The gift of the Holy Ghost is the greatest boon conferred by God upon
man in the flesh. It is "the anointing from above which teacheth all
things." It is the "abiding witness" of the Father and son. It is the
spirit of revelation. It guides into all truth, brings things past to
remembrance, makes manifest present light, and shows things to come.
Without it no man can know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent,
nor can he say truly and without doubt that Jesus is the Lord. Its
reception is the fourth step or principle in the Gospel of Christ. The
preceding principles, namely, faith, repentance, and baptism for the
remission of sins, have been explained briefly in the foregoing tracts
of this series. After the baptism or birth of water comes the baptism
or birth of the spirit.
This gift from God is conferred by the laying on of the hands of
men called of God and endowed with authority to perform this sacred
ordinance. No man of himself in his own name, however learned,
experienced, or wise, can bestow this great gift upon others. He might
lay his hands upon them, but they would not receive that spirit.
It proceeds from God alone. He will honor that which is performed
according to His directions by His authorized servants. The reception
of the Holy Ghost as an endowment or gift from God is essential to
salvation. The natural light or inspiration given at birth to all
humanity is not equal to it. That is the common heritage of humanity,
but the gift of the Holy Ghost is a far higher and greater bequest from
Deity, and is given only to those who obey the Gospel, and in the way
that God Himself has appointed.
That the gift of the Holy Ghost is conferred by the laying on of hands,
and that this is the Gospel method, is clearly established by the New
Testament. In the 8th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles an account is
given of the ministry of {218} Philip, in which the following occurs:
"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the
kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both
men and women." "Now when the Apostles which were at 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. And when
Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostle's 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. But Peter
said unto him, thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought
that the gift of God may be purchased with money." (Verse 12-20). In
the 19th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles it is related that Paul
found some disciples in Ephesus who had not been properly baptized. He
gave them necessary instructions, and we read: "When they heard this
they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had
laid his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spake
with tongues and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve." The
ordinance of the laying on of hands is enumerated among the "first
principles of the oracles of God," and one of the foundation "doctrines
of Christ," in Hebrews V; 12, and VI; 2. Paul exhorted Timothy,
"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God
which is in thee by the putting on of my hands." (2 Tim. I; 6).
These quotations are sufficient to show the order of the Gospel as
taught by the Apostles of Jesus Christ, who received their instructions
and authority from Him, and who all preached the same doctrines and
administered the same ordinances wherever they went. The departures
therefrom that are witnessed in modern times are the work of uninspired
ministers, unauthorized of God, and should be rejected by the honest
seeker after religious truth.
The Holy Ghost is the same in all ages and among all peoples. Its
effects are also the same. In the days of the early Christian Church
the fruits of that spirit were enjoyed by the members. They are thus
described by the Apostle Paul: "But the fruit of the spirit is love,
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance; against such there is no law." (Gal. V; 22, 23). "But the
manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit {219}
withal. For to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom; to
another the word of knowledge by the same spirit; to another faith by
the same spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same spirit;
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; But all these worketh that one and the
selfsame spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." (lst
Cor. XII; 7-11). Paul exhorted the Saints to "Follow after charity and
desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy," and after
explaining his reasons for this instruction he concluded, "Wherefore
brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues."
(lst Cor. XIV; 39).
