Posted on 12/22/2013 3:01:31 PM PST by DouglasKC
Christianity 101: The Laying on of Hands
For Christians the book of Hebrews is essential for analyzing what the early church believed and taught as doctrine. In instructing the church Paul (the likely author) chastised them for now growing in the faith.
In Hebrews 6:1 Paul reminded them of the "principles of the doctrine of Christ". In other words, those things which Christ said should be taught to Christians. These are foundational principles:
Hbr 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Hbr 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
There are listed several foundational doctrines that Christ said should be taught as HIS doctrine. These are:
1. Repentence from dead works.
2. Faith toward God.
3. Baptisms
4. Laying on of hands
5. Resurrection of the dead.
6. Eternal judgment.
These things are Christianity 101 as Christ taught it. As Christ expected it to be taught by his followers.
Let's look at number 4, laying on of hands. What is it?
Scripture has numerous examples of laying on of hands. In general there are 3 purposes as seen in scripture:
1. To impart the holy spirit to a fellow believer in Christ.
2. To heal.
3. To ordain to a Godly office.
Let's look at number 1 by examining a scripture in Acts 8:
Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
In his example we see that there were a number of believers that had been baptized in the name of Jesus yet did not have the holy spirit of God. After the disciples of Christ lay hands on them they received the holy spirit.
This was recognized by not only true believers, but those who wished to exploit true believers:
Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Naturally this was denied Simon.
It's important to note that this was approximately 3 to 5 years after the death of Christ.
Likewise when Paul was converted he had hands laid on him to receive the holy spirit:
Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,fn who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Paul took this teaching and applied it in his ministry. In Acts 19, Paul came upon some disciples of Christ:
Act 19:1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples
Act 19:2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
So these disciples not only did not have the holy spirit, they didn't even know about it!
Act 19:3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
Act 19:4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
Paul finds out that they were not baptized in the name of Christ Jesus...
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Again, hands are laid on disciples and they receive the holy spirit.
In his 2nd letter to Timothy Paul reminds Timothy how he got the holy spirit and not to neglect it:
2Ti 1:6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
In all the new testament there are only two instances in which the holy spirit was not given by the laying on of hands.
The first is in Acts 2 when the holy spirit was given to the first jewish Christians:
Act 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accordfn in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The second instance is Acts 10, when the first gentiles Christians came into the church of God:
Act 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
Act 10:45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
Act 10:47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
Note Peter's words: These first gentile Christians, the first gentile disciples, received the holy spirit just as the first jewish Christians did. In other words, this method of the holy spirit coming on was limited to these two groups.
In scripture wherever it is mentioned how the holy spirit is given to men it is through the laying on of hands.
This is not a popular concept today and in fact it is often viciously attacked. The reasons for this can only be guessed at but tradition certainly plays a large part.
But it is incorrect to say it is not Christian nor biblical because as scripture points out it is a foundational belief of Christianity.
Nah, that's the plain reading of the text and the practice of the 1st century church. That's the way it was done except for the two instances of the first gentile Christians and the first jewish Christians receiving his spirit. Unless you were one of those two small groups in scripture there was no other way specified by which the holy spirit is given. You're making assumptions that someone else MUST have gotten it a different way with no evidence whatsoever.
You do not actually explain all of the scripture, such as, 1) the offering of salvation to any who believe, which is not compatible with your view.
That changes nothing to the premise of salvation any who believes. But clearly scripture puts forth the need for obedience but let's not go down that rabbit hole again.
2) The fact that not all those who received the Spirit or were saved had hands laid on them. 3)
We'll disagree because scripture shows that receiving the spirit of God is not equivalent to being saved.
The fact that signs and wonders accompanied the giving of the Spirit in those days,
Signs and wonder were for the early church...to make a statement in world that knew nothing about Christ.
4) That the Spirit is said to be sovereign in regeneration, moving as He “listeth” during Christ’s explanation to Nicodemus about the necessity of being born again.
Don't disagree..without the spirit of God there is no regeneration.
5) The Prevenient action of the Holy Spirit prior to salvation, which is not accomplished through the laying on of hands.
