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Topic: Do we need the Holy Ghost?
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Brother Paul
Advanced Member
Member # 7959
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posted
Not to be redundant having used this elsewhere but, that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. This is where we want to be in relation to our Father. His child! Otherwise we are condemned. If you do not have the Spirit of Christ in you, you are not one of His. Therefore yes we definitely need to have the Holy Spirit today as always and ever more as that Day approaches.
Brother Paul
Posts: 235 | From: Cambridge, MA | Registered: Dec 2009
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Robert E. Barger
Advanced Member
Member # 7998
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posted
Romans|8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit.
This scripture was wrote to tell us that to be in Christ wecannot walk in the flesh, If we are not ther yet, this is where we are to be.
Another scripture is:
Ephesians|2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
Ephesians|2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,the "spirit" that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Ephesians|2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and
of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Ephesians|2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Ephesians|2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Both of these scriptures were wrote in faith. God shows us through scriptures like this these that being like Christ is the end of our "hope", Christ in us, "the Hope of glory.
It's not that we already are like Him, but the growing prosess when completed will be Christ in us, the finished product.
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Romans|11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all
things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Posts: 38 | From: Trafalgar, Indiana U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 2010
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Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
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posted
Thanks John. I'm trying to understand Robert. He seems to be saying, (and Robert correct me if I'm wrong here), that we must be sinless and perfect and be filled with the Holy Spirit, and be a Son of God, be as perfect as Christ, put-on Christ literally, before we can be admitted to Heaven.
Robert said
quote:
What this scripture teaches is that there is a growing prosess that we must go through to put-on Christ, and few will make it because it requires total perfection, whivh means no sin in us.
In Hebrews 1, the “more excellent name” that Jesus possesses is “Son.” While the angels collectively may be termed “the sons of God” (Job 1:6), no angel would be given this title individually. It belongs uniquely to our Lord Jesus Christ. The first quotation is from Psalm 2:7: “Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee.” Paul pinpointed the time of this “begetting”: the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 13:33). From eternity, Jesus Christ was God the Son. He humbled Himself and became Man (see Phil. 2:5-6). In His resurrection, however, He glorified that humanity received from the Father and received back the eternal glory He had veiled (John 17:1, 5). The Resurrection declares: “Jesus is God’s Son!” (Rom. 1:4)
God’s love for us is unique. First John 3:1 may be translated, “Behold, what peculiar, out-of-this-world kind of love the Father has bestowed on us.” While we were His enemies God loved us and sent His Son to die for us!
The whole wonderful plan of salvation begins with the love of God.
Many translators add a phrase to 1 John 3:1: “That we should be called the sons of God, and we are.” “Sons of God” is not simply a high-sounding name that we bear; it is a reality! We are God’s children! We do not expect the world to understand this thrilling relationship, because it does not even understand God. Only a person who knows God through Christ can fully appreciate what it means to be called a child of God.
First John 3:1 tells us what we are and 1 John 3:2 tells us what we shall be. The reference here, of course, is to the time of Christ’s coming for His church. This was mentioned in 1 John 2:28 as an incentive for holy living, and now it is repeated.
God’s love for us does not stop with the new birth. It continues throughout our lives and takes us right up to the return of Jesus Christ! When our Lord appears, all true believers will see Him and will become like Him (Phil. 3:20-21). This means, of course, that they will have new, glorified bodies, suited to heaven.
But the apostle does not stop here! He has told us what we are and what we shall be. Now, in 1 John 3:3, he tells us what we should be. In view of the return of Jesus Christ, we should keep our lives clean.
(Wiersbe)
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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John Hale
unregistered
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posted
Miss Carol is correct that the interpretation of son of God or sons of God means the direct (initial) creation of God.
Luke 3:383
8 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
John 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
This alone forces the theological conclusion that there has to be more than one person in the Godhead.
The Holy Spirit is also as much a person (individual) in the Godhead (Acts 5:3-4, Acts 13:2) and is clearly shown as the tutor of truth (John 16:13) and of scripture interpretation (2 Peter 1:20-21).
The answer that we need the Holy Spirit today is apparently yes and amen!
