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?
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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?
The indwelling and the coming upon of the Holy Spirit, again, are different in that the indwelling is permanent and the coming upon is temporary. Let me ask you this question, Have you received the Holy Spirit? Do you, as those Gentiles in Acts 10:43-48, speak in tongues? Jesus, after His resurrection, in John 20:21-22 met with His disciples and " Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: AS MY FATHER HATH SENT ME, EVEN SO SEND I YOU. And when He had said this, He breathed on them and saith unto them, RECIEVE YE THE HOLY GHOST." ( He shall be in you Jn. 14). Now lets go to Luke 24:49 " And behold, I SEND THE PROMISE OF MY FATHER* UPON *YOU: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, UNTIL YE BE ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH." We see the fulfillment of Christ's instructions in Acts 1 when the believers, who were the first members who would make up the body of Christ, and who, by Jesus, HAD RECEIVED the Holy Spirit in John 20:21-22 were told " But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is COME UPON YOU: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8. In Acts 2,"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. You can read the rest but you already know this is when they were "endued with power from on high". This was two occurrences involving the Holy Spirit, the indwelling and the coming upon. This is what happened with me but a few have experienced the baptism into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit AND the baptism in the Spirit by Jesus, with evidence of speaking in tongues, almost simultaneously. " For our gospel CAME NOT TO YOU IN WORD ONLY ( like many in the church), but ALSO IN POWER, and IN the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; " 1 Thess. 1:5. Much of the church does not walk in the power available because of the tradition of man, which makes the Word of God of none effect. If you want this experience ask, God wants us ALL to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit to be the "witnesses to the uttermost part of the earth."
Do all religions lead to God?
No:
Only The Lord Jesus Christ, The Almighty SON of God Leads To God The Father. Amen!
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And, precious friend(s), Please Be Very Richly Encouraged and Edified
In The Lord Jesus Christ and In His Precious Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided:
The Bible: The BIG Picture
Amen.
No:
Only The Lord Jesus Christ, The Almighty SON of God Leads To God The Father. Amen!
-------------
And, precious friend(s), Please Be Very Richly Encouraged and Edified
In The Lord Jesus Christ and In His Precious Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided:
The Bible: The BIG Picture
Amen.
I have received the Holy Ghost/Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues.
People perceive what is recorded in John 20:21-22 differently. Jesus Himself said that the Holy Ghost could not come until after He departed. (John 16:7) So it's possible Jesus was making a reference to the future event. Why? The Acts 2 account reveals the apostles and others were actually filled with the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. The account confirms it was the initial outpouring prophesied by Joel. (Acts 2:4-42)
The belief that there are two experiences has caused people to have confidence that the instant they believed in Jesus they are filled with the Spirit. And that only a select few of those with the Spirit will speak in tongues for a specific purpose. Scripture itself reveals this belief is not accurate. Note the detailed conversion accounts (Acts 2:4, 8:12-18, 10:43-48, 19:1-7). They reveal there was perceivable evidence when people were filled with the Spirit. I am convinced that speaking in tongues is the method God chose to initiate communication between man's renewed spirit and His Spirit upon arrival into a believer's body.
Jesus in John 20:21-22 had ALREADY departed to the Father( " Jesus saith unto her, touch Me not: for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ASCEND UNTO MY FATHER, and your Father; and to My God, and your God." John 20:17) and returned. Notice in this passage of scripture He, as in Acts 1:5, did not say ; "but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost NOT MANY DAYS HENCE." , future tense, but in John 20 Jesus said " receive ye the Holy Ghost:" present tense. This clearly, to me, indicates separate experiences with the Holy Spirit.
I hear what you are saying. However, as I said, why the need to be filled with the Holy Ghost if the Holy Ghost is already in a person? That's why what happened in John 20 is in question. And again, why ask those whom Paul saw as believers if they had the Holy Ghost yet? And why does Acts 8 specifically state that the group of believers had not received the Holy Ghost yet.
Thanks, I appreciate your sharing your thoughts.