That's true...God works with people before they become believers. This agency is described quite a bit in the old testament but it's a completely different aspect then having the indwelling spirit of the Lord.
It says he went to paradise “this day” with Christ. Unless paradise is another word for hell, the Thief is in quite good hands.
What is paradise?
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“You’re making assumptions that someone else MUST have gotten it a different way with no evidence whatsoever.”
I have presented evidence. Cornelius and his family, and the Thief on the cross. And, really, every believer, since the work of conversion is itself committed by the Holy Spirit.
“That changes nothing to the premise of salvation any who believes. But clearly scripture puts forth the need for obedience”
This merely places grace, which is by definition gratuitous, at the price of meriting it through obedience to certain church authorities. If grace is grace, it cannot be earned, but can only be received as the free gift of God.
Rom_4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Rom_11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
And it is by grace that we are saved, and not by works.
Eph_2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
If salvation requires obedience to the UCG in having their ministers place hands on you in order to receive salvation, then the promise is not to any who believe, nor is it by grace, nor is it by the will of God. It is by the will of men. It is to any who believes and becomes a member of your church, and obediently obeys all their laws. In which case, everyone else who believes, but is a member of any other church on Earth, is damned.
“We’ll disagree because scripture shows that receiving the spirit of God is not equivalent to being saved.”
Receiving the Spirit of God, in the sense that you argue, is regeneration. If we are not regenerated, then we are still old creatures and are under the law and sin, and cannot be saved, since Christ says “no man can see the Kingdom of heaven” unless they are born again. As you say here: “Don’t disagree..without the spirit of God there is no regeneration.”
“Signs and wonder were for the early church...to make a statement in world that knew nothing about Christ.”
So it can just as easily be said, since the laying on of hands was not necessary for every person to receive in order to receive the Spirit, such as Cornelius and his family, as has been seen before, that all these instances, which were followed by marvelous signs and wonders, were also for the outward showing of the power of God in His ministers.
The “third” heaven, that is, the highest heights beyond physical creation, where Paul was caught up to:
2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Compare:
2Co_12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
And again:
Rev_2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
It is the place of eternal bliss for all the righteous, as the Jews commonly use the term:
From Dr. Gill’s Commentary, referencing Nishma Chayim, par. 1. c. 10. fol. 25. 2. &c.:
“It was usual with the Jews to call heaven “the garden of Eden”, or paradise; and which they (n) sometimes speak of as upper and lower; the lower they suppose the souls of men are introduced into, immediately upon their dissolution; where they stay a while, and then go up to the upper paradise, the world of souls, where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are.”
Oops, I forgot to quote “What is paradise?” Before I gave the answer “heaven,” using Paul as my prooftext.
An excellent answer from the Catholic perspective. Thank you.
If we are Christian we are called to follow Christ and love one another anything that distracts us from spreading this message is a distraction from Satan.
Scripture does not say that the thief on the cross received the holy spirit. Cornelius and his family were the first gentile converts and received the spirit as the first Jewish converts did. These two special cases were in essence God making a public statement.
I agree we're not going to agree on this. Scripture shows, as outlined in the original post, the only way that the spirit is given is through the requests of another believer through the laying on of hands.
The doctrine of laying on of hands is listed in scripture as a foundation of the faith.
You postulate that there is another way in which the spirit is given. I understand that and there could be. It's not evident in scripture but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. But there is nothing "wrong" with following the scriptural precedent and practices of the early church.
“Scripture does not say that the thief on the cross received the holy spirit. Cornelius and his family were the first gentile converts and received the spirit as the first Jewish converts did. These two special cases were in essence God making a public statement.”
Yet Christ said to the Thief, in response to his faith, “This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.” And, again, from John 3: “Unless one is born again, He cannot see the kingdom of God,” which is the work of the Holy Spirit who blows where He “listeth.”
In other words, the two major prerequisites that your cult enjoins on believers, “whether knowingly or unknowingly”, had absolutely no bearing on either the Thief or on Cornelius.
From the United Church of Beelzebub’s website:
“Jesus gave another condition for God’s gift of eternal life in Mark 16:16: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Water baptism—by full immersion—is a symbolic act representing the death of our old self and the beginning of a new life of serving God and striving to avoid sin (Romans 6:1-23).