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Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
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posted
Robert, do you like Charles Spurgeon?
You wrote:
quote:
The scriptures teach that we are not sinless when we ask Jesus into our heart, but we are given "power to BECOME sons of God" John chapter 1
Spurgeon writes:
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."— Romans 8:16, 17.
My brethren, what a contrast there is between the present and future estate of the child of God! The believer is here the brother to the worm; in heaven he shall be next of kin to the angels. Here he is covered with the sweat and dust which he acquired by Adam's fall; there his brow shall be bright with the immortality which is conferred upon him by the resurrection of Christ. Here the heir of heaven is unknown; he is in disguise, full often clad in the habiliments of poverty, but there his princely character shall be discerned and acknowledged, he shall be waited upon by angels, and shall share in the admiration which the universe shall pour upon the glorified Redeemer. Well said our poet just now,
"It doth not yet appear, how great we must be made."
I think I need not remind you of your condition here below; you are too conversant with it, being hourly fretted with troubles, vexed with your own infirmities, with the temptations of Satan, and with all the allurements of this world. You are quite conscious that this is not your rest. There are too many thorns in your nest, to permit you to hope for an abiding city below the skies. I say, it is utterly needless for me to refresh your memories about your present condition; but I feel it will be a good and profitable work if I remind you that there are high privileges of which you are possessors even now; there are divine joys which even this day you may taste. The wilderness has its manna; the desert is gladdened with water from the rock. God hath not forsaken us; the tokens of his goodness are with us, and we may rejoice in full many a gracious boon which is ours this very day. I shall direct your joyous attention to one precious jewel in your treasury, namely, your adoption into the family of God.
From: "The Sons of God"
A Sermon
(No. 339)
Delivered on Sabbath Morning, October 7th, 1860, by the
REV. C. H. Spurgeon
At Exeter Hall, Strand.
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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John Hale
unregistered
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posted
I have to chuckle to myself about my own response... in that the deeper I go into this the more I want to write a treatise (like I asked you two not to write)... LOL
This is why some things are best taught in courses or thought out systematically in think tanks or discussed in bit sized topics... I suppose.
My point in all I said was the humility of God... considering God alone has bragging rites... at each juncture always takes the path of humility... it's not just Jesus showing us how we humans ought to act... it is that, but not just that...
But the Holy Spirit by not blowing his own horn is perhaps the least familiar person in the Godhead while being the closest to us in this dispensation / era of God's plan...
2 Peter 1:20-21
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
John 16:13
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Ephesians 4:30
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
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John Hale
unregistered
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posted
My reply to the OP, if I understand where he is coming from is... human kind is such a poor judge of everything that we need the Holy Ghost to tutor us in the Bible... warn and guide us through life...
train us up in the way we should go... reward and punish us according to our adherence to his tutelage / guidance.
Some of these things have been traditionally assigned to the Heavenly Father or to Jesus. I am without a blush Trinitarian as can be... but I also believe and teach that believers are woefully ignorant of who Holy Spirit is, what all he does, and just how close we are to him in our walk.
He's like the silent grandparent who is watching the children while the parent's are away for a time. Not to get into issues of the omnipresence of the Father and the Son... each have undertaken unique positions / authority / assignments during this time of infraction since the time of the first sin until the resolution of all sin at the end of the age...
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John Hale
unregistered
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posted
Wow. I used to write like you guys... only in letters to family etc. Thought I was motivated at the time. Now I see though my zeal was well intended it did not have readers like me in mind...
I mean, you two seem not to mind the length of each other's posts... and if you don't want folks like me to "but in" ... that's fine...
But if you want input from folks like me, could you please break up your posts into shorter paragraphs or perhaps boil down your points without unabridged chain references?
Or maybe highlight your topical points?
I think your biblical knowledge and / or knowledge of why you believe what you believe is impressive... but difficult to get through as a readers / commentator / potential rebuttal.
Big THANK YOU to you guys!!! ![[clap2]](graemlins/clap2.gif)
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Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
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posted
I did not say we could lose the Holy Spirit, or certainly didn’t mean to say that. We can lose the filling of the Spirit if we grieve Him or quench Him, but we can be forgiven if we repent. Like you, I also believe that God will chastise those He loves. And I agree that the Word of God and Holy Spirit renew our minds.
