Historical: The Torah

 

66 books means I can’t deep dive into each one individually – this series would be over a year long! And I can’t really look at the Historical books in one post, because there are 17 of them!! Therefore my plan is 6 posts, and I will strive to be as concise as possible.

The Torah

The Torah is the five books of Moses, the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; the Word of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Genesis

This book explains the beginning of everything: Creation, man, sin, death, salvation, the nations, with the emphasis on Israel - the origin of the world, people, sin, death, and the nations is covered in chapters 1-11; the rest of the book, chapters 12-50, is about Israel!

In 1-11 we read about creation, the garden of Eden, Adam & Eve, the Fall, the promise of a redeemer, Noah and the flood, the tower of Babel, the nations.

In 12-50 we read of Abraham Sarah, the promise to Abraham (the theme of the rest of the Bible), Isaac & Rebekah, Jacob & his wives, Jacob’s 12 sons and daughter Dinah. We also learn how this small family, 70 souls at the time, wound up in Egypt.

Exodus

Exodus means departure. This book explains how Israel became enslaved in Egypt, and how God raised up Moses to rescue them. We read of Moses and Pharaoh, the ten plagues, the Passover, the exodus (the greatest event in the Old Testament), the crossing of the Red Sea, the 10 Commandments, God entering into covenant with Israel so they would be his people and he would be their God, water from the rock, and the tabernacle (built under the guidance of Bezaleel, then filled with the Shekinah glory of God). The tabernacle must be important – 37½ % of the book is devoted to it!

Leviticus

This is their worship book. It is called Leviticus because it is for the Levites, the priestly tribe. It describes in detail their worship, the sacrifices, and the concept of clean and unclean. Israel was a sanctified people, and the statues show them how they are to be a separate people: through the worship of one only God, their priests and sacrificial system, the sabbath, their diet, their dress, how they built their houses and more. In ch 23 we see their feasts, which guided their year and was God’s prophetic calendar.

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Numbers

This is their travelogue. It covers their 40 year wandering in the wilderness. First, why did they wander in the wilderness for 40 years? Did God deliver them from Egypt only to abandon them in the wilderness? Nope. He saved them from Egypt, brought them to Sinai, entered into covenant with them, then brought them straight to Kadesh-barnea, from whence they sent out the 12 spies. When the people believed the report of the 10 instead of Joshua and Caleb, God said, You will not see the promised land, but your children will. So it was 40 years in the wilderness, where he protected and provided for them (manna). We also read the amazing prophecies of Balaam and water from the rock, part 2.

Deuteronomy

After 40 years of wilderness, Israel is on the other side of the Jordan River, poised to cross over and enter the land. These are Moses’ final words to Israel. He reminds them of the covenant, renews the 10 commandments, and encourages them in their faith and confidence in God. At the end of the book Moses dies, being 120 years old. Wait, Moses, the one used of God to rescue Israel from Egypt, the one God spoke to face to face, the one God gave the Law to, the first books of the Bible, the one who guided these obstinate, hard-headed, stubborn people, who were prone to unbelief, this Moses didn’t enter the promised land? Why? This is explained in Numbers 20:1-13, Deut 1:37-38 and 31:2. But in his mercy, God allowed Moses to see the promised land from the top of Mount Pisgah.

And God said to Moses, I Am The One Who Is, and this is what you will say to the sons of Israel, The One Who Is has sent me to you. (Exodus 3:14 LXX)

NEXT: Historical II

A Bird’s-Eye View of the Old Testament - Introduction

 

In November of 2024, I did a four-part series I called A Bird’s-Eye View of the Old Testament (you can read it here. I call this series A Bird’s-Eye View of the Old Testament.

I love the Old Testament! I know many people see only tedious lists of rules and judgment and innumerable sacrifices, but I see something entirely different. I see redemption. I see God. I see Jesus!

New Testament. Old Testament. What is a testament? Covenant is probably a better word. “A covenant is a relationship between two partners who make binding promises to each other and work together to reach a common goal. They’re often accompanied by oaths, signs, and ceremonies. Covenants define obligations and commitments, but they are different from a contract because they are relational and personal.

