YOU SHALL
BE BAPTIZED WITH
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Before ascending to heaven the Lord Jesus Christ gave His disciples a
commandment and a Promise. "He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to
wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, you have heard from Me;
for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with
the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
(Acts 1:4-5) The disciples
obeyed implicitly and the Lord's Promise was fulfilled. The outpouring of God's Spirit on the Day of
Pentecost had so impacted the First Century Christians that they had virtually “turned the world
upside down.” (Acts 17:6) Today
amongst Christians we can find a renewed interest in the Holy Spirit. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is no longer
preached exclusively in Pentecostal churches. The Promise of our Lord Jesus
Christ is given to every Christian.
'But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
WHY DO WE NEED THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
Unfortunately Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not taught in every Christian
church because there is some lack of understanding concerning its need. Many
think that since we are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not essential for salvation. Let us, for a moment, ask these questions.
What is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Does it not include all His
teachings? Why would the Lord Jesus
teach Baptism of the Holy Spirit if it is not necessary for Christians to have
this experience? Here are the reasons why every Christian must be baptized with
the Holy Spirit.
1. REGAIN
SPIRITUAL LIFE THAT HAD BEEN LOST IN EDEN
'And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being" (Gen. 2:7).
The Hebrew word for breath 'ruach' is also used for spirit (Gen. 7:22).
Originally, Adam and Eve had the breath or Spirit of God in them. God had
warned them, "but of the tree of the knowledge of 'good
and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely
die " (Gen. 2:17). True to God's words, they both died spiritually on the day that they disobeyed Him. Although they continued to live physically,
but the Spirit of God had left them. Today all people share this same fate as
Adam and Eve. They are all spiritually dead because they do not have the Spirit
of God in them. The heavenly Father had promised to put His Spirit back on His
people.
"Thus says
the Lord God: 'Behold, O My people, I
will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, . . . I will put My Spirit in
you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have
spoken it and performed it,’ says the LORD."' (Ezek. 37:12-14).
On the evening of His resurrection our Lord
Jesus appeared to His disciples. "Then Jesus
said to them again, 'Peace be with you.' And when He had said this, He breathed
on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. " (Jn. 20:21-22) It
is highly significant that our Lord Jesus Christ breathed His Spirit on the
disciples, the same way as God had breathed His Spirit on Adam at Creation.
Baptism of the Holy
Spirit is the way for God's
people to regain the spiritual life that had been lost by Adam and Eve during
their Fall in the Garden of Eden.
2. ENTRANCE TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The apostle Paul wrote: “Now
this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;
nor does corruption inherit incorruption." (1 Cor 15:50). It means that every human being in the natural or
corrupt state cannot go to heaven. Through the
natural birth every person inherits the Adamic sinful nature (1 Cor. 15:49;
Rom. 5:12-19; Psm. 51:5; 58:3). For this reason our Lord Jesus Christ
insisted, “Most
assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot
enter the kingdom of God" (Jn. 3:5). When “speaking of the
things pertaining to the kingdom of God" our Lord indicated birth of the Spirit refers to Baptism of the Holy Spirit
(Acts 1:3-5). There is a clear distinction between the natural birth and the spiritual birth. "That which
is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit. Do not marvel that I said to
you, ‘You must be born again." (Jn. 3:6-7). The
apostles in the Early Church consistently preached the birth of
water and the Spirit (Acts 2:38-39; Tit. 3:5). After the Samaritan
Christians were baptized in water, the apostles sent Peter and John to pray for
them "that
they might receive the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:12-17). When Paul
encountered the disciples in Ephesus this is the first question that he asked. "Did you
receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" (Acts 19:1-2). Why were the apostles so concerned about the baptism of the Holy Spirit? The answer
is very obvious. It is one of the
conditions of entrance to the kingdom of God.
3. SALVATION THROUGH RENEWING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
There seems to be complacency amongst many Christians concerning their
attitude towards baptism of the Holy Spirit. The reason for this disposition is
their lack of understanding of its relationship to salvation. Let us read what
the Bible says. "But when the
kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He save us through the
washing of regeneration and renewing of
the Holy Spirit whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ
our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs
according to the hope of eternal life." (Tit. 3:4-7). Salvation
comes through a twofold channel called “washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" that corresponds to water baptism and baptism
of the Holy Spirit. Renewing of the Holy Spirit signifies the role of the Holy Spirit
in effecting a new birth in the believer and in imparting eternal life to him.