But you said:
quote:
There comes a place where everything we do is the thing that Jesus would do. This is perfection. This is when we are born again of the Spirit of God. You can be born again of the Holy Ghost and sin, and ask forgiveness, you can be born again of the Son and still sin, ask forgiveness and you will be forgiven, but to be born again of the Father, you cannot have sin, and you cannot sin, because you are born of the Spirit of God, and you Love as the Father loves.
What does it mean to be born again of the Son, and born again of the Father? I have never heard of these before.
You also said:
quote:
We are to be "perfect" as our Father in Heaven is perfect.
We have been told that we cannot be perfect, but the truth is it is a requirement that we must be perfect. This is why Jesus died that we might be Holy and righteous like our Father in Heaven is holy and righteous. That same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead "must" be in us to quicken our mortal bodies. That Spirit is with out sin. If we have sin in us we will not be quicken. The wages of sin is death, not life.
Are you saying that you are perfect? Or that the Spirit within you is perfect?
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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Robert E. Barger
Advanced Member
Member # 7998
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posted
#1) We are to be "perfect" as our Father in Heaven is perfect.
We have been told that we cannot be perfect, but the truth is it is a requirement that we must be perfect. This is why Jesus died that we might be Holy and righteous like our Father in Heaven is holy and righteous. That same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead "must" be in us to quicken our mortal bodies. That Spirit is with out sin. If we have sin in us we will not be quicken. The wages of sin is death, not life.
Matthew|5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew|19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Luke|6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
John|17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
John|17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
John|17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may
believe that thou hast sent me.
John|17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
John|17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made """perfect"""in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Romans|12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable
unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans|12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, """and perfect"", will of God.
1 Corinthians|13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1 Corinthians|13:10 But when that which is """perfect is come""", then that which is in part shall be done away. (Paul is now ging to give us an example to explain what he just said.)
1 Corinthians|13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I
put away childish things.
1 Corinthians|13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know ""even as also I am known"".
1 Corinthians|13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
2 Corinthians|13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. """Be perfect""", be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Ephesians|4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, """unto a perfect man""", unto the measure
of the stature ""of the fulness of Christ""":
Philippians|3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Philippians|3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Philippians|3:10 """That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;""""
Philippians|3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Philippians|3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for
which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Philippians|3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Philippians|3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians|3:15 Let us therefore, """"as many as be perfect, be thus minded"": and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal
even this unto you.
Colossians|1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Colossians|1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Colossians|1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; """which is Christ in
you, the hope of glory"""""":
Colossians|1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; """that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus""""":
Colossians|1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
2 Timothy|3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy|3:17 That the man of God may be """"perfect""""", thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Hebrews|12:22 But ye ""are come""" unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company
of angels,
Hebrews|12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn,
which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the ""spirits of just men made perfect""",
Hebrews|12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of
Abel.
Hebrews|13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Hebrews|13:21 """Make you perfect""" in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus
Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
James|1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, """that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing""""".
James|3:2 For in many things we offend all. """If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man"""", and able also to bridle the whole body.
1 Peter|5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, """make you perfect""", stablish, strengthen, settle you.
God in him.
1 John|4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: """because as he is, so are we in this world""".
1 John|4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in
love.
1 John|4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John|4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can
he love God whom he hath not seen?
You say that a person could lost the Spirit. Jesus said he would never leave us or forsake us. When the Spirit speaks, and we harden out heart, the Spirit never leaves us, but the Spirit will stop speaking to us, untill the curse comes upon us. The chastizment spoke of in Job, Proverbs and Hebrews 12 are when we go through things, and make the wrong chose, we are corrected of the Lord. Through this we learn by the things we suffer. Romans 5 Paul tells us to glory in tribulations knowing that tribulations worketh patienve, patience exsperience, and exsperience, HOPE, and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed aboard in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. When we first got saved we were carnal, and we are operating in another spirit, the spirit of the world. As we study, the Lord tells us that we must have our mind renewed that we might know the truth, because we are living a lie, a lie that Satan told us. As we study we see that Satan has come to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Once we learn how Satan works, we start taking back what he has stole. There comes a place where everything we do is the thing that Jesus would do. This is perfection. This is when we are born again of the Spirit of God. You can be born again of the Holy Ghost and sin, and ask forgiveness, you can be born again of the Son and still sin, ask forgiveness and you will be forgiven, but to be born again of the Father, you cannot have sin, and you cannot sin, because you are born of the Spirit of God, and you Love as the Father loves.