Covenant relationships are found all throughout the Bible. There are personal covenants between two individuals (David and Jonathan), political covenants between two kings or nations (King Solomon and King Hiram), legal covenants with a nation (such as the laws about freeing Hebrew slaves), and so forth. Entering into covenants was a major part of what it meant to live in the ancient Near East.” ¹

There are six major covenants mentioned in the Bible:

Noahic (Gen 8:20-9:17)
Abrahamic (Gen 12, 15, 17)
Mosaic (Exo 19)
Davidic (2 Sam 7)
New (Jer 31:31-34)
Peace (Eze 37, esp v 26-28)

What we call the Old Covenant (Old Testament) is really the Mosaic Covenant, the giving of the Law and the forming of the children of Israel as God’s covenant people.

Did you notice that all the covenants were revealed in the Old Testament? The Old Testament is the revelation and unfolding of God’s promise of redemption, first revealed to Eve in Genesis 3. I’m telling you, the Old Testament is exciting!!

This series will be fun because the Old Testament is longer than the New. The Bible is made up of 66 books – the Old Testament has 39 of them! (27 in the New.) There are 929 chapters in the Old, compared to 260 in the New; which means on average each Old Testament book has 23.8 chapters, while New Testament books have 9.6. All this means it will take a little longer to cover the Old Testament!

We divide the Old Testament into three sections: Historical (Genesis-Esther), Poetic (Job-Song of Solomon), Prophetic (Isaiah-Malachi). The traditional Jewish division is similar but called Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim, also known as the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. The arrangement of books in the Hebrew Bible is a little different than ours, and their Bible contains 24 books because they combine books that we divide (1 & 2 Kings for example). This dividing happened when the Jews translated the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek (Septuagint or LXX). ²

What is the Old Testament about? Simply put, It is the story of Israel. But, with 66 books, surely there is more to it than that. Yes, indeed. The river that runs through the Old Testament is the promise and hope of The Coming One, the Messiah, the Promised Savior. Another current is King David, because Messiah will be of the house of David.

The logical end of the Old Testament is the New, but the New is not the end of the Old as much as the fulfillment of it. It is the flower of the Old; the fruit. If the Bible were compared to a skyscraper, the New would be the Penthouse, built upon the foundation of the Old. We can never understand the New apart from the Old, nor the Old apart from the New, and none of it makes sense without the Son of God, Jesus Christ

NEXT: A Bird’s-eye View of the Old Testament – Historical I

¹ The Five Key Covenants God Makes With Humans in the Bible by Whitney Woollard 

https://bibleproject.com/articles/covenants-the-backbone-bible/#

He says 5 covenants, I say 6. What gives? He combined the New Covenant and the Covenant of Peace. I don’t know why.

² https://torah.org/learning/basics-primer-torah-bible/

Old Testament: saved by grace through faith: What Paul says in Galatians

 

Tuesday I began a three part series asking the question, “How did a person get right with God in the Old Testament?” I offered a very brief survey and came up with the answer, “People in Old Testament days were made right with God by faith.” Wednesday I looked at what Paul said about this in his epistle to the Romans. Today, in my final post I will look at what Paul said in his epistle to the Galatians.

Why is this even important? I believe a fairly common misconception is that Jews in the Old Testament were saved by keeping the Law. But, if folks could ever get right with God by their obedience to the law, under any covenant, then Christ died in vain, it was all for nothing - we don’t need the cross. or Christ. But we do need Christ, and the blood of the cross, because getting right with God has always and only been by grace through faith.

Galatians 3:10-12 

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

v 11 No man is justified by the law in the sight of God. What he means is, No one ever has, ever will, or ever can be made right with God by the law.

And why not? Because the principle has been laid down, The just shall live by faith. This is Habakkuk 2:4. In the Old Testament! The one who is righteous by faith is the one who shall live. Anybody, anywhere, anytime who needed to get right with God, did so by faith. There’s no other way.

Galatians 3:16-27 

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.  17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.  18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

God made a covenant with Abraham in which he promised Christ, a covenant of promise, grace, and faith. 3:7 know ye, then, that those of faith -- these are sons of Abraham (YLT) and 3:9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham (NKJ)

Verse 17 reveals another eternal principle: the law, which came 430 years after the promise, cannot strip the promise of it’s power, make it of none effect. Paul’s point is, the blessing of Abraham was given by promise and received by faith; this is all grace.  This is the original and only way God deals with us. The giving of the law does not change this. In other words, they were not saved by keeping the law.

