Sermon Audio Archive

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 1/12/03 Radio Program

Question:

What is the gift of the Holy Spirit and do we have it today?

Answer:

The "gift of the Holy Spirit" is discussed in Acts 2. It is there on the day of Pentecost, that Peter and "the eleven" (v. 14) stood and preached the gospel to the Jews that had gathered that day (v. 5). As he summarized the points he had made at that point, the record states: "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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. 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 2:37-39).

One thing that ought to be understood as we study this subject is that there is a difference between the "gift" of the Holy Spirit, and the "gifts" of the Holy Spirit. The "gifts" of the Holy Spirit are named for us in I Corinthians 12:4, 8-10. These were gifts bestowed upon certain ones during the time when God's written word was not in its completed form. Chapter twelve of I Corinthians enumerates these gifts, and chapter thirteen tells us the duration of such gifts (v. 8-10). Yet, the "gift of the Holy Spirit" discussed in Acts 2 is different, for this is something that people receive after they have repented and have been baptized as Peter said on this occasion.

What is "the gift of the Holy Spirit"? It is hard to explain, for it encompasses all the spiritual blessings which belong to those who are in Christ (Eph. 1:3). Acts 3:19 is a parallel passage to Acts 2:38 wherein Peter speaks to the crowd gathered after they had healed the lame man. To this crowd, he tells them, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." Therefore, the "times of refreshing" of 3:19 correspond with "the gift of the Holy Spirit" in 2:38.

Sometimes, people say "the gift of the Holy Spirit" is the Holy Spirit. I disagree with this. The gift of the Holy Spirit is not the Holy Spirit, but it is the Holy Spirit's gift! This is what is being promised. If one repents and is baptized for the remission of sins, he/she receives the Holy Spirit's gift ("times of refreshing from the Lord," salvation from sins, spiritual blessings in Christ, hope of Heaven, etc.)

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