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Have You Received the Holy Spirit?

Is it possible to be a Christian without the Holy Spirit? A reading of Acts on the three baptisms and on receiving the Spirit who forms Christ in us.

Airton Humber · 26/12/24 · 4 min de leitura

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Have you received the Holy Spirit?

A Christian without the Spirit: is that possible!? Let's see:

The apostle Paul asked some disciples:
Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? They answered: No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. So what baptism did you receive?, Paul asked. John's baptism, they answered. Paul said: John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. Acts 19:2-6

Paul mentions three baptisms here, in this sequence:
Repentance
In the name of the Lord Jesus
With the Holy Spirit

Notice Philip preaching about the kingdom of God and the apostles acting so that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
But as they believed Philip, who preached to them about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. And even Simon himself believed; and, having been baptized, he continued with Philip; and, seeing the signs and the great wonders that were done, he was astonished. The apostles, then, who were in Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria had received the word of God, sent Peter and John there. They, having gone down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (For upon none of them had he yet fallen; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:12-17

And see this confirmation:
Peter answered: Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

Jesus and the apostle Paul taught many things, however:
Jesus preached only about the Kingdom of God,
The apostle Paul preached only about Christ
The Bible shows that these are two gospels that complement each other.

Jesus completed his work by sending the Holy Spirit upon all, fulfilling all the prophecies, and his own words in John 16. And he said, afterward: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

At Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out, completing the work of Jesus. We now live under the power of the Holy Spirit:
For the Kingdom of God does not consist of words, but of power.  1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God is not food or drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

Paul preached about Christ in us, you and I guided by the Holy Spirit. And he does it in a wonderful way:
Of it I became a minister according to the responsibility given to me by God to present to you fully the word of God, the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations, but now has been revealed to his saints. To them God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:25-27
I strive that they may be strengthened in their hearts, united in love, and reach all the riches of full understanding, so that they may fully know the mystery of God, namely, Christ. In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3
My children, again I am suffering birth pains for you, until Christ is formed in you. Galatians 4:19

In Jesus, made an ordinary human being, naturally evil like you and me, the Christ was revealed, the man guided by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus submitted himself to human nature, inclined only and solely toward evil, to show us the way: And God made him Lord and Christ. Acts 2:36

By mistake, traditions make Jesus divine, making the way impossible for the ordinary man, locking the doors. That same tradition teaches that we must be good, as if that were possible for men, ignoring that kindness, fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), leads us to repentance. Romans 2:4

But what was, and still is, impossible for men is possible for God; and God had already prepared a way out: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts. Zechariah 4:6

How to receive the Holy Spirit
So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you, though you are evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more will the Father who is in heaven give the Holy Spirit to whoever asks him! Luke 11:9-13

In that day you will not ask me anything. I assure you that my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. John 16:23-24

Therefore, everything begins with divine action, with the grace of the Lord Jesus, flows through the love of God and is completed in the communion of the Holy Spirit, until Christ is formed in us.

Let there be light! Peace!

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Airton Humber

Writer and creator of Amem... Amém!. Just an ordinary person who loves the Word of God.