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Romans|11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all
things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Posts: 38 | From: Trafalgar, Indiana U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 2010
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Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
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posted
Hi Robert
I'm enjoying this. Some of our beliefs differ, and I hope you don't mind talking about them.
I don't believe that sinless perfection is possible for a human being in this life. Jesus Christ is the only sinless One. Sanctification is a process that continues all of our earthly lives as we grow to become more like Christ. But our salvation does not depend on our own righteousness; our salvation is made possible by the imputed righteousness of Christ.
quote:
What this scripture teaches is that there is a growing prosess that we must go through to put-on Christ, and few will make it because it requires total perfection, whivh means no sin in us.
The following is the prosses that must take place in our life. We must "take-off" the Old man of sin, and "put-on" the New man called Christ who is created after our Heavenly Father God, Love.
![[Cross]](graemlins/cross.gif) Here's what I think:
The instant an unsaved person sincerely prays, “God be merciful to me, a sinner,” the Holy Spirit immediately effects a five-fold work in him.
1. The Holy Spirit regenerates the believing sinner . He literally recreates him and gives him the nature of God. The Holy Spirit thus functions as a divine “midwife” to the repenting sinner as he ushers him into the kingdom of God. This is accomplished by the instrument of “water,” which is symbolic language for the Word of God. The following passages bear this out:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (Jn. 3:3-7).
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Pet. 1:23).
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures” (Jas. 1:18).
2. The Holy Spirit baptizes the believing sinner. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3, 4).
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13).
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27).
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:4, 5).
“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:12).
The question is often asked: Does a person have to be baptized to be saved? The answer is an emphatic yes—but not by water baptism. The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s placing the believer into the body of Christ is twofold:
a. He does it to answer Christ’s prayer for Christian unity.
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (Jn. 17:21).
b. He does it to prepare a bride for Christ, composed of all believers saved from Pentecost until the rapture.
“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another” (Rom. 12:5).
“For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread” (1 Cor. 10:17).
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13).
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Cor. 12:27).
“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:22, 23).
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling” (Eph. 4:4).
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12).
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body” (Eph. 5:23).
“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Eph. 5:30).
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body: and be ye thankful” (Col. 3:15).
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:2).
“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God” (Rev. 19:6-9).
3. The Holy Spirit indwells the believing sinner. In other words, he not only joins us to the Savior (through the baptism), but he joins himself to us. Jesus, prior to his crucifixion, predicted both of these ministries. He said:
“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me [the baptizing], and I in you [the indwelling]” (Jn. 14:20).
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Cor. 2:12).
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16).
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (Jn. 14:16).
“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)” (Jn. 7:37-39).
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Rom. 8:9).
“And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us” (1 Jn. 3:24).
The purpose of this indwelling ministry is to control the newly created nature.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law” (Gal. 5:16-18).
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16).
4. The Holy Spirit seals the believing sinner.
“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Cor. 1:22).
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13).
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).
The presence of the Holy Spirit himself seems to be the seal here, who is given by the Father to assure the believer of his eternal salvation. This seal is also referred to as an earnest.
“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Cor. 1:22).
“Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit” (2 Cor. 5:5).
“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:14).
5. The Holy Spirit fills the believing sinner.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
A great deal of controversy and misunderstanding throughout church history has come into existence concerning this ministry of the Holy Spirit. For example, what is the difference between the indwelling and the filling of the Holy Spirit? To aid in understanding this vital distinction, consider the following illustration.
