THE GLORY OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
Again, there are scriptures quoted before and now to be re-read for context.
It is a joy to study The Glory of God and His Holy Spirit. The study and more importantly the commitment to truly be spiritual is now the main worship of the elect. Jesus gave the Holy Spirit as our counsel. The truths of this truth are clearly understood in this chapter.
Simply, the message of this chapter is:
- The doctrine of effectual calling and grace is efficacious with guidance and conviction of the Holy Spirit as As stated:
John 1:11-12
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
John 3:16-17,36
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
John 5:24
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
John 6:37,39-40,44,65
37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.
65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
Ephesians 1:1-14
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will
6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
These elect are saved and can never fall from grace. (Hebrews 6; 13:5)
- In this chapter it is important to know that all elect have the fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
and we are all fruit inspectors as I have mentioned earlier.
- This chapter goes further defining saving faith – the study teaches of Holy Faith.
This wonderful truth of truly being spiritual (1 Cor 12:1). It is to do with praying to ask for fruit for “words” or “messages” to be truly spiritual.
This chapter, and the two following chapters by Dr Barry Gumm, are focusing on the enclosed and understanding of “Holy Faith” –
Speaking in the voice of the Holy Spirit – “Speaking in Tongues”.This is encouraged greatly by the reference Romans 8:26.
Romans 8:27:26
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
This is mentioned later.
And so, to the truth of the attributes of God and God the Holy Spirit with references from the Old Testament and New Testament.
Earlier in this study I included the truth of the creeds which we as Christians believe. I love the way our forefathers were so diligent in their modern evangelical definitions for us to simply understand the truth of Holy Scripture.
The Eternal Third Person of the Holy Trinity is the Person of the Holy Spirit. He is a Person. I have included again the definitions of the Holy Spirit from the Creeds.
I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Nicene Creed
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
Athanasian Creed
Whosoever will be saved: before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholick Faith.
Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled: without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the Catholick Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;
Neither confounding the Persons: nor dividing the Substance.
For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son: and another of the Holy Spirit.
But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one: the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son: and such is the Holy Spirit.
The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate: and the Holy Spirit uncreate.
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible: and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal: and the Holy Spirit eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated: but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty: and the Holy Spirit Almighty.
And yet they are not three Almighties: but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God: and the Holy Spirit is God.
And yet they are not three Gods: but one God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord: and the Holy Spirit Lord.
And yet not three Lords: but one Lord.
For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity: to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;
So are we forbidden by the Catholick Religion: to say there be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none: neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons: one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other: none is greater, or less than another;
But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together: and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid: the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
He therefore that will be saved: must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation: that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the right Faith is that we believe and confess: that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;
God, of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds: and Man, of the Substance of his Mother, born in the world;
Perfect God, and Perfect Man: of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting;
Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead: and inferior to the Father, as touching his Manhood.
Who although he be God and Man: yet he is not two, but one Christ;
One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh: but by taking of the Manhood into God;
One altogether, not by confusion of Substance: but by unity of Person.
For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man: so God and Man is one Christ.
Who suffered for our salvation: descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty: from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies: and shall give account for their own works.
And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting: and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.
This is the Catholick Faith: which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.
* catholic means “universal” and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.
From the creeds we simply see the Glory of The Holy Spirit and we know He was there at creation.
Genesis 1:1
- In the beginning God created the heavens and the
I have already mentioned confirming the above
“God” (Elohim – Plural noun)
“created” (bara – Singular Verb).
The Holy Trinity is clearly seen as in the creeds.
Genesis 1:2
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
We note The Holy Spirit was hovering/moving (in action) before God Spoke.
Here the completeness of the initial creation is seen – awaiting for God to give light, create order and give life. Then God’s glorious statement of His Spirit actively working in creation.
The Holy Spirit was the active Person who empowered God’s servants to achieve His purposes. Some truths:
Judges 3:7-10
7 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.
8 The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years.
9 But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them.
10 The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him.
Judges 6:34-37
34 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.
35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.
36 Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised
37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.”
Judges 11:29-31
29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites.
30 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands,
31 whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”
1 Samuel 10:10
10 When they arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he joined in their prophesying.
Elisha knew in his spirit that Elijah was sealed with the Holy Spirit of the LORD and requested an even greater infilling of the Holy Spirit, so he could be increasingly guided to fulfil God’s purposes. The verse below demonstrates.
