So Many Questions

Today's Text -- Acts 8:14-17

14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of
God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them
that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet
come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord
Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the
Holy Spirit. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Today we back up a few verses to one of the more controversial scriptures. I don't have any answers for you, but hopefully the questions this raises will cause you to think about what you believe!

If we look back to the beginning of this chapter, Philip had gone to Samaria and proclaimed Christ. He did a lot of miraculous signs, healing many and exorcising demons. The Samaritans paid close attention and there was great joy in the city.

It doesn't tell us how Philip baptized them, or even if he did, but our text for today tells us that the Samaritans had only been baptized into the name of Jesus. Therefore they hadn't received the Holy Spirit.

If we go back a little further, in chapter 2 Peter tells us to "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit".

So what had been done incorrectly? In our Sunday morning baptisms, we say something to the effect of 'I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins and to walk in the newness of life' (amazing how I hear it every Sunday and can't remember it word for word....). Does that mean that we did it correctly?

Do you know that you have received the Holy Spirit? How do you know?

Then there are the issues of those who died without baptism, like the man on the cross next to Jesus. He was going to Heaven that same day. But because he hadn't been baptized was he going to see Heaven and then be sent to Hell on the first available elevator?

This is one of the major controversies of the modern church -- is baptism required? Do you receive salvation only when you are baptized? Is sprinkling ok, or do you have to be immersed? When do you receive the Holy Spirit? Do you have to prove that you have the Holy Spirit by demonstrating a gift such as tongues?

What is the difference between legalism and obedience?