Hello Gregor,
My view of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and salvation is that they occur simultaneously for we don't belong to God if we are not indwelt by His Spirit.
Romans 8:9
"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
I am familiar with the teaching that this baptism occurs at a later date after salvation but how can this be so with the above verse?
Look at the simplicity of Ephesians 4:5 "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."
Isn't that the spiritual baptism of which I mentioned with Dan. Not the obedient work of water baptism or a separate spiritual baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Like yourself I am a fervent supporter of the Trinity as it rests in God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit in that order.
I agree that God the Father sends the Spirit as your scripture references show.
Being filled with the Holy Ghost that I see in scripture is as with Stephen in Acts 7:55 Paul in 13:9 and as described in Ephesians 5:18
I've done studies with friends on this issue which invariably comes to tongues and the gifts. Always peaceably. I do not speak in tongues but have done my DD on the topic.
Our church is a marvellous cross section of people coming from a tremendous variety of backgrounds, Baptist, Free Methodist, Pentecostal, you name it we got it so the doctrinal opinions are many especially in the private home Bible studies.
I should have known it wasn't necessary to test the waters in my previous post with you my friend. Many people are sensitive on this topic, I am not. Scripture is a wonderful foundation.
God bless,
John |
