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  THEORIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (T.H. ETHRIDGE)
  by T.H. Ethridge
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A study examining what the Bible teaches concerning the Holy Spirit and His
work. Ethridge addresses the widespread confusion surrounding the doctrine of
the Spirit, aiming to bring clarity through careful scriptural exposition.

  Chapters: 20

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS
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    1. Holy Spirit -01-I. The Holy Spirit and His work
    2. Holy Spirit -02-     Who is the Holy Spirit?
    3. Holy Spirit -03-     Gifts of the Holy Spirit
    4. Holy Spirit -04-     The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
    5. Holy Spirit -05-     Gifts Through Laying on of Apostles� Hands
    6. Holy Spirit -06-     The Gift to all Christians
    7. Holy Spirit -07-     How the Holy Spirit Makes Christians
    8. Holy Spirit -08-     Led by the Spirit
    9. Holy Spirit -09-     Witness of the Spirit
   10. Holy Spirit -10-II. Pseudo-Views of the Holy Spirit
   11. Holy Spirit -11-     The Theory of the Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit in Conversion
   12. Holy Spirit -12-     The Doctrine and Practice of Modern Miracles
   13. Holy Spirit -13-III. Holy Rollerism and Other Isms
   14. Holy Spirit -14-IV Mental Healing, or So-Called Divine Healing
   15. Holy Spirit -15-V. Questions on the Holy Spirit
   16. Holy Spirit -16-     Were any but the apostles baptized in the Holy Spirit on Pentecost?
   17. Holy Spirit -17-     What is the connection between one�s being made an apostle and his being bap...
   18. Holy Spirit -18-     What is the relation of baptism of the Holy Spirit and salvation?
   19. Holy Spirit -19-What is the meaning of the Spirit�s being poured out on all flesh?
   20. Holy Spirit -20-     Explain 1Co_12:13

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  CHAPTER 1: HOLY SPIRIT -01-I. THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WORK
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I. THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WORK The Bible has much to say concerning the Holy
Spirit, yet on no one subject, perhaps, is there so much confusion as on this.
It is not the aim of this sermon to try to answer all the questions which have
arisen on the subject but to suggest to the serious student a line of approach
to the study of the Holy Spirit, so as to learn what may be known concerning him
and his work; and, at the same time, avoid speculation on matters beyond human
comprehension. Moses said, "The secret things belong to Jehovah our God; but the
things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever"
(Deuteronomy 29:29).


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  CHAPTER 2: HOLY SPIRIT -02-     WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
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Who is the Holy Spirit?

Notice that the question is who, rather than what, is the Holy Spirit. Our God
is one God. This was the rallying cry of ancient Israel among the idolatrous
peoples around them. "Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah"
(Deuteronomy 6:4) . Yet somehow this One is a triunity-God the Father, God the
Son, and God the Holy Spirit. "For there are three that bear record in heaven,
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" (1 John 5:7).
The Word was made flesh and dwelt among men-the Son of God (John 1:1-5) .

We may not know how one is three and three are one, but neither can we know how
the Father was in the Son and the Son in the Father, and the two are one (John
17:21). For that matter, we cannot know fully, perhaps, how husband and wife are
one (Genesis 2:24), but we can accept what we do not know by faith when God says
it. "For we walk by faith" (2 Corinthians 5:7) . A distinguished Bible scholar
said of this sublime relationship in the Godhead that the Father planned all;
the Son executed all; the Spirit finished all- that these distinct offices are
so clearly revealed in the Bible they can be apprehended by all people, yet are
so profound as to be comprehended by none. In creation this seems clear. "In the
beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1); yet he created
the world by his Word" (John 1:1-2; Hebrews 1:1-3); then, the Spirit "brooded on
the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2). "By his Spirit he hath garnished the
heavens" (Job 26:13). This being true in the creation, or generation, of the
world, we should expect the same to be true in the re-creation, or regeneration
(2 Corinthians 5:17; Matthew 19:28), and we shall find this to be true. This
should show us that the Holy Spirit is a manifestation of deity, a person. To
this end the words of Jesus are conclusive (Note the personal pronouns). "And I
will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide
with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
because It seeth him not, neither knoweth him; for he dwelleth with you, and
shall be in you" (John 14:16-17) . Compare John 16:7-16.


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  CHAPTER 3: HOLY SPIRIT -03-     GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
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Gifts of the Holy Spirit

There is one Holy Spirit. "There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are
called in one hope of your calling" (Ephesians 4:4). How ever there are a number
of "gifts" of the Spirit. "Now there are diversities of gifts but the same
Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:4) . There are at least three classes of these gifts
revealed in the Bible-the baptism of the Holy Spirit; the gifts of the Holy
Spirit imparted through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, and the gift
common to all Christians. Sometimes one is asked if the Holy Spirit had no
office in man’s relation to God prior to the gospel dispensation. Indeed so! The
prophets of the old dispensation "spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2
Peter 2:21) . But the Spirit’s relation to men changed radically after the
Master went back to the Father, so much 80, that previous to the Lord’s
glorification the Holy Spirit is not thought of as having been given at all.
"But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive:
for the Holy Ghost was- not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified"
(John 7:39). Previous to our Lord’s sojourn on the earth "measures" of the
Spirit had been received by men, doubt less, but Jesus gives the Spirit without
measure. "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not
the Spirit by measure" (John 3:34, A. R. V.). In this sense the Holy Spirit had
not been given prior to the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. On
that day the gospel dispensation began, and it is the manifestations of the
Spirit in this dispensation that demands our interest.


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  CHAPTER 4: HOLY SPIRIT -04-     THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
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The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

John the Immerser promised some of his audience that Christ would baptize them
in the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). After his resurrection, Jesus promised his
apostles that they should be baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5). This
promise was fulfilled in the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). "And they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit
gave them utterance" (verse 4). "The like gift" was poured out on the house of
Cornelius (Acts 11:17). We do not read of any such manifestation of the Holy
Spirit to any other person, or persons, in the Bible. On these cases McGarvey
remarks:

"When the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak as the
Spirit gave them utterance, the promise of a baptism in the Holy Spirit and of
power from on high was fulfilled. The power took effect on their minds, and its
presence was manifested outwardly by their speaking in languages which they had
never learned. The inner and mental miracle was demonstrated by the out ward and
physical. The promise, ’It shall not be ye that speak, but the Spirit of my
Father that speaketh in you’; was fulfilled in its most literal sense; for the
very words which they uttered were supplied to them immediately by the Spirit *
* * It was literally given them in that hour what they should speak. Such power
had never before been bestowed on men.