The absence of these gifts and manifestations of the spirit in
the various religious sects at the present day is attempted to be
accounted for by the airy excuse: "They are all done away and are no
longer needed." Yet they were part and parcel of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, and incorporated in the Church--the body of Christ--as some
of its members. "Every tree is known by its fruits." If the spirit
that animated the Church of Christ in the Apostolic age inspired the
churches of the 19th century, would not the same fruits be brought
forth by it, and be enjoyed today? Has the spirit of God changed? Or
have not men changed the ordinances and institutions of heaven, and
built up churches and promulgated doctrines of their own? But the
advocates and apologists of sectarian theology will quote: "Charity
never faileth, but whether there be prophecies they shall fail;
whether there be tongues they shall cease; whether there be knowledge,
it shall vanish away." (lst Cor. XIII; 8). Why do they not continue
the quotation, and give the succeeding verses which form an integral
part of the scriptural argument? Is it because that would sweep away
the crutches of their lame and halting pretence and cast their false
theory prone in the dust? This is what follows: "For we know in part,
and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come,
then that which is in part shall be done away." Will it be claimed
that this promised perfection has come? Do latter-day sectaries know
more, understand better, and see clearer in divine things than did
the Apostle Paul? Has anything "perfect" come upon modern Christendom
except "perfect" confusion? That Paul had reference to a condition yet
in the future in making his prediction is evident from his further
remark: "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."
(Verse 12).
{220} The gifts of the spirit enumerated above are the evidences of
its possession by the disciples of Jesus Christ. They are the signs of
true faith. They accompany the reception of the Gospel and obedience to
its requirements. When the resurrected Christ gave the eleven Apostles
their great commission, he said unto them: "Go ye into all the world
and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not, shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take
up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt
them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." (Mark
XVI; 15-18). These gifts were not merely for those Apostles, but were
to "follow them that believe." Christ gave them as the sign of true
belief in Him and in His sayings. They belong to his Church. They are
to be done away until that which is perfect is come, and the sons and
daughters of God behold their Redeemer face to face, and see as they
are seen and know as they are known. Whatever necessity existed for
their possession and exercise in the first century of the Christian
era, exists in the 19th century, not only for the blessing and comfort
of the disciples of the Savior, but for the promulgation of His Gospel
among nations that yet sit in darkness and are numbered among heathens
and idolaters.
One of the potent proofs of the possession of the Holy Ghost in the
early Christian Church was the unity it established. No matter what
were the conflicting faiths and opposing creeds entertained by the
people of that day previous to receiving the spirit of the everlasting
Gospel, after baptism and the laying on of hands for the gift of the
Holy Ghost, they all became one in Christ Jesus. As Paul wrote to the
Ephesians: "There is one body and one spirit, even as ye are called in
one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God
and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all."
(Eph. IV; 4-6). "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ
have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one
in Christ Jesus." (Gal. III; 27-28). "And let the peace of God rule
in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be
ye thankful." (Col. III; 15). "For as the body is one, and hath many
members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body
so also is Christ. For by one spirit we are all baptized into one body,
whether we be {221} Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and
have been all made to drink into one spirit." (1 Cor. XII; 12, 13). In
His prayer to the Father that all who believed in Him might be one,
Jesus spoke of this unity as proof to the world that God had sent Him.
(John XVII; 21). The great purpose of the gift of the Holy Ghost was
to guide into all truth, and bring its possessors to "the unity of
the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God." Strife, contention,
division, are not the fruits of the Holy Spirit, but come from beneath.
"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil
work." (James III: 16).
The presence and inspiration of the Holy Ghost, with its gifts,
manifestations and divine light are the signs of spiritual life and
divine acceptance. Without the Holy Ghost there is no true, living
Church of Christ on earth. It can be obtained in no other way than that
which God has appointed. Following the birth of water, the birth of the
Holy Spirit makes man a new creature, and initiates him into the Church
or Kingdom of God. Its various gifts are within his reach according to
his faith and diligence in seeking after them. They are as obtainable
in this age as at any former period. By the Holy Ghost mankind may
come to the knowledge of God. In its light the sayings and writings of
inspired men may be clearly understood. The Bible is no longer a sealed
book. The heavens are not closed against mortals. Darkness flees before
it and mysteries vanish. It brings peace and comfort to the soul. It
awakens and thrills the spiritual sense. It unfolds the things of
eternity and the glories of immortality. It links earth and heaven. It
fills the soul with joy unspeakable, and he who gains and keeps it has
boundless wealth and everlasting life!
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