Prepare for the amazing rant, but it's so long that you really don't have to read it if you don't want to.
I didn't think that I would be so long in replying to your post
@love_yeshua
I didn't mind the rant as I mentioned in my last post. In a way one could classify it as a warning, a shout, a clarion call, maybe to those who believe they are saved and require a gut check, in somehow thinking that the path we follow is an easy one.
I do believe we are somewhat on the same page, because if you can understand that when I say "believer" I am also saying "saved" not just "believe" as the world would define it. I should have made myself clear in that respect. Unless you of the thought that no one is saved until judgment has been made.
What you or I think about when we are ready, is not very important. You can believe in Elohim your whole life and not be "ready" as yet. He will determine when the heart is sincere and suitable enough, then impart His Spirit.
I agree only in part with what you've said. I don't see the following verses you've quoted as confirming the giving of the Holy Spirit when an individual is ready.
If as you say we must be at a level of sincerity of heart before we are imparted His Spirit. Then those without His Spirit, though they be saved can do nothing when you take the below scripture into account. Is that correct?
John 15:4 [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing.
A person can repent, get baptized and not receive the Holy Spirit as yet. Elohim will give it when He decides that their heart is in the right state.
I'm assuming you're making reference as an example to Acts 19:1-6? If that is the case. What standard of behavior, or readiness did the twelve in v7 meet besides baptism and repentance that they received the Holy Spirit? Would then the receiving of the Holy Spirit be followed by an outward sign i.e. speaking in tongues as a confirmation of the receipt of the Holy Spirit?
I would like you to take into consideration Luke 11:13. When a repentant person, who ask for Jesus Christ to come into them, is this not the same as them asking for the Holy Spirit as our Lord made mention of in Luke?
People think they just have to "believe in" Yeshua, say a prayer and get baptized, then they are saved.
Yet in truth this is true, otherwise salvation is not by Grace, but by works. Which we both know is not true, to the extent that anything we do is righteous or just, in and of itself outside of Christ Jesus.
Well I know lots of Hindus who believe in Him. Doesn't mean they're saved. They admire Him and pray to Him, but alongside Him they worship a plethora of gods and goddesses, and put up flags of different colors on their property. They wake up very early and sing prayers, in fact the only people who don't wake up early to pray are Christians, sadly.
I think you are confusing their saying they "believe" with just acknowledging his existence as a man or enlightened man. With so many gods on their plate I'm almost of the mind that they're trying to cover themselves just encase, the other gods they also pray to don't exist.
Something tells me that you are assuming that the Jesus they believe in and pray to is the same Jesus, you and I call Lord, Savior, and King. It is not. Were you to ask them, who is your Jesus? They would have a hard time articulating who He is, and if they did, would it coincide with the Jesus Christ of Scripture? Sadly, you could also ask this of many professing Christians and receive similar responses.
Dear sister, an example to this happened to me when I felt moved to show a newly ordained Minister how little many professing Christians really understand what salvation, being saved means. I asked a couple of young people in front of her, what made them saved. One said, "I was brought up in the church, and even though I don't go often, I try to do good things." "My family believes, so I guess I believe too since I go to church with them". They called themselves Christians!
It's was not that they were trying to hide, or get away with anything, though some others may be similar to what I mentioned about the Hindu's, you know trying to cover all the bases. The problem existing in the world today is that the Gospel has been so diluted, that the same words that you have used to state the possibility of unbelief i.e. "repentance, baptism, say a prayer" comes mostly by the way of not understanding one or all of the words you used as not just concepts or words, but actions requiring as you would say a "sincerity of heart". That is part of being a Christian which starts at the foot of the Cross.
On the prayer front with the Muslims etc. How do you know that the Christians do not wake up early to pray? What does scripture say about praying? Matthew 6:5-6
[5] And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [6] But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
In the morning I pray at the end of my walk, and look to the heavens, asking the Father to guide me for the day, and that I await the return of His Son Jesus Christ. I don't do this for the neighbors who aren't even out yet, nor to prove some point. I just know that I long for the day that the heavens will open up and my Lord will return, and the joy of this thought makes me sometimes want to jump up into the sky as to meet Him! Foolishness, I know, but the joy in the thought has me both laughing, and crying, for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are toiling, under heavy persecution and tribulation, that even my small action at the end of the walk, is not available to them, yet joy in the knowledge that on the day of His return they will find rest.
This is not my only prayer nor my first in the day. That being said I will never assume to speak of what another does or does not do when it comes to prayer. I would only point them in that direction, if they have failed to do so. Whether they do or don't is between them and God.
I could now continue on with the rest of your rant
but suffice it to say, I don't find much issue with how you see things, when it comes to church, Christians, other religions.
Yet what I pray for you is hope and comfort. Please remember we do not know who is or is not saved, nor who may yet be. All we know is that the path is narrow and few will find it. With that being said, continue to share the hope that we have in Christ Jesus and be ready to answer on why we believe as we believe. Be uncompromising in adhering to what scripture says, but once again communicating it to those who might not have learned scripture, with the love of Christ Jesus. Our Lord chastised the priest hood, but adherents, He communicated the truth with love, if at times I believe with a touch of sadness for their inability to see and accept the truth.
Whether you want to believe it or not. You as one who is saved; are a recipient of the Holy Spirit. Sealed as Ephesians 1:13 says.
My hope that this hasn't been too long in responding to you, or too wordy, which at times as this post shows, I can be!
YBIC
C4E
Some other verses you might want to take into consideration as well in thinking that the Holy Spirit does not reside in the believer until some future time, and not at the time of conversion.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
I Cor. 6:19
But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. [11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. [5] There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. [6] And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. [7] But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
I Corinthians 12:4-7
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23