A guest is invited into a home. But upon entering that home he is immediately confined to a small room somewhere near the front door. For awhile, he may even be forgotten by his host. Finally, however, the owner of the house is convicted concerning his shabby treatment of the house guest. He thereupon gives his guest free access to every room in the house.
In this illustration the Holy Spirit is, of course, the invited guest. The host is the believing sinner, and the house stands for his life. The difference then between the in-dwelling and the filling is the difference between being confined in a small room somewhere and being given free access to all the rooms.
The filling, therefore, does not mean the believer gets more of the Holy Spirit, but rather the Holy Spirit gets more of the believer.
In the light of these five ministries we may observe that:
6. All five of these ministries happen instantaneously to the believing sinner. They all occur by faith and are not in the least dependent upon one’s personal emotional feelings at the time.
7. The first four ministries can never be lost, and therefore need not be and should not be asked for again. Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to ask God to baptize us by his Spirit, or to seal us with his Spirit, or to regenerate and indwell us. If a man has accepted Christ, he has for all eternity been regenerated, indwelled, baptized, and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
8. The fifth ministry, however, can be lost, and therefore should be asked for as many times as needed . The following passages bring this out:
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).
Believers in the book of Acts experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit often in their lives.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel” (Acts 4:8).
“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (Acts 6:3).
“But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55).
“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 9:17).
“For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord” (Acts 11:24).
“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9)
“And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 13:52).
9. The first four ministries give us peace with God.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
But the fifth ministry assures us the peace of God.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7).
Thus, all Christians, regardless of how backslidden they might be, enjoy peace with God, but only Spirit-controlled believers can know that blessed peace of God.
10. In Acts 2:13 and in Ephesians 5:18 a comparison is made between being filled with the Spirit and being filled with wine.
“Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine” (Acts 2:13).
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).
In all fairness, a comparison can be made between these two:
a. Both control the user and give him a new boldness, one in the good sense and the other in the bad sense of the word.
b. Both produce a desire for more.
11. The fifth ministry is lost whenever disobedience is found in the life of the believer. This disobedience may manifest itself in either (or both) of the following ways:
a. The sin of quenching the Holy Spirit.
“Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thess. 5:19).
This sin involves not doing that which the Holy Spirit would have us do. It is negative in nature. The same word is used elsewhere in reference to the putting out of a fire.
“A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment into victory” (Mt. 12:20).
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph. 6:16).
“Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Heb. 11:34).
b. The sin of grieving the Holy Spirit.
“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).
This sin involves doing that which the Holy Spirit would not have us do. It is positive in nature.
To illustrate: A believer boards a plane in Chicago for Los Angeles and finds himself seated next to an unsaved man. In flight the Holy Spirit attempts to witness to the unsaved man through the testimony of the Christian, but he remains silent and fails to witness. At this point, the believer has quenched the Holy Spirit. He has not done that which the Spirit of God wanted him to do.
As the flight continues, however, the two men introduce themselves and begin talking, but not about spiritual things. In fact, to the shame of the Christian, several off-color stories are passed between the two men. Now the saved man has gone the second step and grieved the Holy Spirit—he has done that which the Holy Spirit did not want him to do.
These two sins, if left unchecked for a long period of time, can eventually lead to that “sin unto death” as described in the following passages:
“To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Cor. 5:5).
The sin unto death in this case was immorality on the part of a totally carnal believer in Corinth.
“For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep” (1 Cor. 11:30).
In the case of Ananias and Sapphira, gross dishonesty and blatant hypocrisy led to the sin unto death (Acts 5:1-11). That Ananias was indeed a believer is proven by the question Peter asked him:
“Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost… ?” (Acts 5:3).
The sin unto death does not mean one loses salvation, but it does imply the possibility that God will remove him from the scene down here earlier than originally planned. This seemed to have been in the thoughts of Paul when he wrote:
“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Cor. 9:26, 27).
12. The fifth ministry may (and should be) instantly regained. This can be accomplished:
a. By knowing God’s means of forgiveness and cleansing—the blood of Christ.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:7).
b. By knowing God’s method of forgiveness and cleansing—the confession of the Christian.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9).
