Question: What is the gospels essential message?
Answer: The gospels essential message is: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15
Question: What is the gospels essential purpose?
Answer: The gospels essential purpose is to reconcile all things to God; whether things on earth or things in heaven; through the blood of Christ’s cross (Col. 1:15-23). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Question: Is anybody; I mean really wicked and vile people, are they excluded?
Answer: The Lord Jesus Christ who is the Author and Finisher of the faith (Heb. 12:2) makes it perfectly clear. Nobody is excluded who repents and believes (Matt. 9:9-13; 21:28-32; John 12:32; 1 John 2:2; 2 Peter 3:9).
Question: What then does the gospel require of me?
Answer: Repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Who then brings to Spirit life, and transforms the lives of everyone who believes in Him by the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit. For the Father's command is that all people know Him through the Person of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:3; Acts 10:43). Everything else than that is found in the N.T. or is done in Jesus Christ’s Name must be an outworking of faith in and obedience towards God. “For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11:6
Question: What does it mean to repent?
Answer: Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines repentance as: “a turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning back to God.” In this repentance often begins with a change of mind about oneself; ones sin, and or one's opinions about God or others. In the gospel it is so important that the Lord Jesus said unless a person repents they cannot be saved (Luke 13:1-5). Repentant then is a person’s state of being that precedes their receiving God’s grace (Consider Prov. 28:13; Isaiah 55:6-7; Luke 7:36-50; 18:9-14; James 4:8-10). The Apostle Paul wrote, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." 2 Cor 7:10
Therefore Godly sorrow is what the law is meant to produce in us so that we might acknowledge our sins and helplessness to God and receive His mercy by putting our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus who was crucified for all our sins and transgressions. Repentance then brings us to the place where God saves us (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore when anyone repents (turns from their sin and turns to God by faith in Jesus Christ) the Lord Jesus Christ said there is exceedingly great joy in heaven (Luke 15:11-32). The Apostle Paul made it clear that God’s longsuffering towards all humanity is so that all might repent (Rom. 2:4). For the Lord Jesus said He did not come to call the “righteous” but rather sinners to repentance (Matt. 9:13; Rev. 3:19). For the gospel’s purpose is that all people might come to repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21; 2 Peter 3:9).
Answer: To believe means to unconditionally trust in the One True God and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3). That is God’s Son the Lord Jesus Christ’s Sinless life, crucifixion death and resurrection from the grave, then ascension back to God the Father in heaven as all sufficient to not only save us from the judgment to come, and in so doing bring us back into a right relationship with God the Father, but give us eternal life the moment we believe in Him (John 3:16; Eph 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:18-21). Therefore salvation hinges not on what we have done. But what God in His love for us all has already done through His Son Jesus Christ, and all while we were still sinners and separated from Him (Rom. 5:8). Our response then to this Good News of God freely justifying any repentant sinner who puts their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:9) must be a total and unconditional trust in what God has done to save us (Rom. 4:4-5). That is how one receives the grace of God that brings salvation and thus eternal life (Eph. 2:8-9). Not by trying to pay for ones sins, or by doing good deeds to try to make oneself acceptable to God, but rather by the precious blood of Jesus Christ as of a Lamb without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19). Whose blood was shed unto death on Calvary’s cross where God atoned for all our sins and made salvation possible for everyone who repents and believes in Jesus Christ the Lord (John 3:16-21; Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; Eph. 1:13-14). For salvation is a free gift of God given to everyone who believes in and thus receives Jesus Christ as Lord (John 1:12; 3:16; Rom 10:9-10, 13; Titus 3:4-7; Rev 3:21). Therefore God’s righteousness through the saving work of Jesus Christ His Son, crucified for our sins remission, and raised from the dead for our justification, is where a person’s hope and trust must fully rest (Rom. 10:9-10). For ones obedience to the Law plays no part in their salvation; nor does ones disobedience while ignorant and separated from God cause God's rejection of them. Rather for all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ there is salvation freely given as a gift of God through the grace of God. "For whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved" Rom. 10:13 (Luke 24:47; Rom. 3:19-28, 4:4-5, 5:1, 9:11; 11:6, Gal. 2:16, 19-21, 3:10-14, 23-25, 4:21-31; Philippians 3:7-9). “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Rom. 3:27-28 Now to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ means that we also learn to put into practice the things that Jesus and the Biblical Apostles taught and commanded (Rom. 1:5-6); which leads us to obedience.
Question: What does it mean to obey?
Answer: To obey is to keep the Lord Jesus Christ’s and the Biblical Apostle’s commandments, not flawlessly, but faithfully (1 John 3:1-24). Therefore as children of God, saved by the grace of God, we must learn to obey God the Father by keeping the Son of God, Jesus Christ's commandments given, in the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20; Rom. 1:5; 2 Thess. 1:8; Heb. 5:9; 1 Peter 4:17) and in His Apostle’s letters (Acts 1:1-2; 1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 3:13-17). That is what discipleship is, and what God requires of everyone, obedience to the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Rom. 16:26; 1 Thess. 1:8-10). For the Lord Jesus Christ said: “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” John 4:24 Therefore there is nothing (whether through ancient culture anomalies or current societal changes) that annuls any New Testament commandments for those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord (Matthew 28:18-20; Rom. 1:5-6; Heb. 13:8; 1 Peter 1:2). Yet any thought of obedience to God must begin first with Jesus Christ Himself. Since He alone obeyed God perfectly and restores to believing humanity what Adam, the first man, through his disobedience forfeited; that is a righteous standing before God the Father (Rom. 5:12-21; 2 Peter 2:1). Therefore obedience of a believer towards the Risen Lord Jesus Christ is not a means to salvation (Gal. 2:21; Phil. 3:7-9) but is a result of having been saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ’s Person (Acts 13:38-39; Eph. 2:8-9). For only then are we justified in the sight of God (Rom. 5:1) and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to become children of God which brings a heartfelt desire to grow in our obedience towards Him (Rom. 1:3-5).
Question: Who is the Holy Spirit?
Question: How does someone get the Holy Spirit?
Question: Does the Holy Spirit ever leave us?
Answer: Holy Spirit baptism is an often misused term, nonetheless it occurs the moment one believes in Jesus Christ as Lord (Matthew 3:11; John 3:3-5). At that point an individual is baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body (Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:4; Col. 3:3) receiving all of God’s fullness then (Col. 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7). Since this baptism is of God's Spirit only the Lord Jesus Christ can baptize someone with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33; 16:7). Holy Spirit baptism then is something that God does to us when we believe in the crucified and Risen Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:9-10). It is not something that someone does to us. It is what the Holy Spirit does in us when we believe in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ as testified to in the Scriptures (John 7:37-39). Therefore by the Holy Spirit we are transformed (i.e. regenerated) from spiritual death and brought to eternal life and positioned into the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit then is the perpetual Presence and Power of God in our lives at and after our re-birth (John 3:3; Acts 1:8). Therefore through Holy Spirit baptism we immediately become partakers of Christ’s crucifixion death (Rom. 6:6), as well as His resurrection life, thereby we are joint heirs with the Risen Christ (Rom. 8:16-17), the moment we believe (Eph. 1:13-14). These then are not things someone must strive for. They are gifts and the works of Almighty God, given and done to us simply by our faith In Jesus Christ as Lord (Rom. 9:16; Eph. 2:4-9). Now it is often noted in the Book of Acts that by the laying on of hands the Holy Spirit was given (Acts 8:18). Yet what is not always noted is that in those instances where the Holy Spirit was given, through the laying on of hands by Christ's Biblical Apostles, unique circumstances existed in the then unfolding revelation of God’s will for the church. Therefore if Jesus Christ choose through the laying on of hands that the Holy Spirit should indwell an individual to confirm an individual or people’s group faith In Him in the then unfolding revelation of His will for the new born church (Acts 11:8; Eph. 3:4-7). That should not now be construed as the norm after the fulfilment of such revelation has been given (Heb. 2:4; Jude 3; Rev. 22:18-19). For if the laying on of hands was required to bring the Holy Spirit then the N.T. which records Jesus Christ’s commandments that He through the Holy Spirit gave to the Biblical Apostles would have stated as much (Acts 1:3; Eph. 2:20-22).