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 

Is the law against or contrary to the promises? That is, God dealt with Abraham by promise, grace, and faith, does the law change that? God forbid or no way!

if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law - Here’s why no one ever could or ever can be made right with God by the law – it can’t give life.

the promise by faith of Jesus Christ - that is the promise of Christ and the blessing of righteousness and life in him, this can and does give life to them that believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 

This, before faith came, does indeed look like there was no faith until Christ came. But this can’t be true - Hebrews 11. What Paul literally wrote was, before the faith came and the faith revealed. The faith, the faith of Jesus Christ, the gospel. This in no way indicates that people were not saved by grace through faith, that was always God’s way of dealing with us - it’s just official now!

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 

Once again, v 26 after the faith is come; the faith of Jesus Christ, the gospel.

In Old Testament days, people looked forward to the Christ who was to come, and God forgave sins because Jesus was coming to die for them. Now we look back to the Christ who has come, and God forgives sins through faith in his shed blood. Old Testament, New Testament, our hope is Christ. We are both, we are all, saved by grace through faith in Christ. (see Romans 3:25-26) Thank God!

YLT - Young's Literal Translation

NKJ - New King James

Old Testament: saved by grace through faith What Paul says in Romans

 

 Yesterday I asked this question, How did a person get right with God in the Old Testament? I presented a very brief survey and came up with the answer, People in Old Testament days were made right with God by faith.

The epistles of Paul to the Romans and the Galatians deal specifically and pointedly with the question of being made right with God, which is called justification. Today, I will take a look at what Paul says about this in Romans chapters 3 and 4.

Old Testament: saved by grace through faith: Part 1 What Paul says in Romans

Romans 3:20-22 

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 

Verse 20 could not be clearer, by works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him (Young’s Literal Translation). This is not a new thing. This is a principle that spans both the Old and the New Covenants.

But what about v 21, But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested. Isn’t this a new thing? No. Manifested means to be plainly recognized, thoroughly understood; the smoke has been cleared away, what the law and the prophets spoke of is now manifest to all: the righteousness of God is through the faith of Jesus Christ (the gospel), and is offered to and given to all who believe.

Surely this idea of justified by faith is New Testament truth, unknown in the Old Testament. Paul says, not so.

Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. From the very beginning people were made right with God by faith. But one might say, “Ah, but Abraham was before the law; once the law was given people were made right with God by their works.” OK, let’s take someone who lived under the law.

Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
David lived under the law. David had also sinned grievously. When he confessed his sin God forgave him. Yesterday I asked, Didn’t they [folks in the OT] have to get all their ducks in a row before God would forgive them? Listen, David’s ducks were all over the pond; he had nothing to offer, nothing to commend himself to God, but God forgave him when he confessed his sin.

Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. 
Forgiveness is a grace word. He was made right with God by grace through faith. He didn’t earn it or deserve it, he didn’t get righteous first; no, God blessed him with it. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

People in the Old Testament were saved, made right with God, and forgiven by grace through faith. I’m so glad that God has not changed, that I can be saved, forgiven, justified, restored when I confess my sins, and in faith call upon the name of the Lord!

NEXT: Part 2 What Paul says in Galatians

How did a person get right with God in the Old Testament?

 

This is a somewhat tricky question because of terminology. People in the Old Testament didn’t ask, “What must I do to go to heaven?” (Actually, the New Testament doesn’t talk this way either.) While the word “saved” is used in the Old Testament 104 times, the context is usually a physical enemy, as in Psalm 18:3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Nevertheless, we can see how people were saved in the OT: I will call upon the LORD. But it is used in a way closer to the New Testament idea of being saved:

Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength 

Isaiah 45:17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation 

21 …there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour 

22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth 

In the Old Testament they didn’t speak of dying and going to heaven (even though they did believe in the resurrection and eternal life), instead they spoke in terms of being saved, salvation, and God their Savior. I believe the words saved, salvation, and Savior give us a major clue – these are not works and merit words, they are all grace words. And keep in mind that in the Old Testament, the Jews thought of ultimate, eternal salvation in terms of the coming Messiah – he would be their Savior.

I believe the real question, the one that allows us to compare the Old and the New, is, How were people made right with God in the Old Testament? 

