I Thought the Holy Spirit Left Me Every Time I Sinned — Until I Read This Book on Acts
- The NLM
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Acts of the Apostles Seen from the Perspective of the Gospel of the Water and the Spirit: Book Review
The article below is a book review and salvation testimony shared by a believer who recently read Pastor Paul C. Jong’s newly published Bible study, “Acts of the Apostles Seen from the Perspective of the Gospel of the Water and the Spirit.” Pastor Paul C. Jong is a servant of God at The New Life Mission, who has been truly born again by believing in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, and is now devoted to the mission of spreading this gospel throughout the world.
In this testimony, the writer reflects on a question that troubles many Christians: Does the Holy Spirit really leave us when we sin? Through the lens of Acts 19:1–6 and the gospel of the water and the Spirit, this review offers a refreshing answer that may bring rest to anyone wrestling with the same question.
✍️ Author: Rev. Paul C. Jong
🌐 Ministry: The New Life Mission (www.bjnewlife.org)
🔗 Free Book Link: Acts of the Apostles Seen from the Perspective of the Gospel of the Water and the Spirit
I Thought the Holy Spirit Left Me Every Time I Sinned — Until I Read This Book on Acts
DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT LEAVE WHEN WE SIN AND COME BACK WHEN WE REPENT?
Reading the book “Acts of the Apostles Seen from the Perspective of the Gospel of the Water and the Spirit” by Pastor Paul C. Jong has given me even more reason to have faith in this precious gospel. For someone like me, who once led a misguided spiritual life, this book is a profound revelation. I used to rely on my good behavior as proof of salvation and as a way to maintain my faith in Jesus. Although I claimed to believe He saved me, I didn’t believe it was entirely. Now, I cannot help but delight every time I hear the gospel of complete redemption.
(I Thought the Holy Spirit Left Me Every Time I Sinned — Until I Read This Book on Acts)
In the past, I believed that Jesus only took away my original sin, leaving my future sins for me to handle.
It seemed logical at the time — thinking Jesus could not possibly take away sins I hadn’t even committed yet. Consequently, I believed it was my responsibility to stay away from sin or to offer prayers of repentance whenever I fell. Reading Pastor Jong’s work has reminded me of how deeply I misunderstood the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and how I had misused the word “repentance.”
I would like to reconfirm my faith by reflecting on Acts 19:1–6.
The Bible records that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul traveled to Ephesus and found some disciples. He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” When Paul asked what baptism they received, they replied, “John’s baptism.” Paul explained that John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, telling people to believe in the one coming after him — Jesus. Upon hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Before encountering the gospel of the water and the Spirit, my faith was rooted in a doctrine that taught Christ died for our sins, and whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life. It sounded easy to believe, yet surprisingly, proclaiming faith wasn’t enough to be considered “completely saved.” I was excluded from Holy Communion and ministry work until I underwent a formal baptism rite. The church often waited months for a large group to gather for a ceremony. During that year of waiting, I couldn’t break bread or serve, as if my salvation was on hold.
I grew up believing the Holy Spirit only dwells in you after physical baptism and that He leaves you if you sin.
I thought He would only return after a prayer of repentance. This conception was overwhelming; I lived in constant fear, trying to be so strict that I wouldn’t sin. Despite my efforts, I always found myself sinning, which left me miserable. I would offer prayers of repentance and feel temporary relief, but over time, my energy was drained. I began to feel that Christianity was a “scam.” I stopped attending church and even mocked my mother, saying everyone was going to hell because I realized no one could live without sinning. I was ashamed, thinking the Holy Spirit was tired of my repeated failures and broken promises.
However, I have learned that “Repentance” does not mean begging for forgiveness for individual sins;
it means to renounce one’s present status and turn back to God’s Word. The disciples in Ephesus could believe Paul’s message because they had already acknowledged their sinful nature through John’s baptism. Paul preached that Jesus bore all mankind’s sins in the Jordan River through the laying on of hands by John the Baptist, died on the Cross, and rose again to complete our salvation once and for all.
When Paul laid hands on them, it wasn’t a display of personal power. Rather, it was a confirmation of their united faith.
The “tongues” they spoke were not incomprehensible babble, but languages others could understand for the purpose of spreading the Good News, just as at Pentecost. This evidence — speaking in tongues and prophesying — shows the proper life of a true believer: placing the gospel of the water and the Spirit at the center of their lives to proclaim eternal redemption. My current faith no longer centers on my own strictness or righteousness, but on the finished work of Christ.
Through Pastor Paul Jong’s teaching, I have confirmed that God approves only of those who place the gospel of the water and the Spirit at the center of their faith.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not the result of physical rituals or human effort. Instead, the Holy Spirit comes as a gift to bear witness in our hearts the moment we believe in the true gospel. Most importantly, the Holy Spirit does not leave a believer when they stumble into sin. He stays to confirm our salvation, reminding us that Jesus already bore even those future sins at the Jordan River. Hallelujah!
— Chris Mulonga.
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