Therefore the wrong and misleading emphasis on the speaking of tongues as a requirement for (or proof of) salvation is not something taught or found in the Scriptures. It occurred early on but always as a means to display to the then predominantly Jewish church Apostle's and elders God's acceptance of other peoples and groups simply by their faith in Jesus (Acts 11:15-18). Therefore as these realities became understood by them such occurrences seemed to have diminished and then ceased to occur. And so, for us who now have the completed Revelation of God there is no need to seek or look for such occurrences now. For God accepts all people (regardless of their ethnicity) simply by their repentance towards Himself with faith in His Son Jesus. Therefore when tongues speaking is exalted beyond what its original purposes served and accomplished you not only open the door to man-made and demonic impersonations of it (consider 1 Cor. 12:1-2; James 3:13-18) you also risk supplanting the cross of Christ, and thus the work of God, with the works of man, when such things are held in undue regard, often being coerced or coached. All which is utterly hostile to worshiping God in Spirit and truth (John 4:24) as well as the gospel’s message of salvation by God's grace through faith In Jesus Christ alone (not faith in Jesus +). Therefore the gospels message is put your faith in Jesus Christ the Lord; King of kings; Lord of lords; crucified and risen from the dead; ascended to the right hand of God the Father so that when anyone repents and believes in Jesus Christ they are baptized by the Holy Spirit; (whether this accompanies visible signs of this or not), thereby one is saved and brought to Spirit life by the grace of Almighty God (John 3:16-21). For that is what is required of us, repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21).
Question: What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?
Answer: To be filled with the Spirit is to be empowered by the already indwelling Holy Spirit and is a distinct work of God in a believers life. Now there are times when a believer may experience a profound filling of the Spirit; at personal baptism; giving a testimony; during worship or witnessing etc. Or in any circumstance where God wants to empower His child for His service or make the reality of His Presence known. Generally though for this to occur sin must be first confessed and put away and Jesus Christ and His work at Calvary must be our all-sufficiency (John 6:63; 1 Cor. 1:23-31; 2 Cor. 3:5-6, 2 Cor. 12:9-10; Gal. 5:16-23; Rom. 8). That is the basis of every revival; God’s people begin to get right with God and each other. As well in the Scriptures the Holy Spirit filling often came upon early church members as they prayed and fasted; and thus as they were seeking to do God’s will in God’s Spirit’s Strength and Power; thus there was a strong dependency on God's Resources as well as a desire there for the Lord Jesus Christ to be exalted and made known. For effectiveness in the Christian life is by the Power of the Holy Spirit (the filling of the Spirit) that we receive when we pray for His help and yield to God’s will for our lives (Acts 4:23-31). Thus it requires both our obedience to the will of God as well as humility (James 4:7-10). Now being filled with the Spirit is not is trying to be “spiritual” by trying to emulate Holy Spirit gifts, for to be filled with the Spirit is a command given to those who already believe, it is not a means to salvation (Eph. 5:18-21). Nor as a means to attain Holy Spirit gifts, since it is He who alone distributes these to each believer as He Himself wills. Thus trying to acquire or manifest a Holy Spirit gift (i.e. tongues) by one’s own efforts may indeed cause one to receive another spirit that is not the Spirit of the Lord. Since one is not seeking God’s will but rather their own (consider James 3:13-18). Therefore as individual believers as the Temple of the Lord if we want to be Spirit filled we should first seek to purify our lives from any and everything that is intoxicating and fill our hearts with thanksgiving and praise to God that the Holy Spirit might also fill us (1 John 3:1-3). For to be Holy Spirit filled one need not exercise charismatic gifts; one only needs to believe in Jesus then abide in Christ’s love.
Question: What are some of the attributes of being filled with the Spirit?
Answer: When the early disciples prayed for and were filled
by the Holy Spirit there was a boldness in
their witness for Jesus Christ that would not have been otherwise present
without His filling (Acts 4:29-31). Now often times the tongues languages at
Pentecost is emphasized as being a mark of being filled with the Spirit; which
it was then. For it revealed to the Jews from around the world who were assembled
in Jerusalem in their own countries languages; the profound Holy Spirit outpouring
God had given these men to bear witness of Christ’s glory. Now the Apostle
Peters dynamic preaching of Jesus Christ which later brought about the
conversion of many Jews who were gathered in Jerusalem to worship God during
the Feast of Weeks, was by Peter being filled with the Holy Spirit. Thus the
Peter of the gospels; compared with Peter empowered by the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost and elsewhere when and what he preached, is night and day (as others
have noted). From being a man whose passion sometimes misled him to speak
untimely and ill considered of things or persons, (Matt. 16:21-23; 17:1-9 etc.)
to arguably the early followers most dynamic and sound preacher. Rightly dividing
the Word of God with such skill that one marvels at the change. Which was
clearly a work of God through His chosen vessel as the Jewish High Priest;
elders and rulers all noted of both him and John (Acts 4:13). Therefore being
Holy Spirit filled is the supernatural empowerment of either the gifts the
Spirit has already given a believer; or the fruits of the Spirit in a
believer’s life. And the purpose is to testify to the Lord Jesus Christ. As He said:
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Now there are nine fruits of the Spirit that every believer inherently receives, they are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness; faithfulness; self-control (Gal. 5:22-23 NKJ). Now a filling of the Spirit can supernaturally invigorate anyone of these or a combination of these (along with Spirit gifts) in our lives at any time. In fact, every and any fruit of the Spirit is available to us if we ask in faith while submitting ourselves to God’s will for us; which is always in accord with Jesus' and the Biblical Apostle's commandments. Yet unlike salvation (which cannot be lost) being Spirit filled can definitely be hindered or restricted by us when we grieve the Holy Spirit through sin and or disobedience (Eph. 4:29-31).
Therefore at rebirth all the raw materials are in place and so they are not listed as ideals; but rather as gifts of the Holy Spirit who dwells inside each believer (Rom. 8:9). We then are to live these out in our daily lives growing in Christ likeness by being led by the Spirit of God and not our sinful flesh (Rom. 8:4-8; Gal 5:16-18; 22-25). For these fruits are manifested through us as a kind of living reality of the Presence and transforming Power of Jesus Christ in our lives (Col. 1:27; 3:3). Therefore they, not the Law are to be the means by which a believer’s life is governed (Rom. 6:14). “For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Rom 13:9-10
Now in the first generation of believers after the Holy Spirit’s outpouring charismatic gifts were predominate. People clearly saw the supernatural work of God through tongues speaking, healings and miracles. Yet those things were never intended to be a means to an end. “For we walk by faith not by sight” 2 Cor 5:7 So after those things had served their witness to first the Jews (Acts 2); then the Samaritans; (Acts 8) and finally the Gentiles (Acts 10). The Holy Spirit’s use of them began to diminish as His work in establishing a faith based witness for Jesus Christ through His own transforming power and work in believers lives began to dominate church experience and theology (Titus 3:4-7). Love then became and must be according to Jesus Christ’s commandment the primary identifying feature of His true believers (John 13:34-35; 1 Cor. 12-14).
The Apostle Paul both spoke in tongues and did many healings and miracles and such. Yet his emphasis for the people that God came to faith in Jesus Christ through his preaching was not to strive for or emulate the miraculous or supernatural rather believe the gospel then be by the Holy Spirit’s transforming power conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 6-8) which he modeled exemplary (1 Cor. 14:15-17; 11:1). For the gospel of Jesus Christ is after all a grace-based message that commends everyone to repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21; 1 Cor. 1:22-25, 2 Cor. 5:7). With the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit making men and woman once dead in trespasses and sins alive to God by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord whether seeing and or manifesting Spirit gifts (Eph. 2:1-9). Therefore “…do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Heb 6:12
Question: What are some of the ongoing works of the Holy Spirit in a Believers life?
Now running parallel to this renewal is the Holy Spirit’s strengthening of us and our works for Christ. Though believers accomplish tasks, it is the Holy Spirit’s empowerment that makes those deeds achievable and fully attainable, as Jesus said (John 14:12). In this the Apostle Paul prayed for us all in Christ “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” Eph 3:16 For the Christian life is to be lived in the Power of the Spirit, and not the power of ones flesh; that is not in ones physical or intellectual capacities. For independence of spirit is one of the greatest hindrances to Holy Spirit empowerment. On that note then some of the Holy Spirit helps in a believers life are listed bellow to encourage and strengthen and hopefully guide your faith into all grace and truth.
Holy Spirit Works
To Secure Us:
To Unite Us:
To Intercede For Us:
To Empower Us:
Question: What does the Holy Spirit do?
So then towards us who believe the Holy Spirit is the love of God poured out into our hearts (Rom. 5:5); who bears witness to the truth (i.e. the Word of God) and our relationship to Jesus Christ through it (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:22-25; 1 John 4:4-6). While to the unbelieving and unrepentant world He is the Spirit of God who convicts the world of sin; and of God's Righteousness and of Judgment.