It was the baptism in the Holy Spirit; not of their bodies, like John’s baptism
in water, but of their spirits. It was not a literal baptism, for this is not to
be affirmed of the connection between spirit and spirit; but the word baptism is
used metaphorically. As the body, when baptized in water, is sunk beneath the
surface and completely overwhelmed, so their spirits were completely under the
control of the Holy Spirit, their words being his and not theirs. The metaphor
is justified by the absolute power which the divine Spirit exerted upon their
spirits. Such is not the case with ordinary influences of the Spirit,
consequently these are not styled baptisms in the Spirit" (Comments on Acts
2:1-4).

Commenting on Acts 10:44-46, he says:

"The ground of amazement to the Jewish brethren was not the mere fact that these
Gentiles received the Holy Spirit; for if Peter had finished his discourse,
promising them the Holy Spirit on the terms which he had laid down on Pentecost,
and had then baptized them, these brethren would have taken it as a matter of
course that they received the Spirit. And, if after this, he had laid hands on
them and imparted the miraculous gift of the Spirit, as in the case of the
Samaritans, they would not have been greatly surprised. The considerations which
cause the amazement, were, first, that the Holy Spirit was ’poured out’ upon
them directly from God, as it had never been before on any but the apostles; and
second, that this unusual gift was bestowed on Gentiles .... We have no event
with which to classify it except the gift bestowed on the apostles on Pentecost;
and thus it is actually classified by Peter farther on (XI 15) .... In these
words he identifies it as a baptism in the Holy Spirit, and these two are the
only events that are thus designated in the New Testament. The one was the
divine expression of the first Jews into the new Messianic Kingdom, and the
other, that of the first Gentiles." On this point A. Campbell said:

"Baptism in the Holy Spirit, as promised by Jesus, Acts 1:5, and explained on
Pentecost, Acts II, and in the house of Cornelius, Acts X 16, 17, indicates
those supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, bestowed, for the confirmation of
the testimony, upon the Apostles and first converts from among the Jews and
Gentiles. This immersion of’ the Jews and Gentiles was only once, as in the case
of private or personal immersion.... These gifts appearing externally and
internally of’ the persons of the Apostles and the first fruits of both people,
were so overwhelming as to be figuratively called an immersion in the Holy
Spirit" (Appendix to the "Living Oracles").

Since the one case of baptism of the Spirit opened up the door of faith to the
Jews and the other to the Gentiles, we may not look for another. Since there are
no people who are not either Jews or Gentiles there is no need for another case
of Spirit-baptism.


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  CHAPTER 5: HOLY SPIRIT -05-     GIFTS THROUGH LAYING ON OF APOSTLES� HANDS
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Gifts Through Laying on of Apostles’ Hands The Holy Spirit was imparted to
certain people through the laying on of the hands of an apostle. The one having
the hands of an apostle laid on him was enabled to perform certain miracles.

"Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received
the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come
down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit ..Now when Simon
saw that through the laying on of the Apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given,
he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power that whomsoever I lay my
hands he may receive the Holy Spirit " (Acts 8:14-19). The variety of gifts
possessed by certain brethren in the various churches in the Apostolic age, was
bestowed by this means, as for example, Paul found certain disciples in Ephesus
who knew only the message and baptism of John the Harbinger, whom he taught
further, and baptized in the name of the Lord. Upon these he laid his hands and
the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 19:1-7).

Numerous kinds of gifts of this order are enumerated in the twelfth chapter of
First Corinthians.

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit . . . but the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one
is given the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same
Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by
the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to
another discerning of spirits; to another divers kind of tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and the self-same
Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will" (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

Since these gifts were conferred by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, they
automatically ceased when the last man died on whom the apostles laid hands.
Miraculous manifestations of the Spirit were confined to the infancy of the
church. They were needed to confirm the gospel (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4). "The
perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25), the New Testament, has now been confirmed
and miracles are no longer needed, hence they have passed away. This is exactly
what Paul said should happen. "Charity (love) never faileth: but whether there
be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease;
whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we
prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in
part shall be done away" (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).


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  CHAPTER 6: HOLY SPIRIT -06-     THE GIFT TO ALL CHRISTIANS
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The Gift to all Christians

There is a gift of the Spirit common to all Christians, hence this remains with
the church today. This is conditioned on one’s obedience to the gospel. "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" (Acts 2:38). And
because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,
crying, Abba, Father" (Galatians 4:6) . "Know ye not that ye are the temple of
God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you" (1 Corinthians 3:16) . That the
Holy Spirit somehow dwells in the hearts of Christians does not admit of a
doubt, but just how he dwells in us is the source of much controversy, for it is
possible that we are not able to understand just how he dwells in our hearts. In
fact we cannot tell how our own spirits dwell in us but unquestionably they do
so. "But though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day"
(2 Corinthians 4:16) . So we accept the fact of the in dwelling of the Holy
Spirit, without asserting dogmatically how he does it.


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  CHAPTER 7: HOLY SPIRIT -07-     HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES CHRISTIANS
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How the Holy Spirit Makes Christians

Though we may not know how the Spirit dwells in the hearts of Christians, we do
know how the Holy Spirit is received. Paul asked this very question, and by
asking the question, answered it. "Received ye the Spirit by the works of the
law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:2). The question is rhetorical
and demands the answer: by the hearing of faith. "The hearing of faith" is the
condition on which a Christian receives the Spirit. This shows also how the
Spirit operates in making a Christian; for let it be under stood clearly that in
the conviction and con version of a sinner the Holy Spirit performs an essential
office. "But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11) . How
does the Holy Spirit wash the unclean? "Husbands love your wives, even as Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and
cleanse it by the washing of water by the word" (Ephesians 5:25-26). This shows
that the word of God is the means by which the washing is done. How is one
sanctified? "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth" (John 17:17).
This shows that the word of God is the Spirit’s means of sanctification.

How is one justified? "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with
God" (Romans 5:1). "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God" (Romans 10:17). This shows that the Spirit justifies through faith and that
this is done by the word of God. The Master said, "It is the Spirit that
quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they
are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63), that is, they are spiritual and
life-giving. The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to make Christians. Then he
takes up his abode in the Christian’s heart. This is his temple. This doctrine
is in strong contrast to the doctrine that the Spirit enters the sinner’s heart
in order to make him a Christian. The divine order is, "because ye are sons God
hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
Again, of the Holy Spirit as a Comforter Jesus says, "Whom the world cannot
receive" (John 14:17) . On this passage B. W. Johnson pertinently remarks:

"’Whom the world cannot receive.’ The reason the world cannot receive the
Comforter is indicated in verses 15 and 23 . There must be a preparation of the
soul for his in dwelling. The heart must be purified by faith, the soul must be
filled with the love of Christ, this condition must be demonstrated by obedience
to his commandments. This is in harmony with the entire teaching of the New
Testament. ’Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God’ (John
3:3). The necessity of a loving obedience in order to the reception of the Holy
Spirit is taught emphatically. Peter said to the Jews (Acts 5:32). ’We are
witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Spirit which God gives to
them who obey him.’ In John 7:38 it is declared that the Savior ’spake of the
Spirit which they that believe on him should receive.’ In Acts 2:38 Peter, in
reply to the anxious inquiry of convicted sinners, answers, ’Repent and be
baptized, every one of you, in the name of Christ, for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; ’ the gift being made
dependent upon repentance and obedience. The temple of the human heart has to be
prepared by obedience for the indwelling of the Father and the Son, and hence
the world cannot receive the Comforter through whom they are manifested."