+ Repentance   

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

+ Confession 

Psalm 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 

5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 

+ Calling upon the name of the LORD 

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

+ Faith 

Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 

10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

I know, v 10 says God saw their works, but what were their works? They believed God, repented (sackcloth), fasted, and cried mightily unto God (see v 5-9). The only promise they had was judgment, they believed that and turned to God for mercy. And God had mercy. They believed and were saved!

This all looks very much like New Testament talk. The answer to my earlier question, How were people made right with God in the Old Testament? is, People in Old Testament days were made right with God by faith.

It is obvious that the Old Covenant was a little different than the New Covenant. I mean, they had the sabbath, circumcision, sacrifices, the temple, the priesthood, and all that. Didn’t they have to get all their ducks in a row before God would save them? No! They were saved by grace through faith, just like we are. After all, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Isaiah, is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he hasn’t changed.

Numbers 21:8-9 

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

 

NEXT: Old Testament folks were saved by grace through faith: Part 1 What Paul says in Romans

A few thoughts on all things common, deacons, and giving

Our pastor is preaching through the book of Acts. We are currently in chapter 5. I wanted to share a few thoughts on all things common, deacons, and giving from chapters 2-6.

 Acts 2:44-46  

⁴⁴ And all that believed were together, and had all things common; ⁴⁵ And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. ⁴⁶ And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Acts 4:32, 34-35

³² And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

³⁴ Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, ³⁵ And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

The church in ch. 2 had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. They could say the same thing by the end of ch 4, neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. They were a self-supporting community. Nothing they possessed was "his own", and if they had lands or houses they sold them. This sounds like they were essentially a commune. The most amazing thing was, Neither was there any among them that lacked.

This continued through ch 6, where the apostles needed help regarding the daily ministration, so they appointed 7 men to help.

Acts 6:1-6

1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

³ Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Ministration and ministry are the word diakonia. I find it interesting that the word deacon is diakonos. I believe there is a word play here – diakonia (ministration) and diakonos (deacon) – and that it is intended to lead us to believe these are the first deacons. Tradition confirms this. I believe the Bible teaches us that every church ought to have deacons.

We don’t read any more about this all things common in the book of Acts or the epistles. I used to say that this continued for a brief time in the Jerusalem church and nowhere else, however Tertullian, writing in the latter part of the 2^nd century (155–220), adds a new twist to this:

“our brotherly love continues even to the division of our estates, which is a test few brotherhoods will bear, and which commonly divides the dearest unions among you.
But we Christians look upon ourselves as one body, informed as it were by one soul; and being thus incorporated by love, we can never dispute what we are to bestow upon our own members. Accordingly among us all things are in common, excepting wives
But is it any great wonder that such charitable brethren as enjoy all things in common should have such frequent love-feasts?”
The Apology Of Tertullian, Chapter XXXIX (translated by Wm. Reeve)

I don’t know exactly what Tertullian meant by all things are in common,  but I’m don’t think they were all living in communes, which may mean that the Jerusalem church wasn’t a commune either.

I am persuaded there are three questions we need to ask from these chapters:

1) Is there any further apostolic instruction regarding or concerning this?
No. Absolutely no mention of it after Jerusalem in Acts or in the epistles.

Many movements in church history began as or featured communal living: the Jesus Movement, Shiloh Youth Revivals (John Higgins), Mansion Messiah (Calvary Chapel), His Place (Arthur Blessit), Waldensians, Moravians, Monasteries, Hutterites, the Jesus Army (England) to name a few. They all faded after just a few years. The only ones that lasted were monasteries and Nunneries. I conclude this is clearly not an essential.

2) Is there anything here that is expected or required of following generations?
Ah, this is a different matter. Neither was there any among them that lacked. I believe this is an essential, something that should mark all our churches.

3) Is there any apostolic teaching concerning money?
Jesus talked about money and giving, but that was almsgiving, an individual practice.

Paul talked about money in 2 Corinthians 8-9 (an offering for the churches in Judea and Jerusalem) and 1 Corinthians 16:1; otherwise, the apostles didn’t talk about money, giving, or offerings. But Paul did say something in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 that reflects a principle from Acts 2-6:

“For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.”

That something seems pretty powerful to me!

Baptism in the Spirit Traced in the Book of Acts

 

In June of this year I did a blog series on Spiritual Gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14. I wrote, “What is the doorway that leads to experiencing the gifts? I believe an essential step is the baptism with the Holy Spirit. I admit this is not stated in chapters 12-14, this is another study in the Book of Acts.”