Therefore towards us who believe the Holy Spirit is the comfort and assurance of God in our persons and lives who bears witness to the truth and the love of God that we have in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; sealing and sanctifying us all for the Day of Redemption who receive and believe and obey the truth of the gospel (2 Thess. 2:10-13). Now in an outworking sense in a believer's life just as the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus Christ and the Apostles miracles and healings, so now the Holy Spirit also empowers us for Christ's witness, worship and service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Eph. 4:8-16). To both build up the church by serving there with the Spirit gifts He gives each believer according to His own will; but also He equips and empowers us to work with Him to reconcile separated humanity back to God by Christ (2 Cor. 2:14-17; Heb. 2:4). For that is God’s desire. Not to condemn the world through the gospel (Matt. 9:13; John 3:17) but to reconcile all people back to Himself who believe in Jesus Christ through His shed blood on the cross and resurrection from grave, and thus believe in and confess Jesus as Lord alone (Acts 4:12; Rom. 10:9-10, 13; Col. 1:15-23; 1 Tim. 2:5). For God desires no one to perish in their sins and unbelief, but rather that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) and faith in Jesus Christ's Person (Acts 26:15-18).
Therefore when anyone believes in Jesus Christ as Lord the Holy Spirit regenerates them (Titus 3:4-7) making us immediately a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) having put to death our old nature with Jesus Christ through His crucifixion death (Rom 6). Now in this our old sin nature is not said to be eliminated, but rather crucified. Thus the Holy Spirit is the One who both empowers and transforms us to be more and more like Christ until our complete transformation is concluded with our being reunited with Christ (1 Cor. 15:20-58). But for now we all retain a sin nature (1 John 1:8-10). Therefore we must continually subjugate the sinful flesh to the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-23) by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:2) in accord with the grace of God given to us through the New Covenant (Rom. 6:14; 7:4-6; 1 Cor. 15:56). Therefore with the Spirit of God there is amazing liberty from sin, Law and judgment (2 Cor. 3:17; Rom. 5:1; 6:14; 8:1). For it is the Holy Spirit not the Law, who empowers us to live a godly life (Rom. 6:15-23; 2 Cor. 3:5-6; Gal. 3:2-3; 5:22-23). Initially then the Holy Spirit makes us alive who were once dead in our own sins and trespasses (Eph. 2:1-3) sealing us forever in God and Christ (Eph 1:13-14). Then it is He who empowers us for Christ's witness, worship, and service, in essence "the Christian life."
Now in evidence of this new birth the Holy Spirit is the One whom the Lord Jesus refers to in His discussion of spiritual things with Nicodemus. There Jesus emphasized an individual must be born both of water (meaning natural birth) and Spirit (meaning Holy Spirit rebirth or regeneration) to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus called this being born of the Spirit being born-again (John 3:3-5).
Now as their discussion unfolds it becomes quite clear this is impossible for someone to do for themselves. Yet through that temporary impasse Jesus will emphasize not what an individual must do to be born again, to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. But rather what He shall do for all of humanity who like the O.T. Israelites were commanded to look to serpent on the rod. So now each and every individual must look on Christ’s crucifixion death trusting in Him alone to pay for all their sins to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (John 3:15-16; 5:24). Therefore when anyone believes in the Lord Jesus Christ they are born-again; that is born of the Spirit of God and are sealed by Him until the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14).
Question: Is water baptism necessary for salvation?
Question: Who is qualified to interpret Scripture?
Answer: Beside those Spirit gifted individuals who have the gifts of prophecy; teaching; evangelism etc. Those children of God who seek to obey the Word of the Lord (Jeremiah 7:23-24; Hosea 9:17; Acts 5:32; Rom. 1:5) can be said to be qualified to interpret Scripture. For the Holy Spirit guides every individual who is born by Him by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ into all truth (1 John 2:27). Hence the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth, through the Word of God guides the children of God individually and collectively into all truth (John 16:13-15). Teaching us to compare spiritual things with spiritual (1 Cor. 2:10-16). Thus obedience (Ecc. 12:12-13; John 14:15-17) and discernment are intertwined (1 John 4:1-3). Another important point is humility (Isaiah 66:2). For in shunning worldliness and selfish ambition (2 Cor. 2:17; James 3:13-18; 1 John 2:15-17) one separates themselves from evil influences (James 4:4-10). Finally doctrinal integrity is critical (Titus 1:14-16; Titus 2:7) because unless one is faithful to the truth, they and those who hear them, will not be set free (John 8:32; Rom. 4:4-5; Gal. 1:6-9; 5:1, 4-5; Col. 2:20-23; 1 Tim. 1:5-7; 4:1-3; 1 John 2:20-23). Still the fact that all who believe can understand and discern the Scriptures for themselves. Does not qualify all to teach, or newborn believers to shepherd a congregation. For though both young and old in the faith may readily apprehend spiritual truths, only those who are gifted and proven, are qualified to shepherd the fold of God (Acts 15:1-32; 1 Cor. 11:19; 2 Cor. 10:18; 1 Thess. 2:4; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 2 Tim. 2:15). On that note the Greek word translated approved in 2 Tim. 2:15 is dokimos see excerpt below from Strongs for its significance.
Scripture Quotations:
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
[i]Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
Note: this is an ongoing work, new sections will be added as completed.
Answer: The gospels essential message is: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15
Question: What is the gospels essential purpose?
Answer: The gospels essential purpose is to reconcile all things to God; whether things on earth or things in heaven; through the blood of Christ’s cross (Col. 1:15-23). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Question: Is anybody; I mean really wicked and vile people, are they excluded?
Answer: The Lord Jesus Christ who is the Author and Finisher of the faith (Heb. 12:2) makes it perfectly clear. Nobody is excluded who repents and believes (Matt. 9:9-13; 21:28-32; John 12:32; 1 John 2:2; 2 Peter 3:9).
Question: What then does the gospel require of me?
Answer: Repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Who then brings to Spirit life, and transforms the lives of everyone who believes in Him by the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit. For the Father's command is that all people know Him through the Person of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:3; Acts 10:43). Everything else than that is found in the N.T. or is done in Jesus Christ’s Name must be an outworking of faith in and obedience towards God. “For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11:6
Question: What does it mean to repent?
Answer: Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines repentance as: “a turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning back to God.” In this repentance often begins with a change of mind about oneself; ones sin, and or one's opinions about God or others. In the gospel it is so important that the Lord Jesus said unless a person repents they cannot be saved (Luke 13:1-5). Repentant then is a person’s state of being that precedes their receiving God’s grace (Consider Prov. 28:13; Isaiah 55:6-7; Luke 7:36-50; 18:9-14; James 4:8-10). The Apostle Paul wrote, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." 2 Cor 7:10
Therefore Godly sorrow is what the law is meant to produce in us so that we might acknowledge our sins and helplessness to God and receive His mercy by putting our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus who was crucified for all our sins and transgressions. Repentance then brings us to the place where God saves us (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore when anyone repents (turns from their sin and turns to God by faith in Jesus Christ) the Lord Jesus Christ said there is exceedingly great joy in heaven (Luke 15:11-32). The Apostle Paul made it clear that God’s longsuffering towards all humanity is so that all might repent (Rom. 2:4). For the Lord Jesus said He did not come to call the “righteous” but rather sinners to repentance (Matt. 9:13; Rev. 3:19). For the gospel’s purpose is that all people might come to repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21; 2 Peter 3:9).
Question: What does it mean to believe?
Answer: To believe means to unconditionally trust in the One True God and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3). That is God’s Son the Lord Jesus Christ’s Sinless life, crucifixion death and resurrection from the grave, then ascension back to God the Father in heaven as all sufficient to not only save us from the judgment to come, and in so doing bring us back into a right relationship with God the Father, but give us eternal life the moment we believe in Him (John 3:16; Eph 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:18-21). Therefore salvation hinges not on what we have done. But what God in His love for us all has already done through His Son Jesus Christ, and all while we were still sinners and separated from Him (Rom. 5:8). Our response then to this Good News of God freely justifying any repentant sinner who puts their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:9) must be a total and unconditional trust in what God has done to save us (Rom. 4:4-5). That is how one receives the grace of God that brings salvation and thus eternal life (Eph. 2:8-9). Not by trying to pay for ones sins, or by doing good deeds to try to make oneself acceptable to God, but rather by the precious blood of Jesus Christ as of a Lamb without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19). Whose blood was shed unto death on Calvary’s cross where God atoned for all our sins and made salvation possible for everyone who repents and believes in Jesus Christ the Lord (John 3:16-21; Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; Eph. 1:13-14). For salvation is a free gift of God given to everyone who believes in and thus receives Jesus Christ as Lord (John 1:12; 3:16; Rom 10:9-10, 13; Titus 3:4-7; Rev 3:21). Therefore God’s righteousness through the saving work of Jesus Christ His Son, crucified for our sins remission, and raised from the dead for our justification, is where a person’s hope and trust must fully rest (Rom. 10:9-10). For ones obedience to the Law plays no part in their salvation; nor does ones disobedience while ignorant and separated from God cause God's rejection of them. Rather for all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ there is salvation freely given as a gift of God through the grace of God. "For whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved" Rom. 10:13 (Luke 24:47; Rom. 3:19-28, 4:4-5, 5:1, 9:11; 11:6, Gal. 2:16, 19-21, 3:10-14, 23-25, 4:21-31; Philippians 3:7-9). “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Rom. 3:27-28 Now to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ means that we also learn to put into practice the things that Jesus and the Biblical Apostles taught and commanded (Rom. 1:5-6); which leads us to obedience.