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  CHAPTER 8: HOLY SPIRIT -08-     LED BY THE SPIRIT
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Led by the Spirit

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans
8:14). Men must have faith in God. "For he that cometh to God must believe that
he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews
11:6). Men must repent of their sins. "Except ye repent Ye shall all likewise
perish" (Luke 13:3). The goodness of God leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). None
know of his goodness except through the word-the revelation of God, the gospel
(Acts 17:30). Men must be baptized. "Except a man be born of water and the
Spirit he can not enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5) . One is born again
through the word of God. "Being born again ..by the word of God which liveth and
abideth forever" (1 Peter 1:22-25).

Hence those who believe, repent, and are baptized are led by the word of God
revealed by the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven. "For no prophecy ever came by
the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit" (2
Peter 1:21) But such as are led by the Holy Spirit, these are the sons of God.


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  CHAPTER 9: HOLY SPIRIT -09-     WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT
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Witness of the Spirit

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of
God." Notice, please, that there are two witnesses, God’s Spirit and our spirit.
His Spirit testifies, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark
16:16). The man who has obeyed the gospel can testify, I have believed and have
been baptized. Therefore, we have the witness of’ the Spirit, bearing witness
with our spirit, that we are children of God.

Invitation of the Spirit "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come And let him
that heareth say, "Come.

Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life
freely" (Revelation 22:17).


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  CHAPTER 10: HOLY SPIRIT -10-II. PSEUDO-VIEWS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
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II. PSEUDO VIEWS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT In my former paper I undertook to show the
truth on the subject Or the Holy Spirit, or such a portion of the truth, that
anyone with an open mind and an open Bible can find all one needs to know on
this very important theme. In this paper I shall deal with some false,
unnecessary views which have beclouded men’s minds and have hindered many
honest, good people from seeing the truth on the subject of the Holy Spirit, a
sort of religious phenomena which are neither the Holy Spirit nor his work.


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  CHAPTER 11: HOLY SPIRIT -11-     THE THEORY OF THE DIRECT OPERATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVERSION
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1. The Theory of the Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit in Conversion. This is
one of the most pernicious of all false theories. It has been most prolific in
"fooling folks" and rests upon another theory equally false and
soul-destroying-viz., the doctrine known as "Hereditary Total Depravity." The
doctrine of hereditary total depravity is the teaching that men are, on account
of Adam’s sin, born sinners, corrupt in all the faculties of soul and body, and
are opposite to all good and wholly inclined to all evil, and so dead in sin
that they cannot obey God or do anything at all well-pleasing to him without
there first being a quickening to life and salvation through a direct operation,
or impact, on the sinner’s heart by the Holy Spirit-a doctrine which is neither
"whole some nor very full of comfort." This doctrine is false for the following
reasons: First: Men do not inherit sins. Sin is a transgression of the law (1
John 3:4) . One cannot any more inherit guilt or transgression than he can
inherit holiness or righteousness which is obedience to God’s law (Psalms
119:172; Psalms 1:1-6 1 John 2:29) . God expressly says neither call be
bequeathed nor inherited (Ezekiel 18:2-24). "The soul that sinneth it shall die.
The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father; nor the father the iniquity
of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him and the
wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him."

2. If the doctrine of inherent depravity were true then little children would be
sinners, but Jesus who knows what is in man (John 2:24-25) says, "Suffer the
little children and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom
of heaven" (Matthew 19:14). Is the kingdom of heaven totally depraved ? Third:
It is man’s own sins which alienate him from God, which they could not do if man
were already alienated-separated- from God at birth (Isaiah 59:1-2). Fourth:
Even the passages relied upon to support this infamous doctrine closely examined
reveal that they teach the exact opposite of the doctrine they are supposed to
support. Moreover, the direct operation theory makes God responsible for every
soul that is lost. If God does not send his Spirit to every man, and one cannot
be saved unless God does send his Spirit to him, then man is lost through either
the neglect or through the partiality of God, both of which alternatives are
unthinkable; especially since the Bible declares that God is no respecter of
persons And since the theory holds further that this direct, enabling power is
irresistible on the part of the sinner, the theory’s impeachment of God is
further inescapable. God does convert people by his Spirit, but he does this by
the Spirit’s operating through the word of God. As a matter of fact, God does
convict and God-the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), and only in this way
does he save men.

Everything that God says that he does for the sinner in the sinner’s being saved
by the Spirit, God likewise says he does this through his word. Let’s try a few
instances:

THE SPIRIT

THE WORD

Begets

Begets (John 1:18)

Quickens

Quickens (Psalms 119:50)

Converts

Converts (Psalms 19:7)

New birth

New birth (1 Peter 1:22-25)

Saves

Saves (Romans 1:16)

Makes free

Makes free (John 8:32)

Washing

Washing (Ephesians 5:25)

Cleansing

Cleansing (John 15:2)

Justified

Justified (Romans 5:1; Romans 10:17)

Sanctified

Sanctified (John 17:17)

Gives light

Gives light (Psalms 119:130)

In every instance where it is asserted that the Spirit does something for the
sinner in his turning to God a passage can likewise be found showing that this
is done by the word of God, the gospel. This harmonizes beautifully with all
that is known of the Spirit’s work, and emphasizes his work, for the Word of God
was given by the Spirit. It is an inspired word; that is to say, a
Spirit-breathed word. If men were converted by a direct operation of the Holy
Spirit there would be no need of preaching the gospel; no need for missionaries
to the heathen. Every missionary sent to a foreign land is a clear denial of the
doctrine. Really every "home" missionary is a flat denial of the doctrine. To
believe in preaching the gospel that men may be saved (Romans 1:16) and holding
to the direct-operation-of-the-Spirit theory is a vain attempt to ride two
horses going in opposite directions at the same time.

