Why yes. Yes you did.
Were those who assembled on the Day of Pentecost already believers (saved) before that Day arrived?
2/5/2013 | Laissez-Faire Capitalist
Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2013 8:54:39 AM by Laissez-faire capitalist
Many saw Jesus ascend into heaven on the Mount. Before this, Jesus told them to tarry in Jerusalem where they would be endued with power. Not many days afterwards, on the Day of Pentecost, tongues of fire appeared above those who had assembled together, and they spake with tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance.
Now, a question that I have asked more than one person is this: were those who spake with tongues saved (believers) before the Day of Pentecost or before the moment they spake with tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance?
If these believers were already saved before they spake with tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance, then this means that one does not have to speak in tongues in order to go to heaven.
Secondly, this means that their speaking in tongues was a separate, subsequent, distinct act from them becoming part of the body of Christ, as they were already saved - believers (and thus a part of and the formers of the body) - before the Day of Pentecost, and before they spake with tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance.
Third, this means that the body of Christ (made up of believers) was already formed before the Day of Pentecost.
Again, were they already saved before the Day of Pentecost? It seems to boil down to that question...
I wasn't aware that 'The Church' advocated speaking in tongues.
To paraphrase our former Secretary of State HRC “What difference at this point does it make!?”
Whether the Church started with the descent of the Holy Spirit, the pronouncement of “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church” or when Jesus found his very first followers. I don’t think it matters very much. The important thing is that it did get started and flourishes today.
Next weeks great theological conundrum - Just how many angels can dance on the head of a pin? Secondary discussion, are they seraphim or cherubim. Discuss