This confession is absolutely vital, for while Christ’s blood will cleanse us from all sins, it will not cleanse us from a single excuse.
God does not demand golden vessels, nor does he require silver ones, but he must have clean ones. Thus the union with the Spirit is so strong that nothing can break it, but the communion with the Spirit is so fragile that the smallest sin can shatter it.
Consider another illustration: A family leaves California to visit friends in New York. The first half of their trip is rather uneventful, but while they are in the Chicago area, their automobile breaks down. After some difficulty, the services of a mechanic are secured and the car is repaired. What action does the family take now? Does the driver head back for California and take another run for New York? All would agree that this, of course, would be sheer stupidity. What does this family do? They simply continue on from the spot where they first broke down.
This little travel story has a direct application to the Spirit-filled life. When God saves a man, he puts him on the road to heaven. For a while the trip may go smoothly for the new convert. But there will come a time when he will break down somewhere along the line. Perhaps the spiritual motor trouble will be caused by some angry words, or a wicked deed, or some careless act. The Spirit has been quenched and grieved and all forward progress ceases immediately. There the man sits.
What should he do? He should immediately secure the services of that divine mechanic, the Holy Spirit. If he confesses his sins and depends upon Christ’s blood, his broken testimony will once again be restored. Then what should the believer do? The answer is obvious, of course; but there is a false concept among Christians today that once a child of God sins (particularly if it is a serious sin) he automatically loses all previous progress and must start all over. This simply is not the case! The secret of the Spirit-filled life is the knowledge that broken fellowship can be instantly restored by confession and by Christ’s blood.
13. The fifth ministry assures the believer of the following blessings:
a. The Holy Spirit will pray for him.
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom 8:26).
In the original text, the word “infirmities” is in the singular. Thus the one infirmity in mind here is our inability to pray as we ought to pray. It is for this reason that the Spirit comes to our aid. However, it should be kept in mind that the Bible says he “helpeth” us, which simply means he desires the Christian to do his part also. Therefore, to be effectively prayed for, we ourselves must pray.
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20).
“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Eph. 2:18).
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18).
b. The Holy Spirit will guide him.
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come” (Jn. 16:13).
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14).
c. The Holy Spirit will teach him.
“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (1 Jn. 2:27).
d. The Holy Spirit will empower him for witnessing.
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
e. The Holy Spirit will impart the love of Christ to him and through him.
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Rom. 5:5).
f. The Holy Spirit will conform him to the image of Christ.
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18).
The ultimate goal and stated intention of the Father is to conform the believer throughout eternity into the image of Christ. This is made clear in such passages as Philippians 3:21 and 1 John 3:2. But God the Spirit desires to start this glorious work in each child of God at the moment of salvation. (See Phil. 3:10.)
g. The Holy Spirit will strengthen his new nature.
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16).
This he does through Bible study (1 Pet. 2:2) and prayer (Jude 1:20).
h. The Holy Spirit will reveal biblical truth to him.
“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10).
i. The Holy Spirit will assure him concerning salvation and service.
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Rom. 8:16).
“And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us” (1 Jn. 3:24).
j. The Holy Spirit will give him liberty.
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2).
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17).
k. The Holy Spirit will fill his mouth with appropriate things.
“But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost” (Mk. 13:11).
Several instances come to mind in the book of Acts where this blessed prophecy was fulfilled. See Acts 4:8-22; 5:29-33; 7:55.
(Willmington's)
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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Robert E. Barger
Advanced Member
Member # 7998
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posted
Type-O
God not Go. Sorry. I type with one finger.
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Romans|11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all
things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Posts: 38 | From: Trafalgar, Indiana U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 2010
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Robert E. Barger
Advanced Member
Member # 7998
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posted
We Must “Take-Off “ The Old Man Of Sin, And “Put-On” The New Man, Christ!
Yes, the Holy Ghost is a person, when I said "it" I was not being disrepectful. Please forgive me. The scriptures teach that we are not sinless when we ask Jesus into our heart, but we are given "power to BECOME sons of God" John chapter 1
John|1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: This is why Jesus told us in John 14 that He must go away that the Holy Ghost, Comforter, Spirit of truth, would come and His purpose. By scriptures being changed and left out we have lost "truth" through the mistranlations.
