Bible Questions and Answers

Jesus promised the apostles (not the disciples) the gift of the Holy Spirit at the last supper in the upper room after Judas had left.

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

John 16:7 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.

The Holy Spirit gave the apostles total recall of Jesus’ teachings and guided them in the truth so that all the apostles preached the same gospel.

The apostles received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and with it the power to give gifts of the Spirit to baptised believers by the laying on of their hands.

Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit gifts were supernatural powers.

Different gifts were given as Paul describes:

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Those upon whom the apostles laid hands did not have the power to give Holy Spirit gifts to others.

When the apostles died, Holy Spirit gifts ceased.

By this time the scriptures were complete, and the truth was available in written form.

Holy Spirit gifts (supernatural powers) are not available today.

Holy Spirit gifts are not necessary for salvation.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit or power of God by which everything was created and is sustained.

It is not a person.

The scriptures were written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and we are enlightened by the Spirit when we understand, believe and obey the words of God given through his Son Jesus Christ.

When we live by the commandments of Jesus Christ, we ‘walk in the Spirit’.

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

By the scriptures we are ‘born again’ of the Spirit.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation without the need for supernatural gifts.

2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Holy Spirit gifts were given temporarily at Christ’s first advent and will be given again at his second which will be the proper fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy.

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

May I suggest that you read

The Holy Spirit: https://www.thisisyourbible.com/library/show/32

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn