The Historic Baptism of the Holy Spirit and The Gift of Tongues

A Clarifying Scriptural Study of a Controversial Issue!

Robert L. Kramer

• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781662440366
• eBook ISBN: 9781662440373
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christianity

This book presents the Baptism of the Spirit as a once-and-done never-to-be-repeated historic event and is never offered in the Bible as something to be experienced by individual believers.

In the process, it is discovered that the gift of speaking in tongues is not offered to or meant to be experienced by all believers; therefore, it cannot be the necessary evidence of being baptized by the Spirit

CHAPTER EIGHT

The Gift Of The Spirit: A Sign And Pledge Of A Future Inheritance

Four texts affirm that God’s gift of the Holy Spirit is a seal that identifies us as belonging to God and a pledge that is God’s first installment, or down payment, that guarantees the eventual full payment of our inheritance.

God [verse 21] who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [down payment of the promises of God].” (2 CORINTHIANS 1:22)

Now He who prepared us for this very purpose [to be clothed with immortality, verse 4] is God, who gave us the Spirit as a pledge. (2 CORINTHIANS 5:5)

You were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance. (EPHESIANS 1:13–14)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption [of your inheritance]. (EPHESIANS 4:30)

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT: GOD’S SEAL OF OWNERSHIP

Having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise …with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession. (EPHESIANS 1:13–14)

II. TWO IMPORTANT CLARIFICATIONS

1. A SEAL IS NOT A LOCK. It doesn’t lock anyone or anything into anything. It’s like the branding of cattle in the old West; it identifies the owner. My eternal security friends, who believe that once you’re saved you can’t possibly be lost, think of the seal as a lock that doesn’t allow one to escape. A seal in the New Testament or in society today is not something that can’t be broken or undone. It may be as fragile as a gummed stamp on an envelope or a thin wire closure on our electric meters. In the New Testament, it was melted wax with the owner’s imprint pressed into it to identify him.
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT DOESN’T SEAL US INTO CHRIST BUT INTO OUR INHERITANCE.
   Also we have obtained an inheritance…having also believed, you were sealed [being] in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance. (EPHESIANS 1:11–14)

OUR INHERITANCE: INITIAL BENEFITS AT CONVERSIION

1. A PARDON, THE FORGIVENESS OF ALL SIN
   All the prophets bear witness that through His [Jesus] name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins. (ACTS 10:43)
   We have redemption…the forgiveness of our transgressions, according to…His grace which He lavished on us. (EPHESIANS 1:7–8)
   Not simply forgiven, but taken away, off the record, removed as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12) and buried in the deepest sea (Micah 7:19); and we have God’s promise that He will remember them against us no more.
2. RECKONED TO BE RIGHTEOUS BY GOD
   To be righteous is to be pleasing and acceptable in the presence of God, to have an audience with a holy God.
   This was made possible by Christ, for Romans 5:19 says, “through the obedience of the One the many will be [and were] made righteous.”
   A. THE BENEFITS OF BEING RIGHTEOUS
   It enables one to “reign (be successful) in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (ROMANS 5:17)
   It enables God as a loving Father to keep “the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears [to] attend to [respond] to their prayers.” (1 PETER 3:12)
   “It makes one’s prayers to accomplish much.” (JAMES 5:6)
   Christ relieves one from the necessity of keeping the law to attain righteousness “to everyone who believes.” (ROMANS 10:4)
   They will be in the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5), which will be a resurrection of the righteous. (LUKE 14:14)
3. GOD RECONCILED US (MADE PEACE) TO HIMSELF
   You were formerly alienated and hostile...

Table of contents

• The Three Most Significant Events In Human History
• The Promise Of A Spirit Baptism
• The Promised Baptism Fulfilled
• A New Approach To The Understanding Of The Gift Of Tongues
• The N. T. Teaching About The Gift Of Tongues (Glossa)
• Observable Tongues Speakers’ Errors
• Review And Reaffirmation Of The Gift Of The Holy Spirit At Conversion
• The Gift Of The Spirit: A Sign And Pledge Of A Future Inheritance
• The Church’s Ministry To The World
• Attempts To Redefine The Gospel
• Pentecost: The Neglected Holy Day
• Jesus And The Holy Spirit
• The Baptism Features The Gift Of Prophecy
• Final Thoughts About The Baptism Of The Spirit