Then Peter said
unto them, 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).
And we are his
witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given
to them that obey him (Acts 5:32).
ARMINIAN ARGUMENT:
“Does not Acts
2:38 teach that regeneration comes as a result of repentance? Should we really
be so dogmatic about the order of salvation? Acts 5:32 also suggests that regeneration
is not before faith/obedience.”
(I)
Prof. Herman C. Hanko
Commentators differ on the interpretation of Acts
2:38, and much has been written on it. The two possible interpretations which
are of immediate concern to us are:
First, some take the expression, “the gift of the
Holy Ghost” to refer to the special work of the Holy Ghost in the church during
the apostolic age which bestowed such special gifts on the church as
tongue-speaking, prophesying, etc. The
charismatics appeal to this passage in support of their position that baptism
in the Spirit results in these special gifts even today.
Calvin also holds to the position that the special gifts
of the Holy Spirit are referred to here: “Because they were touched with
wondering when they saw the apostles suddenly begin to speak with tongues,
Peter saith that they shall be partakers of the same gift if they will pass
over unto Christ …” But Calvin adds: “Because
Christ meant to set forth the beginning of his kingdom with those miracles,
they lasted but for a time … For we do not receive the Holy Spirit that we may
speak with tongues.”
Second: others, however, point out that whenever
the special gifts which were in the apostolic church are referred to, the
plural is used: “the gifts of the Holy Ghost.” Here, and elsewhere,
where the singular is used, the reference is to the Holy Spirit Himself … With
this I agree. The reference is to the Holy Spirit Himself.
If we, therefore, adopt the view that the reference
here is to the Holy Spirit Himself, then the question arises … Is repentance
prior to regeneration?
We must, I think, understand the point. The work of
regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit. If one has the Holy Spirit, one is
regenerated by that Spirit. Does the entrance of the Holy Spirit into the heart
of a man come after repentance? Is, then, repentance the condition which
must be fulfilled before one can be regenerated?
Some hold to this view. Billy Graham is one of
them. And really it is true of all Arminians who teach that salvation is
dependent upon the free will of man. Man must repent. Then he will be
regenerated. Or, as I have heard it by modern-day hucksters of the gospel: “Only
believe and accept Christ. Then God will regenerate you.” But that Arminian idea is not what is meant
here.
Let it be established, first of all, that the work
of the Holy Spirit in regenerating the elect of God is absolutely the first
work of salvation in the heart of a man. If a man’s depravity means that the
sinner is “dead” (cf. Eph. 2:1), then he must be made alive before he
can do anything. If he is “blind” (John 9:39), he must be given the power of
sight before he can see.
The work of regeneration is that work by which God,
through the Spirit of Christ, gives eternal life to the dead sinner. But this
is not all that the Spirit does. Although repentance, conversion, faith, the
struggle with sin, prayer, perseverance, and all the life of the believer come
after regeneration, and are, in a sense, the fruit of regeneration, the
Holy Spirit gives all these gifts as well.
But there is one important point that must not go
unnoticed. While the work of regeneration or second birth takes place without
our even being conscious of it—just as our first birth takes place without
our being conscious of it, when the Holy Spirit continues to give to us the
blessings of His grace, He gives them to us that we may become conscious
of these blessings. This is the meaning of the text.
Repentance from sin is also the work of the Holy
Spirit. But when the Spirit gives to us the gift of repentance and we turn from
our evil way, then the Holy Spirit gives us yet more blessings, and these
blessings are the conscious experience of the Spirit’s presence. This lies in
the nature of repentance. Repentance is a turning from sin.
Repentance is necessary. We surely will not have
any consciousness of salvation when we walk in sin. We must turn away from it.
But repentance is also a turning to God. And
when the Holy Spirit turns us to God and we find in Him our life, then the Holy
Spirit also comes to us so that we live in the assurance of His presence.
The is true of Acts 5:32—only, in this passage,
obedience is specifically referred to. Obedience is a part of repentance. If we
do not obey, we will not consciously possess the Holy Spirit. If we do obey, we do this by the Spirit’s
power, but we also receive the Holy Spirit as our conscious possession.
You might ask: Why does God work in this way?
The answer is: Because it is God’s will to make us conscious
partakers of His blessings. And we become conscious partakers of His
blessings when we live close to Him.
We must repent of our sins, therefore. Then, we too
receive the Holy Spirit, and through the Holy Spirit, fellowship with God.
------------------------------------------------
(II)
More to come! (DV)
(II)
More to come! (DV)
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