“Baptized With The Holy Ghost”

Acts 11:15-18

15) And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16) Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

17) Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

18) When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

T

he Lord has provided a plan for all men to come to salvation. As would be expected of Him, this plan does not require great intelligence to understand or accomplish. Rather, the same requirement made of one, is made of all, Simply put, salvation is a matter of obedience.

Absolutely all that we need to be successful is provided for in God’s plan. He never leaves us groping for direction, method or tools, but clearly points us to and provides a means for us to lead others to salvation. Perhaps best of all, we need not depend upon secondhand knowledge or advice for anything, for He has made Himself available through this very plan, to indwell and thereby personally lead us.

Contrary to what the devil would have us to believe, salvation is very simply gained. Many claim to seek the “way,” yet never seem to make their way to apostolicism. Often, too many professing a hunger for truth find themselves drawn to places teaching a way of salvation that requires no more than did his way of life on the street. But obviously, any plan from God must make a profound difference that others must see in the life of the believer. With most plans, one’s condition after “salvation” remains the same as before. So, you see, many recognize their “problem” (that is, their need of salvation), but failing t pursue the correct solution, find no help. Often, in the life of such an one, drastic measures must be taken to get his attention.

In today’s lesson it is important that we recognize that Peter had gone to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. Upon his return to his brethren (Jews) they quarreled with him about presenting the plan of salvation to the Gentiles. (Only enlightened Jews who had the full revelation of God’s purpose welcomed the entry of others into salvation.) Of course, when the argument was initially presented, it was presented as if the problem was the fact that Paul simply went and ate with the Gentiles. Can you imagine being so covetous of the only thing that will grant eternal life? Than again, because of the way salvation was first introduced and granted, the Jews felt it exclusive to themselves.

In that the Lord has blessed us Gentiles, to come into the knowledge of salvation, we need to exercise the zeal of the early Jews—that is zeal in getting others “baptized with the Holy Ghost.” Unfortunately, the truth of the word too often becomes common place to us and we forget the great need that others have for what has been granted to us. We, as Gentiles, are to magnify and glorify God to the depths of our soul for allowing us into this “go great salvation.”

Neither we (Gentiles), Jews nor anyone else will be able to exercise the love God requires of us all without the Holy Ghost. This is an issue emphasized for the wrong reasons—and remains undone. Love is to be shown to others, not hoarded from others to oneself.

Being baptized with the Holy Ghost is not a denominational issue; for no matter into what church one was born, once he has done things the “apostolic way” (that is baptism in Jesus’ name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost as evidenced by tongues) he is apostolic.

It should be obvious to anyone observing domestic or world events that this world is in a pitiful state. Therefore, anyone should also recognize that this world’s inhabitants need a real change in their lives and a solution to life’s woes and anxieties. Therefore, people should be ashamed to go around calling themselves “Christians” yet have nothing in their behavior to support the claim. People, today, are looking for solutions and they can only gather them from the life of one changed through being “baptized with the Holy Ghost.”