Allow me to Think Abstractly for a Moment

[RevDWW]

How do we know Abraham believed?

• He left his city and went looking for a city who's builder and maker was God.
• He offered up his son Issac.

Faith without action is dead.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I also stress that Spirit believers should pray for the Lord to develope the fruit of The Spirit in their lives.The world may not hear us speak in tongues,but they can witness a life that has the fruit of the Spirit in full bloom.

[Phil Stearns]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

I also stress that Spirit believers should pray for the Lord to develope the fruit of The Spirit in their lives.The world may not hear us speak in tongues,but they can witness a life that has the fruit of the Spirit in full bloom.

I agree.

[RevDWW]

Why would Jesus say "these signs shall follow them that beleive"?

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Hebrews 11
By Faith We Understand
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We're all very familiar with this scripture.

So, with that said, why do we feel there has to be evidence or initial evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost?

Why was tongues the determining factor in accepting the gentiles in the church? Why wan't faith enough?

[Aquila]

I believe that there are four manifestations of tongues.

- Tongues as witnessed on Pentecost. I believe a little differently from most here. I don’t believe that the 120 actually spoke in human languages. Rather, I believe that they “spoke in tongues”. If you could have recorded it, it would have been unintelligible. However, miraculously every man present heard the 120 in the tongue wherein they were born. The Parthian heard the 120 speaking Parthian. The Meded heard the 120 speaking Mede. The Egyptian heard the 120 speaking Egyptian, and so on. However, some only heard babbling and accused them of being drunk.
- Tongues as initial evidence as witnessed in most cases of receiving the Holy Ghost.
- Tongues used in prayer.
- Tongues coupled with Interpretation for a public prophetic address. This gift is governed to two or at most three, allowing one to interpret.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Acts 10:45-46, says that the phenomena observed by Peter and those who had traveled to Caesarea with him was identical to the phenomena that had occurred in Acts 2 (See Acts 10:47). Nothing more is asserted in this passage concerning "speaking in tongues."

Nowhere in this passage does it say that Cornelius and his household "had to speak in tongues in order to be saved." Nowhere in this passage does it say that anyone else must "speak in tongues" in order to be saved.

it didnt say they are saved by faith alone either.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Acts 10:45-46, says that the phenomena observed by Peter and those who had traveled to Caesarea with him was identical to the phenomena that had occurred in Acts 2 (See Acts 10:47). Nothing more is asserted in this passage concerning "speaking in tongues."

It was the first (initial) sign (evidence) that told the believers these folks received the Holy Ghost. Nothing else in the bible comes close to this statement either way.

Nowhere in this passage does it say that Cornelius and his household "had to speak in tongues in order to be saved."

Noe one said it did.

Nowhere in this passage does it say that anyone else must "speak in tongues" in order to be saved.

Never said it did. I just said it shows tongues was initial evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost.

The question was asked why people think there has to be initial evidence of the Holy Ghost.

[Sarah]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Because Acts 10:45-46 said there was.

That's the scripture I was thinking of, Bro Blume. Can it get any plainer than that?

[helen_febus]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Because Acts 10:45-46 said there was.

Amen