 3:16)

• "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and THE SPIRIT like a dove descended upon him." (Mark 1:9-10).

• "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened. And THE HOLY GHOST descended in a bodily shape like a dove, and it abode on him." (Luke 3:21- 22)

• "And John bare record, saying, I saw THE SPIRIT descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him." (John 1:32)

Now, unless a flock of doves descended from heaven, THE SPIRIT OF GOD that Matthew saw is THE SPIRIT that Mark and John saw; and they both are THE HOLY GHOST which Luke saw. My friend, can't you see that only one dove descended upon Jesus? and that one dove was given different titles by the gospel writers?

The application of various titles is actually intended for our benefit, for much can be learned about the holy Spirit from its many titles. For example, when Jesus' disciples were saddened by the news that he would soon leave them, Jesus referred to the Spirit which would be sent to them as, "the Comforter". And when Paul spoke of our admission into the family of God, he referred to the Spirit as "the Spirit of Adoption". Jesus gives us an impression of the holy Spirit as "the Spirit of Truth", saying, "He will guide you into all truth." And since Christ Jesus declared himself to be the truth (Jn.14:6), the "Spirit of Truth" is obviously the "Spirit of Christ".

Paul taught very clearly that the holy Ghost, the holy Spirit, and the Spirit of Christ were the same. We can see this most vividly in Paul's letter to the congregation at Rome. In an arresting, sobering statement we read: "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, for as we have shown, the Spirit of Christ is the holy Ghost. The Apostle Paul, "as a wise master builder", laid the foundation of the congregation (1Cor.3:10), and one of the seven unshakable pillars of that foundation is that there is "ONE SPIRIT". (In Eph.4:4-6, the full list of these seven pillars is given). 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 is not the holy Ghost. The intent of that doctrine is to provide a hiding place for souls unwilling to surrender completely to God. In other words, the intent of Satan is to embolden some to claim to have the 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 holy congregation. 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.

Thousands (millions?) 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" (Jn.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. You should never allow any man to tell you that you have God's Spirit dwelling in you. Jesus told Nicodemus that God Himself bears verbal witness through the tongue of every person who receives the holy Ghost.

Despite what many "deceivers" and "deceived" preach, there is no such thing as belonging to God's family without receiving the holy Ghost baptism. One can join an organization of man's own contrivance without having the holy Ghost, but, as Paul uncompromisingly taught, "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." 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.

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