36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:36-47 NKJ)
I am a cessationist (until the Holy Spirit is poured out upon all flesh in the End Time Acts 2:17-21; Rev. 11:4 cf. Zech. 4:11-14).
I don't do signs and wonders, or cast out demons. I don't receive revelations that are "the word of God".
But I maintain my born again experience is exactly like that of the 120 disciples, and the 3,000 Jews saved on that day.
They all were "born again", changed on the inside so their perception of God and the things of God was radically different. God was now their Father, and His people "their people." Their Love for God, His Truth and His people became their central desire. In a word, they were born again. A "new creature" with new desires.
The alleged "second class" of believers who haven't received the fullness of the Holy Spirit, does not exist.
An excerpt from my site:
On the day of Pentecost two separate groups received the
Baptism in the Spirit, numbering 120 (
Ac. 1:15;
2:1-4) and 3,000 (
Ac. 2:38-41).
The First Group (
Ac. 1:15-22;
2:1-4) were followers of Jesus from the days of John the Baptist to His resurrection (
Ac. 1:21-22). A sound from heaven like rushing wind filled the house, and tongues of fire sat upon each of their heads and they spoke in languages of Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya, Cyrene, and Rome (
Acts. 2:8-10).
The Holy Spirit filled (
Ac. 2:4) their spirit (
Rom. 8:5-16), God breathing into their souls the breath of lives (
Gen. 2:7), they became “new creatures” (
2 Cor. 5:17;
Gal. 6:15) risen in Christ (
Rom. 6:3-4;
Col. 2:12), born “from above” (
John 3:7-8;
1 Pet. 1:3) .The “washing of regeneration and renewing” (
Tit. 3:5) gave birth to their “inner man” (
Eph. 3:16;
Col. 3:10). They became partakers of divine nature (
2 Pet. 1:4) passing from death into life (
John 5:21,
24-26).
Only their soul was made alive, all of this was Spirit to spirit (Rom. 8:5-16) because our Holy God cannot abide with sin and touches no unclean thing (Rom. 7:18; 8:7-13). The flesh must wait for the resurrection yet future (1 Cor. 15:12, 51-55; Rev. 20:5).
Of these 120 unique followers of Christ only the Twelve Apostles did signs and wonders (Ac. 2:42-43).
When the Second Group received the Holy Spirit (Ac. 2:38-39) there was no sound from heaven like a rushing wind. Tongues of fire did not rest upon their heads. They did not speak foreign languages.
Precisely as the Holy Spirit filled the 120, so did He the 3,000 just as Peter promised (
Ac. 2:38;
Rom. 8:5-16). God breathed into their souls the breath of lives (
Gen. 2:7), they became “new creatures” (
2 Cor. 5:17;
Gal. 6:15) risen in Christ (
Rom. 6:3-4;
Col. 2:12), born “from above” (
John 3:7-8;
1 Pet. 1:3) .The “washing of regeneration and renewing” (
Tit. 3:5) gave birth to their “inner man” (
Eph. 3:16;
Col. 3:10). They became partakers of divine nature (
2 Pet. 1:4) passing from death into life (
John 5:21,
24-26).
Confirming the 3,000 saved that day did not manifest revelatory gifts is the fact these were so uncommon they were deemed a “sign from God” of something new (
Acts 10:44-47;
15:7-8). God also employed this sign to confirm salvation is only by public confession Jesus is LORD (
Acts 19:1-7;
4:12). That this was a special group of Jews who received the revelatory gifts is evident by it being specially noted these were “Twelve” in number (
Acts 19:7), clearly implying they were part of this exclusive group of Jews who would establish the Church (
1 Cor. 12:28). “Salvation is of the Jews” (
John 4:22)
The “outward physical evidence” the 3,000 were filled with the Holy Spirit was their changed heart and mind towards God and His Truth, and love for His people (Acts. 2:42-47 Compare 1 Pet. 1:22-23).
That the “outward physical evidence” was the SAME for BOTH the 120 and 3,000 organically follows from it being a function of “the One Body of Christ”, “the One Spirit who regenerates”, “the One Faith all belong to”, “the One Baptism common to every believer”. Every believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit of God whether they “feel” Him or not.
Discuss this article at EndTimeNewsForum.net The "Baptism in the Spirit" or "New Birth" is the same today as on the Day of Pentecost On the day of Pentecost two separate groups received the Baptism in the Spirit, numbering 120 (Ac. 1:15; 2:1-4) and 3,000 (Ac. 2:38-41). The First Group (Ac...
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