Our Lord spoke to the
woman of Samaria, "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never
thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of
water springing up into everlasting life.” (Jn. 4:14) Living water signifies the Holy Spirit. (Jn.
7:37-39)
4. THE
POWER TO LIVE THE VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE
Before His crucifixion our Lord Jesus Christ promised the coming of the
Holy Spirit to help believers. The Greek word "parakletos" that refers to the Holy Spirit is translated in various
biblical versions as comforter, helper, counselor, intercessor or advocate (Jn.
14:16; 15:26). The Holy Spirit leads believers to a greater understanding of
the gospel truths. He also strengthens
them so that they can endure the hostility of the world system (Eph. 3:16).
Although confident of their faithfulness to Jesus Christ in normal
circumstances, yet under the constant attack of the enemy “all the disciples forsook Him and fled.” (Mt. 26:56). What
drastic improvements in their Christian lives after their Baptism of the Holy
Spirit is evidenced by the subsequent events that are recorded in the Book of
Acts (Acts 4:31, 33; 6:8).
While still living in the flesh the Christian will continue to experience
conflicts within the self just like Paul's description of his inner conflicts
is an example (Rom. 7:I5-20). "0 wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our
Lord!" (Rom. 7:24-25) Praise the Lord Jesus who is the Deliverer! "For the Law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and
death." (Rom. 8:2). We can live a victorious Christian life like
the apostle Paul's after receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. "But if the
Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised
Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His
Spirit who dwells in you." (Rom. 8:11)
After the Lord Jesus
Christ was baptized in water “the Holy Spirit
descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him. " (Lk 3:22). "Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy
Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the
wilderness." (Lk. 4:1) Our Lord overcame all the temptations of the devil because He was filled
with the Holy Spirit. If the Son of God
needed the power of the Holy Spirit to have victory over the devil, how much
more do we need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to conquer over the enemy? We
all truly need it.
5. SEAL AND THE GUARANTEE OF OUR INHERITANCE
“In Him (Lord Jesus Christ) you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." (Eph. 1:13-14)
In writing these verses to the Ephesian Christians Paul could have
reminded them of their first meeting when they had believed in the Lord Jesus
Christ, baptized in His name and received the Holy Spirit with the evidence of
speaking in tongues (Acts 19:1-6). Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the seal and
also the guarantee of our inheritance.
The term ”seal"
is used for that which has authority (Jn. 3:33), permanence (Isa. 8:16),
and confirmation (Rom. 4:11). Baptism
of the Holy Spirit is the Promise of the heavenly Father that is delivered
through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no greater authority, permanence and
confirmation than what is offered through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The
word “guarantee"
here literally means deposit, down payment or first installment as used in
the real estate business. The Holy Spirit invested in us is God's title to
possessing us entirely and forever.
6. BAPTISM
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS FOR ALL CHRISTIANS
One of the most common causes for Christians not seeking the Baptism of
the Holy Spirit is that they think it is only for ministers of the gospel. They
say the power of the Holy Spirit is mainly for witnessing (Acts 1:8). It is true that God bears witness "both with signs and wonders, with various miracles,
and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will.” (Heb. 2:4). It is important to know that Baptism of
the Holy Spirit is meant to be given, not only to ministers, but to all Christians. After His resurrection the
Lord Jesus Christ spoke to all His disciples. “And being assembled together with them, He
commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the
Father. (Acts 1:4) Notice the word "all" in these verses. "These all continued with
one accord in prayer and supplication." (Acts 1:14) “Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully
come, they were all with one accord in one place. . .
. And they were all filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance." (Acts 2:1,4). After the Lord's ascension into heaven "all" His disciples prayed together in one accord and everyone of them, without
exception, were baptized with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues as the
Spirit gave them utterance. There can
be no doubt that the Baptism of the Holy is for all Christians. Peter testified; 'Repent,
and let every one of you be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit. For the
promise is to you and to your children and to all who are afar
off as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:38).
