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Bro. Turner:
 What
is the "gift of the Holy Spirit" in Acts 2:38? J.
H.
Reply:
It
is a part of the total blessings promised (if you view
the Spirit as the gift; or, it is sum total of blessings promised
by the Spirit, including so-called "ordinary"
blessings, as forgiveness of sins, and the various miraculous
blessings "divided severally as He will" (1 Cor.
12:11). In either case, it is inseparably related to the
original Abrahamic Promise (Gen. 12:1-2) to be realized in Jesus
Christ.
God
promised "and in thy seed (see Gal. 3:16 shall all
the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). In Acts
2:39 the thought of v.38 continues with "for the promise is
unto you and ... To all;" which all Jews would associate
with the Abrahamic promise. Note Acts 3:25-26 where this
application is made. Compare Acts 13:23, 32-34, 38. See Gal.
3:14, which reads: "That the blessing of Abraham might come
on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the
promise of the Spirit through faith."
The
promise of a special measure of the Spirit to the Apostles (Acts
1:4-8), and of various miraculous measures for confirmation of
the word (Joel 2:28, Heb. 2:3-4), were but detailed expansions
of the one basic promise of Salvation in Jesus Christ. That is
why "the promise' is referred to repeatedly, in so many
differing situations. The Pentecostal outpouring signaled the
beginning of fulfillment of the whole package.
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"Baptism"
of the Spirit stresses the overwhelming measure of the Spirit
given on two occasions (Acts 2: and Acts 10:) and assumed in the
case of Paul (2 Cor. 11:5). It seems to be associated with the
qualifying of the Apostles, although in the case of Cornelius no
such results is indicated. There were "gifts" of the
Spirit, through the laying on of the Apostles hands (Acts
8:14-18) — various gifts to some, but not to all, even in the
first century (1 Cor. 12:1-11). But all of this is but a working
out of the details necessary for a confirmed inspired record of
"good news" to the world — of the culmination of
God's great Scheme of Redemption, making His blessings available
to "whosoever will" trust and serve Jesus Christ.
Hence,
when Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2: 38); he
was saying 'upon your submission to Christ, the past will be
forgiven, and you will receive whatever blessings, and all
blessings, God has for you in this Christian dispensation.' He
was saying, 'the Messiah has come, He is on His throne, the sure
mercies of David are available, come to the feast.”
The
"indwelling" of the Spirit (of the Father, of Christ)
takes place in the process of love and obedience of man to deity
(Jn. 14:23, 1 Jn. 2:24-f); it is objectively, not subjectively
determined. We can "know that we know Him" (and He
knows us) "if we keep his commandments" (1 Jn. 2:3-6).
And so, with all His gifts and promises.
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