Before answering the question, "can sin be forgiven prior to receiving the holy Ghost
baptism", we must first ask another. And that is, "is being forgiven of sin, the same as
being sanctified?"
Clearly, when sins are forgiven, a person, in this new covenant, must also be
sanctified. For if sins remain, "sanctification" has not occurred. Conversely,
if sanctification has occurred, sins are washed away. All of that is to say that
"sanctification", and "having sins washed away", are the SAME EXPERIENCE.
Furthermore, if sins are washed away, and sanctification has occurred, that soul must
also be "born again" (or "born of the Spirit), because a person cannot be born again until their sins have been forgiven! So the reasonable person will confess the truth: whether we say "sanctification", or "born again", or "washed from sin", it is all the SAME EXPERIENCE.
That being understood, we must ask what is this "new birth experience" that washes sin
away, that sanctifies the human heart? The answer is clear to those who really want the
truth: "...but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1Cor.6:11). One
must RECEIVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
There is no such thing as being sanctified prior to receiving the Spirit of God. And
there is no such thing as receiving the Spirit of God without being put by the Spirit, AT
THE MOMENT ONE RECEIVES IT, into the body of Christ: "for by one
Spirit are we all baptized into one body". So if one has been put into the
body of Christ, he has been BAPTIZED by the Spirit! There is no baptism that does
this but the SPIRIT BAPTISM, and we know that when the Spirit baptism occurs, a
person speaks in other tongues.
To understand why sins are not forgiven prior to receiving the holy Ghost, we must
understand how "sanctification" occurs. Sanctification is the biblical word used to
describe the experience of becoming holy. It is only by partaking of God's holiness that
anyone or anything can be sanctified, for He is the only source of holiness (Rev. 15:4).
For His own purposes, God sanctified many different things and people in human
history, and the Bible is the story of that sanctifying work of God.
Under the Old Covenant, God sanctified certain times, and then He taught His people
how to conduct themselves during those times. Israel was taught how to "keep
the Sabbath day holy". Men did not know then, and we do not know now,
how to honor God unless God gives us clear instructions. God not only sanctified
certain days, however; He also sanctified certain weeks and years (such as the famed
Year of Jubilee) and gave directions to His people so that they might know how to
reverence those holy times as well.
God's presence also sanctified certain places, such as Mount Sinai and Solomon's
temple. God sanctified Canaan's land so that it would be worthy to be inhabited by the
sanctified people of Israel. God sanctified the people for Himself and the land for the
people. God kept everything in order; He did not (and does not) allow sanctified and
unsanctified people or things to mix.
By the atoning work of Christ Jesus, access to the Spirit of God (and, therefore, access
to sanctification) is provided for all who believe the gospel. The sanctifying touch of
God comes to man only in the name of Jesus. And how much holier it is to be
sanctified by the touch of God's own Spirit than it was to have been sanctified by the
sprinkling of animal blood, or the ashes of a red heifer, or olive oil! Carnal men at that
time did not appreciate what God was doing with those Old Covenant ceremonies; how
much less are carnal men now able to understand this wonderful, sanctifying holy Ghost!
When a person is baptized with the holy Ghost, at that moment he is sanctified; holiness
from the Lord is immediately transferred to him. The experience of being sanctified is
the baptism of the holy Ghost, also called conversion, the new birth, the washing away of
sins, redemption from sin, etc. Its many titles notwithstanding, it is one instantaneous
experience being described.
Some groups teach that before one can receive the baptism of the Spirit, he must
sanctify himself by conforming to a style of dress and conduct which they prescribe; but
conformity to an external, specified norm was an Old Testament method of
sanctification; in the New Testament, sanctification is accomplished only by the Spirit. It
is an instantaneous experience wrought by God, transferring His holiness to us. The moment the Spirit of God is "tranferred" into the human heart, forgiveness of sin, sanctification, and new birth occurs. What is the sign that it has happened? Jesus said you hear the SOUND of the Spirit EVERY TIME (Read John 3:1-8) ... and that sound is speaking in other tongues.
And while this work of "santification" is instantaneous, we must also acknowledge that
there is growth in sanctification. Entire sanctification is a process. It is
actually a growing in the knowledge of what our sanctification entails, for when we are
first sanctified, we are "as babes in Christ", and our minds are "yet carnal". It takes time
for us to break old habits and to realize what kind of new creature God has made us in
Christ. And so our goal must be to pursue "entire sanctification", to learn to live as
those who have been sanctified should live. Paul describes how those who have been
sanctified will live, and the lifestyle which those pursuing mature sanctification will strive
to live, so that we might perceive that standard when we see it: "And we
beseech you brethren, to know them
which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among
yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that
are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all
men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is
good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Quench not the Spirit.
Despise not prophesyings.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace SANCTIFY
YOU WHOLLY; and I pray God your whole spirit
and soul and body be preserved blameless
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will
do it" (1 Thes.5).
To live this way is IMPOSSIBLE unless one has received the baptism of the holy Ghost
with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. And more than that, it is the kind of
life that ONLY those who are being led by the precious Spirit of God are living. It is
true that sins cannot be forgiven prior to the holy Ghost baptism, for "if any
man have not the Spirit of Christ, he are none of his" (Rom.8:9). And it is
also true that "...as many as are led by the Spirit, these are the children of God"
(Rom.8:14). The call is for EVERY person to receive this "sanctifying"
baptism, and then to be led by that Spirit through this life to be "sanctified wholly".
When we do that, Jesus will say, "well done thou good and faithful
servant", and isn't that what the righteous are after?
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