Another significant fact, overlooked by the advocates of the theory, is that no
one has an operation of the Spirit, nor any idea of "The Holy Spirit," where the
word of God has not gone. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the
sons of God," but the Holy Spirit never leads anyone where the word of God is
absent. No one has any adequate idea of God and no one ever knows of the Christ,
the Savior of the world, except where the Bible goes. Despite all this men are
urged to accept the Holy Spirit by these theorists and are promised the Christ
it they receive the Spirit. In New Testament times the word was preached (See
Acts 2:1-47 nd chapter and 8th chapter), men were asked to accept Christ and
were then promised they should receive the Holy Spirit (See Acts 2:38; Acts
5:32). In deed the doctrine is neither of the Holy Spirit nor his work.


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  CHAPTER 12: HOLY SPIRIT -12-     THE DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE OF MODERN MIRACLES
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2. The Doctrine and "Practice" of Modern Miracles That God can perform miracles
no believer in the Bible doubts for a moment. This is necessarily implied in his
being God. That he has performed miracles in the past is freely granted. The
only question is, Does he perform miracles today? That he once performed
miracles is no proof that he now does. He created the first man and woman. These
were miracles-but men and women now are born by the working of God’s natural
laws. None are being created now. Jesus raised the dead to life again, but he is
not raising any from the dead now.

Really we can lay the proposition down as a truism that all things both in
nature and in grace started by miracles, but when established, were and are
perpetuated by law. Unless God is starting something new now, he is not working
through miracles but through law. That Christianity was started and
confirmed-established-by miracles is abundantly proved by the New Testament.
That the message of the gospel was confirmed "by wonders, signs and
manifestations of the Holy Spirit" is also true. That it is the everlasting
gospel, "the faith once for all delivered to the saints" is certainly true. We
hold, therefore, that no miracles are needed now and that none are performed
today. What saith the Scriptures? How readest thou? The gospel dispensation
began on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of our Lord, A short
time-probably ten days-before this Pentecost, Jesus commissioned the disciples
to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Read the
passage:

"Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them
with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which
had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall
be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall
follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall
speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any
deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they
shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up
into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached
everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs
following, Amen" (Mark 16:14-20).

These disciples had been unbelievers when they first heard of the Lord’s
resurrection. They are now believers and the Lord upbraided them on their former
unbelief and hardness of heart. Then he gave them the Great Commission, and made
the following promise. (Note the tense of the verbs and the personal pronouns).
"These signs shall follow them that believe." It does not say a thing in this
passage about others who afterward may believe. Some others would have
miracle-working powers but that is not promised in this passage. Nor does the
passage say that "These signs shall follow them that believe in my name," making
the promise general, but limiting it to those then believing. A colon cuts off
the latter phrase, and the passage simply says, "These signs shall follow them
that believe"-that is, those who were then believers. Then it further reads. "In
my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues." etc....:
.. "So after the Lord had spoken unto them...and they went forth, and preached
everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs
following."

Referring to this occasion the author of the book of Hebrews says, "How shall we
escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken
by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing
them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts
of the Holy Ghost, according to his will" (Hebrews 2:3-4). Afterward these
apostles laid their hands on certain people and conferred on them the power to
work miracles; as for instance, "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem
heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and
John (apostles): who when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might
receive the Holy Spirit: for as yet it was fall en upon none of them: only they
had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on
them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that through the
laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them
money, saying, Give me also this power that on whomsoever I may lay my hands, he
may receive the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:14-19) . He wanted the prerogatives and
powers of an apostle. He thus sinned in the sight of God and stood condemned.
Read Acts 8:20-23 following. People on whom the apostles laid hands could work
wonders, but they could not in turn lay their hands on others and confer the
power on them. Keep this in mind, please. Remember that Philip, who had preached
to and converted these Samaritans, including Simon the sorcerer, had apostolic
hands laid on him (Acts 6:5-6) and he performed miracles at Samaria himself
(Acts 8:4-8), but conferred no such power on others, nor were such powers
conferred until the apostles Peter and John came and did it.

Afterward Paul was made an apostle. Read Acts 9:10-19; Acts 22:3-21; Acts
26:9-18. Ananias, a disciple could restore Paul’s sight (Acts 22:13), but this
did not confer the power of an apostle on him. That was done by the Lord (Acts
26:16-18). Being an apostle, he went to Ephesus, found certain people knowing
only the message and baptism of John the Baptist, and taught them the way of the
Lord more perfectly, baptized them and then laid his hands on them, and they
received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7). Many people in the infantile state of
the church could perform miracles because the apostles laid their hands on many
people, especially leaders in the churches, and it was only through the laying
on of apostolic hands that the power was conferred on other men that they might
perform these signs. When the last man died on whom the apostles laid their
hands miracles ceased. No real miracles are performed today. All people claiming
to be miracle workers are frauds. Let no one be deceived by them. Why were
miracles confined to the early age of the church? From the foregoing it is clear
that they were to confirm the gospel. The New Testament was not completed until
around 90 or 100 A.D.. Gospel workers needed confirmation of their message.
Miracles did this very thing. Congregations needed instructions. Many strange
voices were heard. How did the people know which to heed? True leaders could
perform wonders as a sign manual of their being from God. But when the New
Testament was completed and Christianity firmly established then the law of the
Lord as revealed in the New Testament could be, and was, appealed to as
authority. "If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him
take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the
commandment of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:37). What has been left us in the New
Testament is all the guidance we have today in religion and is all we need. When
people build a house they erect a scaffold to assist in its erection but when
the building, is finished, the scaffolding is taken away. The church is the
house of God (1 Timothy 3:15). It is erected by the New Testament message, but
before the New Testament was written, the message had to have scaffolding to
confirm it. Now that it has been, and will always remain, confirmed, miracles
are not longer needed. Hence Paul said to the Corinthian church, a church
possessing at that time many kinds of miraculous gifts, "But covet earnestly the
best gifts, yet show I unto you a more excellent way." This is the last verse of
lst Corinthians the 12th chapter. In the 13th chapter he showed them what this
"more excellent way" is-the way of Faith, Hope and Love.


