The Promise of the Permanent Indwelling Holy Spirit

[JML CASSIAN]

Walvoord's book on the Holy Spirit states that regeneration and all the blessings of redemption are insepabable from the baptism in the Spirit as the baptism in the Spirit places a person "in Christ" or spiritual union with Christ. In essence, this is a denial of any personal and practical redemption to pre-Pentecost saints as according to his definition they were spiritually OUTSIDE any union with Christ and there is no salvation OUTSIDE of Christ.

However, Paul tells us that the all the elect were chosen "in him" before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). Paul claims that Abraham, pre-Mosaic person is the example of justification by faith (Rom. 4:11) and gospel conversion (Gal. 3:6-7).

My position is that there has been one way of salvation before (Jn. 4:16; Mt. 7:13-14) as well as after the cross (Acts 4:12). There has been one gospel before and after the cross (Acts 10:43; Heb. 4:2; Acts 26:22-23). Regeneration, indwelling and remission of sins, indwelling of the Holy Spirit have absolutely nothing to do with INDIVIDUAL salvation but has to do with INSTITUTIONAL and COPORATE service in connection with the "house of God."

Spiritual union with Christ has nothing to do with the baptism in the Spirit but with regeneration and indwelling which have been the same since the garden of Eden.

Those are excellent points you make, and I tend to agree with you. I, for sometime now, have been subjected to dispensationalism as the only way to properly interpret the bible. While they have some good points, they also seem to have some problems. Of course, dispensationalists would also claim there is only one way of salvation, which is by grace, through faith in Christ. I've never heard any different from any of them.

What is your response to the quote from Paul H Hamer, as recorded in "The Complete Biblical Library?" He is saying that 1 Cor 12:13 is not talking about water baptism.

The following is a comment from Dr Paul E Kretzmann, a Lutheran, I believe:

"The unity of the one great Church system is effected by means of Baptism: For in one Spirit also we all were baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we all of one Spirit were made to drink. Baptism is the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost; He is the power that influenced our hearts and minds and brought them into the right relation with Christ, added us as members to His body, sealed and attested to us our salvation. The nationality and the social status of the individual person has nothing to do with this process, for the Spirit makes no distinction between Jews and Greeks, between slaves and freemen; they have all received the same identical Spirit, they have all been imbued with the same life of Christ. And, incidentally, we all were made to drink of the same Spirit; He was and is the spiritual refreshment which our souls receive by faith; for the drinking includes all the nourishment of the soul, as it is received for the benefit of the entire body and of all its members."

As you can see, he believes the baptism referred to is water baptism. I would appreciate comments on both of these.

Now that I went back and read the whole passage in context, it does seem obvious that it is referring to water baptism. Live and learn. Hey, the more I learn the more I realize I have so much more to learn.

 

[Dr. Walter]

"The unity of the one great Church system is effected by means of Baptism: For in one Spirit also we all were baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we all of one Spirit were made to drink. Baptism is the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost; He is the power that influenced our hearts and minds and brought them into the right relation with Christ, added us as members to His body, sealed and attested to us our salvation. The nationality and the social status of the individual person has nothing to do with this process, for the Spirit makes no distinction between Jews and Greeks, between slaves and freemen; they have all received the same identical Spirit, they have all been imbued with the same life of Christ. And, incidentally, we all were made to drink of the same Spirit; He was and is the spiritual refreshment which our souls receive by faith; for the drinking includes all the nourishment of the soul, as it is received for the benefit of the entire body and of all its members."

He makes the same mistake as Catholics! Baptism does not literally remit sins or is instrumental in regeneration - it is not a sacrament but a symbolic ordinance that not merely symbolizes the truth of the gospel and thus publicly identifes you with the gospel as the object of your confession but it also identifies you with the doctrine and practice of Christ and New Testament congregations (Mt. 28:19-20).

However, in the immediate context Paul is talking about partaking of the unifying influence of the Spirit in the congregational body that is spelled out in verses 14-27. Each congregation has its own distinct character and make up just as every individual does and God builds them to meet the needs of those in that congregation. Hence, every member (including lost members - see 1 Cor. 11:18) are designed for the good of the congregation and individual members therein (1 Cor. 12:27). There is "one baptism" that is commissioned to the end of the world and it is not the baptism in the Spirit (Mt. 28:19-20).

 

[JML CASSIAN]

He makes the same mistake as Catholics! Baptism does not literally remit sins or is instrumental in regeneration - it is not a sacrament but a symbolic ordinance that not merely symbolizes the truth of the gospel and thus publicly identifes you with the gospel as the object of your confession but it also identifies you with the doctrine and practice of Christ and New Testament congregations (Mt. 28:19-20).

However, in the immediate context Paul is talking about partaking of the unifying influence of the Spirit in the congregational body that is spelled out in verses 14-27. Each congregation has its own distinct character and make up just as every individual does and God builds them to meet the needs of those in that congregation. Hence, every member (including lost members - see 1 Cor. 11:18) are designed for the good of the congregation and individual members therein (1 Cor. 12:27). There is "one baptism" that is commissioned to the end of the world and it is not the baptism in the Spirit (Mt. 28:19-20).

Thanks for your comments. They are greatly appreciated.