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Promise of the Father |
Dear Brethren,
Why were some New Testament Christians given God's
Holy Spirit before they were baptized? Isn't the usual and expected order of events
that we are first baptized, before receiving the Holy Spirit? How can someone receive
God's Holy Spirit before they repent, or before they have faith in Jesus Christ? The
normal way that God's Spirit is bestowed on individuals is after ;God's calling (John 6:44, 65).
God works with us with His Spirit before His Spirit is in us
(John 14:17). God grants us repentance toward God, and faith in Jesus
Christ as our personal Savior. Repentance and faith are not something we develop
ourselves (Acts 11:18, Ephesians 2:8). God, through His Spirit, begins
working with every person that He is calling to conversion. Then, as a general
rule, it is after baptism that we receive the promise of the Father – an earnest
of His Life – His Holy Spirit in us, making us His children.
However, in some special and
extraordinary cases, God reversed the order of things, giving
His Holy Spirit before baptism. Only God knows
the heart and mind of a person. In establishing the Church of
God, it was necessary for God to demonstrate His will by pouring
out His Spirit in some cases before individuals had entered into
a covenant relationship by going down into a watery grave.
Though, in every case where God first gave His Spirit,
baptism followed immediately so that all righteousness
might be fulfilled.
Today, we are privileged to
hear the Gospel preached, have the Word of God expounded in
publications, and often, come into contact with a minister or
other brethren before baptism. But, at the inauguration of the
Church of God in the first century, there were few or no
ministers or brethren to explain how God was working. God
poured out His Spirit in power and gifts in order to show
clearly that great changes were taking place.
"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 Spirit." (Acts 2:1-4)
The Bible does not tell us if most of the one hundred and
twenty faithful brethren were already baptized or not.
Perhaps many, if not all of those brethren were already
baptized. We know from John 4:1-2, that the apostles were
already baptized before the coming of Pentecost. "...Jesus
baptized more disciples than John [the Baptist], though
Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples [did the
baptizing.]"
But, here is a case in point. Paul received God's Holy
Spirit before he was baptized. "Ananias went his way,
and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him
[Paul] said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that
appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me,
that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled
with the Holy Spirit. And immediately there fell
from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight
forthwith, and arose, and was baptized."
(Act 9:17-18)
Paul's rage against the Church
was immediately and irrevocably turned around by the action of God's
Spirit working in him. He made a one hundred and eighty degree
turn. It is God's Holy
Spirit that opens our minds to know God, and to recognize the
will of God. Repentance and baptism were still absolutely
necessary, as was obedience to God. These require the
interaction of God's Holy Spirit. In Paul's case, God desired
immediate and decisive service that would come with express
intervention on God's part.
Here is another example of many people receiving God's Holy
Spirit before they were baptized: "There
was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of
the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that
feared God with all his house.., And Cornelius waited for
[Peter], and had called together his kinsmen and close
friends.., While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy
Spirit fell on all of them which heard the
word. And [the Jews] which believed were astonished, as many as
came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured
out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with
tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man
forbid water, that these should not be baptized,
which have received the Holy Spirit as well as
we? And he commanded them to be baptized in
the name of the Lord." (Acts 10:1-48)
God acted by sending His Holy Spirit to un-baptized individuals
in order to punctuate the fact that He was working in a new and
powerful way among men. There were unanswered questions that
could only be resolved by direct signs and miracles from God.
The New Testament Church of God – brethren led and motivated by
God's Holy Spirit – was coming into existence. God had
prophesied beforehand that He would do so. "It shall come
to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit
upon all flesh." (Joel 2:28)
Throughout history God had worked with Israel in a unique way.
Strangers of other nations were not heirs of God's physical
promises, and were only mentioned as they came into contact with
Israel. Initially, the Apostles' expectation was that salvation
was only for the Israelites. But, God gave His Holy Spirit to
some of the Gentiles before baptism to make it known that His
will was that all nations, not only Israelites,
were to become Christians and have salvation. "Then Peter
opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that
God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he
that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with
Him." (Acts 10:34-35).
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| Sermon: |
"Promise of the Father"
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