Yes many "claim" to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit yet they have not received the precious baptism or immersion of the Holy Spirit. Yes speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance is the initial evidence; but there is more to living by the Holy Spirit than tongues its a life controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. He speaks, unctions, guides, corrects, rebukes, inspires and comforts the believer everyday! He is an essential I believe for salvation. He leads into all truth and is a person Himself worthy of honor and worship just as the Father and Son Jesus Christ is. The Holy Spirit though does not lift up himself yet leads the believer to a deeper honoring and reverence of Jesus our Lord!
The Holy Spirit is essential for salvation, We must be born of the Spirit, But the baptim in the Holy Ghost is a seperate experience and not essential for salvation, But He is really a nessecity if we want the power and Anointings of God in a mighty way.
this is an interesting topic. can one of you tell me where the Bible says we are to be baptized in the holy spirit?
doesn't a Christian have the holy spirit in them when they accept Jesus into their heart?, and didn't the holy spirit already come at pentecost?
We must be born again by the Spirit of God, Jn 3: 3--8.
Some of the disciples were born again in Jn 20: 22 when Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into them, Peter was one of them because in Jn 21: 15--17 he said he loved Jesus with the Agape love of God, You cannot have the agape love of God unless you are born again.
But Jesus said they would receive power when they are baptised in the Holy Ghost, Acts 1: 8.
So even though some of them were saved, [Born of the Holy Spirit] They still needed the baptism in the Holy Spirit to have the power.
Paul asked disciples, "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed",
If the baptism in the Holy Ghost wasn't a seperate experience why would Paul ask the question, He would have know they had received the Holy Ghost at the rebirth.
Paul was saved three days before he was baptised in the Holy Ghost, Acts 9: 6--17.
The disciples in Acts 8: 14--17 were saved and baptised in water, But they weren't baptised in the Holy Ghost until the Apostles laid hands on them, V17.