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Speaking of the CoC. When I was a teenager, I had temporarily attended a church of Christ and they taught me that ONLY "their" church is the "true Church" and they quoted Romans 16:16 to try and support their claim. They also taught salvation by works, with a heavy emphasis on water baptism. In fact, it seemed like water baptism was just about the only thing they talked about and they continuously quoted Acts 2:38.
It was a friend who invited me to attend there. His Aunt was a hardcore member of the church of Christ. I'll never forget several years later running into my friend's Aunt at my friend's daughter's birthday party. Since then, I had received Christ through faith and was now a born again Christian.
I shared this good news with his Aunt and the only question that she had for me was, "where do you attend church?" When my answer was not "the church of Christ," she bowed her head in sadness as if to imply that I was still lost because I didn't say the church of Christ. Her husband approached me and I shared the good news with him that I received Christ through faith and am now a Christian as well and he had the same question, "where do you attend church," and when I told him and the answer was not the church of Christ, his eyes glazed over followed by a cheesy legalistic grin on his face and he simply walked away from me and neither of them would speak with me for the rest of the night. I knew that something was terribly wrong!
It was a friend who invited me to attend there. His Aunt was a hardcore member of the church of Christ. I'll never forget several years later running into my friend's Aunt at my friend's daughter's birthday party. Since then, I had received Christ through faith and was now a born again Christian.
I shared this good news with his Aunt and the only question that she had for me was, "where do you attend church?" When my answer was not "the church of Christ," she bowed her head in sadness as if to imply that I was still lost because I didn't say the church of Christ. Her husband approached me and I shared the good news with him that I received Christ through faith and am now a Christian as well and he had the same question, "where do you attend church," and when I told him and the answer was not the church of Christ, his eyes glazed over followed by a cheesy legalistic grin on his face and he simply walked away from me and neither of them would speak with me for the rest of the night. I knew that something was terribly wrong!
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They have an offshoot. The universal church of christ (formerly known as the boston sect) which is even worse.. I had to deal with them when I lived in boston.. They almost convinced my wife at the time to convert.. I had to study baptism hard and long then,, and other stuff they tried to use. I gained alot of knowledge in that time, so God used a bad thing for good.
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There is no way of knowing one way or the other whether the 3000 spoke in tongues because the record is silent in that regard. Many scriptures are specific to certain points such as, belief and water baptism, yet silent regarding repentance, etc. This is evidenced in the record of the eunuch. That story only includes the fact that the eunuch believed the information Philip shared and was water baptized. Also, the account in Acts concerning the Samaritans does not state specifically that they spoke in tongues. However, it does say that Simon SAW that by the laying on of hands that the Holy Ghost was received. This indicates that something did indeed occur in connection with the infilling. If a scripture is silent, or implies but neglects to provide concrete proof it cannot be used in drawing a conclusion. Only by evaluating scripture and finding consistency can this be done.
We are told that a concept is established by 2-3 witnesses in the word itself. What I see in scripture is that God chose to leave a record indicating that everyone is given the opportunity to be saved, and provides a consistent pattern that must be followed. This truth is seen in 3 witnesses without the need to include the Samaritan experience. (Acts 2:1-4, 10:44-48, 19:1-6) All of mankind are descendants of the parties to whom the commands were given, no one is excluded.
Since you disagree, what scriptures contain something other than speaking in tongues as evidence that an individual has received the Holy Ghost?
We are told that a concept is established by 2-3 witnesses in the word itself. What I see in scripture is that God chose to leave a record indicating that everyone is given the opportunity to be saved, and provides a consistent pattern that must be followed. This truth is seen in 3 witnesses without the need to include the Samaritan experience. (Acts 2:1-4, 10:44-48, 19:1-6) All of mankind are descendants of the parties to whom the commands were given, no one is excluded.
Since you disagree, what scriptures contain something other than speaking in tongues as evidence that an individual has received the Holy Ghost?
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The scriptures you referenced, with the exception of Acts 16:31-33 (ref to belief and water baptism), line up with the command given by Peter on the Day of Pentecost; repent, be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 5:31-32
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that OBEY him.
Acts 10:43-44
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (water baptism)
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Acts 11:17-18
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
(MY COMMENT - He did not withstand God. He water baptized them-Acts 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?)
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Acts 15:7-11 (No OT Circumcision Necessary)
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Acts 16:31-33 (Only belief and water baptism reference)
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (At midnight-not much of a public display)
Acts 26:18-20
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they MAY receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Acts 3:19
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 5:31-32
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that OBEY him.
Acts 10:43-44
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (water baptism)
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Acts 11:17-18
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
(MY COMMENT - He did not withstand God. He water baptized them-Acts 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?)
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Acts 15:7-11 (No OT Circumcision Necessary)
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Acts 16:31-33 (Only belief and water baptism reference)
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (At midnight-not much of a public display)
Acts 26:18-20
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they MAY receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
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lol
Your a funny man, Considering scripture is clear than NO EVERYONE will speak in tongues. Thats means that it is NOT required. Or not a sign.
Speaking in tongues is not the evidence. It is just one of many evidences.
But you want to replace the work of the HS with the work of man. So you are already in deep trouble. Scripture calls that basphemy.
I would open my mind and heart before its too late man. Your not gonna be able to “waggle” your way out of blasphemy when you are standing before Christ.
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a sign of someone with the power of the spirit is walking on water, healing cancer, raising the dead, etc. someone making babel sounds would not be a sign of anything to me. not to mention its something anyone can easily do, little kids make those sounds everyday moving their finger up and down over their lips. evidence of the spirit would be unique.