Question: What does it mean to obey?
Answer: To obey is to keep the Lord Jesus Christ’s and the Biblical Apostle’s commandments, not flawlessly, but faithfully (1 John 3:1-24). Therefore as children of God, saved by the grace of God, we must learn to obey God the Father by keeping the Son of God, Jesus Christ's commandments given, in the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20; Rom. 1:5; 2 Thess. 1:8; Heb. 5:9; 1 Peter 4:17) and in His Apostle’s letters (Acts 1:1-2; 1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 3:13-17). That is what discipleship is, and what God requires of everyone, obedience to the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Rom. 16:26; 1 Thess. 1:8-10). For the Lord Jesus Christ said: “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” John 4:24 Therefore there is nothing (whether through ancient culture anomalies or current societal changes) that annuls any New Testament commandments for those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord (Matthew 28:18-20; Rom. 1:5-6; Heb. 13:8; 1 Peter 1:2). Yet any thought of obedience to God must begin first with Jesus Christ Himself. Since He alone obeyed God perfectly and restores to believing humanity what Adam, the first man, through his disobedience forfeited; that is a righteous standing before God the Father (Rom. 5:12-21; 2 Peter 2:1). Therefore obedience of a believer towards the Risen Lord Jesus Christ is not a means to salvation (Gal. 2:21; Phil. 3:7-9) but is a result of having been saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ’s Person (Acts 13:38-39; Eph. 2:8-9). For only then are we justified in the sight of God (Rom. 5:1) and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to become children of God which brings a heartfelt desire to grow in our obedience towards Him (Rom. 1:3-5).
Question: Who is the Holy Spirit?
Answer: The Holy Spirit is the Person of God
who brings to life (i.e. regenerates
or first transforms through new birth) everyone who believes in Jesus Christ
the Lord (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:4-7). Then the Holy Spirit is the Person of God who both gifts and empowers every believer for Christ's service and life. Therefore the Holy Spirit is also called
the Spirit of the Lord (Judges 15:14; 2 Samuel 23:2; Isaiah 11:2, 61:1;
Luke 4:17; 2 Cor. 3:17) Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:14) the Holy Spirit
of God (Eph. 4:30); Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9); Spirit of truth
(John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13); Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29) Spirit of
holiness (Rom. 1:4) or simply Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). Like Jesus
Christ He is equal with God the Father, and like Jesus He is a distinct Person
in the Godhead, with a distinct role in the Believers life. Like the Son of
God; the Spirit of God, was with God the Father in the beginning (Gen 1:2;
1:26).
Question: How does someone get the Holy Spirit?
Answer: The Holy Spirit comes to live in a
person the moment they believe
in Jesus Christ the Lord (Eph. 1:13-14). For
that is sole means of salvation, faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior crucified
for our sins remission and raised from the dead for our justification. The Holy
Spirit then is the seal or guarantor of our inheritance, that we have received
remission of all our sins and have eternal life (Rom. 8:16; Eph. 4:30; 2
Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5). Therefore when anyone opens their heart to God (John 1:12; Rev 3:20)
by believing in Jesus Christ the Lord (John 14:6), trusting His death on the
cross (John 3:16), and resurrection from the grave, God the Father sends the
Holy Spirit to live in them forever (Rom. 10:9-10, 13). The
Holy Spirit then is the fulfillment of Jesus’ Promise made to the disciples
before His departure; that He would forever abide in us all who believe in Him (John
14:15-18, 26; 15:26; 16:13-14). Therefore the world cannot receive the Spirit
of truth
“…because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you
know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. John 14:17-18 Therefore the Holy Spirit’s presence after
Pentecost in an individual’s life is only by a personal faith in the Risen Lord
Jesus Christ (John 7:37-39). That is how one receives the Holy Spirit. Not by human
works whether one's own or someone else's; whether done by Law or by Christian
religious observances. Only by a Personal faith or trust in Jesus Christ as
testified to in the Scriptures does one receive the Holy Spirit as a gift from
God. Therefore the Holy Spirit does not come by an individual’s desire to
receive or emulate His Spirit gifts. The Holy Spirit only comes by a
personal faith In Jesus Christ (Luke 24:47; Acts 5:32; 10:34-44; 15:8-9; Gal.
3:2-3). As the Apostle Peter said of Gentile believers in relation to then
Jewish believers who were all turning to God through faith in Christ: …“So God,
who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He
did to us, 9 “and made no distinction between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith. Acts 15:8-9
Question: Does the Holy Spirit come in His
fullness at salvation?
Answer: Yes. The Holy Spirit comes in
His fullness into someone’s life the
moment they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. For the Scripture declares
that God does not give the Spirit by measure (John 3:34). Thus you do not receive a partial filling of the Spirit at re-birth and then more later on. Therefore when anyone
believes in Jesus Christ as testified too in the Scriptures they receive all
the fullness of Godhead by the Holy Spirit then, of both Father; Son and Spirit
(Col. 2:9). The Holy Spirit then is the cause of our
being born-again (John 3:3-5); regeneration (Titus 3:5); as well as our
sanctification (1 Cor. 6:11; Heb. 10:14). Which is both an initial state (i.e.
sanctified; 2 Thess. 2:13) as well as an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, who progressively transforms
each and every believer into Christ likeness. Therefore being baptized by the
Spirit (which is another way of describing His work at salvation; Matt. 3:11)
happens when someone believes In Jesus Christ the Lord. When that happens they
are immediately born again (John 3:3-5) spiritually united with the Lord Jesus
Christ in all aspects of His current Life; previous crucifixion death; and resurrection
from the dead (Rom. 6:1-11; 1 Cor. 6:17). Thus we are also immediately positioned
into the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13) receiving all the fullness of God then.
“For it pleased the Father that in Him (In Christ) all the
fullness should dwell” Col. 1:19 No one than should
ever fret that they have not received all of the Holy Spirit and thereby God’s gifts
and provisions and empowerment for them (Eph. 4:7-8) when they have come to a
personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph.
1:3). Similarly no believer should fret if they do not exercise a similar
gift as someone else, thinking they lack something. For the Body of Christ is
intentionally diverse with each believer receiving gifts according to the
Spirit’s will, not mans (1 Cor. 12:11). Thereby making us all interdependent on each
other for our functioning well as a whole (1 Cor. 12:12-31). And though some
gifts are more “prominent” in the church then others (1 Cor. 12:28-31; Eph. 4:11-12); all
gifts are to be exercised for the church’s edification in love; for love is the finial goal of our sanctification not practicing or trying to emulate Spirit gifts (1 Cor. 14:5,
12, 26; 13:1-13; 2 Cor. 12:10). Therefore: “Beware lest anyone cheat you
through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men,
according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and
you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Col. 2:9-10
Question: Does the Holy Spirit ever leave us?
Answer: No. The Lord Jesus said He would
send the Holy Spirit to dwell with
us who believe in Him forever (John 14:16). Therefore the Holy Spirit is the
fulfillment of Jesus’ Promise (John 7:28-29) which began with His outpouring at
Pentecost; sealing for the day of redemption all who believe in Him, in
whatever generation they believe (Eph. 4:30). Therefore the Holy Spirit does
not leave anyone who believes In Jesus Christ as Lord (2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5;
Eph. 1:13-14). Since He baptizes us who believe in Jesus into the body of Christ forever
(1 Cor. 12:13). Nonetheless the Holy Spirit can be grieved by sin in our lives
so that we feel a loss of connection with God (Heb. 10:29-31, 37-39). Yet by
confession of our sin (1 John 1:9) and repentance from it (2 Cor. 7:9-10) we
can have restored to fellowship with God. Our part is to believe and learn to
obey, being led by the Spirit of God not the letter of the Law, nor the sinful desires of the flesh. God’s part is
to justify us through Christ’s Perfect obedience and finished work at Calvary
done for us all (Rom. 5:1). Thus the Holy Spirit perpetually sanctifies us
as we grow in Christ’s likeness (Rom. 8:1). Therefore we are confident that
“He who began a good work in us will complete it until the day of Jesus
Christ.” Phil. 1:6 Since our own obedience could never fulfill the
righteous requirements of the Law (Gal. 3:10-14) nor appease God’s wrath at sin
in us (Rom. 4:15; Phil. 3:7-9). Therefore Jesus Christ dwelling in us is our sole
justification before God (Rom. 8:16; Gal. 2:20-21). The Holy Spirit then is never
said to leave an individual or be taken away after Pentecost. For God does not
dwell in man made temples but in His creation who individually become His temple when
they put their trust in His Son Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Cor. 3:16-17).