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  CHAPTER 13: HOLY SPIRIT -13-III. HOLY ROLLERISM AND OTHER ISMS
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III. HOLY ROLLERISM AND OTHER ISMS In my last chapter I discussed the direct
operation of the Holy Spirit and the faith and "practice" of modern-miracle
heresies. In this paper I want to discuss the latter doctrine further with
direct reference to "Holy Rollerism." I shall also deal with other forms of
alleged "faith miracles.’’ Modern denominationalism has held that conversion is
a miracle no less wonderful than the raising of Lazarus from the dead! See the
"Nashville Debate" for the position of J. B. Moody in his discussion with James
A. Harding. Holding this view, and claiming generally that people are now
"baptized in the Holy Spirit," it remained for Nazarenes, Holinists, and other
forms of "Holy Rollers" -more "rolly" than "holy"-to carry the doctrine to its
logical conclusion. This they have done with a vengeance. Holy Rollers, reading
the New Testament. found that in every case of baptism of the Holy Spirit, those
baptized in the Holy Spirit spoke with "new tongues"--tongues that had not been
learned-and, that also those baptized in the Holy Spirit could work miracles,
they (the Holy Rollers) simply protest that they have been baptized in the Holy
Spirit and proceed to try to "speak with tongues," "heal the sick," and handle
rattle snakes ! This logic was and is invincible except for one thing, viz.,
They have not been baptized in the Holy Spirit, as no one is being baptized in
the Holy Spirit now. See discussion in former article entitled, "The Holy Spirit
and His Work," and note the following: In times past there have been several
baptisms. There were washings, baptisms, under the law of Moses (Hebrews 6:2;
Hebrews 9:10). These were done away when the law was changed (Hebrews 7:12;
Hebrews 10:9). John came with his baptism. This was also done away (Acts 19:5)
being superseded by the baptism of Christ found in the Great Commission (Matthew
28:19; Acts 10:48).

Christ’s suffering was called a baptism (Mark 10:35-45). This passed away at the
cross. There were but two others, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and the baptism
of the commission. Around the year 60 A. D., when Paul wrote the church at
Ephesus, he declared, "There IS…one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians
4:6). At that period one of these two baptisms had passed away. Which one? The
baptism of the Holy Spirit was to open the door of faith to both Jews and
Gentiles, hence we find a case of such baptism at the beginning of the gospel
message’s being given to each, i. e., to the Jews in Acts, second chapter, and
to the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius as recorded in the 10th and 11th
chapters of Acts, but we find cases of baptism in the Holy Spirit nowhere
else-and such is needed nowhere else, as there are no human beings who are not
either Jews or Gentiles ! Then when Jesus gave the commission to the apostles,
he said: Go make disciples and baptize them into the name of the Father and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and promised them, "Lo, I am with you always
even to the end of the world." Only the Lord could baptize with the Holy
Spirit-no human being could do it-but the baptism that they were to perform was
to extend to every creature in all nations and to last till the end of
time-always. They could and did baptize in water. Therefore baptism still
exists, as it existed when Paul said, "There is one Lord, one faith, one
baptism." But since water baptism is the only one now remaining Holy Spirit
baptism has passed away.

Every man admits this every time he raises his hand over a candidate and say.,
"I baptize you into the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit." Holy Rollers claim that they have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, and
they utter inarticulate sounds and call it "tongues." They should call it
"jabbering," for that is what it is. How unlike the "tongues" of New Testament
times! Then the speakers knew what they said and the hearers heard them and
understood them. Take the case on Pentecost as an example. Then the sojourners
in Jerusalem, speaking fifteen or more dialects, for they were gathered at
Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost from various parts of the Roman world,
exclaimed, "How hear we every man in the tongue wherein we are born?’ The
apostles were not jabbering-they were speaking! "Tongues" served a good purpose,
in that the people who spoke and understood only their native vernacular, could
be preached to by the apostles, who, under the Holy Spirit, could preach in
languages they had not learned, and that they did not have to learn. Since
apostolic times, when men desire to preach to people having a different language
they have to learn the language in order to preach to the people of a foreign
tongue. The case of the church in Corinth is a further exemplification of the
same principle Some had the power to speak with tongues; others the power to
interpret tongues. This was necessary in the infancy of the church, and the
power was conferred by the apostles through their laying hands on certain ones
in the church.

Sometimes men would come into the assembly of a strange speech, then the one who
could speak with tongues could instruct him; at other times, a Christian of a
strange language would meet with the brethren and would have a message of
instruction and encouragement. He would deliver it, but the people would not be
benefitted except that one in the church had the gift of interpreting. When
interpreted, all would be benefitted. When there was no occasion for tongues,
they were out of place. Then it was time to speak the words of understanding.
Though Paul could speak with tongues more than all in Corinth yet he never
exercised the power except when needed, for he said that he would rather speak
five words with understanding than ten thousand in a tongue, in order to teach a
needed lesson. Even when "tongues" existed, Paul would have them used with
discretion that people might not think the brethren crazy. Read 1 Corinthians
14:1-40 th chapter. Holy Rollers not only would rather have "tongues" than
intelligent speech, but even prefer their jabbering to the gospel.

What applies here to the Holy Rollers applies with exactly the same force to the
Mormons, and other alleged miracle-workers, tonguers, etc. But they claim they
do actually speak with tongues and that we people who know better are opposing
God! But is God the author of Holy Roller "jabbering" and not Mormon
"jabbering"? Or is he the author of Mormon tonguing and healing but not of the
Holy Roller activities of the very same sort? Indeed he is the author of
neither. God is not the God of confusion nor of contradictory systems.

Besides God said tongues would cease. He also told when they would cease. At the
same time he said other miraculous "gifts" would cease. When were they to cease?
and have they ceased? Let us see. Paul told the Corinthian brethren to covet
earnestly the best gifts and yet he would show them a more excellent way (Last
verse of the 12th chapter of 1 Corinthians). He had discussed these gifts, and
then in the next chapter he developed the more excellent way, the way of faith,
hope, and love. He showed why this way is more excellent than the way of
miraculous gifts, as they were to be purely temporary, while the more excel lent
way was to "abide." Hear him, "Whether there be prophesies they shall fail,
whether there be tongues, they shall cease, whether there be knowledge it shall
vanish away" (1 Corinthians 13:8). When were prophesies and tongues to cease and
this knowledge through "gift" to pass out? "For we know in part and we prophesy
in part, but when that which is perfect is come these things in part shall be
done away" (1 Corinthians 13:9-10), "When that which is perfect is come." What
is perfect? "Whoso looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and
continueth therein, this man shall be blest in his deeds" (James 1:26). In other
words, when the New Testament is completed, tongues, prophesies, knowledge,
faith that can remove mountains, healings, government of the church by gift,
interpretations by the Holy Spirit, etc., will cease. The New Testament was
finished, men were forbidden to add to it or take from it. It contains the faith
once for all delivered unto the saints, and everything pertaining to life and
godliness, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction
in righteousness, that the man of God may be "perfect" thoroughly furnished unto
every good work. Incidentally, if the Bible were not perfect it could not lead
men unto perfection. But when that perfect thing came miracles of every sort and
kind ceased. Don’t be deceived. God cannot be mocked success fully. Those
professed "tonguers," "healers" by divine power, etc., have an awful day of
reckoning ahead of them. Do not be en meshed in their delusions. Brethren,
expose these pernicious, false prophets. Preach the word. Not only will our
religious neighbors not preach a full gospel but they are helpless in the
presence of these "wonder-workers," because the average sectarian believes in
miracles, and holds that conversion is a miracle. We have the truth, God’s law.
Let us hold to it. "The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me
free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2).


