Neglected Basic Christian Doctrines

(1) THE DOCTRINE THAT INITAL RECEPTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AN EXPERIENCE OF DIVINE POWER

Paul teaches that the initial regenerating work of the Holy Spirit must not be accepted on the basis of reassuring theological 'talk" or expressed beliefs; rather it must be an actual experience of divine power. Believers are not told specifically how they can know that the Spirit has begun to dwell within them. But “miracles” are expected as corroborating evidence that believers have truly received the Holy Spirit:

“Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? DID YOU EXPERIENCE SO MUCH FOR NOTHING?..Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the Law or by believing what you heard (Galatians 3:4-5).”

Thus, Paul reminds Corinthian believers that their assurance of salvation is not based on faith that the Spirit has done His work in their lives, but on the recalled “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” confirming the Gospel when they first heard it preached:

“My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with A DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF POWER, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).”

Thus, saving faith is based not merely on correct theological “talk” or expressed doctrinal beliefs, but on the question of whether believers have actually had this life-changing experience of the Spirit’s power. Paul speaks harshly of those who minimize the essential experiential dimension of true faith:

“I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people, BUT THEIR POWER. For the kingdom of God depends not on talk, but on power (1 Corinthians 4:19-20).”

Churches that reduce faith to an intellectual trust and commitment without admitting the troubling subjectivity of whether and when they have received the Spirit should be avoided: “…holding to the outward form of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid them! (2 Tim. 3:5).”

1Corinthians chapters 12&13.

Evangelizing...

Wisdom and Knowledge are spiritual gifts..

1 Corinthians 12: KJV
7 "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. {8} For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;"

I post this so that people know that manifestations of the Spirit is not limited to tongues or healings or dreams or visions or any of the other more dramatic manifestations that get peoples attention..

I strongly advise people to read the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 12 so that you will have a overview of the issue of gifts..

Something that seems to be missing from a lot of Christian teaching that I've encountered is a right understanding of repentance. Whether it is "neglected" or not, I don't know. I suspect strongly that if repentance were taught better (leading to better practice of it), we would have fewer problems in the church, and a more effective witness outside of it.

Edit: and a right understand of forgiveness.

2 Timothy 2:15...Rightly dividing the word of truth

These are hardly neglected if this is the second most popular thing going in Christianity?

I would agree to repent or ease or comfort oneself, or rest, is a work of God working in us with us to both will and do the good pleasure of God .If he who is of one mind and therefore always does whatsoever His soul pleases does not do the first work there is no forgiveness and our hearts will remain hard as a rock .He gives us a heart of flesh soft as a new born baby.

hmmm...I was saved when I was 5...yes really saved

I guess it's difficult for a child to demonstrate 'miracles' etc, but maybe the miracle is God keeping me through my life until I continue with Him to this day...many years older

I did receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit...I believe at 18, having been brought up in a church that taught cessationism but God thankfully led me another way

anyway, yes the Bible says that 'these things' will follow those who believe and I have seen some of 'those things'

it seems we have the trappings of Christianity without the actual power of Christianity which pretty well cancels out the reality and expression of God through lives that are not even thinking there is something missing because they are taught such things no longer happen...and so they don't

can I say God created the hunger in my heart for Him that I would search and find more? I certainly was not encouraged to do so

or even believe?

there are cessationists in this forum that I think would like to take a muzzle and slap it permanently on anyone who contests their dry human reasoning

frankly, I do not know how anyone can make it with being filled with the Holy Spirit if you actually do want to follow Christ

honestly I would be bored to death with only a book and set of rules. I would be in rebellion

I don't see any connection between your post and mine. I suspect your view of "repentance" and mine are widely divergent.

Amen the elect are saved from before the foundation of the world . At five the stirring up can begin for some.

The indwelling occurs when a person hears the gospel and belives God not seen . If he dwells in us it does not get any fuller then when we first believed..

Signs follows anything? What do they follow ?

