PART 2: TONGUES AND THE BAPTISM
I have discussed why Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit in John 20 and that all believers are said to have been baptized by the Holy Spirit both of which are taught the opposite in Charasmatic and word of faith circles.
What we will look at now is the situations in scripture in which people spoke in tongues and examine them to what is being taught today.
I picked up a book the other day on spiritual gifts and it said the first gift given is tongues and that it is the elementary gift. Because it is given at the baptism and it is not understandable that it is some type of baby language or beginner gift into the spiritual gift world.
This to me is contradictory in one glaring fact: speaking in tongues was not a gift everyone would receive and we should not seek this gift. Paul clearly taught this in 1 Corinthians 12. No where in scripture is it taught to seek tongues and no where is it said to be the elementary gift.
Now lets look at the examples scripture gives us and see if they hold any teaching value.
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
In Acts 8 the Samaritans heard the teachings of Jesus and believed them but did not receive the Spirit until Peter and John laid hands on them then they received. Lets look at the next.
Acts 10: 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Here the gentiles in Cornelius' home heard the gospel and as they believed they received the Holy Spirit. It was their initial giving and they spoke in tongues glorifying God.
Acts 19: 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Here Paul clearly asks do they have the Holy Spirit yet? The story continues as they learn about Jesus they then receive the Holy Spirit. Clearly like all the other passages no one had the Spirit then received another baptism of the Spirit. They clearly just received the Spirit for the first time.
They only other account was in Acts 2 where the apostles received the Spirit for the first time as they did as Jesus said by going to Jerusalem and waiting for him. Just like we do today, the Holy Spirit comes on us once we believe just like it did in the apostles day. The only difference we can see is the laying on of hands by Peter, John, or Paul. The reason for this is so the jews would accept the others receiving the Spirit. This is why they had to come and be present. It wasnt for everyone but the leaders to be there and an apostle at that who had seen Jesus.
What we will look at now is the situations in scripture in which people spoke in tongues and examine them to what is being taught today.
I picked up a book the other day on spiritual gifts and it said the first gift given is tongues and that it is the elementary gift. Because it is given at the baptism and it is not understandable that it is some type of baby language or beginner gift into the spiritual gift world.
This to me is contradictory in one glaring fact: speaking in tongues was not a gift everyone would receive and we should not seek this gift. Paul clearly taught this in 1 Corinthians 12. No where in scripture is it taught to seek tongues and no where is it said to be the elementary gift.
Now lets look at the examples scripture gives us and see if they hold any teaching value.
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
In Acts 8 the Samaritans heard the teachings of Jesus and believed them but did not receive the Spirit until Peter and John laid hands on them then they received. Lets look at the next.
Acts 10: 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Here the gentiles in Cornelius' home heard the gospel and as they believed they received the Holy Spirit. It was their initial giving and they spoke in tongues glorifying God.
Acts 19: 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Here Paul clearly asks do they have the Holy Spirit yet? The story continues as they learn about Jesus they then receive the Holy Spirit. Clearly like all the other passages no one had the Spirit then received another baptism of the Spirit. They clearly just received the Spirit for the first time.
They only other account was in Acts 2 where the apostles received the Spirit for the first time as they did as Jesus said by going to Jerusalem and waiting for him. Just like we do today, the Holy Spirit comes on us once we believe just like it did in the apostles day. The only difference we can see is the laying on of hands by Peter, John, or Paul. The reason for this is so the jews would accept the others receiving the Spirit. This is why they had to come and be present. It wasnt for everyone but the leaders to be there and an apostle at that who had seen Jesus.
posted by Stacy at 2:55 PM
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