The gifts of the Holy Spirit have but one purpose: to supernaturally demonstrate the reality of Jesus’ resurrection to both believers and non-believers alike. But before we dig into that, I first want to make a clear-cut distinction between the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit Most people consider… Read More »
In this series, I’m about to answer two questions I believe to be crucial to our understanding of Christianity: What is the Bible? How do we correctly grasp what we read in it? Why Should This Topic Concern Us? Tragically, some so-called Christians misuse the Bible to preach hate against various groups: racial minorities, interracial marriages, homosexuals, and… Read More »
In my previous article in this series, we explored what the Bible is, where it came from, and what it has to say about itself. In this installment, we’ll tackle the question posed in this article’s title. The answers I’m about to provide here are the principles I use whenever I examine the Scriptures and am seeking God… Read More »
Now let’s take a look at the history of the early Church and see what the New Testament has to say about speaking in tongues and whether or not it is the initial evidence of someone being baptized in the Holy Spirit. There are 6 biblical accounts of people receiving Holy Spirit baptism — aka “being filled with… Read More »
The spiritual gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues is an amazing blessing for those who have received it. Unfortunately, it is also the source of an equally amazing amount of dissension within the Body of Christ between those who do and those who don’t. Frankly, it is appalling how hostile both sides… Read More »
Before digging into the Scriptures, I would like to establish my credentials on this topic. I was first exposed to the concept of being baptized in the Holy Spirit almost immediately after I became a Christ-follower. I submitted my life to Christ in November of 1973 while a soldier assigned to the US Army’s 3rd Armored Division in… Read More »
