Receiving the Holy Spirit?

[maco]

At what point do we receive the Holy Spirit.

It seems to me that the Spirit can indwell the believer many different ways. Sometimes it's through the laying on of hands sometimes it's through the preaching of God's word. But it seems that the more official and public way is through water baptism.

When a person receives the Spirit of God he/she is given the power to become a child of God. That person now beings of spiritual journey of drawing closer to God as the life of the believer becomes sanctified and holy.

Now my big question.

Why is it that the SDA require sanctification before baptism, in other words, they want you to quit smoking, drinking and wearing jewlery all before baptism. It seems to me that this would cause one to cleans one's self in his/her own strength. Should this be like this?

Let me know your thoughts... :confused:

Many blessings,
John

[annie1speed]

Do we receive the Holy Spirit, or do we receive the GIFT of the Holy Spirit? Think about it.

Annie

[maco]

Hi Annie,

Could you elaborate on your reply using Scripture verses?

Did you get my study on the Sabbath? What are your thoughts?

Many blessings,
John

[Sophia7]

I don't believe that people necessarily receive the Holy Spirit automatically at baptism. The book of Acts records some times when it happened separately from water baptism, often through prayer and the laying on of hands. In fact, the Bible specifically makes a distinction between baptism with water and baptism with the Spirit. These can happen at the same time, but they don't always.
AC 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
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AC 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
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AC 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
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AC 11:15 "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: `John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"
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AC 19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

AC 19:3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.

AC 19:4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
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1CO 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Also, I believe that sanctification should not be equated with the traditional Adventist view of working toward perfection in order to make it through the investigative judgment.
1CO 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Sanctification means to be set apart for holy purposes. When we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are sanctified and empowered to live a new life in Christ because we have been made perfect by His righteousness.

[maco]

Hi Sophia7,

I too agree that the Spirit of God can indwell and does indwell the repented believe many different ways. But my question is that how can we expect anyone to clean their act up before they have the Spirit working in them whether they received the Spirit by laying on of hands, hearing the gospel or through baptism? It seems that when people come into the church they are taught the foundational principles of the faith, which include quiting smoking, drinking and so on and then they get baptized. I guess it all depends on how you veiw baptism. If we view it as just identifying with the death, buriel and resurrection of Christ and not so much as receiving the Spirit then I can understand the process.

As far as being sanctified, I agree it comes by hearing the words of God in such a way that they change our lives. But I also beileve that it is an ongoing daily work.

Many blessings,
John

[Sophia7]

Hi Sophia7,

I too agree that the Spirit of God can indwell and does indwell the repented believe many different ways. But my question is that how can we expect anyone to clean their act up before they have the Spirit working in them whether they received the Spirit by laying on of hands, hearing the gospel or through baptism? It seems that when people come into the church they are taught the foundational principles of the faith, which include quiting smoking, drinking and so on and then they get baptized. I guess it all depends on how you veiw baptism. If we view it as just identifying with the death, buriel and resurrection of Christ and not so much as receiving the Spirit then I can understand the process.

As far as being sanctified, I agree it comes by hearing the words of God in such a way that they change our lives. But I also beileve that it is an ongoing daily work.

Many blessings,
John

I don't think we should expect people to clean up their acts before baptism. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. I also think that we should put more emphasis on the baptism of the Spirit at the same time that we teach people about water baptism. It's not really talked about much in the Adventist Church. It's just kind of assumed that it happens automatically at baptism. I think we should pray specifically for people to receive the gift of the Spirit when they are baptized, as the apostles did in the NT, and we should encourage those who have already been baptized to pray for it as well if they haven't already experienced the indwelling of the Spirit.

Yes, sanctification is ongoing, as the Holy Spirit continues to dwell in us, but it's not our work to do. It's as much an act of grace by God as justification is.

[vegjesus]

May all Adventists, not just 15%, follow the vegan teachings
of Ellen White, based on the life of Jesus

[icedragon101]

vegjesus

what a great name. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

[Sophia7]

May all Adventists, not just 15%, follow the vegan teachings
of Ellen White, based on the life of Jesus

It may be better to start a new topic on this in the main SDA forum.

[Loveaboveall]

Annie brings up a good question, Is there a difference b/w the working of the Holy Spirit in ones life and the GIFT of the Holy Spirit?

[StormyOne]

isn't "receiving the Holy Spirit" godtalk for we have no clue of how God dwells in us but I think he does?

[Sophia7]

isn't "receiving the Holy Spirit" godtalk for we have no clue of how God dwells in us but I think he does?

We have no clue how He does it, but when the Spirit dwells in us, we know it. JN 3:5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

[StormyOne]

We have no clue how He does it, but when the Spirit dwells in us, we know it. JN 3:5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
I agree that there are indicators when it has taken place, however I was looking at the fact that sometimes when we attempt to explain how God works our explanations can be inadequate and we usually cover those inadequacies with "godtalk" or theo-babble....