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  CHAPTER 14: HOLY SPIRIT -14-IV MENTAL HEALING, OR SO-CALLED DIVINE HEALING
========================================================================

IV. MENTAL HEALING OR SO CALLED DIVINE HEALING

Every psychologist with anything like a general knowledge of his field of study
is familiar with "mental healing," though all psychologists do not practice it.
Some do, however, with remarkable results. Doubtless others would practice it
but for the fact that there are so many charlatans who prey on the untutored and
credulous public that they hesitate to be accused of being part and parcel with
the "frauds" who claim divine powers, miraculous gifts, and give off the
impressions that they are "some great ones " This paper is simply a sketch of
some things which may be done in the field of mental therapy. It will also call
attention to some things which cannot be done. Human ailments are of four kinds
viz., Traumatic, Toxic, Neural, and Functional. These are to be defined as
follows: Traumas are abrasions of the anatomy, such as bruises, bone-breaks,
cuts, etc.; toxic disorders are poisonings, such as animal, mineral, or
vegetable poisons, pus, etc.; neural diseases are impingements of neurones,
their failure of proper development, or their atrophying, or the improper
functioning of the ductless glands, or more technically, the endocrines; while
functional diseases are not diseases properly at all. They are not physical
ailments; they are mental. See Griffith’s "General Introduction to Psychology,"
p. 425, published by the Macmillan Company, New York. Some of these may have had
their occasion in some organic malady, but they persist even after the patient
becomes physically well. Many are caused by worry, family troubles, financial
reverses, or unrequited love. Some are cases of pure insanity, where the exact
cause cannot be located. Being mental they can often be treated successfully by
mental means. They make up a large part of our human ills.

Dr. Richard Cabot, dean of the Medical Faculty of Harvard University, whose
expert opinion is worthy of serious consideration, says that fully fifty percent
of the patients treated by practicing physicians are neurotics-people suffering
from functional diseases. Of course nearly all the patients being treated by
neurologists are only functionally sick, and all the patients being treated by
psychiatrists are functional cases. Surely a large field for quacks, "human
money leeches" and other frauds! See A. I. Gates’ "Elementary Psychology" pages
273-275.

What diseases can be cured by various mental means? Not traumatic diseases, not
toxic disorders, not genuine neural disturbances, but functional "ailments"
only. What mental means can alleviate function al suffering? Just any kind the
patient believes in, or can be got to believe in; as for example, Christian
Science, which is neither Christian nor science. Christian Science teaches that
there is no pain, no disease, in fact, no matter; all is mental. so just think
you are well and you are well. Of course a neurotic, having no organic ailment
but only suffering because he thinks himself sick, when convinced that there is
nothing the matter with him is immediately cured. He was only functionally sick
and now he is functionally well! Small wonder it is that Christian Science has a
million members, when you re member that the majority of folks who are being
treated today have actually nothing the matter with them. But Christian Science
can’t "mental off" a bone-break, or cure a rattlesnake’s bite by Mrs. Eddy’s
Science and Health, which logically would deny that there is any rattlesnake in
the first place-except in the mind!

Really Christian Science is only able to cure functional diseases, and it is
itself only a sort of religious delirium tremens. As another example, take a
Mormon miracle-worker (?). He gets hold of a neurotic, prays over him and
convinces the poor, self-deluded soul that the Mormon practitioner is divinely
endowed with the powers of Jesus Christ and his holy apostles, changes the man’s
delusions from himself to the Mormon preacher who tells the poor fellow he is
cured by the Lord-and he is cured, but not by the Lord. Such neurotics are
willing to be cured provided it is "wonderful." But the said practitioner can’t
furnish a cure for the poor fellow who has swallowed carbolic acid without a
medicinal antidote. Again, a neurotic calls a physician, who knows the patient
is a neurotic. He gets the patient’s confidence, knows the patient wants
"medicine" to fit her "case." Such neurotics demand that their "cure" shall
taste nasty. The doctor gives some harmless potion mixed with enough bad-tasting
dope to taste like medicine, talks kindly and sympathetically with patient to
keep her confidence, and, presto! the patient gets well, assuring all her
neighbors that she was the sickest woman ever, but none of the great number of
doctors ever understood her "case" until, just by accident, she called in Dr.
John Doe, who just looked at her, and saw immediately her condition, and had her
"up" in no time. She still shudders to think what would have happened if she
just hadn’t called Dr. Doe. She is certain that she would have been in her grave
today! To the credit of the doctors generally, however, let it be said that such
"cases" are the bane of their lives. Rest assured that they really do something
when there is really something wrong with the patient. All honor to the medical
profession, a profession honored by Luke "the beloved physician" and companion
of the Apostle Paul. It can be laid down as a true proposition that functional
diseases being only mental they can only be treated by mental means. But instead
of such "cures" being miraculous they are the most natural treatments in the
world since they follow methods that employ "mental laws." Mental treatments are
adequate for mental diseases, and so far as treatments go they are legitimate,
but when one undertakes to use them as proof that he is "anointed of the Lord
for healing," and that such cures are "miracles wrought by the power of God," he
perpetrates a fraud that cannot be too severely exposed. While mental treatments
are adequate for mental disorders they are pure humbuggery for physical
diseases-they will not even cure the toe itch. Thousands of people suffering
functionally are being psycho-analyzed, going to "magnetic healers," or
repeating with Coue "Every day in every way I’m getting better and better,"
taking valueless nostrums that have a great number of "testimonials," and are
getting cured, provided they have "faith" in the remedy. But faith in the remedy
does not cure traumas, toxins, or dead nervous mechanisms.

How different these "faith cures" are to the kind of, and the circumstances
around, the cures wrought by the Lord. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but
it was not necessary for Jesus to exhort dead Lazarus’ corpse: "Now just believe
that I can and will raise you and you will get right up! Only have faith. It may
not be today or next week, but just as soon as you believe I can raise you, and
you just throw yourself on the Lord, I’ll raise you!" Four men brought a
paralytic to the Lord and Jesus seeing their faith said to the sick of the
palsy, "Take up thy bed and walk," and he did. Modern healers would say to the
sick of the palsy, "If you will believe, the Lord will heal you," but Jesus saw
the faith of the four who brought him. No one knows if the sick man had any
faith, at all. Jesus opened a blind man’s eyes--a man born blind ! None such are
having their eyes opened today. No, for no miracles are being wrought today.

