Agree.
I feel the same way about the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. (very controversial, I know)
It is a subsequent experience for the entry into operation in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
(although we can't put the Spirit in a box. That wind blows where it will)
But not needed for salvation. (although, I am a Universalist as well, so... another subject)
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This issue was the very first one that I ever landed me in hot water at a church. Since I coordinate verses together to find truth, I exposed verses to the class where I was at. Of course, the church police turned me in. What do you think? Is all scripture "God-breathed?"
I do believe that God's spirit gave the messages that the writers of the O.T. books required, and Hebrews 11 speaks of how
the people of Israel were saved by faith - and so are we.
I think the issue, for me at least, is to understand how God's spirit worked differently for the O.T. people of God that it does for us now. The scriptures show the evidence that the writers acknowledged that they had a spirit, and the Psalm 51 refers to renewing a "right spirit" in verse 10 and then, in verse 11, asks that Yahweh not take Ruach HaKodesh from him.
Do you think we still have our original spirit in us at the same time that God's spirit is in us? (I think we do, as it is our original spirit that tries to control us - makes our fleshly desires. Without God's spirit, we would not be set free.) Although I know that some believe that our spirit has died.
We have indication of God's spirit in the people of the O.T. in Titus. It speaks of
a "renewal" of the Holy Spirit - indicating that it was previously there.
Tt 3:4–7 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
However, we see in the N.T. passages that the Jews were not even aware of "Holy Spirit." Yeshua called it "a helper," The Spirit of Truth," and "The Holy Spirit." If the O.T. saints had the same Spirit that we do now, then the difference must be in how God's spirit works in us.
Yeshua spoke of a coming Spirit -
indicating the Spirit was not present at the time.
Jn 7:39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified
Jn 14:16–17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
Jn 16:13–14 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
However, there are those who "spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus" while not having the promised Spirit.
Ac 18:24–25 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
Ac 19:1–6 There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
But first, we see that Jesus gave His disciples God's Spirit which was apparently somewhat different for receiving God's Spirit at Pentecost.
Jn 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit."
That event was not the same as the one reported at Pentecost. I think I would see that the function of God's Spirit gift at Pentecost was to enable them to go out and fulfill the mission that Yeshua gave them to do. But, after that:
Ac 2:2–4 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Peter was at Pentecost, and was given some authority to act as an Apostle of Yeshua.
Ac 10:44–48 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
We know that the sacrament of Baptism has a purpose, and obedience is certainly one of them. God's spirit is also part of it.
Ac 2:37–38 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 Pe 3:18–22
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Ro 6:1–4
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
(The while idea of sprinkling of baptismal waters in not found in scripture.} The fact that it is found in the Didache is not proof.
I'd like to see views on this - and I have a reason for not starting another thread to get it.