Another question I received about the sermon preached on Father's Day was about the Holy Spirit.  Is it possible, someone asked, for the Holy Spirit to come upon someone in power, and for the Spirit do perform miraculous acts through that person, and yet that person not be born again by the Holy Spirit and thereby saved?

Here's what I said in the sermon:

Both Old Testament Israel and the New Testament recipients of the book of Hebrews had incredible religious experiences.  Israel witnessed the ten plagues on Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, they received the Law of Moses at Mt. Sinai and saw the fire on the mountain, and they heard the voice of God booming like thunder.

Recipients of the book of Hebrews had also had a massive religious experience: the Holy Spirit.  We know from the book of Acts that the Holy Spirit came upon the first century Christians in power and through the Christians performed signs and wonders: they cast out demons, spoke in tongues, and healed people. 

But, what happened to Israel?  Even though they'd seen God work, even though God had delivered them out of slavery through miracle after miracle after miracle, even though  they'd heard the voice of God on Mt. Sinai, they still did not reach God's promised land – they did not enter his rest.  They hardened their hearts and turned away from God.

And the Hebrews writer warns his readers: don't let this happen to you.  Yes, you've gone through an amazing religious experience.  But what has happened in your past does not necessarily guarantee anything about your future as a Christian.

I didn't have time to explain in the sermon the several instances where it seems clear that the Bible teaches the Holy Spirit can come upon an individual in power without bringing regeneration (in other words, bringing new spiritual birth to the individual). 

In 1 Samuel 10, we read that God "changed Saul's heart" as the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul in power, so that he prophesied with other prophets.  Yet we read later in 1 Samuel that Saul ultimately is found unfaithful to God, has the kingdom taken away from him, and died without honor on Mount Gilboa.

Jesus, in Matthew 7, said: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!'"

But the most convincing Bible passage on this topic comes from Hebrews 6:4-6.  I will, God's willing, preach on this text on July 19.  There we read this: "It is impossible for those who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance..." (emphasis added). 

I am certain that Bible teaches that we can access the Holy Spirit to some degree without having been justified from our sins and declared righteous in God's sight.  We can taste the Holy Spirit without being saved by his power.  The only safeguard against this result is ultimately to be, by God's grace, faithful to our calling in Jesus Christ, and to remain faithful each day until we die and go to be with him.