*** w98 2/15 pp. 13-14 Jehovah Brings Many Sons to Glory *** Proof of Begettal 8 There was proof that Jesus had been spirit-begotten. John the Baptist saw the spirit descend upon Jesus and heard God’s declaration of the newly anointed Messiah’s spiritual sonship. But how would Jesus’ disciples know that they had been spirit-begotten? Well, on the day of his ascension to heaven, Jesus said: “John, indeed, baptized with water, but you will be baptized in holy spirit not many days after this.” (Acts 1:5) Jesus’ disciples were “baptized in holy spirit” on the day of Pentecost 33 C.E. That outpouring of the spirit was accompanied by ‘a noise from heaven like a rushing stiff breeze’ and “tongues as if of fire” upon each of the disciples. Most remarkable was the disciples’ ability “to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance.” So there was visible and audible evidence that the way into heavenly glory as God’s sons had been opened up for followers of Christ.—Acts 2:1-4, 14-21; Joel 2:28, 29. 9 Some time afterward, Philip the evangelizer preached in Samaria. Though the Samaritans accepted his message and were baptized, they lacked evidence that God had begotten them as his sons. When the apostles Peter and John prayed and laid their hands on those believers, “they began to receive holy spirit” in some way that was evident to observers. (Acts 8:4-25) This was proof that the believing Samaritans had been spirit-begotten as sons of God. Similarly, in 36 C.E., Cornelius and other Gentiles accepted God’s truth. Peter and the Jewish believers who had accompanied him “were amazed, because the free gift of the holy spirit was being poured out also upon people of the nations. For they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God.” (Acts 10:44-48) Many first-century Christians received “gifts of the spirit,” such as speaking in tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:12, 32) These individuals thus had clear evidence that they had been spirit-begotten. But how would later Christians know whether they had been spirit-begotten or not?
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:16:52 +0000
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