Then I did a Facebook series on The Fruit of the Spirit (which is now on my blog) the week of August 26-30 in which I linked being baptized with the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. So what is this baptism in the Holy Spirit? This is that promised study on the baptism which I originally posted on Facebook. I am posting it on my blog to make it easier to access, which means you don't have to read it all in one sitting.

I plan several posts under two parts: Part 1 My Testimony / Part 2 Traced in the Book of Acts

My Testimony

I was born again on a Sunday afternoon in 1973. A few months later, also on a Sunday afternoon, I was baptized in the Spirit. I remember the experience well. It had been a very trying Friday and Saturday, and I was distressed. I spent much of Sunday afternoon in prayer, even face down on the bedroom floor. It was time for Training Union (this was a meeting on Sunday night before the evening service in Baptist circles), so I got up off the floor and headed to the church building. On the way I was listening to Christian radio and they played Were You There. You probably know the song, Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble...

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

This time they added another line, one I had never heard before

Were you there when he rose up from the grave?
Ohm sometimes it causes me to shout glory, glory, glory...

I tell you, when they said glory, glory fell from heaven and the love of God was shed abroad in my heart!! I knew that Jesus loved me, and that if I’d been the only sinner on earth he would have died for me. I was laughing and crying as I drove down Donelson Pike in Nashville! I knew something had happened, but I didn’t know what it was called.

I was attending First Baptist Church Donelson when all this took place. Sometime after that, during a Sunday night service, Bro Harris (Pastor) preached on the Holy Spirit. I don’t remember the sermon, but I do remember he recommended a book for further study, The Holy Spirit: Who He Is and What He Does by R.A. Torrey.

I bought and read that book. At least half of the book is devoted to the baptism in the Spirit. I began praying, “Lord, baptize me with your Spirit.” And one day the Lord spoke to me, “I have”, and I remembered that Sunday afternoon. There were no spiritual gifts that afternoon, just His love shed abroad in my heart, the gifts came later.

I went off to college, The University of Tennessee at Martin, and began attending Campus Fellowship, and was introduced to the charismatic renewal.

I learned about spiritual gifts through Campus Fellowship, and later, Maranatha Ministries. I met Mary at UTM, we got married, and when she graduated we moved to Memphis so she could work and I could go to Mid-South Bible College. We attended Cherry Rd Baptist and found a circle of Spirit-filled believers. Mrs. Lynn Stebbins introduced me to Derek Prince and through his ministry I really began to grow in the Lord. Somewhere along the way I found Watchman Nee and his book The Normal Christian Life. I was attending a Bible College that did not teach a second blessing, but I was reading Prince and Nee who did. And T.J. McCrossan; and Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel; and F.B. Meyer; and J. Sidlow Baxter; and John R. Church. I was immersed in this line of teaching!

Sadly, this led to my having to leave the Baptist Church, they weren’t too pleased with me for teaching the baptism in the Spirit. Where do I go now? I found the Christian & Missionary Alliance. They believed in being filled with the Spirit and were open to the gifts. I discovered A.B. Simpson, the founder of the C&MA, and he was completely sold on the baptism of the Spirit. He is credited with creating the phrase, full gospel (in 1887). Holy Spirit baptism, sanctification, deeper life all come together in the Four-Fold Gospel: Christ our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, Glorious Lord and Coming King.

This is all good, but is it biblical?

Tracing The Baptism in the Spirit in the Book of Acts

I plan to look at 6 passages in Acts: 1:4-8, 2:1-4, 2:37-38, 8:15-17, 10, 19:1-6 My explanation of each one will be brief and concise.

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

4 wait for the promise of the Father – In Luke 24:49 Jesus said, Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Tarry / wait “until”. This is something you will know when you receive it. The condition mentioned in Acts 1 & Luke 24 is wait. They had to wait because there were some things that had to happen which were out of their control. All they could do was tarry. After Pentecost there is no required tarrying, we receive the promise by a definite act of appropriating faith.

4 the promise of the Father - We find this promise of the Spirit several times in the Old Testament prophets. Jesus spoke of this in John 14-16.

5 ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit – promise of the Father / baptism with the Spirit. We will find there are several phrases used interchangeably for this.

