I spent my Monday off hiking the Roaring Plains area of the Dolly Sods wilderness with Manny Johnson. This area is probably the wildest, most rugged area in West Virginia. I enjoyed the convo with Manny and our time trying to decipher Acts 8, specifically verses 15-17. I would love to hear additional thoughts and opinions on this passage of scripture.
2 comments:
I just taught that passage Sunday night. I came to the conclusion, however wrong it might be, that this is not the sealing of the Holy Spirit that we associate with salvation.
I am satisfied that what the apostles prayed for these believers was to receive was a special anointing of the Holy Spirit to perform miraculous manifestation gifts (evidences of salvation if you will).
I found three reasons to believe this as I studied it. First, even after the apostles prayed and laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit wasn't given to all the believers.
Second, when Simon asked to purchase the ability, he seems captivated by what he sees happening. If all the apostles were doing was praying that the believers be sealed, why would this impress Simon? He had been a magician or sorcerer before his own conversion and in his immaturity was amazed at what he was seeing happen, which led him to covet the power to impart the same gifts.
Thirdly, it simply does not agree with the pattern Paul gives in Ephesians 1:13.
So, what I think happened is this: the people put their faith in Christ and were sealed with the Holy Spirit at the moment of saving faith. They were baptized. When the apostles arrived they received an anointing of the Holy Spirit to manifest their salvation with miraculous gifts.
We have the same opportunity today. Although we do not receive miraculous gifts, Paul said in 1 Corinthians that we have received three even better gifts: faith, hope, and love. If those do not manifest a saving relationship with Jesus Christ in our lives then no amount of wonder working will.
For what it's worth...
Thanks Kevin for the analysis. Talked to my Dad this morning and we arrived at that conclusion. There are some "slippery slopes" in Acts that need thorough analysis.
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