Therefore the Holy Spirit assures a Believer of their sanctified/sealed
status through Christ’s finished work done on the cross for them that they have
indeed been saved and will remain saved (Rom. 8:16; 1 John 5:13). Thus the
Work of redemption from start to finish is the Work of God our Father done
through Christ the Son brought to fruition in us through the Holy Spirit,
by grace and truth (John 1:17; Rom. 9:11; Eph. 1:13-14; Heb. 12:2; Titus
3:4-7) and not by the works of man (Gal 3:2-3; Eph 2:8-9).
Question:
What does it mean to be “baptized” by the Spirit?
Answer: Holy Spirit baptism is an often misused term, nonetheless it occurs the moment one believes in Jesus Christ as Lord (Matthew 3:11; John 3:3-5). At that point an individual is baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body (Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:4; Col. 3:3) receiving all of God’s fullness then (Col. 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7). Since this baptism is of God's Spirit only the Lord Jesus Christ can baptize someone with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33; 16:7). Holy Spirit baptism then is something that God does to us when we believe in the crucified and Risen Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:9-10). It is not something that someone does to us. It is what the Holy Spirit does in us when we believe in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ as testified to in the Scriptures (John 7:37-39). Therefore by the Holy Spirit we are transformed (i.e. regenerated) from spiritual death and brought to eternal life and positioned into the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit then is the perpetual Presence and Power of God in our lives at and after our re-birth (John 3:3; Acts 1:8). Therefore through Holy Spirit baptism we immediately become partakers of Christ’s crucifixion death (Rom. 6:6), as well as His resurrection life, thereby we are joint heirs with the Risen Christ (Rom. 8:16-17), the moment we believe (Eph. 1:13-14). These then are not things someone must strive for. They are gifts and the works of Almighty God, given and done to us simply by our faith In Jesus Christ as Lord (Rom. 9:16; Eph. 2:4-9). Now it is often noted in the Book of Acts that by the laying on of hands the Holy Spirit was given (Acts 8:18). Yet what is not always noted is that in those instances where the Holy Spirit was given, through the laying on of hands by Christ's Biblical Apostles, unique circumstances existed in the then unfolding revelation of God’s will for the church. Therefore if Jesus Christ choose through the laying on of hands that the Holy Spirit should indwell an individual to confirm an individual or people’s group faith In Him in the then unfolding revelation of His will for the new born church (Acts 11:8; Eph. 3:4-7). That should not now be construed as the norm after the fulfilment of such revelation has been given (Heb. 2:4; Jude 3; Rev. 22:18-19). For if the laying on of hands was required to bring the Holy Spirit then the N.T. which records Jesus Christ’s commandments that He through the Holy Spirit gave to the Biblical Apostles would have stated as much (Acts 1:3; Eph. 2:20-22).
Therefore the wrong and misleading emphasis on the speaking of tongues as a requirement for (or proof of) salvation is not something taught or found in the Scriptures. It occurred early on but always as a means to display to the then predominantly Jewish church Apostle's and elders God's acceptance of other peoples and groups simply by their faith in Jesus (Acts 11:15-18). Therefore as these realities became understood by them such occurrences seemed to have diminished and then ceased to occur. And so, for us who now have the completed Revelation of God there is no need to seek or look for such occurrences now. For God accepts all people (regardless of their ethnicity) simply by their repentance towards Himself with faith in His Son Jesus. Therefore when tongues speaking is exalted beyond what its original purposes served and accomplished you not only open the door to man-made and demonic impersonations of it (consider 1 Cor. 12:1-2; James 3:13-18) you also risk supplanting the cross of Christ, and thus the work of God, with the works of man, when such things are held in undue regard, often being coerced or coached. All which is utterly hostile to worshiping God in Spirit and truth (John 4:24) as well as the gospel’s message of salvation by God's grace through faith In Jesus Christ alone (not faith in Jesus +). Therefore the gospels message is put your faith in Jesus Christ the Lord; King of kings; Lord of lords; crucified and risen from the dead; ascended to the right hand of God the Father so that when anyone repents and believes in Jesus Christ they are baptized by the Holy Spirit; (whether this accompanies visible signs of this or not), thereby one is saved and brought to Spirit life by the grace of Almighty God (John 3:16-21). For that is what is required of us, repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21).
Question: What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?
Answer: To be filled with the Spirit is to be empowered by the already indwelling Holy Spirit and is a distinct work of God in a believers life. Now there are times when a believer may experience a profound filling of the Spirit; at personal baptism; giving a testimony; during worship or witnessing etc. Or in any circumstance where God wants to empower His child for His service or make the reality of His Presence known. Generally though for this to occur sin must be first confessed and put away and Jesus Christ and His work at Calvary must be our all-sufficiency (John 6:63; 1 Cor. 1:23-31; 2 Cor. 3:5-6, 2 Cor. 12:9-10; Gal. 5:16-23; Rom. 8). That is the basis of every revival; God’s people begin to get right with God and each other. As well in the Scriptures the Holy Spirit filling often came upon early church members as they prayed and fasted; and thus as they were seeking to do God’s will in God’s Spirit’s Strength and Power; thus there was a strong dependency on God's Resources as well as a desire there for the Lord Jesus Christ to be exalted and made known. For effectiveness in the Christian life is by the Power of the Holy Spirit (the filling of the Spirit) that we receive when we pray for His help and yield to God’s will for our lives (Acts 4:23-31). Thus it requires both our obedience to the will of God as well as humility (James 4:7-10). Now being filled with the Spirit is not is trying to be “spiritual” by trying to emulate Holy Spirit gifts, for to be filled with the Spirit is a command given to those who already believe, it is not a means to salvation (Eph. 5:18-21). Nor as a means to attain Holy Spirit gifts, since it is He who alone distributes these to each believer as He Himself wills. Thus trying to acquire or manifest a Holy Spirit gift (i.e. tongues) by one’s own efforts may indeed cause one to receive another spirit that is not the Spirit of the Lord. Since one is not seeking God’s will but rather their own (consider James 3:13-18). Therefore as individual believers as the Temple of the Lord if we want to be Spirit filled we should first seek to purify our lives from any and everything that is intoxicating and fill our hearts with thanksgiving and praise to God that the Holy Spirit might also fill us (1 John 3:1-3). For to be Holy Spirit filled one need not exercise charismatic gifts; one only needs to believe in Jesus then abide in Christ’s love.
Question: What are some of the attributes of being filled with the Spirit?
Now there are nine fruits of the Spirit that every believer inherently receives, they are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness; faithfulness; self-control (Gal. 5:22-23 NKJ). Now a filling of the Spirit can supernaturally invigorate anyone of these or a combination of these (along with Spirit gifts) in our lives at any time. In fact, every and any fruit of the Spirit is available to us if we ask in faith while submitting ourselves to God’s will for us; which is always in accord with Jesus' and the Biblical Apostle's commandments. Yet unlike salvation (which cannot be lost) being Spirit filled can definitely be hindered or restricted by us when we grieve the Holy Spirit through sin and or disobedience (Eph. 4:29-31).
Therefore at rebirth all the raw materials are in place and so they are not listed as ideals; but rather as gifts of the Holy Spirit who dwells inside each believer (Rom. 8:9). We then are to live these out in our daily lives growing in Christ likeness by being led by the Spirit of God and not our sinful flesh (Rom. 8:4-8; Gal 5:16-18; 22-25). For these fruits are manifested through us as a kind of living reality of the Presence and transforming Power of Jesus Christ in our lives (Col. 1:27; 3:3). Therefore they, not the Law are to be the means by which a believer’s life is governed (Rom. 6:14). “For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Rom 13:9-10
Now in the first generation of believers after the Holy Spirit’s outpouring charismatic gifts were predominate. People clearly saw the supernatural work of God through tongues speaking, healings and miracles. Yet those things were never intended to be a means to an end. “For we walk by faith not by sight” 2 Cor 5:7 So after those things had served their witness to first the Jews (Acts 2); then the Samaritans; (Acts 8) and finally the Gentiles (Acts 10). The Holy Spirit’s use of them began to diminish as His work in establishing a faith based witness for Jesus Christ through His own transforming power and work in believers lives began to dominate church experience and theology (Titus 3:4-7). Love then became and must be according to Jesus Christ’s commandment the primary identifying feature of His true believers (John 13:34-35; 1 Cor. 12-14).