I don't think he gives us a remnant of the Spirit and then says... Have a experience and fill it up with premium... make a noise, fall backward, experience Holy laughter, get healed etc once a week .

The bible informs us what things follow prophecy as a sign to those who "believe not" prophecy. Prophecy leads, giving us faith ..

Sign that follow are like the sign.... you have just left the city limits of Chicago . Keep you eyes focused ahead according to prophecy .

There are those that say ignore the warning not to add or substract from the perfect law of God sealed with seven seals till the end of time. Tongues is prophecy. God is not adding to His book of prophecy the word of God, now that we have the whole. need more that he has given us. Make a noise fall backward etc

Honestly that would describe those who have "no faith": that alone comes from hearing a boring book with a set of rules. as a sign against them. And yet for all that they still refuse to believe in a God not seen. So they create their own kind of excitement. Rather than understanding the doctrines of God. In that way God mocks those with stammering lips that mock him be , confirming they do believe in the living abiding words of the boring book of the law. But rather do whatsoever their own mouth says (Jerimiah 44:16-17)

Isaiah 28 King James Version (KJV)Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Wherefore "hear the word of the Lord", ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

Or narrowly . Christ our first love must do the first works.... "believe God' As john 6 informs us .it is God's Holy Spirit working in us that we can believe Him. without that work of faith no man could please Him
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If its not him we turn as a form of repentance. Then who do we turn to as a form of easing or comforting our self? Who does God turn to when he repents for comfort . Nicole of the Nicolaitanes?

First works "beleive God".

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the "first works"; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Revelation 2:

What the Spirit saith unto the churches; Not what Nicole teaches the Nicolaitans as one of the sects of the church .That would be setting up a seat for the antichrist. saying we do need a man to teach and comfort (repent) us.

Once again, you seem to be taking a grain of what I wrote and making a trilogy from it.

I didn't say anything about 'who we turn to"; that's your addition.

Nor did I say anything about easing or comforting ourselves; that too is your addition.

I certainly didn't suggest that God "repents for comfort"; that's your addition.

There is no such person as "Nicole of the Nicolaitans" mentioned in Scripture; once again, that's your addition. The problem is that it is an addition to Scripture. You recently quoted the section where we are warned not to add to Scripture, yet here you are doing so. Why is that?

the above scripture has absolutely NOTHING to do with my post


uh...

just no

no

I would be more than content if you never thought you had to respond to any post I write

you have some bizarre interpretation regarding prophecy and tongues and a desire to tell everyone there is no such thing that matches it

I never address your posts and am only doing so now because of what you wrote concerning my post

this:
as a response to my basically saying how appreciative I am of God's Spirit and His gift to believers, is disrespectful to myself and shows contempt for scripture

Not what Nicole teaches the Nicolaitans

"Nicole of the Nicolaitans"

laugh...cry...maybe both

Theres such diversity of gifts the spirit give that theres room for all, unfortunatley, it seems to be human nature that even after receiving gifts, people want to squabble over them.

When I was saved I experienced the holy spirit first hand my body was suddenly filled with life not energy but actual life itself kind of like that feeling of taking a breath after holding your breath under water for so long at least that is the best way i can describe it honestly there are no words to really explain it. I was also at the same time consumed by a blazing fire inside me and all around me his power and fire surged through me like electricity.

The change was undeniable I felt so free and clean but I know some Christians who know the bible like the back of their hands and pray constantly and have been teaching and serving for years but even with all of this there seems to be something missing. Now as far as if people like this are really saved or not it is not my place to say but the light of a changed heart is very easy to see because sadly we live in a world where his light is not very common even among the Christian community. Even on here have you ever spoken to someone who just through what they say on a day to day basis seem to radiate a rare quality? His love and his spirit is easy to notice because it infects people it makes a spark and shows a rare kind of light through his children.

All the correct doctrine and tactics even the most biblical adept cannot begin to compare to how the fire of the holy spirit stirs the heart of others.

Your very insightful.


That person believes and teaches the heresy of OSAS.


JPT