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Date Posted: 10:53:14 05/23/02 Thu
Author: Jay Dee
Subject: Re: The Holy Spirit
In reply to: David 's message, "The Holy Spirit" on 11:26:28 05/20/02 Mon

Hi David. I think I understand what you are saying, and if I do, then I agree with you. In the past, I have heard people speak of receiving "measures" of the Spirit. We receive a smaller measure, the Apostles received the baptismal measure, and Jesus received the Spirit without measure. There is not a single passage of scripture that bears this out. This whole construct is built on a passage incorrectly translated in the King James Bible. In John 3:34, the KJV reads, "for God giveth not the Spirit by measure UNTO HIM." Preachers then reasoned that since God gave the Spirit without measure to Jesus, then we have lesser measures of the Spirit. The problem is that the two words "unto him" are not even in the Greek text. The two words are in italics, which means the translators added those words as either a "smoothing over" of the wording, or an interpretation. Literally, the verse says that "God does not give the Spirit by measure." That means something completely different and has huge implications for us.

God does not give the Spirit by measure. It means that we have the Spirit without measure. It fits the context of the rest of the book of John. In John 7, Jesus said that if we believe in him, from our inner most being will come RIVERS of living water. To the woman at the well, he said that she would have a spring of living water. In other words, there will be a generous endless supply of living water. John explains in the text that Jesus was speaking of the Spirit which he was to give.

If God gives the Spirit without measure, then what about the outpouring of the Spirit in Acts which was accompanied by miraculous signs? First of all, let me point out that the outpouring of the Spirit, baptism in the Spirit, promise of the Spirit, gift of the Spirit, etc. all refer to the same thing. Look at Luke 24:49. God would send the promise of the Holy Spirit. Luke, continuing to write in Acts shows in chapters 1 and 2 how they received the promise of the Holy Spirit. He shows how Peter quoted from Joel which states the the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh. Then Peter says in Acts 2:38 that those who repent and were baptized would not only receive the forgiveness of sins, but receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He goes on to say that this "promise" was for them and for all who were far off. The apostles received the promise of the Spirit, and so can everyone else who comes to Jesus.

If this is true, why doesn't everyone who is born again have miraculous gifts? If they do not have them, does that mean they do not have the Spirit? Of course not. Contrary to what Pentecostal/Holiness theology teaches, one can have the Spirit but not have miraculous abilities. MIraculous power is given not because one received the Holy Spirit, but because the Spirit decided to give someone the ability. Notice:

"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills (1 Cor 12:11)."

The Spirit gives and distributes gifts to whomever he wills. One can have the Spirit, but not necessarily a miraculous gift. As a matter in fact, one cannot belong to Christ without the Spirit (Rom 8). Miraculous gifts ceased toward the end of the first century.

The only other phrase in the New Testament that I believe is different is being "filled" with the Holy Spirit, such as what Paul speaks of in Ephesians 5:18. Here is is talking about allowing ourselves to be guided by the Spirit. Another way of putting it is to "walk by the Spirit" as he says in Galatians 5. This is not the gift, promise, baptism of the Holy Spirit.

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