Good verses Urch. It's a pity Romans 10:9 when used in baptisms it's not completed with "you will be saved."
Listened to some of Brad Smith's talk "The Urgent Need to Preach the Holy Spirit" this evening in which he made certain unusual comments, main example being "our Gospel is not based on Jesus Christ" and other strange ideas on blaspheming the Holy Spirit if too much emphasis is on Jesus.
He used the usual Mark 16 to illustrate the signs which would follow those who have received the Holy Spirit.
16 He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover........
I see in these passages Jesus reinforcing much of what the disciples were already commissioned to do. Many of the signs were already in place way back in Mark 6 :-
7 And he calleth unto him the twelve and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits.
12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
13 And they cast out many devils and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.
Similar in Luke 10 and also Matthew 10 :-
1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them saying, Go NOT into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. etc
The disciples were commissioned to do all this before they they were saved (according to Rev) because they hadn't yet spoken in tongues as evidence, which presents a problem. Just maybe tongues were the sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to first the Jerusalem Church then Samaritan and Gentile churches heralding the beginning of the christian era rather than a sign of individual salvation. The Holy Spirit bringing about the faith to believe, to glorify Jesus and to witness of him.
Paul in every epistle spoke of Jesus, as did Peter, James and John in their salutations and benedictions :- Paul to Corinthians. "For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ." Paul again "Grace of out Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." "Ye are Christ's and Christ is God's." "Love be with you all in Jesus Christ" etc etc etc.
Epi
