Receive ye the Holy Ghost (John 20:22)
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When I'm studying scriptures, I often like to look at the Interlinear Bible. This Bible has a word-for-word translation of the original texts (that have been found). At the front of the book, the editor does recognize that some words are changed because they would make no sense to English-speaking readers. He also points out other changes, such as punctuation being added. So, be aware of these facts. Down the middle of the Interlinear Bible, you will see the ancient language of the scriptures that were found. Over each word is the accompanying English word. On the left side of this text is the full English interpretation. You will note that often the sentences in the original language do not make sense. Those ancient languages had a different sentence structure than what we have today. Hebrew is perhaps the hardest to understand because it is written from right to left, and the structure is very different. The Greek texts are much easier to understand.
Anyhow, I was studying about the Holy Ghost baptism and I noticed something in the Interlinear Bible that I had never noticed before.
In John 3:3, where the Lord is telling Nicoeamus that he must be born again (our most popular English rendering of this scripture), the original Greek transcripts say it differently (which really made more sense to me). It reads as follows.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, except one receive birth from above, not he is able to see the kingdom of God." John 3:3
This was a significant discovery to me. Many other scriptures describe this experience using the word "receive."
In John 7:38, 39, the Lord said, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Yeshua was not yet glorified.)"
There's that word again -- "receive." People have to receive this experience if they are believers. In this instance, "receive" is also in the Interlinear Bible. This scripture also tells me that receiving the Holy Ghost was going to happen after the Lord was glorified in the resurrection.
In John 20:22, the Lord "breathed" on His disciples and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost."
Did the disciples instantly receive the Holy Spirit. Nope. They wouldn't receive it until the Lord was glorified, as it was written in John 7:39. But, it was coming. At the end of the Gospel of Luke, it is recorded that the Lord said, "And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued [Interlinear uses the word "clothed"] with power from on high." Luke 24:49
In Acts 2:38, Peter said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yeshua Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
In Acts 8:15 and 16, the apostles sent Peter and John to the Samaritan believers, because they hadn't received the Holy Ghost yet.
In Acts 10:47, the Gentiles "received" the Holy Ghost, a first in Church history.
In Acts 19:2, Paul met up with some disciples who seemed to be missing something. So, he asked, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" No, they hadn't. So, Paul rebaptized them (they hadn't been baptized in the name of the Lord), and they received the Holy Spirit, that born-of-the-Spirit experience before Paul moved on.
What I'm trying to point out is that this born-of-the-spirit experience, the Holy Ghost baptism, must be received. Do you know how many "Christians" have not received it? Some have never heard of it. Some refuse to believe it's an experience for today. Some don't care.
In 1972, Marlon Brando won the Best Actor Oscar for his work in the film, The Godfather. But, Brando refused to receive this prestigeous award. He sent a woman dressed as a Native American to refuse the Oscar and protest how Native Americans were treated in cinema. That award was for him. It was something really cool. But, he wouldn't receive it.
It's sad when Christians do not receive God's Spirit. God's more than willing to give it to them. It's something really cool. But, some will not receive it.
If you really want to receive the Holy Spirit of God. God will give it to you. All you have to do is ask Him. It's a promise.
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him." Luke 11:13