Born of the Spirit -
To be born of the Spirit is to receive the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance.
The Holy Ghost is Jesus Christ living within us. He gives us power and strength, and leads us in the path of righteousness.
Don't we
receive the Holy Ghost (or "Holy Spirit") when we say the sinner's prayer?
Not according to the New Testament. There is not one instance in the Bible
where a lost person said a certain prayer and was consequently saved. The
Bible does say we need to repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (see
"Born of Water"), and receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost.
One does not get the Holy Ghost the moment they believe. If this were so, why then in Acts 19:2 did Paul ask certain disciples, "...Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" Their answer shows that they had not received it when they believed. They said, "...We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." These disciples didn't even know anything about the Holy Ghost. If they had it, wouldn't they know it?
What is speaking in
tongues?
There are two types of tongues: the spirit giving
the utterance and the gift of speaking in other tongues. The gift is
talked about in I Corinthians chapters 12 and 14. It is not the same thing
as what happens when you receive the Holy Ghost. For those that don't
believe this, think of all the nine spiritual gifts. Is not faith also
one? Does that mean we don't have to have faith to get into heaven, since
it is only a gift? Of course not! It is a different kind of
faith. Just as there are two types of tongues. Click
here to read more!
Why do we have to
speak in tongues to have the Holy Ghost?
It's not a matter of "having" to speak in tongues. It is just
what happens when you receive the Holy Ghost. Each time someone in the New
Testament received the Holy Ghost, they spoke in tongues. It is evidence,
for ourselves and for others. Acts 10:45-47: 45
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came
with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the
Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and
magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid
water, that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as
well as we?
In Acts 8, Peter and John laid their hands on Samaritans and they received the Holy Ghost. Simon offered money to them, wanting to buy this power of giving people the Holy Ghost. How did Simon know that they had received the Holy Ghost? They had to have had an outward sign indicating they received it. They must have spoke in tongues.
Read Acts Chapter 2. It is about the day of Pentecost. Verses 3 and 4 say: 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Jesus' mother, Mary, was even in the upper room that day. She, too, had to receive the Holy Ghost in order to be saved.
I thought all we had to do
was accept Jesus as our personal savior and that was it?
Read James 2:19. It says:
"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils
also believe, and tremble." Even the devil believes in God; and he's not
going to heaven. You must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and have
the Holy Ghost in order to get into the gates of heaven. Verse 20
goes on to say, "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works
is dead?"