Baptism is also followed by the laying on of hands by Christ’s ministry, which allows us to receive God’s Holy Spirit and truly belong to Him (Acts 8:17; Romans 8:9). Unless we surrender our lives to God through baptism and the laying on of hands to receive His Spirit as instructed, we fail to meet—whether knowingly or unknowingly—His prerequisites for receiving His gift of salvation.”
http://www.ucg.org/booklet/you-can-have-living-faith/belief-all-thats-required-salvation/
So now let’s add a third example. The Eunuch who was baptized by Philip, but did NOT receive the laying on of hands:
“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”
(Act 8:36-39)
If the laying on of hands is the second work that is necessary for conversion, why was Philip caught away by the Spirit before he could finish “converting,” as your religion puts it, the Ethiopian Eunuch? Why leave a Christian believer WITHOUT the Holy Spirit, and in a state of incompleteness which, “whether he is aware or unaware,” he is liable for?
So let’s do the math: Cornelius and his family, the Jews, the Thief, and the Ethiopian Eunuch, did not follow your prescribed rule, and yet went off “rejoicing” on their way. And your response will be.... “These are just exceptions for my made up rule, so that’s that!”?
So what is the result of this math? = The UCG is full of it.
“I agree we’re not going to agree on this.”
Well of course we’re not going to agree on it. You’re a member of a creepy religious cult which denies the trinity, asserts that the Son and the Father are two divine beings, the Holy Spirit is a mere “force” which your church has a monopoly on, and that human kind can join the Godhead as part of the “God Family.” You also teach that I am not a Christian, because I have never been baptized by your church or received the laying on of hands.
Why, exactly, would I ever agree with any of that rubbish? I don’t even consider the UCG to actually be a Christian religion. Even the Cthulhu cult is more respectable, since at least they don’t teach falsehoods about Jesus Christ!
” It’s not evident in scripture “
What’s not actually evident in the scripture is any phrase which says “The laying on of hands is necessary to receive the Holy Spirit.”
What is evident from the scripture is: “The laying on of hands is not necessary for the receiving of the Holy Spirit and salvation.”
“But there is nothing “wrong” with following the scriptural precedent and practices of the early church.”
But of course you do not follow the early church precedent and practices. The early church did not keep Old Testament festivals, as yours do, or any dietary laws, as yours do, or deny that salvation is by grace, as yours do, nor did they deny the Trinity. On top of that, on those occasions where the Apostles laid their hands on anyone, they received spiritual gifts.
Do any of your ministers impart the gift of tongues, prophecy, and other miracle workings, in the people they touch? If so, can we see a picture of one of your filthy ministers touching someone, with the Spirit coming upon them visibly with fire and power and a shaking of the entire building? If not, what worth do your crummy ministers have, if they pretend to impart the Holy Spirit with their touch, yet can produce none of the accompanying signs, nor transfer any spiritual gifts, that were ALWAYS present when the Apostles did it?
lol...wow...you’re a peach today. Love you so much!
You’re on time out until you learn to play well with others....okay?
BTW...on this obviously Philip was touching him during the baptism so Philip did have his hands on him. Scripture doesn't say explicitly but one can assume that if the eunuch received Gods' spirit it happened then. If not then the eunuch may have hands laid on him later as we saw in other instances.
Bookmark
“BTW...on this obviously Philip was touching him during the baptism so Philip did have his hands on him. Scripture doesn’t say explicitly but one can assume that if the eunuch received Gods’ spirit it happened then. If not then the eunuch may have hands laid on him later as we saw in other instances.”
