Lesson 2737

(Lesson 2737)(06-22-19) Acts 8:14-17
    “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”

   Today’s quote relates that Peter and John traveled to Samaria and learned that those who, even though they were said to have believed in “the name of” Jesus Christ, had not yet received the Holy Ghost.
    That text causes pause and stands in contradiction to most other New Testament accounts. The other accounts appear to assert that the Holy Ghost comes immediately to those who believe in Jesus Christ, as is demonstrated in Acts 10:47, which says, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST as well as we. Those mentioned in Acts 10:47, clearly had received the Holy Ghost BEFORE being baptized in water, and WITHOUT the of laying on of the hands.
    There are two contrasting assertions made in the book of Acts concerning how a person receives the Holy Ghost. One assertion made by today’s quote is that the Holy Ghost comes by the laying on of hands, Acts 8:17. The second is that the Holy Ghost comes when a person believes, Acts 10:47. I believe that a lost soul is “baptized” (immersed) into the Holy Ghost when that soul is “baptized” into Jesus Christ through faith in His virgin born life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension. My belief will be factually confirmed as these lessons continue.
    It is very important to remember, as we continue, that the phrase “in the name of”, refers to something that can be taught and that one can have faith, or belief, in. That fact will be tantamount to correctly understanding what all this means. And, it will help to establish that there is NO contradiction in the intent of God’s divine word when it is correctly understood.
    “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)~