Bad analogy but here goes, say you are thirsty and you have a glass with some water in it but you know that you need more than that to slake your thirst. To do what is needed, you fill the glass full of water to do what it is purposed for. When I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior I received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but not the infilling. I received the infilling of the Holy Spirit after I prayed for Jesus to baptize me in the Holy Spirit, as the Bible instructs.( Luke 11:13) Two or three nights later, while laying in my bed, at about 2 or 3 am, a tingling arose from my feet and slowly came up my body. I was not frightened but I thought " what is this " and the answer was " this is that", and I immediately knew what that meant " But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16) ' it was what I had asked Jesus for and He gave to me another dimension of the Holy Spirit, for service. P.S. I also received my prayer language
). No one, except for Jesus, STAYS filled with the Holy Spirit that's why Paul says to " be ye filled with the Spirit." Eph. 5:18-19 which shows how to be re-filled with the Spirit.
Again, I hear what you're saying but the scriptures I referenced reveal the people had not yet received the Holy Ghost at all (Acts 8:12-18, 19:1-7).Bad analogy but here goes, say you are thirsty and you have a glass with some water in it but you know that you need more than that to slake your thirst. To do what is needed, you fill the glass full of water to do what it is purposed for. When I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior I received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but not the infilling. I received the infilling of the Holy Spirit after I prayed for Jesus to baptize me in the Holy Spirit, as the Bible instructs.( Luke 11:13) Two or three nights later, while laying in my bed, at about 2 or 3 am, a tingling arose from my feet and slowly came up my body. I was not frightened but I thought " what is this " and the answer was " this is that", and I immediately knew what that meant " But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16) ' it was what I had asked Jesus for and He gave to me another dimension of the Holy Spirit, for service. P.S. I also received my prayer language
In the Acts 8:12-18 scripture the Spirit hadn't " fallen UPON " them which is the second dimension of the Holy Spirit, the enduement of power that Jesus said would occur when the Holy Spirit comes " upon you" in Acts 1:8. Again, in Acts 19:1-6 " And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost (Spirit) CAME ON (UPON) THEM; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied." They were baptized, by Jesus through Paul, in the Holy Spirit, as Mark recorded John the Baptist saying, " I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost (Spirit). Mark 1:8.
Peter explained what happened to the Gentiles, “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning." (Acts 11). What Peter referenced is recorded in Acts 2:1-4 where it states Peter and others were FILLED with the Holy Ghost. The actual Gentile account recorded in Acts 10:44-46 states the Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Ghost. And incidentally after receiving the Holy Ghost Peter commanded they be baptized. How? In WATER in the name of the Lord (meaning Jesus).
Being baptized in the name of Jesus is always a reference to the NT water baptism that was begun on the Day of Pentecost.
Mark 1:8 just makes the point that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Ghost. It says nothing about one experience replacing the other. And as all converstion accounts confirm both water baptism in the name of Jesus and receiving the Holy Ghost were involved.
I never implied that one experience with the Holy Spirit replaced the other. The initial experience with the Holy Spirit is the indwelling, at the heart belief and mouth confession of Jesus Christ as Savior. We receive the SPIRIT OF THE SON; " And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father." Gal. 4:6 " It is not you that speak, but the SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER which speaks in you." Matt. 10:20. Jesus said in John 14:23 " Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My Words: and My Father will love him, and WE will come unto him, AND MAKE OUR ABODE WITH HIM." John 14:23. So the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father AND the Spirit of the Son who indwells us, it says nothing about infilling us, yet. It is usually the " coming upon " of the Holy Spirit when mankind is filled with the Spirit who, in the new covenant, have already the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I have no doubt in my mind that if the 120 in the upper room had died before they had the "coming upon " of the Holy Spirit, they would have been saved, just because of their heart belief and mouth confession of Jesus. Again, the "coming upon" of the Holy Spirit, the enduement of power, is not for personal salvation, that is the indwelling, but it is to "profit withal" ( 1 Cor 12:7, outside of one's self),