Q: When I was born again, did I not receive the Holy Spirit?

A: There is a work of the Holy Spirit in the New Birth, but that is not called receiving the Holy Ghost - That is called being born again, receiving eternal life. There is an experience following salvation called receiving or being filled with the Holy Ghost.

The Bible says in Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles which were in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Now some who object to speaking with tongues argue that the Bible doesn't mention that the Samaritans spoke with tongues when they received, the Holy Ghost. But it does say in Acts 8: 18-19 And when Simon (the sorcerer) saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

The Word says, "...when Simon saw..." Well, you can't see the Holy Ghost. He is a spirit and cannot be seen with the physical eye. Then what did Simon see? There had to be some physical sign whereby Simon would know they had received the Holy Ghost - something which would register on Simon's senses. All evidence indicates the sign manifested was speaking in tongues.

Another instance is found in Acts 10: 44-46 (This is about 10 years after Pentecost.) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God....

And again in Acts 19:1-3, 6 (This is about 20 years after Pentecost) And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, unto John's baptism...." And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

In the Old Testament, under the Old Covenant, God's presence was kept enclosed in the Holy of Holies. No one dared approach there except the High Priest, and he only with great precautions. If anyone else dared to intrude, he fell dead. It was necessary for every male throughout Israel to present himself at least once a year at Jerusalem, because that was where God's presence was.

But just before Jesus died on the cross, He said, "It is finished." He was not referring to the New Covenant; He was talking about the Old Covenant. The New Covenant was not finished until Christ ascended on High and entered into the Holy of Holies with His own blood to obtain eternal redemption for us, as Hebrews declares. Then and only then was the New Covenant finished.

God's presence, which had been contained in the Holy of Holies, left that man-made structure. He has never again dwelled in a man-made building.
When we call a building "the house of God," we are partly correct and partly incorrect, according to what we mean by it. If we mean the building is a house of God because God lives and dwells there, we are wrong. He does not dwell in a building.

If we mean that it is God's house and in sacred because it is built in the Name of Jesus and is dedicated to the service of the Lord, then we are correct - it is a house of God. However, God doesn't live in a building made with hands; He lives and dwells in us though the power of the Holy Spirit.
I Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God , and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

And also in, I John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
Both Paul and John were writing to people who not only had received eternal life, but were Spirit-filled believers - those in whom the Holy Spirit had come to dwell - those who had the supernatural sign or witness of His indwelling presence: speaking with other tongues.

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