CALVARY, THE RESURRECTION AND THE HOLY GHOST BAPTISM

THREE GREAT TRUTHS THAT CANNOT BE SEPARATED ARE THE CROSS, THE RESURRECTION AND THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY GHOST. The fact is, that every time the Holy Ghost touches a life, it is a witness that Jesus was resurrected and is seated beside the Father. When He arrived back with the Father, His first request was to send the Holy Ghost to be our Comforter and Teacher. The absolute proof that Jesus’ death was redemptive and His Resurrection was eternal, is the mighty powers of the Holy Ghost at work in His Church.

It has not been many years that there was no church called “Pentecostal.” I remember when I was saved in the early sixties seeing church signs calling these churches, a “Full Gospel” church. This probably came from our Methodist and Wesleyan background. The original Methodists preached that there were two works of grace, one, Salvation or Redemption, and the second, Sanctification. In fact, Sanctification had a twin effect, the sanctifying of the new believer and also the fullness of the Holy Ghost. The Full Gospel churches believed that the coming of the Holy Ghost was announced by His manifesting Himself and anointing the sanctified soul to speak in a new language.

It was the Son of God that plainly stated of His followers that they would speak in “New Tongues.” This truth is much deeper than most of the Pentecostals have ever understood. It is not just some ecstatic experience. The deepest and most powerful evidence that a soul is sanctified and set apart for Jesus Christ is the change in language. Godly saints are not just big mouths, they speak with honesty and purity. The unruly member has been conquered when the “New Tongues” begin to flow. It does include speaking in unlearned languages and the “unknown language” especially of the Heavenly Father.

If sweet, gentle and pure speech is not flowing out of your lips, then the beautiful anointing to speak “New Tongues” would be a travesty. If all you desire is the emotion of this experience it is also a shame. Everything the Holy Ghost does is to honor the crucified and resurrected Savior. When men separate their Pentecostal experiences from the cross, they have lost their way.

The beauty of our total Christian life is the glory of the cross. His death was the culmination of four thousand years of a scarlet cord, stretching from the Garden of Eden to the “Divine moment of Death.” He was not murdered, He was the Father’s offering for sin. He arranged His Own moment of sacrifice. Isaiah had prophesied, “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:10-11)

Written upon His nailed hands was the marking of our identity. We were engraved or tattooed into the flesh of the Son of Man/Son of God. “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” (Isaiah 49:16) His death was an eternal planned moment when redemption was completed. He died, but He died to conquer death and to set death aside as a cruel enemy. Now when He was dead, three days and nights were spent in completing the faith of all that had faced death before Him. When His sermons were complete in Paradise, He brought the gates of that prison with Him back to the Garden.

Wow!!! He arose from the dead fully victorious and soon to arrive back where He had vacated. When the Father had given Him His name above all names, the Father honored Him, and sent us the Holy Ghost. Deny it and all you have are beautiful words without the witness. The Holy Ghost completes what the special clothing represented by the shedding of blood which God offered for Adam and Eve in the first garden. It dates back further for God, but begins for man in the Garden of Eden.

Never separate the death and resurrection from the power to preach and live their Gospel message. He said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:7-13) The Spirit of truth has come. The Full-Gospel is our message to believers and to the entire world.

4 thoughts on “CALVARY, THE RESURRECTION AND THE HOLY GHOST BAPTISM”

  1. Sandra Hendricks

    Amen, Brother Chambers. This verse (of the Trinity) tells us exactly what we’ll be like when we have the Holy Spirit in control of our life:
    “… when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:7-13)

  2. Mark Steiner

    The year our blessed Lord rose from the dead, He saw 40 days on earth before returning to His Father in Heaven. Ten days later, on the first day of Pentecost (Shavuot) the Holy Spirit came in mighty power and the Church was born.

    Now, would it not be interesting of the Lord chose to return (Rapture) on a future Pentecost? Put another way: the Church Age that began on Pentecost also ends on Pentecost. This year perhaps?

    No one can forecast for sure, but what an intriguing possibility that loes before us. Let’s use the time we have to win others to the Savior: II Corinthians 6:2.

    Threatenings of war from the Middle East, N. Korea and elsewhere should be warning enough for us to understand the lateness of the hour. Good day.

  3. Ed Wood

    I do not know if all Pentecostals believe that everyone who is baptized by the Holy Spirit will always speak in tongues, but I know some do believe that. I respect this opinion although for various reasons, I disagree with it. Chief of which is that the Holy Spirit decides who gets what and when and even Paul said not everyone speaks in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:29-30). I have heard it argued that the initial speaking of tongues experience which someone supposedly has when he or she is baptized by the Holy Spirit is a different thing, but with all due respect, Paul doesn’t mention such a thing in his excellent discourse in 1 Corinthians 12, and if it were so, it would seem to be worthy of mention at this particular point where he is explaining these things. Nor have I found it elsewhere in Scripture, but I readily admit to my own limitations in that regard.

    What I do want to say is that I refuse to let this different point of view be an object of division between myself and other believers. The main thing here is SALVATION and we agree that faith in Jesus and his sacrifice of himself for our sins is the only way this is possible.

    I am always mindful of what Paul said, and how much it applies to us all:

    1 Corinthians {13:9} For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. {13:10} But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.{13:11} When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. {13:12} For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

    One of these days we will know ALL the answers!

    God bless, Pastor Joseph!