Brothers, a warning I give to you concerning the fearful danger of false doctrine.

I just found a statement of faith that was grievously heretical. It stated that all believers who are Baptized in the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues. Not only is this teaching not in Scripture, but it is entirely unorthodox.

Before I begin let me first say that I am non-cessational. This means that I do not believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit (eg. tongues, healing, prophecy, etc.) have ceased. The Bible is clear when it says this:

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams (Acts 2:17 KJV)

The thing is, when you tell a believer that they are not Baptized in the Holy Spirit because they are not speaking in tongues, that is utter heresy.

A lot of times people use a proof text such as Acts 2:4 which says:

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4 KJV)

But does this text say that this happens to all believers who are Baptized in the Holy Spirit? No, in fact, the text does not say that they were even Baptized in the Holy Spirit at the time. It says that they were FILLED with the Holy Spirit, which is different.

Not only this, but believers who have received the Holy Spirit have different spiritual gifts. Where does it say that every believer has the gift of tongues? Nowhere. Here's what the Scriptures say:

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

Every person who is saved has a Spiritual gift, but they are different. Not all true, born again, baptized in the Holy Spirit believers have the same gift.

We must be careful in discerning the Holy Spirit's work. He is not a merely a power that we tap into. He is God.

In the Bible, we find that the Scriptures teach that we receive the Spirit through faith, as it says in Galatians:

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:14 KJV)

Not only this, but the work of miracles doesn't give you assurance of salvation. Even Saul (who was lost) prophesied:

And he [Saul] stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? (1 Samuel 19:24 KJV)

And what did Jesus warn about false conversions?

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)

So you see, performing miracles does not give you assurance of salvation. It is something that even people who are not converted have done, because God can use anyone for His work, even someone who is not saved.

I guess what we can learn from this is, don't believe everything you hear and beware of the heresy of first glance. Let Scripture interpret Scripture and don't get caught up in what appears to be true. Often heresy can seem more true than truth itself (Irenaeus).

Please prayerfully consider the things I have shared with you.
In grace and in peace.