“You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Romans 8:9 HCSB
Is there a difference between the Spirit, the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of Christ? Is this also The Holy Spirit?
I can see no difference between the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ, as we would expect since Jesus is God in the flesh, so would the Spirit be God in the spirit. This also would be the Holy Spirit.
You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Holy Spirit, since the Holy Spirit lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Holy Spirit, he does not belong to Him. Romans 8:9 Brian. I am not trying to add to the Bible or take away from it but rather clarifying.
So then how do we get the Holy Spirit? And what is the difference between the Holy Spirit at conversion and the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
“While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? ” “No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then what baptism were you baptized with? ” he asked them. “With John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the One who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in other languages and to prophesy. Now there were about 12 men in all.”
Acts 19:1-7 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/act.19.1-7.hcsb
These 12 disciples of Jesus had been baptized into the ministry of John for the repentance of sins and were Christians, but they did not receive the Holy Spirit. they had not experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And when they had experienced the baptism they began to speak in tongues. They may have experienced salvation from one of the many people who left the upper room before the Holy Spirit fell on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
So then we can know that there is a filling of the Holy Spirit that comes after salvation. And this is the Baptism of The Holy Spirit. John’s baptism was with water for repentance of sins and is represented by salvation today. During this baptism, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.
“After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him.”
Matthew 3:16 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/mat.3.16.hcsb
Jesus now will baptize anyone who is willing with the Fire of the Holy Spirit.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove His sandals. He Himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn. But the chaff He will burn up with fire that never goes out.”
Matthew 3:11-12 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/mat.3.11-12.hcsb
I feel no way qualified to talk about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I have only experienced speaking in tongues once and I shut up quickly during. The best I can do is just show examples from the word of God explaining the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The best way I can explain the difference between the Holy Spirit at conversion and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is at conversion you get the Holy Spirit and the in baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit has you.
Last of all if you don’t have the Holy Spirit you are not saved. All of us Christians have the Holy Spirit one way or another. And those who are non-Christians or pre-Christians do not have the Holy Spirit. It is our job to live according to the Law of life because it is given and directed by the Spirit.
If your wondering if you have the Spirit or not my best answer for you is to find Jesus right now! Make an alter where you are sitting and commit to being a living sacrifice for God for the rest of your life. If you are wondering about the baptism of the Holy Spirit read Acts and the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) to find how the Church acted under the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
“for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:5, 8 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/act.1.5,8.hcsb
Many people will say that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit has stopped along with speaking in tongues. But I beg to differ. The Holy Spirit may be hampered by most of our churches in America but He is still ever-present in everyone’s lives who wants Him to be.
“On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. I will even pour out My Spirit on My male and female slaves in those days, and they will prophesy. I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.”
Acts 2:16-19 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/act.2.16-19.hcsb
The Holy Spirit was poured out in the first days of Christianity and has been poured out to anyone who desires Him. And will be poured out in greater amounts the closer we get to the return of Jesus.
“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.”
I Corinthians 13:8 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/1co.13.8.nkjv
“Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for languages, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.”
1 Corinthians 13:8 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/1co.13.8.hcsb
I believe this is talking about languages like Latin, Hebrew, and other languages that are “dead” and not the heavenly language of speaking in tongues.
“In the same way, the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.”
Romans 8:26 HCSB
Comments
Post a Comment