Last updated on 10/18/99

Viewpoint Brief Bible Study #95
		JESUS calls US to be members of His church
The Christian religion is the worship and service of Jesus Christ. It’s not Mary we worship, but her Son. We worship neither saints, angels, a law code, nor even God’s Spirit. It’s JESUS who is to be honored. The Bible is our guide.

Proclaim liberty throughout
the land (Lev.25:10). --
The TRUTH Shall
Make You Free

Read here about baptism in God's Spirit --
Or go to a follow-up study --
Or to a more recent exchange about baptism in the Holy Spirit
   -- or to a more sensible one about rebaptism.

What do YOU think?
Lloyd Pelfrey responds --

> From: "Lloyd M. Pelfrey" <lpelfrey@cccb.edu>
> Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 15:56

> Good afternoon, Ray, -- Gene McCoy is one of our graduates. He preaches in Mountain Home, AR. Recently he had an exchange with John Osteen, and he has sent it to several over the internet. You would like to read it. His address is <mccoymail@centuryinter.net>. If you prefer, I shall ask him to send it to you.

> Today I partially read your study #95 concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. To me that is somewhat perplexing. I know the answers, but the proposition that Russell Boatman put forth several years ago is interesting: that all Christians receive the "baptism"/gift/filling of the Holy Spirit at immersion, and that there are different functions. I think he called them by this set of terms: unique (apostles), utilitarian (the ones on whom the apostles laid their hands), and universal. It has some flaws, but. . . .

> Yours and His, -- LMPelfrey

<<Lloyd, -- I'm well aware of the position taken by Russell and others, and reject it because it makes Paul wrong in Ephesians 4 and in 1 Cor. 12:13 in teaching that we should recognize our unity because of the baptism we all shared (and, obviously, KNOW we shared since it was a physical act easily seen and remembered). I think it's no accident that Jesus promised H.S. baptism ONLY to the apostles, and they never promised it to anyone.>>

And David Marler responds --
> Dear Ray: What do you think of Acts 10: 44ff, "While Peter was saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 10:47/48 Can any one forbid water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. ... Best Wishes, Dave

To: dwmarler@juno.com (David W Marler)
Date sent: Mon, 9 Mar 1998

<<Dave, Thanks for asking. I think it's grand that God let Peter know that the gospel was NOT just for the Jews. Luke exposes a bit more of the story in Acts 11:15-17 when he quotes Peter as explaining that this was like Pentecost and was NOT the ordinary run-of-the-mill thing which usually happened when folks believed the gospel. "...the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning." Even though they were NOT Jews, these of the household of Cornelius could also repent and be baptized (in water, into Christ) in order to receive remission of sins and the indwelling continuing presence of the Holy Spirit. It's interesting that the BAPTISM in the Spirit is reported only twice in all recorded inspired Christian history.>>
  Brief Bible Study #95 from Ray Downen. To go back to Viewpoint's first page, click < here.  Or see additional comments.  Or go on to Viewpoint Study #96. For Ray's concluding remarks, click HERE.