Is the Holy Spirit actively working today? Also, Is the Holy Spirit necessary for salvation?
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On the issue of the Holy Spirit being active today, you would need to define your meaning of "active".
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The Holy Spirit is gifted to us when we are water baptized for the remission of sins.
Acts 2:38
Peter said to them, “Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit.
So the issue of need the Holy Spirit to be saved is moot.
But according to the apostle Paul, we cannot even be a Christian without the Holy Spirit:
(Rom 8:9) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Which is why Paul was water baptized in Acts 22:16.
"What are you waiting for now? Get up! Be baptized, and have your sins washed away as you call on his name."
So are you saying that Paul did not become a Christian on the Damascus Road, but only a few days later, when Ananias was sent by God to baptize him?
1 John 4
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.John 14
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.John 14
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
It's a very serious issue.
2 Thessalonians 2
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 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:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 3
5 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.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 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.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
Nope. Acts 10:44-48
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God.
Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.
Spirit baptism preceded water baptism.
Yes, but it took folks in Acts a few years to realize that WB is analogous to PC:
both are optional although appropriate rites/works that should signify SC/SB, which is the essential event
(Eph. 4:5, 1Cor. 12:13, Rom. 2:28-29, 5:5, 8:9).
Acts 2:38 is not negated regardless of who, when or why the Holy Spirit was given in Acts 10:44-48.
Your point is moot.
Because from breathing threats and hatred against the followers of Jesus, (the very reason he was going to Damascus was to round up any Christians he could find, and take them to Jerusalem for punishment) he is changed amazingly to calling Jesus, "Lord", and asking Him what he should do, and then obeying immediately.
Not only that, but Paul never taught that WB was required in order to be saved, although is an apt rite portraying faith in the atonement of Christ. (Eph. 4:5, 1Cor. 12:13, Rom. 2:28-29, 5:5, 8:9)
No, my point is that everyone should understand synonyms for "surrendered life".
Please see what I just posted in the thread about The Holy Spirit for some examples regarding sanctification.
Shouting may be appropriate at times, and so may speaking in a still small voice.
Both-and; different gifts.
GHW, most if not all consider a surrendered life a works based salvation. They are still in the grip of the mistranslated words believe, believer, and believing. And i guess in the name of unity, you support them.
Should I dig up all your posts that say the Holy spirit is given at the moment of belief instead of a "process" that starts with a surrendered life?
Well, surely you don't view a surrendered life as works based salvation, and my creed does not support that view either.
Rather than dig up old posts it would be more productive/constructive for you to propose an amended creed as I invited you to do on the thread about The HS/GW. Thanks.