There has been some discussion as to when a person receives the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:38 we are told :
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"38And 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. " |
It is claimed by some that we do get the Holy Spirit at Baptism but some time later. I know, that isn't what the text says but we will humor the critics. But the point I think is that such an interpretation is gramatically incorrect on several levels.
Acts 2:38 uses the word "kai" translated "and" twice. The word "and" is known as a coordinating conjunction.
A coordinating conjunction is a word which joins together two or more clauses (or words) that are equally important.
F
= for
A = and
N = nor
B = but
O = or
Y = yet
For example some expouse the idea that "repentance" is more important than baptism." Like wise, receiving the Holy Spirit is less important than repentance or any number of ideas. For any of those interpretations to stand we would have to have a Subordinating Conjunction which we do not. Below is a short list of subordinating conjunctions.
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after how till ( or 'til) although if unless as inasmuch until as if in order that when as long as lest whenever as much as now that where as soon as provided (that) wherever as though since while because so that before than even if that even though though |
Since
the conjunction "and" was used in the sentence, baptism,
repentance and reception of the Holy Spirit are equally important and
happend simultaneously.
Read it like this___You repent, You be
baptized, You receive the gift.
2. The second thing we should notice is that the "gift"(dorean) is written in the Accusative case.
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Summers: the accusative case is the case of limitation and signals the "end " of an action. |
Remember, we are answering the question which was asked; "what must I do to be saved?" The answer is:
(1 Repent (2) be baptized (3) receive the gift
Any missing component means a person is not saved!
Here is the point. Repentance nor baptism is valid unless one receives the Holy Spirit. If a person does not receive the Holy Spirit at baptism then the action is not completed and that person is not saved. Stated another way, Baptism does not save if those who promote such silly ideas are correct.
by Lane Rogers