Hi Stones,
Stones: I agree it does look like Jesus is speaking just to the Apostles, but in verse 15, Luke says 120 were gathered and they all received the baptism.
Wolf: where is it written in Vers 15 that the 120 received the baptism and which baptism you mean?
Stones: Jesus said His body would do greater things because He goes to the Father.
Wolf: You mean John 14,12?:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than
these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Wolf: Here Jesus spoke to the Apostels and it came truth after the Holy Spirit came. Do you will claime that we today
have the same power as the Apostels had? There is a difference!
Stones: ok, so just to be sure I am understanding you....no miracles today, no evangelism, no 5 fold ministry in the church, no gifts, no healing, no raising the dead. Does your church not have a Pastor?
Wolf: No this i mean not: Faith to Jesus is in first line not coming through miracles, healings, raising the dead. It is coming
to tell the Gospel, the word of God. And if the Holy Spirit is not opening the heart, then you can do healings so
much if you want, it will be in vain and the people only want be healed but not want to follow the one who did it.
This we can find in Gospels and Acts.
Also we can find in Gospel and Acts that all miracles and healings finally done for one Purpose: To show that Jesus
is the Christ, the son of God. Read John 20, 30+31.
I was around 20 years involved in mission ministry in India. And people came to the Lord also, because he heals
them. through prayer from the church ore from the Missionaries (no pentecost ore charismatic) I believe also he is
useing today also miracles, with the purpose that people came to Christ. But in first way he is uesing his word!
In our church is a Pastor and we have also eldest.
Stones:
Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Joh 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soeversins ye retain, they are retained.
Wolf: This verse is difficult to lay out: And among the scholars are different meanings. In greek is not written
the Holy Ghost.
It is written Holy Ghost. Also they had not the Power! And also it is written that the Holy Spirit will came when Jesus
is turened to heaven. This all speaks against that they had a baptism with the Holy Spirit. Also Thomas was missed
when Jesus blows them on.
Stones: Its up to you whether you choose to believe this or not.
Wolf: I believe scripture more then man made suggestions
Stones: John was preaching repent and baptizing. Preparing the way for the ministry of Jesus. I assume they were.
Wolf: So it is only a asssumtion, but not scripture proofed.
Stones: Acts 2,38:Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord
our shall call.
Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward
generation.
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all
filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Act 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that
ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
This scripture shows that a multitude of people all together can receive at one time. The promise is to all.
Wolf: to this verses is to say that we dont find this today! It´s also to mention, that the baptising for remission of sins is
only mentioned in connection with jewish people!
Also it is important to note that only those receive the Holy Spirit who were called!
Acts 4,31 is not talking about receiving the Holy Spirit, but filled with the Holy Spirit. This is different. A believer can
only one time receiving the Spirit, but he can several times be filled with the Spirit.
Stones:may i ask which gift?
Wolf: Its the gift to distiguish the spirits
Stones: we might think different things about many things if we didn't have history to teach us. We would understand much
more if we knew all that the Jews did. Thats the great thing about the web. We can research.
Wolf: I would be careful. It can help to understand. But it can leads us also astray. I trust the word of God more than human
wisdom. Normally the bible needs no outward explaining.
Stones: the blood sacrifice of Jesus and belief that He died and rose from the dead is our salvation. The baptism of Holy
Spirit is for service, to do the same works. If you say you live in Him, walk as He walked.
Wolf: to be born again has in my eyes following aspects: Jesus is calling me, I believe Him, I recognize to be a sinner, I
repent from sin and I ask him to come into my heart, He gives me the Holy Spirit.
It is not possible to be a believer without having the Holy Spirit! Nobody can be born again, without having the Holy
Spirit.
What you mean do the same works?
Stones: I can't make you believe, but I did point to the Word that says it's the will of God for all.
Wolf: When you are right, why then the teaching about the second baptism and the gift of speaking in tongues came in
1900 ad and was not taugth in bible and in the whole church history?
If you believe that acts 2, 8, 10 and 19 are a proof for this theory, than you should read the context for to find out
the meaning of this events and you will find. This verse are no proof for an extraordinary doctrine which you can find
behind the scripture.
I have to repead: till know nobody could show me scripture proof for this doctrine which spread over the world since
1901.
That it became a big movement is no proof to me to be right. In the 2nd century was also a big movement, the
Montanists and even Tertullian became later a member of this sect. Montanus their funder claimed to be the Holy
Spirit, the Paracletus. (this was only around 160 ad and this movement stays till the 6th century) Look to the today
biggest sect the RCC.
Stones: I see that Passover represents salvation by hearing the gospel and believing. Pentecost as already discussed.
Tabernacles as the fullness of His glory.
Wolf: We are not Jewish. Where is the scripture proof for this assumption?