What this scripture teaches is that there is a growing prosess that we must go through to put-on Christ, and few will make it because it requires total perfection, whivh means no sin in us. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is liken to a woman that hid leaven in three measures of meal till all was leavened.
Matthew|13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. In the same teaching Jesus said that the kingdom of God was likened unto a mustard seed, which is the smallest of seeds but it grows into a plant that birds can roast in its branches.
The following is the prosses that must take place in our life. We must "take-off" the Old man of sin, and "put-on" the New man called Christ who is created after our Heavenly Father Go, Love.
Romans|13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore “cast off” the works of darkness, and let us”put on” the armour of light.
Romans|13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Romans|13:14 But “put ye on” the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Galatians|3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Galatians|3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Galatians|3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians|3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Galatians|3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians|3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ
have “put on” Christ.
Galatians|3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians|3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians|4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Galatians|4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Ephesians|4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Ephesians|4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Ephesians|4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Ephesians|4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Ephesians|4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Ephesians|4:22 That ye ”put off” concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Ephesians|4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Ephesians|4:24 And that ye “put on” the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Ephesians|4:25 Wherefore “putting away lying”, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Ephesians|4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Ephesians|4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
Ephesians|4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Ephesians|4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Ephesians|4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Ephesians|4:31 “Let” all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be”put away from you”, with all malice:
Ephesians|4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians|6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Ephesians|6:11 “Put on” the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Colossians|3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Colossians|3:5 “Mortify” (Die to) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Colossians|3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Colossians|3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Colossians|3:8 But now ye also”put off” all these”; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Colossians|3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have “put off” the old man with his deeds;
Colossians|3:10 And have “put on” the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Colossians|3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Colossians|3:12 “ Put on” therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Colossians|3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Colossians|3:14 And above all these things “put on” charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Colossians|3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians|3:16 “Let” the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians|3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians|3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Colossians|3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
1 Corinthians|15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 Corinthians|15:52 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”, “at the last trump”: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Corinthians|15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must” put on” immortality.
1 Corinthians|15:54 So when this corruptible shall have” put on”incorruption, and this mortal shall have “put on” immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Corinthians|15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
(Very Important! 15:56 Gives you the understanding of the strength of sin. We must be sinless in Christ to be quicked. Christ (the anointing, being sinless) Christ has delivered me from the curse of the law!)
1 Corinthians|15:56 The sting of death is sin; (The power of death “is” sin!)
and the strength of sin is the law. (The strength of sin “is the law”. That’s why Christ had to keep all the law and be sinless that God would be able to raise Him from the dead that we might gain life eternal “through Him”!)
1 Corinthians|15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory” through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
1 Corinthians|15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
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Romans|11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all
things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Posts: 38 | From: Trafalgar, Indiana U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 2010
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Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
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posted
A child is also a gift from God. Does anyone call their child "it"?
In John 14:16-17 our Lord said:
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him , but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. (NASB)
Okay then, here is what I believe, and I think it answers your questions:
The Holy Spirit is a part of the Holy Trinity with the Father and Son.
Most Christians today understand Jesus the Son, and God the Father as two very distinct Persons within the Godhead; however, there has been much confusion over the identity of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps some of this dates back to the King James translation of the Bible where the word "Spirit" or "Ghost" was used instead of "Breathe" or "Wind" of God. In any case, many people throughout the ages have thought of the Holy Spirit more as a thing than a Person.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and in fact as we begin to know the Person of the Holy Spirit we will want to have a closer relationship with Him just as we would the Father or Son.
Although the word Trinity is not mentioned in the Bible, we know God is three in one. There are three very distinct Person’s that make up the Godhead. They are all equal in every way.
They (The Father, Son and Holy Spirit) are all:
Omnipotent – All powerful. Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.
Omnipresent – At all places at once. Psalms 139:7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence?
Omniscient – All knowing. 1 Corinthians 2:10 But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Eternal - Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Equal - Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own power? why have you conceived this thing in your heart? you have not lied unto men, but unto God.
