Thursday, May 24, 2012

The Power to Save

Act 19:1-7 NASB
(1)  It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.

(2)  He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."
(3)  And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism."

(4)  Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."
(5)  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

(6)  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
(7)  There were in all about twelve men.

Paul asked two questions that opened the door to share the Gospel.  Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?       Into what then were you baptized? 
These men had been baptized unto repentance by John.  They were still waiting on the Messiah to come.  They did not know that Jesus was the Messiah.  They did not know that his work on Calvary was complete.  They needed to believe in Jesus.

After hearing their response he immediately shared the gospel with them.  They immediately accepted Jesus as their savior. 
We all have a commission to share the gospel with the world.
They received the Holy Spirit immediately when they believed on Jesus Christ.  When you were saved you immediately received the Holy Spirit.  God does not hold things from his children. 

So is there a second work of grace?  YES 
And a third

And Fourth
And a 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

It is the growing process of a Christian. 

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