8 ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you – As Chuck Smith pointed out, our relationship with the Holy Spirit is explained using three prepositions: with, in, upon. He is “with us” when He is convicting us of sin. When we are born again he is “in us”. He comes “upon us” when we are baptized with the Spirit. Wasn’t Pentecost the day the Holy Spirit began to dwell within them? No. In John 20:22 we read, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit. At this point, the disciples were full New Testament believers: they believed in the resurrected Christ and they were indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Pentecost was something else; something more.

8 ye shall receive power - The baptism with the Spirit results in power, power to witness, to walk with the Lord; to work for the Lord; to worship the Lord. The gifts of the Spirit are power; the fruit of the Spirit is power; He helps us pray. Power.

This is the promise of the Father, it is His delight to pour out His Spirit upon us.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Ah, Pentecost! This is a special day on God’s calendar, that’s why they had to wait. Now we don’t need to tarry – the Comforter has come! While waiting on the Lord in prayer and being of one accord are often a tremendous help, we receive the Spirit by faith.

they were all filled with the Holy Spirit - The Spirit comes upon us and we are filled within. Filled with what? Jesus! “We are not filled with an influence; we are not filled with a sensation; we are not filled with a set of ideas and truths; we are not filled with a blessing, but we are filled with a Person.” (A.B. Simpson) The blessing is the Blesser!!

What a rich experience!

But what about “they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance”? Or to put it bluntly, Do I have to speak in tongues to be filled? A friend told me once, You don’t ‘have to’, you ‘get to.’ Ah, I’m only at the second passage and already I’m up to my neck in hot water! Listen, speaking in tongues is good and I’m all for it. I’m also pretty sure it will happen quite often, but is it necessary? In my final post I will deal with this question, Do I have to speak in tongues to be filled? But for now I will say, “When you are looking for a particular experience, then the tendency is to put your faith in the experience rather than in the promise of the Word of God.” (Chuck Smith)

What we learn from Pentecost: (1) Baptism with the Spirit is a definite experience; (2) You will know when you have received it; (3) It’s all about Jesus.

Have you been filled with the Spirit? “What He did for those people at Pentecost He will do for you. Plunge in today and claim the promise just now.” (John Church)

Acts 2:38 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.

Acts 2:38-39 is the conclusion of Peter’s Pentecost sermon. This will irk some people, but this is the normal call to Christ and the expected response, Repent and be baptized.

And these are the normal conditions for both blessings mentioned here, forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (yet another phrase for the baptism with the Spirit).

“Four things are mentioned in this passage: Repentance, Baptism, Forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit. The first two are conditions, the second two are gifts. What are the conditions to be fulfilled if we are to have forgiveness of sins? According to the Word they are two: repentance and baptism.

Here then are two divinely appointed conditions of forgiveness—repentance, and faith publicly expressed. Have you repented? Have you testified publicly to your union with your Lord? Then have you received remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost? You say you have only received the first gift, not the second. But, my friend, God offered you two things if you fulfilled two conditions! Why have you only taken one?

If you have fulfilled the conditions you are entitled to two gifts, not just one. You have already taken the one; why not just come and take the other now? Say to the Lord, ‘Lord, I have complied with the conditions for receiving remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost, but I have foolishly only taken the former. Now I have come back to take the gift of the Holy Ghost, and I praise Thee for it.’ ” (Watchman Nee)

“Some of you may say: I agree with all this, but I have no experience of it. Am I to sit down smugly and say I have everything, when I know perfectly well I have nothing? No, we must never rest content with objective facts alone. We need subjective experience also; but that experience will only come as we rest upon Divine facts. God’s facts are the basis of our experience.

If we lack the experience, we must ask God for a revelation of the eternal fact of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the gift of the exalted Lord to His Church. When we have seen that, faith will spring up in our hearts, and as we believe, experience will follow.” (Nee)

The promise is unto ... as many as the Lord our God shall call.

“In v 33 Peter states that the Lord Jesus was exalted “at the right hand of God”. What was the result? He “received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost”. And what followed? Pentecost! This verse makes it absolutely clear that the Holy Spirit was poured out because the Lord Jesus was exalted.” (Watchman Nee)

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

A summary of an exceptionally clear passage: Philip preached the gospel and many believed and were baptized. Peter and John came down and prayed that they might receive the Holy Spirit, laid hands on them, and they received the Spirit.

