The Fundamentals - 1910: Vol.10

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The Fundamentals as he is by the first birth, but also, the predestination to a sonship like that of the Son of God in glory lifts the “twice- born” to a height and dignity never conceived of by the natural man. 4. In the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost all gifts for believers in Christ were contained and were related to them as Sons of God both individually and cor- poratively as the Church the Body of Christ. In kind, as can be seen on comparison, there was no dif­ ference in His gifts and acts before and after that day, but the new Gift was now to dwell in the hearts of men as sons of God and with more abundant life and varied manifesta­ tions of power and wisdom. But by the Spirit the one Body was formed and all gifts are due to His perpetual presence. (1 Cor. 12:14.) Also, it is to be understood that such a word of Jesus, “If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him,” could not have been fulfilled until a later hour, for repeating His promise at another time it is said of Jesus, “But this spake He of the Spirit which they that believed on Him should receive, for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 3:7-39). These are some of the anticipative sayings of our Lord, not to be made good until He had died and risen again; The good things could not be given until “transgression had been forgiven and sin covered.” The water could not pour forth until the Rock had been smitten. And as to the use of the words, “baptize” and “pour,” they afterwards, in later Scriptures, imply the original incorporating act. I t is significant that after Pentecost only the words, “filled with the Spirit,” are used. Nothing is said of an individual receiving a new or fresh “baptism of the Spirit.” It would imply that the baptism is one for the whole Body until all the members are incorporated; one the outpouring, many the

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