Peter and John cured a poor impotent man at the gate of the temple, but it was
on the basis of their faith and not the poor man’s faith. He did not even know
of the Christ. But the apostles had miraculous faith and could work miracles. No
such faith exists today. That kind of faith was in the performer of the deed and
not in the beneficiary of the miracle.

Paul had a poisonous viper to bite him on the hand but he shook it off and "felt
no harm," though those who stood by, knowing it to be a deadly serpent, expected
him to drop dead. Now-a-days a man who has a deadly viper fasten his fangs in
his hand either does drop dead pretty soon or suffers a mighty long time before
he can get "out and about" again. No, the age of miracles is past. None are
needed now and none are performed now. When functional cures are wrought by
Holiness exhorters, Mormon elders, Christian Science readers, Catholic priests,
exhibiting "St. Anne’s shin bone" or a "weeping statue of the Virgin," it is no
miracle, nor do they cure any organic diseases that way. Such stunts are neither
the Holy Spirit nor his work. "Animal Magnetism" Throughout the ages men have
sought a remedy for their real and fancied ills, especially by means, marvelous,
dramatic or bad tasting. As science developed, remedies for real illness have
been produced, and even scientific treatment has made progress in functional
cases. But remedies for functional "diseases" did not have to wait for the long,
experimental findings of science. Such remedies have been like the poor, always
with us. Thaumaturgus in the third century A. D. did wonders-so much and so
many-that a species of mental healing has been called "thaumaturgy" after him.
Paracelsus in the 15th century not only practiced alchemy, allegedly turning
lead and other common metals into gold, but treated diseases on the assumption
that stars and magnets had a peculiar, invisible fluid in them to heal and
influence the human body. He cured those who only thought that they were sick
and he became rich at the practice.

During the 17th century an Irishman, with that proverbial sense of humor, and an
eye for business, gave out that he was some great one and cured multitudes. Read
it in Jastrow’s "Fact and Fable in Psychology," page 177. Popular report had it
"that God had bestowed on Mr. Gratarick a peculiar Temperament, or composed his
body of some particular Ferments, the Effluvia whereof, being introduced
sometimes by a light, sometimes by violent friction, should restore the
Temperament of the Debilitated parts, reinvigorate the Blood, and dissipate all
heterogeneous Ferments out of the Bodies of the Diseased, by the Eyes, Nose,
Mouth, Hand and Feet." Likewise Mesmer claimed great things for himself, but
afterward his pupil, Puysegur, hypnotized a man and got the same results.
Puysegur called it "magnetizing" the patient, but Braid in 1841 did the same
things in a similar way, and called it "hypnotism," introducing that word for
the first time. Hypnotism is an "induced sleep," or more properly, a redirecting
the focus of consciousness so that the hypnotized is under the direction of the
operator instead of his own will. Many "wonderful" things can be done through
hypnotism-even minor operations have been performed in France, while the
patients were under hypnosis. It can certainly make a "monkey" out of any man
who thinks that the hypnotizer is an agent of the Lord Al mighty and that such
situations are miracles. Before Thaumaturgus, Paracelsus, Gratarick, Mesmer, or
other "magnetizers," how ever, were the Indian "medicine men," Australian
"Shamans" and African Voodoo, or "black magic."

Time and space forbid mentioning Phineas Quimby and Pfarrer Gassner and other
"worthy" predecessors of modern miracle workers. Suffice it to say that the
works of these men did not suffer in comparison with the works of Jesus and his
apostles more than do the alleged miracles of Aimee Semple-McPherson-Hutton,
Mormon "Apostles" Richieism, "Brother Isaiah-ism," Holy Rollers, Spiritualists,
Theosophists, and "Images of the Virgin," St. Anne’s "Shin bones,", the blessing
of a King like Henry the VIII, or of the Pope of Rome.


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  CHAPTER 15: HOLY SPIRIT -15-V. QUESTIONS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
========================================================================

V. QUESTIONS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT


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  CHAPTER 16: HOLY SPIRIT -16-     WERE ANY BUT THE APOSTLES BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT ON PENTECOST?
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1. Were any but the apostles baptized in the Holy Spirit on Pentecost?

Answer: It seems that one should so understand from a careful reading, but it is
possible that the "one hundred and twenty" of the chapter preceding the account
in Acts 2:1-4 could be the antecedent of the pronoun "they" in Acts 2:1. It
really makes not one particle of difference whether "the twelve" or "the hundred
and twenty" were baptized, so far as any doctrine is concerned. It has only an
"exegetical" interest, as all "the hundred and twenty" were Jews and they only
were the receivers of this first case of Spirit-baptism.


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  CHAPTER 17: HOLY SPIRIT -17-     WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ONE�S BEING MADE AN APOSTLE AND HIS BEING BAP...
========================================================================

2. What is the connection between one’s being made an apostle and his being
baptized in the Holy Spirit?

Answer: Just none at all. Paul was an apostle and there is no account of his
ever being baptized in the Holy Spirit; the household of Cornelius were baptized
in the Holy Spirit and not one of them was an apostle. The apostles received the
baptism of the Spirit on Pentecost as Jews-not as apostles, as such!


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  CHAPTER 18: HOLY SPIRIT -18-     WHAT IS THE RELATION OF BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND SALVATION?
========================================================================

3. What is the relation of baptism of the Holy Spirit and salvation?

Answer: Baptism was a prelude to salvation’s being offered to a people, a sign
manual from God that people could call upon the name of the Lord unto the
salvation of their souls. Baptism of the Spirit was promised by the Lord through
Joel the prophet (Joel 2:28-30), and the promise was made that "it shall come to
pass that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered," or as
Peter, in Acts, second chapter, expressed it, "shall be saved." That Jewish
Christians so understood this to be the significance of the promise is evident
from Peter’s remark to the six Jewish brethren who accompanied him to the house
of Cornelius. "Who can forbid water that these should not be baptized, seeing
that they have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?" (Acts 10:47-48); and,
likewise, the same, clear intimation of their understanding is shown by the
brethren at Jerusalem, when Peter was called "on the carpet" by them for going
in unto the Gentiles. After Peter had rehearsed the matter of the conversion of
Cornelius’ household, and asserted that God gave them the "like gift" as "unto
us at the beginning," they were completely satisfied, "Then held they their
peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also granted unto the Gentiles
repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18) . The baptism in the Spirit was not to
convert but was a necessary prelude for them to know that the gospel should be
preached. This is shown by the fact that the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles
before Peter delivered his message, "As I began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on
them, even as on us at the beginning" (Acts 11:15). Remember that in order to be
saved men must call on the Lord, but in order to call on him they must believe,
but in order to believe they must hear the gospel (Romans 10:13; Romans 10:17).
Peter had not preached, they had not heard, and therefore had not believed, 90
their baptism in the Spirit did not save them-it only made for the opening up of
the door of faith to them. Since that hour, there has been no people who needed
a baptism of the Spirit, as the door of faith has never been closed to any
nation, tribe, or tongue.


