No, unless they are born AGAIN they cannot enter the kingdom of God, which was Jesus' message to Nicodemus. You state what the BELIEVERS did, how would one know what they believed unless they had confessed their belief in Jesus? THEN they repented and were water baptized in the name of Jesus, were baptized in the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues.
Do All Religions Lead To God?
- Thread starter Reddogs
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P.S. Except if you have not received salvation BEFORE being baptized means you just got wet.
As the account at Pentecost reveals those who believed in Jesus still needed to repent and have their sins remitted in water baptism and receive the Holy Ghost in order to be born again. This truth is witnessed over and over in Scripture. And we know from scripture that sin cannot enter the kingdom of God. Note just a few of the scripture references:
Jesus said, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3
"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." Rom. 8:9
Scripture reveals that receiving the Holy Ghost/Spirit does not happen the instant a person believes in Jesus:
Luke 11:13 Jesus said, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ASK him?"
Acts 19:1-7 Paul asked, "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?"
The account reveals the men submitted to baptism in the name of Jesus. And afterward received the Holy Ghost as well.
Acts 8:15-17 "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."
Acts 2:36-42 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, ... (At this point they believed in Jesus and asked Peter what they had to do) ...
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.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
Acts 10:43-48 - In this case people received the Holy Ghost while Peter was still speaking. The concensus as why this happened was in order to convince the Jews that God intended for Gentiles to be given the opportunity to acquire the NT rebirth. Notice Cornelius and his household still had to submit to being water baptized in the name of Jesus after receiving the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:43-48).
Where I perceive the difference is is that there are, or can be, two experiences involving the Holy Spirit, the indwelling and the coming upon. The indwelling, IMHO, occurs at the heart belief and mouth confession of the Lord Jesus and that God has raised Him from the dead and we are THEN baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. He, the Spirit of the Son, will never leave nor forsake us. The coming upon of the Holy Spirit is when Jesus baptizes us in the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11) for service, to be empowered to do the works of the spiritual gifts given to us starting in 1 Cor. 12:4 and is for, as I said, service" to profit withal "(1 Cor. 12:7) and is not permanent. Of course if one believes that those spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Cor. 12 disappeared with the Apostles, you won't or can't operate in those gifts. I am not one of them. " Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: AS THE FATHER HATH SENT ME, EVEN SO SEND I YOU." John 20:21 " I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and HAST LOVED THEM, (just) as Thou hast loved Me." John 17:23. If God loves Jesus (just) as those who believe in His Son and Jesus sends His followers (just) as His Father had sent Him, would He send those who believe in Him any less equipped then His Father had sent Him? God is no respecter of persons and if God loves me (just) as He loves Jesus, than He respects me (just) as He does Jesus. we are both persons. Remember, Jesus said " Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth 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." John 14:12. Jesus also said " These signs SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE; in My name SHALL THEY cast out devils; THEY SHALL speak with new tongues; They SHALL take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; THEY SHALL lay hands on the sick, and they SHALL recover." Mark 16:17-18. But if you don't believe those signs follow you, they won't. * Parentheses mine * P.S. To operate in the spiritual gifts of 1 Cor 12 and for those signs to follow you from Mark 16, you must first believe what Jesus said and" be endued with power from on high." Luke 24:49, baptized in the Holy Spirit.
What you state concerning two experiences is a somewhat common belief. However, I don't see that confirmed within scripture.
Prior to His resurrection, Jesus told His apostles that the Holy Spirit was currently with them but would be in them in the future. We know He was speaking of the Holy Spirit that was in Him at that time. (Col. 2:9) That's why the Holy Spirit could not come until Jesus departed.
See John 14:16-20,
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
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, (meaning while Jesus was currently with them) AND shall be IN you. (a reference to a future experience)
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." Jesus' statement in verse 20, is a reference to what first occurred at Pentecost and remains true today. People know they have been indwelt by the Holy Ghost as evidenced by speaking in tongues:
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.,,," (Acts 2:1-4).
Peter went on to say, "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear (Acts 2:32-33). What did they hear? Speaking in tongues by those who were filled with the Holy Ghost.
Think about it. All of the other detailed conversion accounts also involve one Holy Ghost experience, not two (Acts 8:12-18, 9:17-18, 10:43-48, 19:1-7, ). Saul/Paul didn't receive the Holy Ghost during his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road. God actually sent
Ananias to Paul for that very purpose (Acts 9:17-18). Consider Paul's question to the men of Ephesus , "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" (Acts 19:1-7) Paul's words reveal a person can believe in Jesus yet still need to receive the Holy Ghost. And notice Philip knew the Samaritans who already believed the gospel and were water baptized did not receive the Holy Ghost until days later (Acts 8:12-18). Peter stated he and others knew the Gentiles had received the Holy Ghost when they heard them speak in tongues (Acts 10:43-48).
Lastly, does it make sense that a person that already has the Holy Ghost requires a second experience in order to empowered?