LOL. Quite absurd. According to your cult, the laying on of hands is a separate event that is done with prayer for that specific purpose. The Apostles didn’t just go nudging people and giving them the Spirit, at least the way you see it, as otherwise the entire ritual would be handled during the dunking of the individual on all occasions, or, perhaps, even by accident if you just happened to bump into the Apostle Paul in the middle of the street. From the United Church of Beelzebub’s website again:
“The NEXT step [after Baptism] on our road to eternal life is to receive God’s Holy Spirit, which comes through “laying on of hands,” as described in Hebrews 6:2. From the Scriptures, we find that water baptism is FOLLOWED by the ceremony of laying on of hands, at which time we receive God’s Spirit... the Holy Spirit was not given until Peter and John prayed and laid their hands on them... We see that God’s Holy Spirit is given to us by the prayer of and laying on of hands by God’s ordained ministers, serving as His representatives.” (All Caps on specific words mine)
http://www.ucg.org/booklet/road-eternal-life/water-baptism-and-laying-hands/
Furthermore, EVERY time the Apostles laid hands on someone, visible and miraculous signs and wonders followed, which did not occur with the Eunuch at all, aside from maybe Philip himself disappearing into thin air, followed with the Eunuch going on his way “rejoicing” into his home country. Wait till he finds out he got jipped! He’ll be VERY sad to find out he’s still going to hell!
The next step [after Baptism] on our road to eternal life is to receive God’s Holy Spirit, which comes through “laying on of hands,” as described in Hebrews 6:2. From the Scriptures, we find that water baptism is followed by the ceremony of laying on of hands, at which time we receive God’s Spirit... the Holy Spirit was not given until Peter and John prayed and laid their hands on them... We see that God’s Holy Spirit is given to us by the prayer of and laying on of hands by God’s ordained ministers, serving as His representatives.
Well THAT'S much better..... :-).
Seriously dude if you want to anyone to take you seriously as a Christian you have to do this:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control....
Or:p
Jam 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Jam 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Maybe it's just me or maybe it's your posting style but I don't see a whole lot of these types of qualities in you...
“Seriously dude if you want to anyone to take you seriously as a Christian you have to do this:”
If you want anyone to take YOU seriously as a Christian, you should probably first become one:
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
(Gal 1:8-9)
Until then, I sure won’t be wishing the United Church of Beelzebub God Speed!
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
(2Jn 1:9-11)
Hmmm...what was the doctrine of Christ again? Oh yeah!
Hbr 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Hbr 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Luk_11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
:)
I’ll go on “rejoicing” my way to heaven with the Thief, Cornelius, the Eunuch, and every other Christian who for 2,000 years has upheld the Trinity, salvation by grace alone, and the free gift of the Holy Spirit to all those who ask
You can trust in your filthy ministers, who, in their horrific arrogance, would rob all Christians of the Spirit! And would regard all of us as still dead in our sins, until we come to join the UCG, after nearly 2,000 years of worldwide Christian apostasy!
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Hbr 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Hbr 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Of course you're free to make up whatever doctrine you personally like and ignore the doctrine of Christ...but it's not wise.
“Hold on....I’l repost the doctrine of Christ again:”
That’s the problem. You’re not actually posting the “doctrine” at all. Your “doctrine” is invisible, asserting that the laying on of hands is necessary as the second part of conversion for the road to “eternal life,” with no support from scripture that actually says that, which means that the Eunuch “rejoiced” for an incomplete conversion, the Thief is really in hell, and Cornelius cheated.
You’re free to keep repeating your absurd comments, but don’t expect it to actually convince anyone who isn’t inclined for the Cultic life.
From the United Church of Beelzebub’s website, answering the question “Is any one of the christian denominations more right than any other?”:
“Jesus Christ prophesied that there would be great religious diversity in those who claim to be Christian and represent Him. Matthew 24:4-5 says, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying [that] I am the Christ; and shall deceive many” (KJV). As for the existence of the Church that Jesus founded in A.D. 31 on the Day of Pentecost, Jesus Himself promised that this church would always exist. Specifically, He said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Therefore, God’s Church does exist somewhere. The Bible explains that this church will accurately reflect the teachings and message of Jesus Christ... we suggest that you write for our free booklet, The Church Jesus Built, or read it online. This booklet addresses these important questions in much greater detail.”
Tee hee! Sucks if you’ve never heard of the UCG, eh? Ya didn’t know that you needed one of your ministers to save them! Tough luck!
You mean the biblical life? Because again all's I'm doing is showing, from the bible, what the doctrine of Christ is. It's right there, after baptism, as a basic doctrine of Christ our Lord.
You can call me names all day but it still doesn't change what the bible says.
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