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When is a person saved?

Submitted: 2/13/2006
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Question: MY QUESTION IS: WHEN OUR WE SAVED? I KNOW THAT A PERSON MUST BE BAPTIZED IN JESUS' NAME AND BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH THE EVIDENCE OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES, BUT WHAT IF THE PERSON THAT JUST GOT BAPTIZED IN JESUS NAME HAS NOT RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT YET? CAN HE SAY THAT HE IS SAVED? OR DOES THIS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED DIFFERENTLY? I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY LAST QUESTION. I HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED BY YOUR WEB SITE. MAY GOD'S BLESSING BE UPON YOUR MINISTRY TODAY AND EVERYDAY TO COME. MAY HE BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND ALL THOSE WHO HELP IN THIS MINISTRY.

Answer: In Acts 8 we read of the people of Samaria who heard Philip's message and responded by being baptized in the name of Jesus. But the Bible says that even though they had been baptized, the Spirit had not yet come upon them. Therefore Philip sent for Peter and John to come from Jerusalem. Shortly after these apostles arrived, the people were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said that to enter the kingdom of heaven, a person must be 'born of water and the Spirit' (John 3:5). Water alone is not enough. Anyone who is baptized but has not been filled with the Spirit should be encouraged to continue seeking God until he or she is filled. There are many reasons why some people do not receive the Spirit right away, but if they truly repent, believe, and submit to baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, then they are promised the Spirit by the Word of God (Acts 2:38-39). They simply need to keep asking until they receive!