7. GOD'S UNFAILING PROMISE OF GIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT
In the Old Testament our heavenly Father had promised to give the Holy
Spirit to His people (Pro. 1:23; Isa. 44:3; Ezk. 36:27; 37:14; 39:29; Joel.
2:28-29; Zec. 12:10) The Holy Spirit is promised to those who have faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:14; Eph. 1:13). John the Baptist testified the Lord
Jesus would baptize Christians with the Holy Spirit (Mt. 3:11). The Lord Jesus
Himself had promised His disciples the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Lk. 11:13;
24:49; Jn. 7:37-39; 14:16-17; Acts 1:4-5;11:16). If there is only one verse in the Holy Bible that shows God's
promise of giving the Holy Spirit we would have believed Him without question.
Now that the Bible is replete with verses concerning God's promise of giving
the Holy Spirit to us, we can do nothing else except put all our faith and
trust in the fulfillment of His promise in our lives.
We can learn from Abraham how to bring God's promises to its fulfillment.
"He did not
waver at the promise of God through unbelief but was strengthened in faith,
giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was
also able to perform. And therefore it was accounted to him for
righteousness." (Rom. 4:20-22). Just believe with all
your heart, soul and mind that God will
fulfill His promise in your life because the Lord Jesus Christ made this
promise, "You
shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
SOME MISCONCEPTIONS OF BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Christians from various persuasions have different concepts of Baptism of
the Holy Spirit. Many of these concepts
are based on their personal experiences or private interpretations of the
Bible. Let us examine them and see
whether or not they are in accordance with the biblical teaching.
“I am a Christian
therefore I must have been baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
There are three phases of the Christian’s relationship with the Holy
Spirit. The first phase begins with the Christian’s knowledge of who He is. Our
Lord intimated: “Even
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him
nor knows Him; but you know Him; for He dwells with you and will be in you”
(Jn. 14:17). When Jesus spoke these words He was not yet
crucified. A Christian can have the
knowledge of the Holy Spirit who “dwells with”
him but not yet “in him.” When you have a guest in your home he only “dwells with” you temporarily. What Jesus meant
by the Holy Spirit “will be in you” is a future experience of a
permanent condition. All the disciples of Christ had experienced the first
stage of Holy Spirit’s temporary indwelling before the crucifixion. Most Christians are in this initial phase.
The Second Phase is the Christian’s more intimate relationship with the
Holy Spirit. This phase was experienced
by the Lord’s disciples on the evening of His resurrection when He appeared to
them. “Then
Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send
you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,
‘Receive the Holy Spirit”’ (Jn. 20:21-22). In this phase the
disciples had only a measure of the Holy Spirit. They would only have the
fullness or “be filled” when they were
baptized with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:4). It is clear
from our Lord’s promise to His disciples that they would only experience it “not many days from
now.” (Acts 1:5). The
purpose of this Second Phase is to enable the disciples to receive knowledge of
the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God (Jn. 16:12-13; Acts 1:2-5). During this phase all the disciples “continued with one
accord in prayer and supplication. . .” (Acts 1:14). In our present day this
Second Phase corresponds to the situation where Christians who fully understand
the need for Baptism of the Holy Spirit and are praying for it.
The Third Phase is the actual Baptism of the Holy Spirit that is
described in Acts of the Apostles chapter two.
Unless the Christian has the Pentecostal experience of speaking in other
tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, he or she has not truly received the
Baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:6). The English word
‘baptism” is derived from the Greek “baptismos” with the meaning of dipping or
immersion. The Christian who is baptized with the Holy Spirit is so completely
immersed in the Spirit of God that behavioral changes are noticeable. When the
disciples of Christ were baptized with the Holy Spirit they were mistaken for
being drunkards (Acts 2:12-15).
“I must have received the Holy Spirit
when I repented of my sins.”
