Have You Received the Holy Ghost Since You Believed?
By: P.T. McClure

“. . . Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SINCE YOU BELIEVED?” (Acts 19:1-2)

To most present day “Christian” churches, the above question doesn’t make sense. Most denominational churches teach that you receive the Holy Ghost the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ with no apparent evident sign. Paul didn’t give attention to the argument whether their believing was genuine, but simply asked had they received the Holy Ghost since they believed. The fact is that there is more to being saved than “EASY BELIEVISM”.

If simply believing in Jesus caused one to be saved, then Satan himself is saved! For James said, “the devils also believe and tremble. ” (James 2:19)

Face it; a drunkard may “believe” in Jesus, and believe that Jesus died for him. However, if the drunkard is going to be saved he must “ACT” upon his believing. If you wish to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved then you must believe in Jesus Christ as the scriptures teach.

“He that believeth on me as the SCRIPTURE hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the SPIRIT which they that believe on him SHOULD receive. ” (John 7:38-39)

Clearly everyone who believes in Jesus Christ must receive the Holy Ghost. Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born of the water (baptism in Jesus’ name) and of the Spirit (Holy Ghost infilling) he can not enter into the Kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Not just some second work of grace as some want you to believe. But, ye MUST be born of the Spirit. “By one SPIRIT are we all baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13). “Now if any man have not the SPIRIT of Christ he is NONE of his.” (Rom. 8:9).

John put it this way, “But as many as receive him, to them gave he POWER to BECOME the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.  ” (John 1:12)

Believing in Jesus places you in the position to receive POWER to BECOME a son of God. The power to become a son of God is the power of the Holy Ghost: “But you shall receive POWER after that ye receive the HOLY GHOST. ” (Acts 1:8) Being “BORN AGAIN ” can only come from the power of God’s Holy Spirit. No one can be “Born From Above” by his mind.

Christianity isn’t some “TM” or “MIND” religion; but rather a New Testament salvation experience.

Let us look at another example in the scriptures. Phillip went to Samaria and “Preached Christ”. Among those which believed was Simon (Acts 8:5-13). Of all the ones which believed on Jesus Christ and in his name (VS 12), NONE of them had received the Holy Ghost. It wasn’t until Peter had laid his hands upon them that they received the Holy Ghost, which was followed by a physical evidence which they could see, namely speaking in Tongues (Acts 2:4,33,8:17).No one can see the Holy Ghost (Jn. 1:18) for he is a Spirit (Jn. 4:24).

Notice the sequence of events in Acts 2. “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues. . . ” (Acts 2:4).  “Now when this was NOISED abroad.. . ” (Acts 2:6) “. . . and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath set forth this, which ye now SEE and HEAR ” (Acts 2:33) What did they see and hear? They saw the same thing that Simon saw in Acts 8, namely “Cloven Tongues like as fire setting upon each of them, speaking in tongues.” (Acts 2:3-4)

Let us look further for more evidence in scripture. In John 6:69, Peter along with the rest of the Apostles emphatically declare their faith, “We BELIEVE and are sure that thou art the Christ. “However, Peter nor any other Apostles had as of yet received the Holy Ghost until Acts 2:4. Jesus even reveals in Luke 22:32, that even after Peter’s strong statements of Faith in Christ he in fact still wasn’t converted. The teaching that says you are saved the moment you merely believe in Jesus is false and stands to be condemned by volumes of scripture.

Another example is in Acts 10:2, where Cornelius believed with his whole heart and was very devout. The angels instructed him to “Call for Peter, and he will tell thee what thou oughtest to do to be saved” (Acts 10:6, 11:14).

Cornelius did call for Peter, and he came and preached the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:38), remission of sins through Jesus Name (Vs.43) and believing (Vs. 43) and “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word” (Acts 10:44).

The evidence that Cornelius and his house had received the Holy Ghost was speaking in tongues (Vs.46). Peter later commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Vs. 48). Cornelius was saved when he first BELIEVED, and then acted upon his believing by receiving the HOLY GHOST evidenced by speaking in tongues and by being BAPTIZED in water in Jesus’ name.

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The Above Material Was Published By Pastor P.T. Mcclure. This Material Is Copyrighted And May By Used For Study And Research Purposes Only.