AboutRev C.Brian Ross Expertise I am happy to offer answers to anyone with a question that refers to the Christian Faith in its widest possible sense. I believe that the Bible is the living Word of God, and seek to base all of my life on its teaching. I also have some knowledge of some of the cults, and of Islam and Judaism. Of course, my answers are just one man's thoughts, and I would always advise a questioner to check with others, and with the Word of God.
Experience Served as a full-time parish minister in Scotland for about six years, and then spent the last thirty as a teacher (now 'retired') of Religious Education in Secondary Comprehensive schools (ages 11-17) while continuing my own preaching and teaching ministry. I also believe that learning is a life-time process, and have recently completed a Master's degree in Divinity.
Organizations Former Presenter on Revival FM - a local Christian, community radio station, broadcasting in west central Scotland, and online at revival.fm Involved with a number of organisations that support Christians who are currently suffering persecution in some 70 countries around the world.
Publications Various articles in Christian magazines. I also have two blogsites - www.crazyrev.blogspot.com and (with audio messages) www.revcbross.blogspot.com
Education/Credentials Diploma of The Bible Training Institute, Glasgow;
Licentiate in Theology of the University of Glasgow;
Associateship of The Philosophical Society of England;
Bachelor of Arts Degree (Hons) in History from The Open University;
Post-grad Certificate of Education - Religious Education and History;
Post-grad Cetificate in Learning and Teaching;
Post-grad Diploma in Management and Learning in Education;
Master of Science Degree from the University of Strathclyde;
Master of Divinity Degree (Hons) from Trinity College and Seminary (accredited by the University of Liverpool)
Question QUESTION: Hello. Jesus told his disciples on the night before his arrest in John 16:7 that they did not YET have the Counselor. Rather, it was necessary for him to “go away” in order for the Counselor to be sent. This seems to mean that, during the entire time his disciples had Jesus with them physically, they did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. Yet how can it be true that all this time they did not have the Spirit? When the disciples confessed Jesus as the Christ (such as in Mat 16:16 or John 6:68-69), were they not saved as Romans 10:9ff would suggest? And, hence, were they not also born of God by the Spirit as 1John 5:1 would suggest? Thank you so much in advance for answering this question!
ANSWER: Hi James, and thank you for a very interesting question. It is, as you seem to have realised, not a question that can be easily answered, and others may not agree with what I say. However, I would suggest that we are looking at a very special situation that does not apply to the rest of church history.
While the Lord Jesus was physically present on the earth, the disciples did not need the presence of God the Holy Spirit. Indeed, they seem to have expected a temporal kingdom to be established by the Lord Jesus. However, in the divine economy, the Spirit would only come upon the church when the Saviour had departed, and returned to that dimension that we commonly refer to as heaven.
This would suggest that the disciples did not have God the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, as they had God the Son walking with them!
Were they saved? Well, it would appear that Judas Iscariot certainly wasn't! I would suggest that they were saved, in the sense of the Old Testament saints, but didn't experience the salvation that was only possible after the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, until God the Holy Spirit came upon them at the festival of Pentecost.
I do hope that this will have helped you, but please feel free to come back to me with a supplementary. I would also commend my weblog at www.crazyrev.blogspot.com
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QUESTION: Thank you for the answer you provided. Do you know what the spectrum of opinion is on this question?
Answer Hi, again, James.
Frankly - No!! I have to confess that I had never given the matter any thought at all until I received your previous question. In order to guage the spectrum of opinion, you may wish to pose the same question to some of the others who offer assistance on Biblical topics. I would certainly be interested in your final conclusion - which you could pass on as a comment on my blog (www.crazyrev.blogspot.com)
My apologies that I am unable to be more forthcoming! I suppose that it is a salutory reminder that even we "experts" don'thave ALL of the answers!!