The Apostle Paul both spoke in tongues and did many healings and miracles and such. Yet his emphasis for the people that God came to faith in Jesus Christ through his preaching was not to strive for or emulate the miraculous or supernatural rather believe the gospel then be by the Holy Spirit’s transforming power conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 6-8) which he modeled exemplary (1 Cor. 14:15-17; 11:1). For the gospel of Jesus Christ is after all a grace-based message that commends everyone to repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21; 1 Cor. 1:22-25, 2 Cor. 5:7). With the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit making men and woman once dead in trespasses and sins alive to God by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord whether seeing and or manifesting Spirit gifts (Eph. 2:1-9). Therefore “…do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Heb 6:12
Question: What are some of the ongoing works of the Holy Spirit in a Believers life?
Answer: The works of the Holy Spirit after His outpouring
into world at Pentecost continue on God’s grace towards the Body
of Christ collectively and believer individually (Rom. 8:26-28). That is His
Presence in our lives assures us of our permanent place with Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:16-17).
Internally the Holy Spirit is transforming us into Christ likeness (Rom. 8:29),
which begins immediately after we are born again. This is the renewal of our
inner man, which God began working in us the moment we believed and will continue to do so until He completes it with our reuniting with Himself and Christ (Phil. 1:6); since the Holy Spirit at salvation imparts to us a new nature (2 Cor. 5:17) not
a perfected one. Therefore we do not lose our sin nature, it is crucified with
Christ, not eliminated (Rom. 6:6). Hence we are to be transforming our minds and
thus our lives by the truth of God’s Word (Rom. 12:2), moving from infancy to
maturity as we are led by the Spirit of God (Gal 5:22-23; 1 Peter 2:2) not the sinful flesh, nor the letter of law (Rom 7:6; 2 Cor 3:5-6, 9, 13). For as many as are led by the Spirit, these are sons of God (Rom 8:14). Therefore if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law (Gal 5:18). For the law is not made for the righteous person (i.e. the person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and sets their life in order according to Him) "...but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust." 1 Tim 1:8-11
Therefore the Holy Spirit is
active not only in our justification which occurs the moment we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb 10:14),
but also our ongoing sanctification, which is forwarded by our obedience to the Word of
God (John 17:17). And though we nurture and care
for our bodies, since we as born-again individuals are the temple of the Lord,
and we are to glorify God in body and spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20), our hope is not
in our sinful flesh, nor in our saving our mortal lives (John 6:63; Rom. 8:18-25). Now running parallel to this renewal is the Holy Spirit’s strengthening of us and our works for Christ. Though believers accomplish tasks, it is the Holy Spirit’s empowerment that makes those deeds achievable and fully attainable, as Jesus said (John 14:12). In this the Apostle Paul prayed for us all in Christ “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” Eph 3:16 For the Christian life is to be lived in the Power of the Spirit, and not the power of ones flesh; that is not in ones physical or intellectual capacities. For independence of spirit is one of the greatest hindrances to Holy Spirit empowerment. On that note then some of the Holy Spirit helps in a believers life are listed bellow to encourage and strengthen and hopefully guide your faith into all grace and truth.
To Establish Us:
The
Holy Spirit establishes us whether an individual believer or the collective
body of believers in Christ. In other words the Holy Spirit beginning at
Pentecost brought to life not only the church age but also brings to life all
who in every age receive God’s grace given through faith in God’s Son the Risen
Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore the Body of Christ is Christ’s collective people
who are born by His Spirit in every generation and thus have His eternal
Presence in their lives (Gal. 2:20). Therefore it is by the Holy Spirit that
we are baptized into the Body of Christ and united Together In Christ
(1 Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit then when anyone believes In Jesus Christ as
Lord immediately baptizes them into Christ’s Body (Acts 11:15-18; Eph. 1:13-14;
1 John 4:13). Hence neither water baptism, nor laying on hands plays a part in
receiving the Holy Spirit who comes only by faith in the Risen Lord Jesus
Christ (John 7:38-39; Gal. 3:2-3).
Unfortunately
though tongues languages recorded in the Book of Acts are sometimes considered
synonymous with the Holy Spirit baptism. However in each occurrence unique
circumstances existed in the then unfolding revelation of God’s will for the
church. Initially then it could be said they confirmed to the Biblical
Apostles that the Holy Spirit’s Presence had come (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:1-4,
14-22). Then they witnessed to the foreign Jews at Pentecost in Jerusalem
through the Apostle’s speaking to them in their native languages that this was
indeed a Divine call for them to repent (Acts 2:5-3:19). Then they demonstrated
to the early disciples God’s acceptance of the Samaritans who did not receive
the Holy Spirit initially for they were only baptized into the Name of the Lord
Jesus, not the Father, Son and Spirit as Jesus commanded, (Matthew 28:18-20;
Acts 8:14-25). Then after God’s vision to Peter (Acts 10:9-16) and he preached
to Cornelius and his household they confirmed to Peter and those Jews with him that
God had also sanctified the Gentiles by faith (Acts 11:15-18).
Finally
the Book of Acts records some of John the Baptist’s disciples in Ephesus. These
had only been baptized into John’s baptism (Acts 19:1-8). When the Apostle Paul
discovered them on his missionary travels he preached the gospel to them and
when they received Jesus Christ by faith they were baptized into Christ’s Body
by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). With the tongues languages confirming to the
Apostle Paul that God had received these as well. Thus we have every major
people’s group represented in the Gospels finding full acceptance by God’s
grace through faith in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 15:11). Therefore
tongues languages initially served as a sign gift in fulfillment of prophecy
(Mark 16:17; Acts 2:14-21; 1 Cor. 14:20-22). And they are listed last in all
the Holy Spirit given gifts for the Body of Christ’s edification (1 Cor.
12:28-30). Since love (not charismatic gifts) is the goal of our sanctification
(1 Cor. 13). And with the Lord Jesus’ finial Revelation for the Body of Christ
given (Jude 3) they according to Scripture ceased (1 Cor. 13:8).
To Bring Us To Life:
The
Holy Spirit is the Person of God who makes believers Spiritually alive by faith In the Risen Lord Jesus Christ (John 7:38-39; Eph 2:1-9). This
is being born-again as Jesus said of the necessity of being so to enter the
Kingdom of heaven (John 3:3-5); also referred to as regeneration (Titus 3:4-7).
The
Holy Spirit is the Person of God who secures believers for all eternity (Eph. 1:13-14; Eph. 4:30; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5). This is in accord with
the Divine will of both the Son and the Father that none should be lost (John
10:28-30). Therefore by the Holy Spirit we experience relationship with God the
Father, Jesus Christ the Son, God the Holy Spirit (John 4:24; 14:16-18; Rom.
8:26).
To Help Us:
The Holy
Spirit is the Person of God who is our Helper (Gr. Parakletos,
John 14:16, 26, 15:26, 16:7; 1 John 2:1). That is He guides us into all truth;
that we might continue to know the Lord Jesus Christ and grow (1 Peter 2:2).
To Equip Us:
The
Holy Spirit is the Person of God who decides which gifts a believer receives. (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10; 28-31; Eph.4:7-13). For it is the Holy
Spirit not man who chooses and equips a believer to serve a specific function
in Christ’s Body.
To Teach Us:
The Holy Spirit is
the Person of God who instructs believers through the Word of God (John 14:26). Though He may use
individuals in His work in our lives. Since He equips some according to His own
will with gifts of teaching or prophecy for instructing the church in sound
doctrine. All believers must remain faithful to His instruction given to them
personally through the Word of God. Daily Bible study and listening to the
instruction that God gives us by the Holy Spirit through His Word is how God
personally communicates His truths to us (Psalm 119:105). “But the anointing
which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone
teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is
true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” 1 John 2:27
The
Holy Spirit then helps believers understand the deep things of God that the unregenerate person cannot understand (1 Cor. 2:10-16).
Therefore: “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches
but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” vs. 13
For the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is not some sort of intellectual
exercise to be apprehended it is the Power of Almighty God to be believed (1
Cor. 1:17-19; 2:4-5).
The Holy Spirit is
the Person of God who spiritually unites all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Unity cannot be found in
any other Name then Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Eph. 3:14-15). And this unity is
based on the Holy Spirit indwelling an individual by faith In the Risen Christ.