Repentance is an essential step in the conversion process, but it is not
the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. “Then Peter said to
them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
(Acts 2:38) Repentance precedes water baptism and
baptism of the Holy Spirit. Peter
denied the Lord Jesus Christ three times, “then he went out and wept bitterly.” (Mt. 26:75) “Then all the disciples forsook Him and
fled.” (Mt. 26:56) Although
the disciples had repented of their unbelief yet the Lord Jesus Christ told
them to “wait
for the Promise of the Father, . . . but you shall be baptized with the Holy
Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5)
Repentance can lead to the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit but it is not the spiritual baptism itself.
“I have accepted Jesus Christ as my
Lord, surely I have the Holy Spirit”
This concept is based on 1 Corinthians
12:3 that states: “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God
calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by Holy
Spirit.” In order to accept
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior one needs to be moved by the Holy Spirit, but not
necessarily have been baptized with the Holy Spirit. All the disciples of Jesus Christ have called Him Lord and Savior
before the Pentecostal outpouring (Jn. 13:13-14; 4:42; Lk. 1:47). Thomas called Jesus, “My Lord and my God,” yet
he had not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit until the Day of
Pentecost. Just calling Jesus
Lord does not meet the apostolic criterion for Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
“I have received the Spirit of
adoption by whom we cry out. ‘Abba,Father’”
Jesus Christ taught His disciples to pray: “Our Father in heaven . . .” (Mt. 6:9). After Peter confessed Him as “the Christ, the
Son of the living God” the Lord said
to him: “Blessed
are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has nor revealed this to you, but
My Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 16:16-17). Jesus Christ declared: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (Jn. 1: 12).
The disciples already had a Father and children relationship with God even
before Jesus Christ was crucified. Crying out “Abba,
Father” does not indicate that a person have been baptized with the
Holy Spirit.
“I must have received the Holy Spirit
at the time of my water baptism”
This is a common error of many Christians. The Lord Jesus Christ had indicated Baptism of the Holy Spirit
takes place at a different time from water baptism. “For
John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit
not many days from now” (Acts 1:5). The disciples had already
received water baptism from John the Baptist. The Lord was telling them to
expect the Baptism of the Holy Spirit at some future time. The Samaritan
Christians had already been baptized in water by Philip, but the apostles “sent Peter and
John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might
receive the Holy Spirit for as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had
only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them,
and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:12-17). Water baptism and
Baptism with the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences.
“I was slain in the
Spirit. That must be the Baptism of the
Holy Spirit.”
Slaying in the Spirit is a modern Pentecostal or Charismatic expression describing
a person falling backwards while temporarily losing consciousness. Usually catchers stand behind to catch the
unconscious person to prevent injury.
There is no scriptural evidence in the early Apostolic Church for this
phenomenon. Attempts have been made for
its validation but none are convincing.
Judas came with a detachment of fully armed officers and troops to
arrest Jesus. “Then – when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ –
they drew back and fell to the ground.” (Jn. 18:6) There is a big problem with this
explanation. All the people who fell
backward to the ground were enemies of Christ.
On the Damascus road Saul “fell to the
ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting
Me? And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ .
. .” (Acts 9:4-5) There was
no description of Saul falling backwards.
Besides, he was completely conscious.
Saul did not receive the Holy Spirit until Ananias laid hands on him
(Acts 9:17) The last attempt to
validate “slaying in the Spirit” is the experience of John. “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me saying to
me, ‘do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.” (Rev. 1:17). John had already been baptized with the
Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, therefore what he experienced here is not the baptism of the Holy
Spirit. John “fell at the feet” of Jesus. He fell forward not backwards. The expression “falling
at the feet” denotes worship, not the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
(Rev. 19:10)
Go to our web site by clicking here: à “Slain in the Spirit.”
“Many
world-renowned evangelists and healers do not speak with tongues.
How can you say that they have not
received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit”
The Apostolic criterion for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is speaking in
tongues. It was established on the Day
of Pentecost. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
(Acts 2:4) In the home of
Cornelius it happened again. “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?” (Acts 10:44-47) There are two truths that must be
noted. First, Peter and the disciples
who were with him knew that the Gentiles had received the Baptism of the Holy
Spirit “for they
heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.” Speaking in tongues must be accompanied
with magnifying God. Second, Peter said
that the Gentiles had “received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” In what way did the Gentiles receive the
Holy Spirit like what Peter and the disciples had experienced? They spoke with tongues and magnified God. In his report to the apostles and brethren
in Jerusalem Peter testified: “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as
upon us at the beginning.” (Acts 11:15) Peter verified the Gentiles had received the Baptism of the Holy
Spirit because they had the same evidence of speaking with tongues. Peter recalled the Pentecostal experience
that he had experienced “at the beginning.”
