Gospel of John [Joh 16:12-15]. The Doctrine of the HS, part 26. Act 19:1-6; Luk 3; 4:18-19; 1Jo 2:20, 27Title: Gospel of John [Joh 16:12-15]. The Doctrine of the HS, part 26. Act 19:1-6; Luk 3; 4:18-19; 1Jo 2:20, 27.
Misapplied passages: F. Heeding the message of John the Baptist and receiving his baptism did not save anyone. John was sent to prepare Israel for the coming Messiah and the true gospel through Him, Act 19:1-6.
In our recent study on John the Baptist we have the Luke account to complete. In the gospel of John the focus in on our Lord's baptism, which is unique unto itself.
Luk 3:3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins
Their sins were the sins of the Pharisees and Sadducees who had perverted the Law as well as the immoral who were cheating and stealing. This perversion hardened their hearts and made them unready for the coming Christ who would proclaim that righteousness was only in Him and that no man could be made righteous or be justified by the Law.
The baptist lived more righteously than any of them so they would not be able to find any fault with him that they may discredit him. He stayed outside the gates of Jerusalem in the wilderness, he drank no wine, ate locusts (which was of the few winged insects that were allowed under the Law and the food of the very poor) and honey. His dress and his lifestyle depicted the stern days of Elijah the prophet. This was required so that they could find not one fault in him by which they might discredit his message.
Luk 3:4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, " The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.
Luk 3:5 'Every ravine shall be filled up, And every mountain and hill shall be brought low; And the crooked shall become straight, And the rough roads smooth;
Luk 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God [Isa 40:3-5].'"
Luk 3:7 He therefore began saying to the multitudes who were going out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Whatever did warn them has caused them to travel out into the wilderness and seek John the baptizer and hear his message.
Luk 3:8 "Therefore bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Abraham is not their deliverer but One is coming who is, Abraham's promised seed.
Luk 3:9 "And also the axe is already laid at the root of the trees [leaders of Israel and the nation itself]; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
Luk 3:10 And the multitudes were questioning him, saying, "Then what shall we do?"
Luk 3:11 And he would answer and say to them, "Let the man who has two tunics share with him who has none [greed hardens the heart]; and let him who has food do likewise."
Luk 3:12 And some tax-gatherers also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
Luk 3:13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than what you have been ordered to."
Luk 3:14 And some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages."
He was not saying that they should do these things in order to be saved. An atheist can do those things. He was preparing them for the Lord in telling them to soften their hard hearts which was being manifested in their daily lives in these methods of greed so that when the meekness of Christ was before them they may see Him as He is. This does not guarantee their faith in Christ, but is prepares them for His coming to them. God will send the Holy Spirit to do the same thing in a much greater way after the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
Joh 5:43-44 "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him. "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?
Man thinks he has to rob, cheat, steal, be extra cunning, etc. in order to be blessed in abundant ways. John was showing them that the Messiah would fulfill them. Yet one cannot believe that and simultaneously believe that he has to achieve it. Israel had become a nation of greed, immorally (tax gatherers and soldiers) and morally (Pharisees and Saducees). John is preparing them for the Messiah. We could almost picture John as the common grace ministry to the nation of Israel during this unique window in history.
Act 19:1 And it came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found some disciples,
Act 19:2 and 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."
Act 19:3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism."
Act 19:4 And 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."
Act 19:5 And when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
In laying his hands on them he is identifying himself, the apostle to the Gentiles with them.
These Jews were coming over to a new dispensation that they had, as of yet, heard nothing about. We have no such conditions today, and therefore the laying on of hands is not needed for the reception of the Spirit.
Nor is there any confusion as to the identity of the Messiah.
G. The problem with the word "anointing."
Another problem has been introduced into the Church with the word anointing. There are seven references in the NT to the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
A careful study of them shows that in each instance the anointing of the Holy Spirit is identical to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
There are two Greek words, aleipho and chrio, used in the New Testament, translated by the one English word "anoint." The former is used exclusively in the New Testament of the anointing with oil for medicinal purposes or for the well-being and comfort of the body in the dry hot climate of the East. The case of anointing for well-being can have the addition of an element of luxury, as in the case of the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus.
The latter is used only of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. It is used in secular manuscripts, of the application of a lotion to a sick horse, and of the anointing of camels.
The two words for "anoint" refer to the act of applying something to either man or beast, this application being for a certain purpose, and to meet a certain condition.
It was used for healing or for a better well-being so that the man or animal could perform their functions.
Acts 10:38 "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him.
The Holy Spirit is not doing the anointing. He is the anointing Himself.
Luk 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He ["the Lord" in Isa 61:1, referring to the Father] anointed Me [with the Spirit] to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are downtrodden,
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