I agree with everything you said with the exception of (and this is only my own question to myself at this time), when I read the full book of Joel, I'm left with the impression that the world was baptized with His Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost as a full baptism of man similar to the full baptism of the Earth when He cleansed it with the Flood. As through one man sin entered the world, through one Man came grace. I had nothing to do with either. Lest I should boast. Which brings me to the conclusion that we are not baptized and filled with His Holy Spirit after we believe, but rather already posses that Spirit. Thus, the moment we surrender and agree to accept His grace by faith through the hearing the Word of God, (Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God) then His Spirit is sparked, for lack of better terms, within and changes our entire thinking in the twinkling of an eye giving us a renewed mind as written. Then, we are led into obedience through Spirit guidance instead of our own thinking (Flesh) just as Christ BECAME obedient unto death. Leaving me with the question, why are we baptizing people if He must increase and we must decrease. Baptism seems like an act that I may boast in, that I gave my heart to Jesus. I accepted Jesus. I got saved on such and such a Holy Day that will be null in the end. I came to Jesus. I, I, I.
I don't want to steal any of God's glory. HE filled me with HIS Spirit when HE came to me to share HIS salvation. I was dead in my sin but was awakened by His Spirit, and not of my own doing. I just heard the kno
Thoughts?
Right. So, what is the function of the Holy Ghost today? We're born of water when we were born of the womb. Then, we were born with the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out onto all mankind as prophesied by Joel. Not of our own accord, lest we should boast.
Then, Peter, being filled with the Holy Ghost began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave utterance. What is the purpose of the Holy Ghost today? The Apostles spoke in unknown languages and healed people through the power of the Holy Ghost. Why are people being filled with the Holy Ghost today and speaking in tongues when there's nothing to speak in tongues about? All prophecy has been fulfilled and the Word of God is no longer a secret. It's interpreted in every language on Earth. There are no miracle healings. If God wills a persons health to improve, then is it really a miracle? So I ask, what is the function of the Holy Ghost in todays church?
You speak as it's all true?
What a foolish thing to say, we are born of water when we are born of the womb.
JESUS speaking to NIcodemus, WAS NICODEMUS BORN naturally?
John 3,
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
JESUS tells him verse 6, what is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
So JESUS we have natural birth and spirt birth TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
If you not born naturally would you be able to READ HIS WORD?
If you not born naturally would you be able to BE REBORN? Did you notice the word JESUS used REBORN?
The Holy GHost, why would you say when a part of this is not true?
"Then, we were born with the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out onto all mankind as prophesied by Joel"
Joel 2,
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
If we look at HIS word ONLY 120 WERE FILLED NOT ALL OF US.
Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
What else did Joel prophesied? verse 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
Doesn't that line up with this?
Acts 2:38-39
King James Version
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Why would Peter tell them to get baptized in JESUS name and JESUS WILL fill you with the Holy Ghost IF HE ALREADY DID IT?
So now two questions for you,
1. How do we get rid of our sins?
2. Why would you say we all have been filled with the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentocost?
I will warn you, Matthew 12:31-32
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
You may have crossed that line?
Of course my answer for your question "what is the function of the Holy Ghost in todays church" stay the same.
I think it's clear you have never been filled with HIS spirit, have you been baptized in JESUS name?
So now 3 questions.
1. How do we get rid of our sins?
2. Why would you say we all have been filled with the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost?
3. have you been baptized in JESUS name?