Chrysostom said, “And (yet) great signs had been done: how then had they not received the Spirit? They had received the Spirit, namely, of remission of sins: but the Spirit of miracles they had not received.” This is his way of saying what R.A. Torrey said,

“We see clearly that these regenerate men had not been baptized with the Holy Ghost, though they had been properly ‘baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.’ They were regenerate men but they were not baptized with the Holy Spirit. So it is as clear as language can possibly make it, that it is one thing to be born again and something further, something additional to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Peter didn’t preach to them, he prayed for them. And a specific prayer, That they might receive the Holy Spirit. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Spirit.

In this passage we find two new phrases used for the baptism, fallen upon and received. Also, they received the Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands. Their response was appropriating faith.

What happened when they received the Spirit? “And when Simon saw - there must have been some sensible manifestation.” (Chrysostom) I think most agree they most likely spoke in tongues, but whatever happened, they knew, and Simon knew, they had received the Holy Spirit. “One thing is sure, that each one upon who the Spirit of God falls will unfailingly know it.” (Watchman Nee)

Have you received the baptism with the Spirit? “The baptism with the Spirit is the birth-right of every believer in Jesus Christ.” (Torrey)

Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?"

85% of the verses (66 out of 78) that make up chapters 10 & 11, are devoted to the conversion of Cornelius the God-fearer (a Gentile who embraced most of Judaism). This is an important chapter in Acts - the Gospel is reaching out beyond Israel to the Gentile world.

Cornelius is right in the middle of this. He was instructed by an angel to send for Peter, “Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.” (11:14). Peter came and preached the crucified, resurrected, exalted Jesus; “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (10:43) And while he was speaking these words, “the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” Just a few observations:

+ This is baptism with the Spirit; Peter said so in 11:16

+ Everybody’s apple-cart is overturned! They were filled before they confessed faith, before water baptism; no one prayed for them, or laid hands on them.

+ They were baptized with the Spirit the minute they believed in Jesus.

+ “The baptism with the Spirit is a definite experience of which one may whether he has received it or not.” (Torrey) This is still absolutely true; this passage just shows that it is possible to receive the Spirit the moment you are born again.

+ According to 45-46 Peter and the men who accompanied him knew “the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also - For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.” Pretty good sign!

If this is what happened when you were born again, Praise God! If you received the Spirit right after water baptism, Praise the Lord! If the Holy Spirit came upon you when someone prayed for you and laid hands on you, Hallelujah! If the Spirit fell upon you while you were alone in your bedroom or in the car, glory to God! If, however, you have not yet been filled with the Spirit, the gift is for you; open you heart today and ask the Lord to baptize you in his Spirit.

"The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from heaven, the Father's promise given."

 

Acts 19:1-7
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ 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 Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.

This is the last passage we will look at and the one that requires the most explanation.

1 Paul . . . came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples – what is his first question?

2 Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? – Oh man, you can start a fire with this question today, yet Paul asked it. Every modern version translates it, “Did you receive…when you believed?” And everybody thinks that is their escape. BUT: (1) Literally this reads, “Having believed…have you received?” (2) When or since, makes no difference, it still calls for a definite Yes or a definite No.

2 Their answer was in fact, No. We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. What they meant was not if there was a Holy Spirit, but whether He was given or available.

3 Unto what then were ye baptized? – Baptism is a testimony of embracing a certain faith. 

Unto John’s - his message was, Messiah is coming. Paul’s message is, He has come.

3-5 Paul explained the gospel and they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Whatever their status before, they are clearly born again folk now.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied – Praise the Lord! Amen! May this happen in our baptismal services today!!

This is one more testimony to this truth, It is one thing to be born again and something further, something additional, something more, to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Received is a common word in Acts for baptized / filled with the Spirit. We receive, claim, experience the promised Spirit; He comes upon us and we are filled within!

Why is this so important? The epistles speak of a vibrant life in the Spirit, and Jesus said this upon baptism gives us this power. Power for what? Power to witness; to walk with the Lord; to work for the Lord; to worship the Lord. The gifts of the Spirit are power; the fruit of the Spirit is power; help in prayer. Power to be holy; to walk in the Spirit; to be led of the Spirit. Power in my marriage, in my family; to honor the Lord at work and play. Power to stand fast in trials and temptations. Is this not what we need to live for Jesus?

