Holy Ghost Baptism (Holiness.com Response)

Let me first say that I have examined Acts 2:37 & 38 in a variety of
generally accepted translations of the Bible to see if they would
support the way that you have interpreted Acts 2:37&38. I use the word
"interpreted" as it appears to me that you have made significant
modifications to verse 38 by changing words, changing phrase order, and
by omitting key words in order to have the verse say something that it
clearly does not. Let me reprint verse 38 below as it appears in the
Authorized King James Version. The only addition I will make below is to
place each section of this verse in brackets; the sections are
determined by the punctuation (the commas) provided by those who
translated this verse as you see it in your Authorized King James
Version:

[Then Peter said unto them,]
[Repent,]
[and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins,]
[and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.]

We have here, Peter saying three things:
1)  Repent ( or be born again if you please)
2)  Be baptized (Water baptism)
3)  Ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Holy Ghost Baptism)

But you seem to say that Peter is not speaking about 3 distinct things
in the way you render this verse, as you change the verse to: "…you will
receive the Holy Spirit when you are born again." What you do is
essentially change the word order by mentioning the Holy Ghost Baptism
first ( in your rendition).  You not only change the grammatical voice
(from Peter making a command, to the passive voice "when you are born
again"), but you now move the reference of Born Again directly after the
reference to the Holy Ghost Baptism. You entirely eliminate the
reference to Water Baptism which is problematic to your line of
reasoning; this is because, in order to inextricably join the "Repent"
with the "Holy Ghost Baptism" as one experience, you must lift the
"Water Baptism" from its place in the text between these two experiences
(the "Repent" and the "Holy Ghost" Baptism). Or, are you making the case
that Repentance, Water Baptism, and Holy Ghost Baptism are all one
thing? Namely, that to be saved, a person must Repent, be Water
Baptized, and receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost all in the same
instance in order to be saved?

But, let me get to your request for clear passages that demonstrate what
I believe: That receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is a distinct
experience from being Born Again. Let's begin prior to the day of
Pentecost and then take additional examples occurring after the day of
Pentecost.

Let us first look at Jesus' eleven closest disciples following the
crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The disciples were thoroughly
convinced who Jesus was. They embraced who Jesus was and were submitting
to what he told them to do. Even Thomas, who many call "Doubting Thomas"
upon being convinced that Jesus was risen called him "…My Lord and my
God."(St. John 20:28) Was Thomas a believer? Yes, most definitely, as
well as the other ten close disciples (Judas Iscariot had killed
himself). And just a side note here, it is by the Holy Ghost working in
Thomas that he could call Jesus his Lord and God; I Corinthians 12:3
says "…no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."
However, the day of Pentecost had not come yet. These disciples were
Born Again, yet they had not received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
And, it is by the Holy Ghost that these disciples were Born Again. You
see, the Holy Ghost performs multiple works (See St. John 16:8). These
disciples, if they were truly trusting in the resurrected Christ as
their Lord and Savior must be accepted as being Born Again by the
working of the Holy Ghost. Yet, we have to admit that Pentecost had not
come, and that they had not received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost as of
yet.   
 

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