The Holy Spirit then is the Person who by faith in the
crucified and Risen Lord Jesus Christ makes community possible (John 14:6; Rom. 8:9, 14-17; 1 Cor. 12:12-27).
“There
are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There
are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And
there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who
works all in all.” 1 Cor 12:4-6 Thus united in Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6:17) by
the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13) indwelling each individual believer through
faith (2 Cor. 1:21-22; Cor. 5:5; Gal. 3:2-3). Now the Holy Spirit
imparts Christ’s love in us for each other and ensures that for the whole to
function well the individual believer must be cared for and involved (1 Cor.
12:12-31; Eph. 4:11-16).
To Confirm Us:
The Holy
Spirit affirms a believer’s status to them that we belong to Jesus Christ and
will remain so (Rom. 8:16-17).
To Transform Us:
Ultimately like at
regeneration it is the Holy Spirit that transforms
our inner man into the likeness of Christ’s.
The
Holy Spirit intercedes for believers. As
Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest and Advocate before the Father
(Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1). The Holy Spirit also acts in an intercessory
role when believers pray (See bellow) “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our
weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the
Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the
Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the
will of God.” Rom 8:26-27
To Strengthen Us:
The Holy Spirit strengthens believers in the
inner man (Eph. 3:16). Ultimately then a believer’s
faith In Christ is maintained not by themselves, but by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit empowers believers for witness,
worship and service. The Lord Jesus said: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 Thus whatever
boldness of speech, witness or preaching any disciples have must be attributed
to the Holy Spirit filling them and working mightily through them (Zechariah 4:6; Acts 4:29-31).
To Guide Us:
The Holy Spirit is the Person of God who guided the Biblical Apostles into all truth
(John 16:13; Acts 1:2) and He also guides the children of God into all truth.
“…When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide
you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but
whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13
Question: What does the Holy Spirit do?
Answer: Excluding all His works in creation
(Job 33:4; Ps. 104:30) and in
sustaining all life (Job 34:14-15). The Holy Spirit; who is the Spirit of
truth; whom the world cannot receive because it does not believe (nor obey) the
truth; Is the One whom the Lord Jesus Christ after His ascension back to God the
Father sent into the world at Pentecost to bear witness to the truth (John
14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 16:8-13). And thus the Holy Spirit has a twofold
ministry towards the unregenerate; in drawing men and women to God who will
believe (Rev. 22:17); as well as convicting “…the world of sin, and of
righteousness and judgment. 9 Of sin,
because they do not believe in Me; 10 “of
righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:9-11 Now in terms of us who believe in Jesus Christ our Lord and
Savior the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth who guides us into all truth. For
it is He who first brings, then reveals, and ultimately glorifies Jesus Christ
through our lives as Jesus said: “However, when He, the
Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not
speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He
will tell you things to come. 14 “He
will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
15 “All things that the Father has are Mine.
Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:13-15
Therefore the Holy Spirit though ever active in
creation and in sustaining all life is not in everyone’s life as the personal Presence
of God in Christ. Now in this, the Holy Spirit's Personal Presence in the earth
to universally indwell believing mankind did not come until the Lord Jesus
Christ’s Personal Presence first left the earth. The Holy Spirit’s Presence
then in each believer’s life, as well as His Presence uniting all believers in
One Body in Christ is a fulfillment of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Words, that He
would not leave us as orphan’s with His departure from the world; but rather He
would come to us (John 14:15-17). This is the Holy Spirit’s purpose for us who
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. To be the means by which God dwells in us; sealing
us for eternity; as well as equipping and uniting us in One Body of believers
In Christ. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews
or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one
Spirit.” 1 Cor 12:13So then towards us who believe the Holy Spirit is the love of God poured out into our hearts (Rom. 5:5); who bears witness to the truth (i.e. the Word of God) and our relationship to Jesus Christ through it (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:22-25; 1 John 4:4-6). While to the unbelieving and unrepentant world He is the Spirit of God who convicts the world of sin; and of God's Righteousness and of Judgment.
Therefore towards us who believe the Holy Spirit is the comfort and assurance of God in our persons and lives who bears witness to the truth and the love of God that we have in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; sealing and sanctifying us all for the Day of Redemption who receive and believe and obey the truth of the gospel (2 Thess. 2:10-13). Now in an outworking sense in a believer's life just as the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus Christ and the Apostles miracles and healings, so now the Holy Spirit also empowers us for Christ's witness, worship and service (Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Eph. 4:8-16). To both build up the church by serving there with the Spirit gifts He gives each believer according to His own will; but also He equips and empowers us to work with Him to reconcile separated humanity back to God by Christ (2 Cor. 2:14-17; Heb. 2:4). For that is God’s desire. Not to condemn the world through the gospel (Matt. 9:13; John 3:17) but to reconcile all people back to Himself who believe in Jesus Christ through His shed blood on the cross and resurrection from grave, and thus believe in and confess Jesus as Lord alone (Acts 4:12; Rom. 10:9-10, 13; Col. 1:15-23; 1 Tim. 2:5). For God desires no one to perish in their sins and unbelief, but rather that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) and faith in Jesus Christ's Person (Acts 26:15-18).
Therefore when anyone believes in Jesus Christ as Lord the Holy Spirit regenerates them (Titus 3:4-7) making us immediately a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) having put to death our old nature with Jesus Christ through His crucifixion death (Rom 6). Now in this our old sin nature is not said to be eliminated, but rather crucified. Thus the Holy Spirit is the One who both empowers and transforms us to be more and more like Christ until our complete transformation is concluded with our being reunited with Christ (1 Cor. 15:20-58). But for now we all retain a sin nature (1 John 1:8-10). Therefore we must continually subjugate the sinful flesh to the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-23) by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:2) in accord with the grace of God given to us through the New Covenant (Rom. 6:14; 7:4-6; 1 Cor. 15:56). Therefore with the Spirit of God there is amazing liberty from sin, Law and judgment (2 Cor. 3:17; Rom. 5:1; 6:14; 8:1). For it is the Holy Spirit not the Law, who empowers us to live a godly life (Rom. 6:15-23; 2 Cor. 3:5-6; Gal. 3:2-3; 5:22-23). Initially then the Holy Spirit makes us alive who were once dead in our own sins and trespasses (Eph. 2:1-3) sealing us forever in God and Christ (Eph 1:13-14). Then it is He who empowers us for Christ's witness, worship, and service, in essence "the Christian life."
Now in evidence of this new birth the Holy Spirit is the One whom the Lord Jesus refers to in His discussion of spiritual things with Nicodemus. There Jesus emphasized an individual must be born both of water (meaning natural birth) and Spirit (meaning Holy Spirit rebirth or regeneration) to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus called this being born of the Spirit being born-again (John 3:3-5).
Now as their discussion unfolds it becomes quite clear this is impossible for someone to do for themselves. Yet through that temporary impasse Jesus will emphasize not what an individual must do to be born again, to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. But rather what He shall do for all of humanity who like the O.T. Israelites were commanded to look to serpent on the rod. So now each and every individual must look on Christ’s crucifixion death trusting in Him alone to pay for all their sins to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (John 3:15-16; 5:24). Therefore when anyone believes in the Lord Jesus Christ they are born-again; that is born of the Spirit of God and are sealed by Him until the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14).
Question: Is water baptism necessary for salvation?
Answer: No. Water
baptism though a necessary step in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ in discipleship does
not bring salvation, nor is salvation forfeited if one is not water baptized. For anything that adds to the finished work of Jesus Christ by His crucifixion
death for all our sins atonement only moves salvation by God’s grace through
faith in Jesus Christ's Person into the realm of human works, and thus acquires anyone
who trusts in anything other than Jesus crucified for their sins remission, debt not grace (Rom. 4:4-5).
As Romans 11:6 clearly states of salvation: “And if by grace, then it is no longer of works;
otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is
no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.” Unfortunately some have
misunderstood how we receive the Holy Spirit who brings eternal life (Christ's life) into us the
moment we believe in Jesus (Eph 1:13-14) and have linked His Presence in us by
our keeping the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ for water baptism.
