For the first time, I think, I did a fast read through of the book of Acts in one sitting (as opposed to spread out over many sittings), and I get the impression that it normal that
1) When a person is converted, they receive the Holy Spirit,
2) Receiving the Holy Spirit is obvious to the recipient (e.g. Acts 19:2)
3) and obvious to others (accompanied by things like prophecy and speaking in tongues).
It seems to normally happen after water baptism (e.g. Acts 2:38), but sometimes before (Acts 10:47). In some cases it involves laying on of hands and/or prayer (Acts 8:15-17, 19:5). Sometimes following hearing the message (Acts 10:44, see also Gal 3:2). Is connected to obedience ("...God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:32)
Holy Spirit is a witness (to the recipient (Acts 15:8, Romans 8:16, )) (Acts 5:32)
is a pledge of our inheritance (Eph 1:14)
The Spirit instructed people to do or not do certain things (e.g., go here, don't go there).
Paul talks about living and acting in the Spirit.
If I were a newcomer to this planet and read Acts, and then wanted to know where real Christians are today, it seems like I should look for where Christians are doing things like prophesying and speaking in tongues. (See also Mark 16:17-18, speaking in tongues, casting out demons, miraculous healings, etc.)
This seems different from the general impression I've got that having the Holy Spirit in you is a theological point of doctrine, where it's something you know is true only because Paul tells us that it's so. So we just trust that the Spirit must be there silently, invisibly working to comfort us, sanctify us, nudge our consciences, maybe sometimes nudge the thoughts in our minds, etc.
I think I've heard of people who hold that the workings of the Spirit as described in the New Testament ceased when the Apostles died. I don't know what the basis for that is. Ceased in part or in whole? Presumably some (non-apostle) people who received the Holy Spirit during the time of the apostles were still alive after the last apostle died. What about them? Jesus promised that though he was leaving, the Holy Spirit would come instead. But only for that generation?
1) When a person is converted, they receive the Holy Spirit,
2) Receiving the Holy Spirit is obvious to the recipient (e.g. Acts 19:2)
3) and obvious to others (accompanied by things like prophecy and speaking in tongues).
It seems to normally happen after water baptism (e.g. Acts 2:38), but sometimes before (Acts 10:47). In some cases it involves laying on of hands and/or prayer (Acts 8:15-17, 19:5). Sometimes following hearing the message (Acts 10:44, see also Gal 3:2). Is connected to obedience ("...God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:32)
Holy Spirit is a witness (to the recipient (Acts 15:8, Romans 8:16, )) (Acts 5:32)
is a pledge of our inheritance (Eph 1:14)
The Spirit instructed people to do or not do certain things (e.g., go here, don't go there).
Paul talks about living and acting in the Spirit.
If I were a newcomer to this planet and read Acts, and then wanted to know where real Christians are today, it seems like I should look for where Christians are doing things like prophesying and speaking in tongues. (See also Mark 16:17-18, speaking in tongues, casting out demons, miraculous healings, etc.)
This seems different from the general impression I've got that having the Holy Spirit in you is a theological point of doctrine, where it's something you know is true only because Paul tells us that it's so. So we just trust that the Spirit must be there silently, invisibly working to comfort us, sanctify us, nudge our consciences, maybe sometimes nudge the thoughts in our minds, etc.
I think I've heard of people who hold that the workings of the Spirit as described in the New Testament ceased when the Apostles died. I don't know what the basis for that is. Ceased in part or in whole? Presumably some (non-apostle) people who received the Holy Spirit during the time of the apostles were still alive after the last apostle died. What about them? Jesus promised that though he was leaving, the Holy Spirit would come instead. But only for that generation?
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