Spiritual Progression

Lets go to the very beginning of how a person becomes a Christian, and the go through the Bible's orderly progression, so there will be no mistakes . I will also use both the KJV and the Bible in Basic English (BBE).

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. KJV
John 6:44 No man is able to come to me if the Father who sent me does not give him the desire to come: and I will take him up from the dead on the last day. BBE

Here is made very clear for us, how the whole process of becoming a Christian begins. By tradition, we hear of two main terms - "coming under conviction" and "wooing of (by) the Holy Spirit." We can be sure then, that according to the Bible, it is Father (Abba) ((YHWH)) God who sends the Holy Spirit to do this work in a person. Depending on how a person listens to what is being whispered in his/her ear, so too, comes the time of choice. That is, what we call the time of repentance. And it is at this time, persons make peace with God, and ask forgiveness for their sins, in the name of Jesus. They can be alone, with one or more other people, or in a Church service. It is the spiritual part of a person that makes this commitment.

Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. KJV
Matthew 9:13 But go and take to heart the sense of these words, My desire is for mercy, not offerings: for I have come not to get the upright, but sinners. BBE

At this moment something wonderful happens as the following scriptures show us.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. {he is: or, let him be} KJV
2 Corinthians 5:17 So if any man is in Christ, he is in a new world: the old things have come to an end; they have truly become new. BBE

Having repented of all the sins that had been committed, and having accepted Jesus as "personal savior," the person becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus, and is "sealed" by the Holy Spirit. The person is now a "saved" person.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, KJV
Ephesians 1:13 In whom you, having been given the true word, the good news of your salvation, and through your faith in him, were given the sign of the Holy Spirit of hope, BBE

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. {he is: or, let him be} KJV
2 Corinthians 5:17 So if any man is in Christ, he is in a new world: the old things have come to an end; they have truly become new. BBE

The new creature/convert is now ready to begin a life of Christian service. That means leading a clean, holy life that other people can see very clearly. The things of God are more important to the person, than the things of the world. Drinking, sexual chasing, gambling and other things people think are so important in order to enjoy life, become secondary to the joy of the Lord and doing His work. The Holy Spirit is at work in the person at this point and the fruits of the spirit will show in the person's life.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. {partiality: or, wrangling} KJV
James 3:17 But the wisdom which is from heaven is first holy, then gentle, readily giving way in argument, full of peace and mercy and good works, not doubting, not seeming other than it is. BBE

Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; {harmless: or, sincere} {ye shine: or, shine ye} KJV
Philippians 2:15 So that you may be holy and gentle, children of God without sin in a twisted and foolish generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, BBE

As the person continues to grow in faith and strength, and continues to see/want more of what God has to offer, another Baptism is possible, that is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. KJV
Mark 1:8 I have given you baptism with water, but he will give you baptism with the Holy Spirit. BBE

Here we see clearly that there are two distinctly different Baptisms. And the usual order is that one will follow the other. This is very important of course, since normally salvation comes first, then water Baptism, then the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Yes, there are exceptions at times, but we must always remember that God, not man, has set the order of these things. See these passages in Acts 19: Once again we are using both the KJV followed by the Bible in Basic English

¶ And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, KJV
1 ¶ And it came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having gone through the higher country, came to Ephesus, where there were certain disciples: BBE

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. KJV
2 And he said to them, Did you get the Holy Spirit when you had faith? And they said to him, No, we have had no knowledge of the Holy Spirit. BBE

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.  KJV
3 And he said, What sort of baptism did you have? And they said, The baptism of John.  BBE
 

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. KJV
4 And Paul said, John gave a baptism which goes with a change of heart, saying to the people that they were to have faith in him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus. BBE

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. KJV
5 And hearing this, they had baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus. BBE

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. KJV
6 And when Paul had put his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they had the power of talking in tongues, and acting like prophets. BBE

Here is illustrated that the person must be both a believer in Jesus, and have the knowledge and desire for receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. A person must be earnest, and ready also, to face some great difficulties and even dangers. 