Generally it is Mark 16:16 which is wrongly understood and then taught in such
a way so as to make water baptism a necessity for salvation. In the NKJ the
verse reads: “He who believes and is baptized will be
saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Now when Jesus
spoke of baptism after His resurrection from the dead He commanded His disciples not to
depart from Jerusalem: "…but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be
baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:4-5 Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ’s Words at the end of Mark’s gospel are not
referring to water baptism, they are referring to the baptism of the Holy
Spirit. Which as Jesus’ Words state in Marks gospel is conditional on ones
faith. “He who believes and is baptized…” That
is by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ one will be baptized by the Holy Spirit and
thus be saved by the grace of God (Acts 10:34-48; Eph. 2:8-9). Whereas not believing one
will be condemned, whether water baptized or not. For without faith in Jesus
Christ as Lord the Holy Spirit will not baptize an individual. Since faith (not
works) is the only means to His baptism (Gal. 3:2-3). And His baptism is the
only means to the new birth that Jesus said we must all under go to enter the
Kingdom of Heaven and thus receive eternal life (John 3:3-5). Again faith in
Jesus Christ causes us to be baptized by the Holy Spirit and thus
receive eternal life, whereas unbelief will result in condemnation (John
3:18; 3:35-36). Therefore if a person believes in Jesus and is later water baptized in
obedience to His command to do so, (Matt. 28:19) their water immersion baptism will
add nothing to the salvation which the Lord Jesus Christ already accomplished for us all by
His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave (Rom. 10:9-10, 13) for the Spirit of God comes into us by faith in Jesus as testified too in the Scriptures and nothing else (Gal 3:2-3).
Therefore as
recipients of God’s grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we are never to make Jesus' command
for water baptism (or keeping the Lord's Supper) a means to salvation, or even
a means to keeping salvation. For neither is, nor can they be. Those then who trust that they have been water baptized by
a certain individual; or by a certain mode of water baptism, totally miss and or misunderstand
the gospel's message. For it's not water baptism that saves us, only Jesus Christ crucified
(and ones faith in Him) is how God saves us from our sins and makes
us His children (John 1:12; 3:16). That is the simplicity of the gospel. That it is Jesus Christ's shed blood that washes away all our sins, not water (Eph 1:7; Rev 1:5). Water baptism merely symbolizes what God has already accomplished through the Crucifixion death of Jesus His Son (Heb 9:11-15) and now imputes to everyone who believes in Him (Acts 22:16; Eph 2:13; Col 1:14, 20 etc.).
Consider then the Apostle Paul when faced with factions developing in the Corinthian churches from people having been baptized by this "eminent" person or that one, said: “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” 1 Cor 1:14, 15, 17 For again it is gospel preached and believed (and thus Jesus Christ received into ones heart by faith in His Person that brings eternal life). Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead then is the sole means to eternal life (John 3:15-16; Rom 10:9-10). Now water baptizing people maybe personal rewarding, but it achieves little if that is the end goal. Declaring Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead for every sinner’s redemption from sin and death now that is the goal. Therefore water baptizing disciples is our obedience to the Lordship of Christ absolutely, but as Jesus said it is the making of disciples by faith in His Person; thus by declaring His life; death and Resurrection and thus the whole gospel's message that comes first, baptism comes only after one has believed, it is not a means to an end (Matt 28:18-19). Early I cited Acts 10:34-44. This event in church history is very significant, for there the Holy Spirit baptizes Cornelius the Gentile and his household while the Apostle Peter is still preaching the gospel to them. Only after that does the Apostle Peter declare to those with him: 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Consider then the Apostle Paul when faced with factions developing in the Corinthian churches from people having been baptized by this "eminent" person or that one, said: “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” 1 Cor 1:14, 15, 17 For again it is gospel preached and believed (and thus Jesus Christ received into ones heart by faith in His Person that brings eternal life). Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead then is the sole means to eternal life (John 3:15-16; Rom 10:9-10). Now water baptizing people maybe personal rewarding, but it achieves little if that is the end goal. Declaring Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead for every sinner’s redemption from sin and death now that is the goal. Therefore water baptizing disciples is our obedience to the Lordship of Christ absolutely, but as Jesus said it is the making of disciples by faith in His Person; thus by declaring His life; death and Resurrection and thus the whole gospel's message that comes first, baptism comes only after one has believed, it is not a means to an end (Matt 28:18-19). Early I cited Acts 10:34-44. This event in church history is very significant, for there the Holy Spirit baptizes Cornelius the Gentile and his household while the Apostle Peter is still preaching the gospel to them. Only after that does the Apostle Peter declare to those with him: 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Again water baptism Scripturally follows having been baptized by the Holy Spirit. It
is never stated or implied to be the means of Holy Spirit baptism. That is what
Jesus means when He says He who believes and is baptized will be saved. For
Scripturally the Holy Spirit only indwells a person who believes in Jesus
Christ as Lord (John 7:38-39; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; Titus
3:4-7). Now Cornelius’ and those of his household when they believed, and
thus were born again, also spoke in tongues languages; which also happened to
the disciples at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was initially poured out. What
is important to remember about both incidents is that though tongues speaking
occurred at both, in the Scriptures not everyone who was baptized by the Holy
Spirit spoke in tongues (Acts 2:41). Therefore this occurrence that accompanied
Cornelius and those of his households salvation was done to visibly demonstrate
to the Apostle Peter and those Jewish men with him that God has also justified
the Gentiles by faith (Gal. 3:8). Thereby confirming the vision God had given
Peter earlier that brought about his coming to Cornelius’ house. And just as at
Pentecost when the believing Jews spoke in tongues languages to their brethren
in their national languages glorifying God. Here Cornelius and his household
speak in tongues languages glorifying God when the Holy Spirit baptized them;
which is a good test of true tongues languages. For if a person cannot glorify
God or Christ with them then they’re not from God’s Spirit (1 Cor. 12:1-13).
Question: What does
it mean to be accepted in the Beloved?
Answer: It means that
God has bestowed His grace and favor on, and kindness towards us all who believe
in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the direct result of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion
death for us that God in the Beloved Son accepts us as His own the moment we believe
in Him (John 1:12). Acceptance in the Beloved then is the highly favoured
position of us all (both individually and collectively), whom God not only
bestows His grace and favor on, but also His special purposes (Luke 1:28; Rom
8:28-30). Now both God's grace and these purposes were given to us in Christ
Jesus before time began (2 Tim. 1:9). Therefore God redeems
us and makes us His own because of His own desire to do so, not because of
anything we have done, or anything inherently good within ourselves, or even
anything about ourselves (Rom 9:11). God redeems us and makes us His own
children because of His own desire to do so (John 1:13). And so we only find
His favor given to us by what He first did for us through His Sons
substitutionary life, death and resurrection from the dead to save us from our
sins and the judgment to come. God then imputes His Righteousness to us all who
believe in Him and makes us His own accepted in the Beloved. Therefore though
scorned and ridiculed by the world. No believer ever has to fear being
rejected by God. “To the praise of the glory of His
grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” Eph 1:6
Question: Who is qualified to interpret Scripture?
Answer: Beside those Spirit gifted individuals who have the gifts of prophecy; teaching; evangelism etc. Those children of God who seek to obey the Word of the Lord (Jeremiah 7:23-24; Hosea 9:17; Acts 5:32; Rom. 1:5) can be said to be qualified to interpret Scripture. For the Holy Spirit guides every individual who is born by Him by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ into all truth (1 John 2:27). Hence the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth, through the Word of God guides the children of God individually and collectively into all truth (John 16:13-15). Teaching us to compare spiritual things with spiritual (1 Cor. 2:10-16). Thus obedience (Ecc. 12:12-13; John 14:15-17) and discernment are intertwined (1 John 4:1-3). Another important point is humility (Isaiah 66:2). For in shunning worldliness and selfish ambition (2 Cor. 2:17; James 3:13-18; 1 John 2:15-17) one separates themselves from evil influences (James 4:4-10). Finally doctrinal integrity is critical (Titus 1:14-16; Titus 2:7) because unless one is faithful to the truth, they and those who hear them, will not be set free (John 8:32; Rom. 4:4-5; Gal. 1:6-9; 5:1, 4-5; Col. 2:20-23; 1 Tim. 1:5-7; 4:1-3; 1 John 2:20-23). Still the fact that all who believe can understand and discern the Scriptures for themselves. Does not qualify all to teach, or newborn believers to shepherd a congregation. For though both young and old in the faith may readily apprehend spiritual truths, only those who are gifted and proven, are qualified to shepherd the fold of God (Acts 15:1-32; 1 Cor. 11:19; 2 Cor. 10:18; 1 Thess. 2:4; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 2 Tim. 2:15). On that note the Greek word translated approved in 2 Tim. 2:15 is dokimos see excerpt below from Strongs for its significance.
"In the ancient world there
was no banking system, as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was
made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool.
When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges.
The coins were comparatively soft and of course many people shaved them
closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens, to stop the
practice of shaving down the coins then in circulation. But some money changers
were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money. They were men of
honour who put only genuine full weighted money into circulation. Such men were
called “dokimos” or “approved”. Donald
Barnhouse[i]
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
[i]Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
Note: this is an ongoing work, new sections will be added as completed.
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