sanctification.
issue of faith in the Lord Jesus with them. No, what these Ephesians lacked was the Spirit's outpouring, not the Spirit's indwelling of Romans 8. Furthermore, the record of Acts reckons these twelve as disciples (see 19.1b). During those days believers were disciples, and disciples were believers (cf. Acts 11.26c). Such were saved people. Hence, what these twelve at Ephesus lacked was the coming of the Holy Spirit upon them; they did not lack the Holy Spirit indwelling them.
Let me illustrate it this way. Several decades ago you and I believed in the Lord and thus received the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Later on, we came to know and experience tongues and prophecies— the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit does not need the speaking in tongues, prophecies or the other gifts as evidence. It cannot be said that because you and I do not have these evidences of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that we do not have the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, the Holy Spirit has been dwelling in us ever since the time we had believed and received the Lord Jesus.
Question: How important is it to distinguish between the inward and outward works of the Holy Spirit?
Answer : On the one hand, people with the inward Spirit who yet lack the outward Spirit cannot be easily recognized; on the other hand, people with the outward Spirit who lack something of the inward working of the Spirit can quickly be deceived. The latter category of people can fall into boasting about how they are able to win many souls—they even boasting over the number of souls they have saved—and claiming that they have no need of receiving advice from anyone. Such proud words come out of the mouth of one who has received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit but who is very much lacking in a further work of the indwelling Holy Spirit. For this reason, we must pay more attention to the inward work of the Holy Spirit than to His outward work.
Appendix: Difference between Regeneration and Filling 1. Regeneration relates to initial salvation, while filling relates to victory thereafter.
2. Regeneration is associated with life, whereas filling is associated with living. 3. Regeneration is connected with justification, while filling is connected with sanctification.
4. Regeneration gives to the believer in Christ a new life other than the old