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It is unfortunate that we are forced to rebut this man again. He seems to mean well. As such, we have no intention of piling on a brother in Christ for his errant views, but when all the world can see your post, you better make sure that you aren't embarrassing yourself.
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There is a view that salvation has to be validated by the evidence of speaking in tongues. (We are not aware of a significant number of people who equate salvation with speaking in tongues. However, many charismatics do suggest that that baptism of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by speaking in tongues. We hold neither of these views. Our position is that salvation, the filling of the Holy Spirit, and any variety of gifts imparted, can and and do occur at separate times.)
Acts chapter 2 is the Biblical reference given to support that position. Is that what is written in Acts 2?
Who spoke in tongues on the Day of Pentecost?
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Who were the "all" that were speaking in tongues? Peter and the eleven, twelve people, were the "all."
Acts 2:14-15 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them:"Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;
Peter was talking about the eleven apostles, not the 120 nor the 3000. Only twelve were speaking in tongues on the Day of Pentecost.
Peter preached Jesus crucified and resurrected. He preached Jesus as Christ and Lord. When they believed he told them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. They received the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 22-38)
The 3000 on the Day of Pentecost received the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. They did not receive the gift of speaking in tongues.
THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE 3000 SPEAKING IN TONGUES AS EVIDENCE OF THEIR SALVATION. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THEM SPEAKING IN TONGUES, PERIOD. (Nor does there need to be. The author is arguing from the silence of Scripture, which cannot prove anything.)
Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:47 .... And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
(If the author could see past his preconceptions and actually read the Bible rather than search for proof texts, he would realize he is in error. He appears to think that tongues were narrowly restricted, but when we look a few verses earlier in Acts 1:4-5, we discover that the resurrected Jesus told the Apostles, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Notice the Apostles were not told they would receive the gift of tongues, they were to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
It is interesting that Jesus quoted what John the Baptist said in Lk. 3:16: "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Here we see that John was addressing the crowd that gathered, not a just a handful of followers, which suggests that the baptism of the Holy Spirit would be a great work.
Indeed, Peter recognized the Pentecost event as a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, which he quotes in Ac. 2:17-18: "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy." Pentecost was simply the beginning of a greater move of God, where the Holy Spirit, including His supernatural manifestations, will be available for "all people."
Peter continues on this tack by telling the convicted crowd what they must do. Ac. 2:38-39: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Yes, the gift of the Holy Spirit is for all, the same Holy Spirit Jesus promised the disciples, the same Holy Spirit Joel prophesied. The Holy Spirit in all His fullness and glory, including His various gifts: "God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." [Heb. 2:4])
THE EVIDENCE OF THE THREE THOUSANDS SALVATION WAS THAT THEY BELIEVED THE GOSPEL, REPENTED AND WERE BAPTIZED IN WATER!
The apostle Paul ask the rhetorical question: "All do not speak with tongues, do they"? (1 Corinthians 12:30) All did not speak in tongues. Were all those lost who did not speak in tongues? Of course not. (Note we are not making the case for universal tongues, unlike some charismatics.)
Debating whether speaking in tongues is evidence of salvation is pointless due to the fact that tongues have ceased to exist. (The author drops this bomb at the end, which had he started with it, would have negated the need to cover the subsequent ground. He offers a "proof" text, which proves nothing, only that tongues will cease at some point.)
1 Corinthians 13:8....if there are tongues, they will cease....
SPEAKING IN TONGUES WAS NEVER A SIGN OF AN INDIVIDUALS SALVATION!
Acts chapter 2 is the Biblical reference given to support that position. Is that what is written in Acts 2?
Who spoke in tongues on the Day of Pentecost?
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Who were the "all" that were speaking in tongues? Peter and the eleven, twelve people, were the "all."
Acts 2:14-15 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them:"Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;
Peter was talking about the eleven apostles, not the 120 nor the 3000. Only twelve were speaking in tongues on the Day of Pentecost.
Peter preached Jesus crucified and resurrected. He preached Jesus as Christ and Lord. When they believed he told them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. They received the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 22-38)
The 3000 on the Day of Pentecost received the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. They did not receive the gift of speaking in tongues.
THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE 3000 SPEAKING IN TONGUES AS EVIDENCE OF THEIR SALVATION. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THEM SPEAKING IN TONGUES, PERIOD. (Nor does there need to be. The author is arguing from the silence of Scripture, which cannot prove anything.)
Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:47 .... And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
(If the author could see past his preconceptions and actually read the Bible rather than search for proof texts, he would realize he is in error. He appears to think that tongues were narrowly restricted, but when we look a few verses earlier in Acts 1:4-5, we discover that the resurrected Jesus told the Apostles, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Notice the Apostles were not told they would receive the gift of tongues, they were to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
It is interesting that Jesus quoted what John the Baptist said in Lk. 3:16: "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Here we see that John was addressing the crowd that gathered, not a just a handful of followers, which suggests that the baptism of the Holy Spirit would be a great work.
Indeed, Peter recognized the Pentecost event as a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, which he quotes in Ac. 2:17-18: "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy." Pentecost was simply the beginning of a greater move of God, where the Holy Spirit, including His supernatural manifestations, will be available for "all people."
Peter continues on this tack by telling the convicted crowd what they must do. Ac. 2:38-39: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Yes, the gift of the Holy Spirit is for all, the same Holy Spirit Jesus promised the disciples, the same Holy Spirit Joel prophesied. The Holy Spirit in all His fullness and glory, including His various gifts: "God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." [Heb. 2:4])
THE EVIDENCE OF THE THREE THOUSANDS SALVATION WAS THAT THEY BELIEVED THE GOSPEL, REPENTED AND WERE BAPTIZED IN WATER!
The apostle Paul ask the rhetorical question: "All do not speak with tongues, do they"? (1 Corinthians 12:30) All did not speak in tongues. Were all those lost who did not speak in tongues? Of course not. (Note we are not making the case for universal tongues, unlike some charismatics.)
Debating whether speaking in tongues is evidence of salvation is pointless due to the fact that tongues have ceased to exist. (The author drops this bomb at the end, which had he started with it, would have negated the need to cover the subsequent ground. He offers a "proof" text, which proves nothing, only that tongues will cease at some point.)
1 Corinthians 13:8....if there are tongues, they will cease....
SPEAKING IN TONGUES WAS NEVER A SIGN OF AN INDIVIDUALS SALVATION!
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