Today, reply is on the falling of the Holy Spirit upon the household of Cornelius, a Gentile who was a retired Roman Centurion. The figure of Cornelius and the community gathered around him compares to those of Abraham and David, the warrior king who wanted to build a permanent house for GOD. The falling of the Holy Spirit that brought them into covenant with GOD through Jesus Christ, established them as a habitation of GOD through the Spirit, and his new creation. Cornelius and all assembled received a “circumcision of the heart.” The fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum using the ID “GRANNY NORINE” (Level 1 with 234 points, a member since May 16, 2014) posted the following in the Religion and Spirituality section:
Why do you ALL continue to IGNORE Peter "FORGOT" (Acts 11:15-16) what Jesus said in Acts 1:5 that "fulfilled" water baptism?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10: 36-48, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Gift(s) From GOD (04/08/2018); Salvation By Good Works? (03/08/2018); The Law and The Prophets (03/07/2018); What Is A Spirit? (03/06/2018); Choosing to be Reborn (01/29/2018); The Water, The Fire (10/10/2017); Receiving The Holy Spirit (12/08/2016); Cornelius, and Prayer By Sinners? (03/09/2015)
“GRANNY NORINE”, here are some points you might find useful as you continue to consider the falling of the Holy Spirit in the home of a retired Roman soldier:
1. The work of an apostle is to provide eyewitness report (we say, testimony in judgment) that Jesus has been raised from the dead, and to authenticate genuine manifestations of the Holy Spirit (we also say, the Comforter; the Holy Ghost; the Spirit of Prophecy; the Spirit of Truth).
2. Following the appearance of an angel in his home, Cornelius summoned Peter to minister, for the first time, in the home of a Gentile. However, along with Jewish customs, law, and tradition, Peter had to overcome his own attitudes of bias, ethnic arrogance, fear, exaggerated pride, racism, and suspicion that made him hesitate before he could acknowledge Cornelius, who was well-known for almsgiving and enthusiastic support of Jewish belief.
3. The falling of the Holy Spirit in the home of Cornelius was the same as that in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost.
4. In the same way, Peter preached repentance and baptism to the crowd that assembled at Pentecost having questions, and as many as 3,000 were added to the church through water baptism, all the members of Cornelius’ household who experienced the falling of the Spirit also received water baptism.
5. Receiving divine gifts by the falling of the Holy Spirit does not cancel, or take the place of water baptism and the requirement for living in repentance.
6. Those in the Upper Room all received baptism before the cloven tongues of fire, yet, in the home of Cornelius, all received cloven tongues of fire before they received water baptism.
There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 7. Peter and the others trained by Jesus could not impart the Holy Spirit from themselves to others through the operations of their own self-will (willpower). The Holy Spirit shares in the authority, personhood, and sovereignty of divine fullness (we say, the GODhead; the Trinity; the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit), and himself bestows and distributes his consecrated gifts.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
No comments:
Post a Comment