The Holy Spirit is what empowers the "Church".
John 1:[SUP]12 [/SUP]But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:[SUP]13 [/SUP]Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
This is a reminder which reproves point # 4 below and at other parts of your reply below.
What the baptism of the Holy Spirit is NOT:
1. It is not " The Second Definite Work of Grace" I have heard some use this term but I have not seen it in the bible nor have more qualfied teachers than I. If there is second then maybe a 3rd or 4th too? I believe in the continual growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18)
2. it is not the Second Blessing again if there is a second why not a 3rd or 4th? I do not believe this to be a biblical expression used in the bible.
3. it is not Sanctification That is long topic and I will just say that right now but "Sanctification" is part of the Chritians daily
life. (LV 27:14)
4. it is not the New Birth The Baptisim with the Holy Spirit is subsequent to, and distinct from , The Lords Regenerative Work.
To expound on reproving point #4 above is Jesus's own words.
John 3:[SUP]5 [/SUP]Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.[SUP]6 [/SUP]That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[SUP]7 [/SUP]Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.[SUP]8 [/SUP]The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
So being born again is being born of the Spirit. No Nicodemus is asking how one is born again as in saved.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?[SUP]11 [/SUP]Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.[SUP]12 [/SUP]If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Now Jesus is telling us how.[SUP]
13[/SUP]
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Now Jesus is hinting of His ascension as to when believers will be born again will happen.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Certainly will happen after His crucifixion in linking to happening after His ascension.
Now Jesus says how one is born again as in saved.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.[SUP]16 [/SUP]For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Now... if you separate receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit as separate from salvation, then you have this reproof.
Romans 8:[SUP]9 [/SUP]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.
So being born again as in being born of the Spirit is when a believer is saved. With the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ & the Father in them, they have eternal life because God is with them, thus they are saved as in His.
Ephesians 1:[SUP]11 [/SUP]In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:[SUP]12 [/SUP]That we should be to the praise of his glory,
who first trusted in Christ.[SUP]13 [/SUP]In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,[SUP]14 [/SUP]Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.[SUP]15 [/SUP]Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
For clarifying point #3, it is true that there is a sanctification during our walk with Him by faith ( see 1 John 1:3-7 ), but as far as salvation goes, the sanctification of the Spirit & the belief of the truth had occurred at the hearing of the gospel.
2 Thessalonians 2:[SUP]13 [/SUP]But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:[SUP]14 [/SUP]Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.[SUP]15 [/SUP]Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
The samaritans Acts 8:5-8,12 Acts 8:14-17 records thier expirence
They were not saved until they had received the promise of the Spirit. Romans 8:9 says they are not His until then.
The 12 men at Ephesus who were believers Acts 19:2
Those 12 men were not believers in Jesus Christ; Paul knew they were some kind of disciples but found out that they knew nothing about the Holy Spirit and inquired further to find that they were disciples of John the Baptist's. They were not believers in Jesus Christ nor baptized in His name for anybody to call them believers in Jesus Christ or His disciples. Paul had to tell them about Jesus Whom John the Baptist was preaching about and then those 12 men got baptized in Jesus's name and then they had received the promise of the Holy Ghost.
Just some truths to reconsider and discern by Him.