The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fifth Year: Divine Immanence and the Holy GhostRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fifth Year: Divine Immanence and the Holy Ghost
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
If we turn to the account given in the Acts of the Apostles of the
conversion of the people of Samaria, we shall find the same order
observed. Philip went down to that city, taught them the word, which
they believed, they repented of their sins, and were baptized; then
Peter and John came and conferred upon them the Holy Ghost.[A]
[Footnote A: Acts viii.]
Then, again, when Paul found a number of men in Ephesus, who claimed to
have been baptized unto John's baptism, yet had not so much as heard of
the Holy Ghost, Paul was careful to rebaptize them--since there seemed
to be some doubt as to the validity of their first baptism--before he
conferred upon them the Holy Ghost.[A]
[Footnote A: Acts xix.]
It appears from these circumstances that faith, repentance, and
baptism, precede the reception of, or the baptism of, the Holy Ghost,
and are, in fact, prerequisites to a reception of it. This order, in
respect of these principles and ordinances, is further sustained by
other passages of scripture.
The Holy Ghost dwells not in unholy temples. Therefore man, as a
prospective temple of the Holy Ghost, must receive preparatory
cleansing before he can hope to become a temple of God, temple of the
Holy Ghost.
In writing to the Corinthian Saints who had received the Holy Ghost,
Paul says: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God."[A]
[Footnote A: I. Cor. vi:19.]
And again: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God,
him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy which temple ye
are."[A]
[Footnote A: I. Cor. iii:16, 17.]
From these passages this much is learned: That the man who receives
the Holy Ghost becomes a temple thereof, even the temple of God; and
since it is decreed that if a man defiles the temple of God him will
God destroy, it may be reasonably inferred that the Holy Ghost dwells
not in unholy temples; hence, through faith in God, sincere repentance
of all sins, and baptism for the remission of them, man cleanses the
prospective temple of the Holy Ghost, his body, that it may be a fit
place for the indwelling of the Divine Spirit.
_3. The World Cannot Receive the Holy Ghost:_ Just previous to his
crucifixion, Jesus said to the apostles: "I will pray the Father, and
he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for
ever; even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because
it seeth him not, neither knoweth him."[A]
[Footnote A: John xiv:16, 17.]
It is evident from this that the world cannot receive the Holy Ghost.
And now, who are the world? I answer, those who have not yet put
on Christ; or, in other words, those who have not yet entered into
the Kingdom of God, through faith in God and Christ, repentance and
baptism. They are the world; and, according to the word of the Master,
they cannot receive the Holy Ghost.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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