Do you believe Scriptures?
Acts 8:16 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
These received the Holy Ghost with no water baptism, but by merely laying on of hands. This i am not making up.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
[SUP]15 [/SUP]Who, when they were come down,
prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
[SUP]16 [/SUP](
For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
[SUP]17 [/SUP]Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
So then Brother Saul according to the above also recieved the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, NOT water baptism, again not making this up, it is what Scriptures plainly teach.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
[SUP]12 [/SUP]And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
[SUP]14 [/SUP]And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
[SUP]16 [/SUP]For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
[SUP]17 [/SUP]And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, [SUP]2 [/SUP]He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Again we see when a person who has the Holy Ghost lay their hands on another believer they receive the Holy Ghost, again this example was not done by water. So then clearly a person can receive the Holy Ghost not only by one method but several methods according to Scriptures. There is Scriptural proof that the Holy Ghost is given by the laying on of hands, there is Scriptural proof that the Holy Ghost is given BEFORE someone is baptized by water, there is Scriptural proof that the Holy Ghost is given DURING someone getting baptized by water, there is Scriptural proof that the Holy Ghost is given AFTER people were already baptized by water. So the teaching that the Holy ghost is ONLY given to those who are water baptized is in error and is indeed contrary to sound doctrine. WATER baptism does not SAVE a person, Holy Ghost baptism is what SAVES a person, anyone can be water baptized, that does not SAVE a person to believe that is to believe the teachings of men and not what Scriptures teach.
No one is denying these things happen, the question is whether it is the norm or were they special circumstances ...
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [SUP]2 [/SUP]And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.