Hi Charity, I must admit that the clear-cut Scriptures that affirm that one cannot believe without being endowed with the Holy Spirit (either be or after), has often perplexed me. In that, after my conversion, outside of whatever wisdom that one gains once they understand the Gospel, I did not dramatically receive some divine enlightenment, or necessarily experience an increase in fortitude and resolution to confidently proclaim the Word of God. Outside of the strength and wisdom that invariably is gained from reading the Bible, I have yet to witness the experience of the Holy Spirit within me.
But, here's the thing, who can? That is, where is the man or woman with such a supernatural wisdom or power? Definitely not at any Church or Christian forum that I've been on.
Plus, does not the following verses of Scripture imply, in one way or another, that one can acquire saving faith without being empowered with the Spirit?
Acts 19:1-6
19:1. It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2. He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3. And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." 4. Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, he Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
Acts 18:24-28
18:24. Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26. and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27. And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, 28. for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 8:14-17
8:14. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15. who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:13-19
8:13. Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
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8:18. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19. saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."