Receiving the Holy Ghost

BIBLE DOCTRINE II

LECTURE 43

PNEUMATOLOGY – CONTROVERSIAL DOCTRINES II

BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST (Part II)

RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST:

John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

The “giving” of the Holy Ghost was accomplished at Pentecost. After this one time ‘giving’, the new believers then would be receiving Him, as they do today, almost 2000 years later.

In every reference to the reception of the Holy Spirit beyond the book of Acts, it is mentioned in the past or fulfilled tense (1Co 2:12, 3:16, 6:19, etc). 1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

The confusion centers around there being a delay to actually receiving the Holy Spirit once saved. This was done in order to show them very clearly that the Holy Ghost was really ‘indwelling’ them: for in the O.T. this never happened. It was an ‘authenticating’; it was especially important for the Jews to understand that the formerly-hated Gentiles would also have the gift of the Holy Ghost. I believe that all those that were saved after Pentecost would immediately receive the Holy Ghost just as we do today. It was just those unique ones that were saved prior to Pentecost that there would be this ‘authentication’. This was all new, and God wanted it to be solidly believed by those believers that they indeed had the blessed Holy Ghost indwelling their spirit.

Potentially the whole church had received the Holy Ghost prior to the day of Pentecost!

John 20:19-22 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Who were the ‘them’ that Jesus ‘breathed’ upon here to ‘receive the Holy Ghost’? It was at least the 10 apostles (minus Judas Iscariot, for he wasn’t saved, and minus Thomas, for he was stated as not being present (v.24). But, it seems much more likely that just about the whole ‘church’ was assembled together; It was the Lord’s Day; they were assembled together and were fearful; the term ‘disciples’ can surely be referring to the church members there. This all happened a week or two prior to Pentecost… thus, the baptism with the Holy Ghost was not to give the Holy Ghost to initially indwell the saints, but rather to indwell and empower them corporately, as a church body.

Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Church had just been empowered by the Holy Ghost on this day of Pentecost, and the Senior Pastor Peter began preaching to the crowd that witnessed it all. These lost Jews when saved would receive the “gift”. And, subsequently, all who would then believe from this time forward would immediately “receive the gift” of the Holy Ghost. This was called a ‘gift’, not ‘the baptism’.

Acts 8:14-19 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

These folks in Samaria heard and believed the gospel and thus were saved. But, they did not know about the Holy Ghost. They needed to be taught about Him and then shown dramatically that He did come and indwell each of them. There was a delay here until it could be shown through a “sign” that something unique had truly happened. Thus, there was the drama of laying on of the hands. These newly saved folk were not yet part of a Church body there in Samaria. When one was properly organized, it would automatically have the corporate indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This ‘falling upon’ I believe speaks in an individual sense, much like the ‘come upon’ at Pentecost in a corporate sense.

Acts 19:2,5,6 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Here, as in Acts 8 with the Samaritans, the Greek folks were saved but had not received the Holy Ghost. He had to be given in a special way so that they would indeed know that it indeed happened. This occurrence was accredited via laying on of hands and the tongues and prophesying. We Christians today know that the Spirit indwells the believer at the moment of salvation because we have the completed perfect word of God… those Greeks, and others, did not. T

Acts 10:44-47 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

And, Acts 11:14-18 is Peter’s review to the brethren at Jerusalem of Acts 10:44-47, and the Gentiles reception of the Holy Ghost – Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

The Gentiles even were getting saved, which astonished the Jews. They indeed received the gift of the Holy Ghost also. He was poured out on them and fell on them. Some believe this to be a similar event to the day of Pentecost and it was the accreditation of the Gentile ‘Church’ having now the power of the Holy Ghost corporately. These teach that this also happened to the Samaritans in Acts 8, the Romans in Acts 10, and the Greeks in Acts 19. I believe that the baptism occurred one time, and that to the Church at Jerusalem. This power was then transferred through the Scriptural beginnings of new Churches in these areas. These other events were authentication of individual reception of the Holy Ghost, not corporate empowerment (baptism).

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The Holy Spirit indwells the believer at salvation. The Romans here already had Him indwelling. But, some did not receive Him at salvation (the O.T. saints, the N.T. saints prior to Jesus Christ’s ascension, and the N.T. saints who had not been in an area where there was an “accreditation” to the Holy Spirit being given to believers). John 14 speaks of the saints that possibly had the Holy Spirit in them personally (with you), but not yet in them corporately. This corporately would take place in Acts 2. Otherwise, what does it mean that “He dwelleth with you”? Maybe, in the personage of Jesus Christ?....

‘Christians are never told to seek the baptism with the Spirit. After Pentecost there is no record of Christians waiting for this baptism. The Apostles taught that every true Christian has the Holy Spirit (Ro. 8:9; 1 Jn. 2:20,27). Throughout the Epistles it is taken for granted that the believers have the Holy Spirit (Ro. 8:1-27; 15:13; 1 Co. 3:16; 6:11,19; 12:3-11; 2 Co. 3:18; 13:14; Ep. 2:18,22; Ep. 3:16; 4:3,4; 5:18; 6:18; Ph. 1:19; 2:1; Co. 1:8; 1 Th. 1:5; 5:19; 2 Ti. 1:14; 1 Pe. 1:2,22; 1 Jn. 3:24). Similarly, every reference to the reception of the Holy Spirit after the book of Acts is in the past or fulfilled tense (Ro. 5:5; 1 Co. 2:12; 3:16; 6:19; 12:13; 2 Co. 1:22; 5:5; Ga. 3:2; 4:6; Ep. 1:12-14; 2:22; 4:30; 1 Th. 4:8; 2 Th. 2:13; 2 Ti. 1:14; Tit. 3:5,6; 1 Pe. 1:2; 1 Jn. 2:20; 3:24; 4:2).’ (David Cloud)

ACCREDITATION OF THE NT CHURCH

That first church, and all others birthed out of her, were totally immersed corporately in the Holy Spirit; they then became the ‘temple’ where the Holy Spirit would dwell with man…much like in the O.T. tabernacle and temple.

1 Cor 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

There are four physical temples mentioned in the Word of God (in addition to the physical body of the Lord Jesus Christ and the physical body of the believer — to which this illustration equally applies!) and in each case, God authenticated them by filling them with His glory:
a. The Tabernacle — Exodus 40:33,34 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
b. Solomon’s Temple — II Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from
heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.
c. The New Testament Church — Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sifting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
d. The Future Millennial Temple — Ezekiel 43:4,5 And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east...the glory of the Lord filled the house.

A temple is defined as the dwelling place of God. His present-day temples are His churches. In each case, when God’s appointed temple was built, He manifestly filled it with His presence. ‘Upon this rock I will build My church…’

"The outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost paralleled the glory of the Lord filling the Tabernacle and the Temple. All three events authenticated and accredited the subsequently new place for the Lord's presence, worship and service. The ekklesia became the institution through which the Lord would work, and he accredited it with the sign of tongues to the Jews (Acts 2:1-4).” (Thomas Strouse)

“As the church was established by our Lord in his lifetime, and commissioned by him, it was God's building; it was the true temple. But in his absence, after his ascension and until the Spirit came, as a temple it had no shekinah; as a house it had no occupant; as an ecclesia it had no attestation. We thus see how the baptism in the Spirit was "unto" the church” (B. H. Carroll)