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  CHAPTER 19: HOLY SPIRIT -19-WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE SPIRIT�S BEING POURED OUT ON ALL FLESH?
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4. What is the meaning of the Spirit’s being poured out on all flesh?

Answer: All flesh means both Jews and Gentiles. There is no other flesh that is
comprehended in the gospel -simply all human flesh. It does not mean every being
that has flesh and bones and blood. True it is said by Paul: "There is one flesh
of men, another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds and another of
fishes" (1 Corinthians 15:39); but one thinks to conclude that beasts, birds,
and fishes are baptized in the Holy spirit because God promised to pour out his
Spirit "on all flesh." Nor do any suppose that he means all human flesh
distributively -the good, the bad, the different. No, all know better than that.
In fact it was not a "distributive" promise at all but a "representative"
promise that all flesh should receive God’s Spirit. This all flesh did
receive-the Jews at Jerusalem on Pentecost when the gospel in its completeness
was first allowed to be preached to them, and the Gentiles at Caesarea at the
house of the Roman centurion, Cornelius, when the word was first allowed to be
preached to uncircumcised people.


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  CHAPTER 20: HOLY SPIRIT -20-     EXPLAIN 1CO_12:13
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5. Explain 1 Corinthians 12:13 : "By one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free: and have all
been made to drink into one Spirit."

Answer: When a thing is done by the authority of a proper agent, it is
tantamount to saying that that has been done by the authority even though the
authority may have used an agent- as for example, men build a bridge by the
authority of the state, we say that the state built the bridge. Again, "When the
Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more
disciples than John, though Jesus himself baptized not but his disciples" (John
4:1-2). Though Jesus personally did no baptizing but only his disciples did the
baptizing-even baptizing more than John the Baptist had baptized-the Pharisees
knew that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John-because they knew
enough to know that when one in authority has his agents do any thing that it is
his work just as much as if the authority had done it personally. So when men
following the instruction of the Spirit baptized men and women into Christ-into
the church, which is his body (Ephesians 1:22-23), these men and women are
baptized by the Spirit. Such is the Spirit’s baptism but not Spirit-baptism. The
fact that no one was baptized under the authority of the Great Commission until
the Holy Spirit came to lead them to do so, and after that the Spirit led the
disciples into baptizing believers both Jew and Gentiles into the one body it
completely harmonizes with Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 12:13 that "by one
Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether we be bond or free: and have all been made to drink into one Spirit."
The Revised Version says "in one Spirit" instead of "by one Spirit" but the
thought is the same. The Greek preposition "en" is translated both "in" and "by"
when it is used in an "ablative" sense, and such is the case here. Whether we
use "in" or "by" the thought is the same; that is to say, in the teaching or
guidance of one Spirit, we are all, both Jews and Gentiles, both bondmen and
free men, baptized Into one body, the body of Christ. On this passage, note the
following outstanding scholars:

(a) Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, in loco,
"By Spirit .... baptized-literally, "in;" in virtue of; through. The designed
effect of baptism, which is realized when not frustrated by the unfaithfulness
of men. Gentiles-literally, Greeks. All made to drink into one Spirit, The
oldest MSS. read: "Made to drink of one Spirit," omitting "into" (John 7:37).
There is an indirect allusion to the Lord’s supper, as there is a direct
allusion to baptism in the beginning of the verse. So the Spirit, the water and
the blood" (1 John 5:8) similarly combine the two outward signs with the inward
things signified, the Spirit’s grace.

(b) Beet-In 1 Corinthians 12:13, we read: In one Spirit are we all baptized into
one body ......and all were made to drink one Spirit. This probably refers to
baptism by water. For we have here no suggestion of any other than the ordinary
meaning of the word baptize. St. Paul is speaking of the church which is the
body of Christ, and of the Holy Spirit who is its animating principle. By
baptism, his readers entered the Church and were thus united to the body of
Christ. And by faith, of which their baptism was a confession, they obtained
(Galatians 3:2) the gift of the Spirit. Consequently, to St. Paul’s thought the
outward condition, and the inward source, of the new life were closely
associated: In one Spirit they were baptized into one body. Similarly in John
3:5 we have a birth of water and Spirit. So in Acts 2:38 we read: 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 Spirit. On the other hand, St. Paul
never uses the phrase baptize with the Holy Spirit, found in Matthew 3:11; Mark
1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5. If our exposition is correct, we have in 1
Corinthians 12:13 a definite reference to baptism as the outward and visible
gate into the church and into the company of those savingly joined to each other
and to Christ-Christian Baptism, pp. 18, 19. (Quoted by Shepherd in his Hand
Book on Baptism, p. 393.) Dr. Beet was a most learned Methodist commentator and
theologian. Perhaps the Wesleyan Methodist Church never produced another scholar
his equal.

(c) Blount-For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. Thus the Unity
of the Church originates in its sacramental life: its members becoming one, not
through any act of mutual consent, agreement, or love, but because God the Holy
Spirit has made them one by the life which he has bestowed in baptism, when he
made them "members of Christ"-Annotated Bible, 1 Corinthians 12:13. Quoted by
Shepherd in Hand Book on Baptism, p.394. Blount was a distinguished theologian
of the Church of England, and a prolific writer.

(d) Hammond-For in baptism being made partakers of the same Spirit we are
entered into one body to be fellow members with all Christians, of what quality
or sort soever we are--Paraphrase on 1 Corinthians 12:13. It is said of him, who
was Chaplain to Charles I of England, "He was a man of great learning, as well
in the classics and general philology as in doctrinal and school divinity, and
possessed great natural ability." See Shepherd’s Hand Book, pp. 394, 483.

(e) Sadler-In 1 Corinthians 12:13, the Fathers and the Divines of the time of
the Reformation, without exception, find a reference to water baptism as the
outward and formal means by which the Holy Spirit grafts men into the mystical
body of Christ. This text can only mean this, for St. Paul, as the whole context
shows, is evidently speaking of a something which pertains to the whole
Corinthian church and to every individual of it-Church Doctrine-Bible Truth, p.
59, See Shepherd’s Hand Book on Baptism, p. 394. Sadler belonged to the Church
of England and was a learned commentator.


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Source: https://sermonindex.net/books/theories-of-the-holy-spirit-th-ethridge/
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