Religious Cults & False Prophets~ Discussions and DebatesCritical Identity of BaptismThe above passage of Scripture is referring to the offices of the work of the ministry of the Church according to Ephesians 4:11. It is also refering to the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Notice there is no mention of the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38; 10:45) which is evidenced by the sign of speaking in tongues. The SIGNS (Mark 16: 17,18) and the GIFTS (Acts 2:28; 10:45; 1 Cor 12:4-11) are two different things, separate and distinct from each other. I thought for sure the trinitarians above everyone else would at least understand what separate and distinct means. Trinitarians separate the Godhead into separate and distinct persons and yet merge the signs and gifts into one. You all got it backwards. Jesus stated plainly, "these signs shall follow them that believe..." (Mark 16:17,18) Notice Jesus did not say these signs shall follow some that believe, or a select few that believe. Notice one the signs that shall follow believers is "casting out devils". Yet that sign is not mentioned in the list of spiritual gifts. There is no gift of "casting out devils". It is a sign not a gift. The sign of "speaking in tongues" is the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost. All believers must receive the gift of the Holy Ghost in order to be saved that is why Jesus listed the sign of Spirit baptism in Mark 16:17. In Acts 2:38, Peter said, "you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost". He did not say some shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost or a select few shall receive the Holy Ghost but, "as many as the Lord our God shall call "shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. In Acts 2:4, all them that were gathered in the upper were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. There were 120 people in that upper room and every one of them spoke in tongues when they received the Holy Ghost. Not some of them and not a few of them but ALL of them. This is proof enough that the Spirit baptism is evidenced by the sign of speaking in tongues. But God foreknowing the hardness of men's hearts gave multilpy examples in His Word to put mockers and scoffers in their place. The prophet Isaiah prophesied about the Spirit baptism evidenced by the sign of speaking in tongues, "For with stammering lips and another tongue will he [God] speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear." (Isa 28:11,12) "this is the rest..."[noun]: 4496: menuwchah or menuchah: fem. of 4495; respose or (adj) peacefully; fig. consolation (spec. matrimony); an abode: - comfortable, ease, quiet, rest (ing place), still. "this is the refreshing..." [noun]: 4774: margeah: from 7280; rest - refreshing. 7280: raga: - break, divide, find ease, be a moment, (cause, give, make to) rest, make suddenly. Notice "stammering lips and another tongue" [speaking in tongues] is the sign of spiritual rest and refreshing. Jesus said, "I will give you rest" (Math 11:28). What rest would that be? - "rest unto your souls" (Math 11:29). Now this not the Sabbaqth rest of Hebrews 4:8,9 that refers to the Millennium but the Sabbath of the Spirit and soul. This is why certain days of the week do not matter as to what day to hold church services (see Col 2:16,17). Every day is a Sabbath to the born again believer. For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink only, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom 14:17). Paul confirmed Isaiah's prophecy of speaking in tongues as a sign of the Spirit baptism, "In the law it is written, WITH MEN OF OTHER TONGUES AND OTHER LIPS WILL I SPEAK UNTO THIS PEOPLE; AND YET FOR ALL THAT WILL THEY NOT HEAR ME, SAITH THE LORD." (1 Cor 14:21). Paul further explains that Isaiah's prophecy refers to "tongues" as a sign to unbelievers - not the spiritual gift of tongues. In Acts 10:45, the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentiles. The Gentiles in this group are identified as Cornelius and his kinsmen and his near friends (Acts 10:24). The verse further states Peter and the Jews that with him were astonished that the Holy Ghost had been pured out on the Gentiles and how they could tell the Holy Ghost was indeed poured out on the Gentiles was by the fact, "they heard them speak with tongues". That was the evidence and the sign to Peter and the Jews that God had poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost on those believers. Now for some reason, Aineo raised the question as to why hands were not laid on them to receive the Holy Ghost in this account. This account simply shows believers may receive the Spirit baptism with or without the laying on of hands when one takes into consideration the other accounts in Acts. I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost by the laying of hands as in Acts 19:6. But my grandmother some years ago at the age of 81 received the Spirit baptism just like the ones did in Acts 10:45. My grandmother injured her leg in a fall and asked if she could be prayed over for healing. So my two sisters, my mother, a minister from the church and myself went to her house to pray for her. Before we could lay on hands on her the Spirit fell on her. She got up out of her chair , threw down her cane as the cataracts she had fell off her eyes and she began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave her the utterance. Not only did the Lord heal her but He filled her with the Spirit. My grandmother believed all her life in Jesus but did not receive the Spirit until she was 81 years old. So Aineo's argument is irelevent. Like I said before, I live what I believe. God confirms His Word with signs following (Mark 16:20). The signs confirm that God's Word is true to the unbeliever. The signs serve as a testimony that Jesus Christ really is who the Bible claims He is. 1 John 4:17 further states, "...as he [Jesus] is, so are we in this world." Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday and today. He still casts out devils and heals the sick. He is not the great "I Was" but the Great I AM. And as He is, believers are in this world. If He still casts out devils then believers shall cast out devils. If He still heals then believers shall lay hands on the sick... And before some mocker replies, "but Jesus did not speak in tongues" I will settle that foolish contention now. Of course Jesus did not speak in tongues since the birth of the Church did not and could not happen until after the resurrection and ascension. The New Covenant had not yet been instituted. The Spirit baptism is part of the terms of the New Covenant as is repentance and water baptism. Notice Jesus had no sin to repent of either. The terms of the New Covenant only applies to sinful mankind in need of a Saviour. Jesus had no need for a Saviour because He was and is the Saviour. In the case of John's baptism, Jesus simply submitted Himself to the ordinance of the day to "fulfill all righteousness" on sinner's behalf. Those who were baptized according to John had to be re-baptized in Jesus' name in Acts 19:1-7 which shows Johns' baptism was not valid in the New Covenant. The terms and signs of the New Covenant are not optional. God is not sitting in heaven, pleading and wringing His hands, saying, "Let's make a deal". He's saying, "THIS IS THE DEAL!" God has kept His end of the deal and we are to keep our end. That is what Covenant relationship is about. |
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