I claimed in my last post that the early believers had the Holy Spirit, not as an inward voice or guidance but as the Holy Spirit gifts. Also from the previous post, enlightenment is not directly by the Spirit, but by the Word.
You are simply wrong! The Holy Spirit indwells all believers immediately at regeneration conversion or they are "none of his" (Rom. 8:8-9).
TrevorL;1853663In the previous post two passages 2 Timothy 3:15-17 and Acts 20:32 were quoted which show that the Scriptures said:
able[/U] to make the believer wise unto salvation, and is able to build up and give the believer an inheritance amongst those that are sanctified.
You are wrong again. In context, these passages refer only to those who are already Spirit indwelt believers and thus the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit and it is the indwelling Spirit that enlightens them by the Word. The overall context of scripture clearly teaches that the Word of God is "spiritually discerned" and the lost person is without that ability (1 Cor. 2:14).
TrevorL;1853663To this could be added the theme of the book of Romans said:
Romans 1:16-17 (KJV): 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. [/COLOR]
Wrong again! This is where overall context must be considered in interpretation of a text. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 demonstrates that the gospel can and often does come to many in "word only" but in regard to salvation it never comes in "word only" but in "power and in the Holy Spirit."
You simply are ignorant of the New Covenant elements of genuine salvation which are spelled out for you in Ezek. 36:26-27 and in 2 Cor. 3:3-6 where the Holy Spirit is ALWAYS actively involved in EVERY salvation under the New Covenant or it is not a New Covenatn salvation at all.
Here is your real problem, you simply are completely ignorant of the New Covenant in regard to salvation just as Nicodemus was ignorant of it (Jn. 3:3-9). There is no such thing as salvation under the blood of the EVERLASTING covenant apart from the work of the Holy Spirit within His covenant people.
Acts 2:37-38 (KJV): 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [/COLOR]
There is no evidence here that before they were convicted in their hearts at the preaching of the gospel by Peter, that they had received the Holy Spirit or the Spirit in their hearts. The Holy Spirit was to be received after or when they repented and were baptized.
Wrong again! You cannot legitimately pit silence in examples against precepts of Scripture that are not silent. The "gift of the Holy Spirit" is immediately referenced again to the prophecy of Joel first quoted to explain the gift of tongues and other spiritual gifts which had nothing to do with New Covenant salvation.
This gift of the Holy Spirit is illustrated by the events surrounding Philip preaching to the Samaritans:
Acts 8:5,12-18 (KJV): 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
Wrong again! What they received was that VISIBLE expression of spiritual gifts which came through the laying on of apostolic hands (Rom. 1:11; 2 Tim. 1:8; Acts 19:6; etc.) which Simon could see the results and wanted to purchase the power so that "
on whomsoever I lay hands," they could receive such manifestations of the Spirit.
When Peter preached the gospel to Cornelius they received the gifts of the Holy Spirit:
Acts 10:43-48 (KJV): 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision 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. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Again, it is not the indwelling Spirit that was conveyed but the spiritual gifts of speaking in tongues, propheshing and the like.