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; KJV
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but let us have joy in our troubles: in the knowledge that trouble gives us the power of waiting;  BBE

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. KJV
Acts 14:22 Making strong the souls of the disciples, saying to them that they were to keep the faith, and that we have to go through troubles of all sorts to come into the kingdom of God. BBE

This is why Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem, until the received Power from the Holy Spirit, before they went out as missionaries/evangelists, to establish the Church.

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. {being…: or, eating together} KJV
Acts 1:4 And when they were all together, with him, he gave them orders not to go away from Jerusalem, but to keep there, waiting till the word of the Father was put into effect, of which, he said, I have given you knowledge: BBE

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. {power…: or, the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you} KJV
Acts 1:8 But you will have power, when the Holy Spirit has come on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judaea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. BBE

This then, is the order of how a person's life can become immersed in these two all important Baptisms. For anyone to say there is something different, or to challenge a person's Christian walk (salvation) because they do not exhibit the gifts of  The Holy Spirit is wrong!!!  As extra proof of this, here are some final verses to be considered: These are from 1 Corinthians 12. Chapters 13 and 14 go on to explain even more.

I Corintians Chapter 12:
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. KLJV
4 Now there are different qualities given to men, but the same Spirit. BBE

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. {administrations: or, ministries} KJV
5 And there are different sorts of servants, but the same Lord. BBE

6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
6 And there are different operations, but the same God, who is working all things in all. BBE

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. KJV
7 But to every man some form of the Spirit's working is given for the common good. BBE

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; KJV
8 For to one are given words of wisdom through the Spirit; and to another words of knowledge through the same Spirit: BBE

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; KJV
9 To another faith in the same Spirit; and to another the power of taking away disease, by the one Spirit; BBE

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: KJV
10 And to another the power of working wonders; and to another the prophet's word; and to another the power of testing spirits; to another different sorts of tongues; and to another the power of making clear the sense of the tongues: BBE

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. KJV
11 But all these are the operations of the one and the same Spirit, giving to every man separately as his pleasure is. BBE

12 ¶ For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. KJV
12 ¶ For as the body is one, and has a number of parts, and all the parts make one body, so is Christ. BBE

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. {Gentiles: Gr. Greeks} KJV
13 For through the baptism of the one Spirit we were all formed into one body, Jews or Greeks, servants or free men, and were all made full of the same Spirit. BBE

14 For the body is not one member, but many. KJV
14 For the body is not one part, but a number of parts. BBE

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? KJV
15 If the foot says, Because I am not the hand, I am not a part of the body; it is no less a part of the body. BBE

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? KJV
16 And if the ear says, Because I am not the eye, I am not a part of the body; it is a part of the body all the same. BBE

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? KJV
17 If all the body was an eye, where would be the hearing? if all was hearing, where would be the smelling? BBE

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. KJV
18 But now God has put every one of the parts in the body as it was pleasing to him. BBE

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? KJV
19 And if they were all one part, where would the body be? BBE

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. KJV
20 But now they are all different parts, but one body. BBE

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. KJV
21 And the eye may not say to the hand, I have no need of you: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. BBE

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: KJV
22 No, those parts which seem to be feeble are the more necessary; BBE

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. {bestow: or, put on} KJV
23 And to those parts of the body which seem to have less honour we give all the more honour; and to those parts of the body which are a cause of shame to us we give the greater respect; BBE

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: KJV
24 But those parts of the body which are beautiful have no need of such care: and so the body has been joined together by God in such a way as to give more honour to those parts which had need of it; BBE

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. {schism: or, division} KJV
25 So that there might be no division in the body; but all the parts might have the same care for one another. BBE

So please, above all , remember that the days are already here that false doctrines and even false manifestations are at work in the world to confuse and divide people, so that the church will be corrupted and fail. This is why it is so important to heed the words of Paul to the young Pastor Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV
2 Timothy 2:15 Let it be your care to get the approval of God, as a workman who has no cause for shame, giving the true word in the right way. BBE
 

May God guide, bless and keep you safe in the sheepfold.



 
Copyright © 1999 - 2003 Karl E. Uhlig