The whole Body of Christ is Baptized with the Holy Spirit
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we
be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all
made to drink into the one Spirit." 1 Cor. 12:13. I'll ask. Which
constitute this one body? Answer: All those who are baptized by the
one Spirit. We can also turn over the question. How many members
of the body are baptized by the Holy Spirit? Answer: ALL. "For by
one Spirit are we all baptized..."
No matter how we are turning the word "all" in this context, it must
include all those who belong to the body. These are all baptized by
the same Spirit. A person, who is not baptized by the Holy Spirit,
cannot belong to the Body of Christ.
In 1 Cor. 12:29-30 we also find the word "all". Do you think that
these verses include any others than the verse 13 ? These verses
29 and 30 tell us that, among all those who are baptized by the
Holy Spirit and who constitute the Body of Christ, not all speak
in tongues. There are different kinds to speak in tongues, but that
cannot change what that is written in the verse 30. Do all speak
with tongues?
In the Body of Christ it is not all that speak in tongues, but all
those who belong to the Body of Christ are baptized by the Holy
Spirit. This Spirit, which we have received, is a seal for the day of
redemption. Without this seal anyone is not ready when Jesus
comes. Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor. 1:22. Gal. 3:14. "Now if any
man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom. 8:9.
In Acts 1:8 says Jesus, "But ye shall receive power, after that the
holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me ..."
Many Christians mean that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is only
some equipment and a power to witness about Jesus and to serve
him. Then this power to testify about Jesus would be a "sign" of
the baptism by the Holy Spirit like much as the speaking in tongues.
Yet, many who speak in tongues do not show any special power or
frankness to testify about Jesus.
Many Christians trust more in their preachers than in the Bible.
They are not examining the sermons if they are according to the
Bible. Instead of believing in the Bible direct, they believe what
people have said about the Bible. Largely their Bible-knowledge
consists of a doctrine about the Bible. Accordingly, they have a
doctrine about the doctrine. They take out the one bible-word
after the other to confirm the doctrine they have about God's word.
Within the Pentecostal Movement, and even in other churches, they
have a teaching about what the Bible teaches about the baptism by
the Holy Spirit. They are so fixed to this teaching that they cannot
think that it is any fault with that. When they read in the Bible
about the baptism by the Holy Spirit, then they have this thought
already when they open the Bible, that all those who are baptized
by the Holy Spirit must speak in tongues, and those who don't have
this "sign" are not baptized by the Holy Spirit. They presume this
doctrine before they consult the Bible. Therefore, they cannot see
or understand what the Bible teaches regarding the baptism by the
Holy Spirit.
They misunderstand their own experience. They have once
received Jesus as their personal Saviour and have been born anew.
Since, perhaps after many years, they have got the gift to speak in
tongues. Then they think that this was the baptism by the Holy
Spirit. For now they have the "sign".
A fact is that they received the Holy Spirit as a gift already when
they were born anew. When we are born again, then we are born
into the Body of Christ, and we belong to God's family. Eph.
2:19. In the Body of Christ, there is everyone baptized by the
Holy Spirit. Even those who don't speak in tongues.
1 Cor. 12:13, 30.
The baptism by the Holy Spirit is not the same as to get the gift
to speak in tongues though many get this gift at once when they
become baptized by the Holy Spirit. The baptism by the Holy
Spirit is more than so. It also includes the new birth.
A limited knowledge of the baptism in the Holy Spirit causes a
limited and wrong view of the Assembly of God. The Assembly
of God is only those who have received Jesus Christ as their personal
Saviour, independent of the Pentecostal Movement, churches and
denominations.
Allan Svensson
Please, visit my Web Site and read these articles:
22.Gospel and Theology
23.Why must many Christians wait long time for the Baptism with
the Holy Spirit?
24.The Promise of the Spirit that Jesus "forgot"
25.The Whole Body of Christ is Baptized with the Holy Spirit
26.God's Spirit gives us life
http://www.algonet.se/~allan-sv/CONTENTS.HTM
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