“When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified
God, saying, ‘The God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
(Acts 11:18) When the
apostle Paul came to Ephesus he asked some disciples: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you
believed?’ And they said to him, ‘We
have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit. . . . And when Paul had laid hands on them, the
Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” Acts
19:1-7)
Let this be said once and for all time.
The Apostolic criterion of receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is
the evidence of speaking with tongues.
The experience of any world-renowned evangelist or healer is not the
standard for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
APOSTOLIC CRITERION OF RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT
There were three distinct manifestations of the Spirit’s outpouring on
the Day of Pentecost. The first two, “sound of a rushing mighty wind” and “divided
tongues; as of fire”, were external manifestations, and they
happened only on that day in Jerusalem. The third was an internal manifestation
that was experienced personally. It was the filling “of the Holy Spirit and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” It was repeated in other places and on
other occasions as well (Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-46; 19: l-6).
Many seem to lack understanding concerning the issue of speaking with
tongues. Some think it is unnecessary
to speak with tongues in order to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, but this is
not the Apostolic teaching. In the Early Church the criterion of receiving the
Holy Spirit was speaking with tongues.
Peter and other Christians had used this as a criterion to ascertain
whether or not “the
gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also?” How did they know they were correct?
“For they heard them speak with
tongues and magnified God.” (Acts 10:44-46).
Peter later testified, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as
upon us at the beginning” and he then recalled the exact words of
our Lord Jesus Christ concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts
11:15-17). The apostles confirmed the
Gentiles were also baptized with the Holy Spirit because they spoke with
tongues (Acts 2:4). This apostle Paul
had also used the criterion of speaking in tongues to determine whether or not
a Christian has received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19: 1-6). Since Gospel truth
cannot be changed, this same criterion should also be used in the Christian
churches today.
Go to our web site by clicking here:à
“Is Speaking in Tongues needed
Today?”
DO WE NEED TO SPEAK IN TONGUES TO GO TO HEAVEN?
I have been asked this trick question many times. If I say that we need
to speak in tongues to go to heaven then I will have a difficult time
explaining how the Holy Bible has never mentioned our Lord Jesus Christ
speaking in tongues and He is now in heaven.
Moses and Elijah appeared in heaven with Jesus and they have never
spoken in tongues. How about Enoch? He never spoke in tongues and God took
him. All the saints in the Old
Testament time such as Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, David and all the major and
minor prophets never spoke in tongues and we have no doubt they will be in
heaven. The thief on the cross never
spoke in tongues and Jesus promised he would be in Paradise with Him. Need I go on?
If I say,
“No, we do not need to speak in tongues to go to heaven,” then Christians will
not seek the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in
tongues. What should we do then? Here is what every Christian should consider
what the apostle Paul wrote. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but
have no love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. . . . Love
never fails. But whether there are
prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether
there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” (1 Cor. 13:1, 8) Speaking
in tongues is a means to an end but not the end itself. The Bible states very clearly “tongues will cease” which
means it will not be needed in heaven in the future.
Speaking in tongues is for the Christian in the New Testament
time which is the present time. While
we are still living in the world our top priority is to have an intimate
relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ and be like Him. We should also love God with all our heart,
mind and spirit and love our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord and also
others as well.
Preaching the Full Gospel that includes Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of
"speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance" is the responsibility of
every true Christian because our Lord Jesus Christ gave the commandment and the
promise, “You shall be baptized with the Holy
Spirit.”
This Article is the response of Paul Wong
to a discussion in the ARK Forum on September 23, 2002
For comments please write first to: ark@pdq.net
May God bless you.
Paul Wong is a Christian minister and the
President of ARK International.
His ministry also serves as an architectural service company in Houston.
The ARK Forum on the Internet is international and non-denominational.
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