Having believed, have you received the Spirit?

“Being filled with the Spirit effects a penetrating renewal in the fully yielded believer. This is the spiritual “Canaan” which all in Christ may know!” (J. Sidlow Baxter)

 

Is speaking in tongues the initial evidence of the baptism with the Spirit?

As we saw in the book of Acts, many of the accounts included speaking in tongues. This leads us naturally to ask, Is speaking in tongues the initial evidence of baptism in the Spirit? Or more crudely, Do I have to speak in tongues to be filled with the Spirit?

I believe the short answer is, No. It may be common, and it is a sign of the fulness of the Spirit, as are all gifts, but it is not the “initial evidence” of being filled with the Spirit. Even (some) Pentecostal leaders say this.

Derrek Prince (1915-2003), a Pentecostal / Charismatic teacher:

"The distinctive seal of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking with tongues. Some people call it the evidence. Actually, I prefer myself to call it the culmination of the baptism. It’s not the immersion, it’s not the infilling but what is it? It’s the outflow. Now, you can stop short of the outflow. Lots of people have been filled with the Spirit but they never have the outflow. But why stop short of the outflow?" (How To Receive The Holy Spirit)

George Jeffreys (1889–1962), founder of Elim Pentecostal Church, England:

"There are three main schools of thought. First, every person who receives the gift of the Holy Spirit will have the sign of speaking in tongues; Second, everyone who receives should have some definite supernatural manifestation of the Spirit, not necessarily speaking in tongues; Third, the reception of the Spirit is by faith without any outward physical sign. The second view is the scriptural one; it safeguards against the possibility of a seeker after the gift of the Spirit missing the blessing, and also against the extravagances that might be entailed by a mere reaching out for an initial sign of speaking in tongues, which the Scriptures do not warrant." (Pentecostal Rays)

Chuck Smith (1927-2013; founder of Calvary Chapel)

"I’m not on a speaking in tongues kick. I thank God for what it means to me, but I don’t go around saying, “Oh you have to speak in tongues.” You don’t have to speak in tongues; you can know the fulness of God and the fulness of His love without it." (The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit)

So, speaking in tongues is not the sign of being filled with the Spirit. Seek Jesus. Ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit, and let your heart be open to receive whatever the Holy Spirit wants to give you. “But you ask: ‘How shall I know that the Holy Spirit is come upon me?’ I cannot tell how you will know, but you *will* know. (Watchman Nee)

As Pastor Chuck said, “I believe the only true evidence of the filling of the Spirit is Agape love.”

“But you ask: ‘How shall I know that the Holy Spirit is come upon me?’ I cannot tell *how* you will know, but you *will* know. No description has been given us of the personal sensations and emotions of the disciples at Pentecost. We do not know exactly how they felt, but we do know that their feelings and behaviour were somewhat abnormal, because people seeing them said they were intoxicated. When the Holy Spirit falls upon God’s people there will be some things which the world cannot account for. There will be supernatural accompaniments of some kind, though it be no more than an overwhelming sense of the Divine Presence. We cannot and we must not stipulate what particular form such outward expressions will take in any given case, but one thing is sure, that each one upon whom the Spirit of God falls will know it.” Watchman Nee

T.J. McCrossan: “Correct Bible teaching on this subject of tongues has given Principal George Jeffreys in England, Ireland, and Scotland the very greatest soul-winning work, perhaps, in all the world today. Thousands are being saved and baptized with the Spirit in his churches every year, and the greatest majority of those baptized do speak in tongues; yet there is very little, if any, fanaticism. Why? Because all are taught to seek the Spirit Himself, and let Him give each one whatever gift He desires.”

“This promise is unto you. If you do not have the baptism with the Holy Spirit then it is for you. God wants you to have it.” John Church

“Father, we thank You for the promise of the Holy Spirit. Lord, we recognize how desperately we need that power of Your Holy Spirit. Lord, how our hearts long to be empowered by Your Spirit. And so, Lord, whatever it is that is holding back our lives from Your fullness, we pray that Your Spirit will reveal it. And Lord, we pray that we might see that sovereign work of Your Holy Spirit, dividing to each man severally at He wills, of the gifts of the Spirit. May we be open and may we receive, even in this moment, that we might be empowered to be Your witness in these last days. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.” (Chuck Smith)