A STUDY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part Five)

By Bob Myhan

J

ohn predicted that Jesus would baptize in the Holy Spirit and in fire (Matt. 3:1-12; Mark 1:4-8; Luke 3:1-17; John 1:28-33). On the day in which He was taken up, Jesus promised the apostles they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1-9). In fulfillment of this promise, they were baptized in the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-15).

No one else was ever promised, either by Jesus or the apostles, Holy Spirit baptism! When Paul later referred back to John’s preaching, he omitted the promise of Holy Spirit baptism (Acts 13:25). It was clearly given to the apostles only! The only event in the New Testament even similar to the one in Acts, chapter two, is the falling of the Holy Spirit upon Gentiles in the home of Cornelius.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. (Acts 10:44-48)

While those in the home of Cornelius received the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, without the apostles’ hands being laid on them, what happened there does not seem to be identical to the event of Pentecost. For example, there is no mention of “a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind,” filling the whole house where they were sitting. Neither is there any indication that “there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire.”  Even if the Gentiles in the home of Cornelius did experience Holy Spirit baptism, it was not in fulfillment of any promise! And Peter still commanded those who received the Holy Spirit to be baptized in water (Acts 10:47-48), which was the only thing they were told to do. The command to be baptized in water must have been the words whereby Cornelius and his entire household would “be saved” (Acts 10:1-6; 11:13-14).

Thus, their miraculous reception of the Holy Spirit was neither the salvation experience nor a "second work of grace.” It was clearly a pre-salvation experience designed to demonstrate to the apostles that Gentiles did not have to become Jewish converts, by being physically circumcised, before being given the opportunity to hear and obey the gospel (see Acts 11:17-18).

 [To be continued]

“LOVE NEVER FAILS”

By John C. Robertson

I

magine something that never disappoints or fails you. Imagine such nobility that is always truthful. Character which exercises perfect humility. Character that looks only to the betterment of others. Character that does not seek revenge nor does it complain when it has been wronged. This character desires only salvation of the souls it comes in contact with. Such a character is worth more than gold or silver. What is its name? It is love!

The apostle Paul tells us that love (agape) “never fails” (I Cor. 13:7). The word fail in the Greek is “piptei.” Thayer states that piptei means, “to perish; to fail, (properly, to fall from a place which one cannot keep, fall from its position):” (198). “Fail, weaken” (AG 244). “To fall off, come to naught” (LS 242). “To fall” (Vines 403).

When performance does not meet our expectation, failure is the result. We fail ourselves, friends fail us, family members fail us and brethren fail us. Love, however, is a perpetual trait that experiences no failure. Love suffers long, is kind, does not envy; neither vaunts nor acts puffed up. Love’s behavior is not unseemly nor does it seek its own. Love is not provoked nor does it take account of evil. Love rejoices not in unrighteousness but it rejoices in truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things” (I Cor. 13:4-8). Love truly cares for souls!

Through time, the Corinthians were to experience the failure of the gifts that they held dear. Prophecies, tongues and knowledge would all fail. They would all be “done away with” (I Cor. 13:8c). Elements such as these were held in high regard to the Corinthian brethren. They eagerly pursued these gifts, especially tongue speaking, to the point of sinning against each other. When desire outweighs expediency, turbulent waters are at bay.

God forbid that the Christians’ desire for worldly praise would outweigh our love for one another. Let us attach love to our character. Let us display this most noble character in our own lives.  The apostle John said, “this is love, that we should walk after his commandments” (II Jn. 6).

When this noble character is properly understood by the Christian he or she displays a proper understanding of God’s word. This person will have the very opposite of a hard heart (Ezek. 3:7; Zech. 7:12; Matt. 13:10-15; Rom. 11:7). When a Christian practices love, every aspect of truth takes its proper meaning

Discipline takes on a truthful meaning.  Love is personified in chastening of a child (Prov. 13:24) and God’s chastening of the Christian (Heb. 12:4ff).  Love is personified in church discipline as well (cf. I Cor. 5:5).

Fellowship with erroneous brethren takes on truthful meaning. When one truly loves, he will confidently shame (II Thess. 3:14), mark (Rom. 16:17) and have no fellowship with the false teachers of our time (II Jn. 9-11). True love shall “expose” rather than tolerate (Eph. 5:11). To tolerate and compromise is to exercise a cowardly and dastardly character that is depraved of a mind of love.

Authority takes its truthful meaning. As during the days of Zechariah when the people of Bethel came asking whether or not certain fast were to be partaken of, Zechariah answered by challenging them to see what God’s law had to say regarding the matter (Zech. 7:1-7). The one who has love will speak only as the oracles of God and give book chapter and verse answers for every action (I Pet. 4:11). The character of love says, “what does God’s word have to say about the matter?”

Truth takes its proper place in our hearts when love rules our character. Our hearts will seek diligently the truths of God (II Tim. 2:15). We will reject the notion of liberal minded brethren that states, “we cannot know truth.” These brethren are “ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (II Tim. 3:7) because they do not love truth. Their hatred for the truth has as its source a hard heart that is willfully blinded to God’s word (Cf. Matt. 13:13ff). They are foolish (Eph. 5:17)! “Wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved for ever” (Jude 13).

Contending for the truth shall take its proper place in the heart filled with love. The gospel message is nothing to be ashamed of (Rom. 1:16). Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord we too shall not only persuade men (II Cor. 5:11), but also contend for our faith (Jude 3). A heart filled with love is neither fearful nor timid to give book, chapter and verse for the hope of their faith. A heart filled with love is always ready to give a defense of the truth (I Peter 3:15).

Jesus takes his proper place in our heart! We will not take offense in Jesus through our rejecting his commands. Love upholds and boldly proclaims the name of Jesus!  We shall be “a companion of all them that fear God” (Psalm 119:63). The commands of Jesus are lovely to the one who truly loves!

Conclusion: When love is exercised in the Christian’s character, the word of God is truly precious. It is handled with no bias. No family member, brother or sister in Christ or anyone shall give us cause to set aside the Lord’s commands. No amount of comfort, peace or treasures will cause the character of love in the Christian to compromise or tolerate false teaching. We will encourage and uphold the hands of those that hold Jesus’ teachings in high esteem and shame those who do not! &