The Holy Spirit was part of all things, from the very beginning of scripture to the very end of scripture
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God (elohiym (pronounced el-o-heem') created the heaven and the earth.
Elohiym is the plural form of God. Therefore, as scripture was inspired and man began to write the Word, it was evident to the writers that God was made of more than 1 Person but at the same time there was one Godhead.
There are many scriptural references that show the coexistence of the the entities within the Trinity
Luke 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Here we see the evidence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all mentioned within one verse. We also see the same reference elsewhere in the Gospels.
Matthew 3:16-17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Mark 1:10-13 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
Deuteronomy demonstrates the God Israel served was one Godhead made of a plurity of entities within that Godhead.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD (Y@hovah (pronounced yeh-ho-vaw') our God (elohiym) is one LORD (Y@hovah)
It is important to understand the Holy Spirit is truly God because of the fact that if we are born again He lives in us.
What we allow ourselves to be part of we are inviting God to be part of..
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Four important principles to remember
1) The Holy Spirit is God, but He is a Person, not a force
2) We cannot focus on the Holy Spirit too much. Why? What is the Holy Spirit’s mission? To reveal Jesus. What is Jesus mission…to reveal the Father. What about the Father…to send Jesus and the Holy Spirit so we can come to Him. Perfect Harmony. They never had a crisis management meeting in Heaven. They never tried to sit down and work things out. They never had a power struggle amongst themselves.
3) The Holy Spirit gives gifts for use in ministry and empowers effective ministry
4) The Holy Spirit is a distinct Person within the Godhead, not a force, a thing, or an "it"
Qualities that a person has…(a force or thing does not)
1) The Holy Spirit has intellect. 1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
2) The Holy Spirit has knowledge. 1 Corinthians 2:11 even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
3) The Holy Spirit has emotions. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve (lupeo (pronounced loo-peh'-o)); to make sad or sorrowful, heavy of heart) not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
4) The Holy Spirit has his own will and he makes decisions. Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia (pronounced froog-ee'-ah) and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
5) The Holy Spirit Loves. Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
Things only a person would do (a force or thing does not)
1) He teaches you things about God and yourself. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
2) He tells the truth. John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
3) He guides. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
4) He convinces. John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
5) He prays for you. Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
6) He commands. Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
The Holy Spirit was on the scene long before the day of Pentecost
He moved upon the face of the waters and was the active agent in creation. Jesus was the Word, the Holy Spirit moved.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God (elohiym el-o-heem') created the heaven and the earth.
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:27 So God (elohiym again) created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
The Holy Spirit gave us the Word of God. 2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Spirit regenerates our spirit when we accept Jesus Christ into our life. John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
In fact, the Holy Spirit has always worked hand-in-hand with Jesus Christ
His Birth - Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
The life and ministry of Jesus - Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness AND… Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
His death and offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice- Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The resurrection of Jesus – Actually all 3 members of the Godhead had a part in the resurrection!
Father - Ephesians 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Son (He had the power to take His own life up again) - John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Holy Ghost - Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
In fact, the main purpose of the Holy Spirit is to tell us about Jesus and Glorify Him. John 16:13-14 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
What All Happened on the Day of Pentecost?
+ Jesus said it was imperative that He go or the Spirit would not be sent
+ Jesus felt it important enough for them to wait until the Spirit came to empower them
+ Jesus own mother needed the baptism of the Holy Spirit to be an effective witness.
+ On the day of Pentecost, the believers who were assembled in the Upper Room experience a new Baptism, the one which John referred to.
http://www.theholyspirit.com/HolySpiritPerson.asp
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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Robert E. Barger
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The scriptures call "it", "the gift" of the Holy Ghost.
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Romans|11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all
things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Posts: 38 | From: Trafalgar, Indiana U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 2010
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Robert E. Barger
Advanced Member
Member # 7998
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Do we need the "Holy Ghost (Comforter, Spirit of truth) To-day? And what is the proof you have it?
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Romans|11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all
things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Posts: 38 | From: Trafalgar, Indiana U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 2010
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