Thread: The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is the greatest event in Christian history...

Originally Posted by Colonel

The end goal, that which really matters, is to get each person saved into heaven, not to get them born again at some point during this life. But it all starts with salvation being made available with the resurrection. And it doesn't depend on the person's being baptized with the Spirit at any point.

Jesus didn't just die to get us into heaven. He died to get the kingdom of heaven into us. We are commanded to work with Him in building His kingdom, which we cannot be effective at without the power that He has given us to do it with.

The whole church was asleep, and when they were awakened only half of them had the oil. We need the oil of the Spirit if we are going to let our light shine brightly in a dark world.

Originally Posted by Colonel

The baptism in the Spirit or lack thereof isn't a criterium for salvation.

No, but it is necessary for being the disciples that God has called us to be. If one is only "saved" enough to obtain their own salvation and then go no further, could they possible end up as the servant who hid his small talent in the ground?

Remember, if our salvation was only about us making it into heaven when we die, then it would not have been necessary for Jesus to leave us here once we were saved. Would you leave your children in a dark place if it were not necessary?
Salvation is about becoming part of His kingdom. His kingdom is now in you. As part of His Kingdom, we are commissioned to further that kingdom. We cannot effectively further that kingdom without the power that He sent us to do so.

John 15:1-17 (NKJV)
The True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Love and Joy Perfected

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

Originally Posted by Cardinal TT

The MAJOR point is...

You cannot enter heaven without the blood of Christ
You can enter heaven without the BOHS

Salvation is greater than the BOHS


From a believer who loves BOHS

This is a great concept. And salvation= a living relationship with the heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.

When we study the early church in the book of Acts, we see that part of the salvation experience was the BOHS. Today, most separate them.

Of course, the same modern church that discounts the baptism of the Holy Spirit/Promise of the Father also discounts the sacrament of water baptism. Not many receive the salvation experience of the NT church as found in the book of Acts. If they did, we probably would see a much more vibrant church, one that impacts the world in a very positive way.