I'll try to break this down by topic. Please forgive that it means I'll be pulling out one piece before answering the other. Sorry for the length.
Holy Spirit (He is not a ghost...that is an old English word for spirit...the Holy Spirit is a Person)
You are correct that the Holy Ghost / Holy Spirit is a 'Person' and therefore he has a name, not just a title/descriptor. (If someone claims to have him, they ought to learn his name. )
Holy "Ghost" and Holy "Spirit" is the same original word just translated as one or the other by the KJV translator. Technically, the "holy" is most often not even capitalized (for those who think capitalization is important one way or the other.)
I usually use "Holy
Ghost" when talking about the permanent indwelling of the Spirit of God that was and still is poured out (since/after Jesus departed to the Father) that is also referred to as being baptized with the Holy Ghost in the KJV (
Matt 3:11,
Mark 1:8,
Luke 3:16,
John 1:33,
Acts 1:5) ...which indwelling/outpouring began occurring on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
you cannot receive the Holy Spirit without being 'born again'.
I believe a person shouldn't be claiming to be born again UNLESS they have received the Holy Spirit and definitely not
before. (Born of water perhaps, but not born of the Spirit)
a person is born again when they receive Christ as their Savior.
A person is born of the
Spirit when they
receive the Holy Spirit (are baptized in the Holy Spirit).
That is an observable moment because the spirit bears witness (provides evidence). Acts 2:4, Acts 8:17-18, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:6
God does not give His Spirit to those who are not saved.
If any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is NONE of his. (Romans 8:9) Why would you call someone "saved" before they receive the Holy Spirit?
I definitely see it in the opposite order that you seem to be presenting. I'm not going to be telling someone they are 'saved' if they don't have the Holy Ghost. (except in the less-salvational idea of the word)
perhaps you can share how you know you are saved...a believer...how did that happen for you
I don't use the word "saved" the way you do. I'm guessing you cannot tell who in your church is "saved" and who is not. (Including your pastor.. which means you don't even know if he's of God or not). That makes your usage questionable in its value.
Because that word isn't more useful for me than it is for you, I tend not to worry about labelling people with it.
I
can tell you when a person is
baptized in Jesus name for remission of sins. I
can tell you when they
receive the Holy Spirit. I can roughly tell you what constitutes being
a disciple.
Belief will show in the actions "These signs shall follow them that believe..." etc. I can show what makes a person a
child of God (or not). But I just don't feel the need to apply the particular label that you rely on so heavily. I rather encourage and follow the admonitions of Philippians 2:12 and 3:13.
In the book of Acts, God provides thorough accounts of people going through various steps/stages. Acts 8:12-16 clearly designates particular stages and follows the progression without the need to declare "Now you're saved" at any particular point. It clearly designates one point when they "
believe" and another point where they "
were baptized in the name of Jesus" and says they have "
received the word of God" and states that even with all that they yet had NOT
received the Holy Ghost. (They DO receive the Holy Ghost in verse 17). Are you going to call them "saved" before verse 17?
I pray you find some value in my answer (even if your first reaction is to scoff). In any case the word will still accomplish what it is sent to accomplish.
Love in Jesus,
Kelby