2 Kings 2:9
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
Elihu speaking to Job
Job 33:1-4
1 “But now, Job, listen to my words; pay attention to everything I say.
2 I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue.
3 My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know.
4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
In the Psalms we are reminded that in the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit could be taken away from a person once God’s servant. Not so in the New Covenant when the elect is regenerated.
Psalm 51:10-12
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalm 104:30-31
30 When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works
Isaiah 11:1-2
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
In Isaiah 28:11 God spells out the sign that one would know that they have “the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD” In and on them. It is also the sign that the non-believer would hear when used correctly in a correctly organised meeting of the believers. This is explained in the last chapter of this book.
Isaiah 28:8-12
8 All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth.
9 “Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast?
10 For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there.”
11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues* God will speak to this people,
12 to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”— but they would not listen.
In the above reference we see in verse eight the disgusting symbolism of the way in which the people ignored God’s law, and thus as Isaiah prophesied Israel would be taken into captivity. From the History the King of Assyria, Tiglath-Pileser defeated Israel and 43 of the 46 cities in Judah in 722BC and took most people into captivity in Assyria. Isaiah was speaking of this awful reality of their failure by ignoring God’s Holy Spirit. In their history we know that the Godly King Hezekiah prayed that the LORD would not allow the Babylonians to defeat Jerusalem in Judah.
Because of the spiritual failure of God’s people and not listening to Isaiah’s prophesy unless they repented they also would go into captivity. We know they failed in their obedience to God and went into captivity in Babylon in 586BC. But there is more.
In verse eleven Isaiah says “foreign lips and strange tongues”. At that point in history the foreign tongue was to be the Assyrian language but if they had been obedient to God it would be His Holy Spirit speaking to them but they did not listen. How dangerous it is not to listen to the Holy Spirit of God – it is disastrous.
*So today, this is a type/foretelling of not listening to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and when we are disobedient to Jesus today. Look at the condition of God’s world today when we ignore the Holy Spirit’s leading. The symbolism of filth and vomit in Isaiah 28 is the reality of impurity everywhere today, when we don’t accept the Holy Spirit’s indwelling and thus leading of praying in “tongues”. Today this is the reality of being faithful to scripture of Jude 20-21. The last comment concerning Isaiah 28v12 “but they would not listen” was a clear reference to God’s Holy Spirit. Again, it is dangerous not to listen to God’s Holy Spirit. In fact it is the sin that is not forgiven. As recorded in (Mark 3:29) “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, he is guilty of an eternal sin.” Also Paul recognized the scripture of Isaiah 28 “with foreign lips and strange tongues* God will speak to this people,” as speaking in tongues that everyone would do who fully believe in Jesus for Paul quotes Isaiah 28 in 1 Cor 14:21 which states “
In the Law it is written:
“With other tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,
says the Lord.”
Again in the references above Isaiah prophesied and Paul confirmed that today people who are not educated (i.e. rash) would become educated by the Holy Spirit and they would know and understand The Trinity and the outward physical sign in a person’s life of having the Holy Spirit would be they would have a stammering tongue that would be a fluent and clear language to speak to God in and even used to spread the gospel. See a following chapter on Glorious aspects of the Holy Spirit.
Remember from Nicene Creed that The Holy Spirit is the Lord and giver of Life – He gives us true life in the Lord God being spiritual (1 Cor 12:1).
1 Cor 12:1
1 Now about the “gifts/matters” of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
And again in the RSV – Interlinear Greek[1] – English – New Testament
Cor 12:1 says it this way.
Now about the Spiritual matters brothers I do not wish you to be ignorant.
So its about truly “being spiritual” in our life.
Isaiah 32:4
4 The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.
The word “Rash” as a noun
Rash is defined as a “sudden outbreak of something”.[2]
Rash – as in the sudden outbreak of True Christianity on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:1-4
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
In the context of receiving God the Holy Spirit into one’s life, its speaking in tongues (Matt 4:23-24, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:38)
Isaiah 61:1
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
Isaiah 63:10
10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
In the New Covenant we see the glory of the Holy Spirit in the unity of Our Lord Jesus.
Matthew 1:18
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist’s truth;
Matthew 3:11
11 “I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Matthew 3:16-17
16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
The Holy Spirit guides Jesus – Jesus in His second nature as perfect man.
Matthew 4:1
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
Mark 1:4-8
4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River.
6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
8 I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”
In the Apostle John’s Gospel John recorded the words of Jesus about His Holy Spirit whom He will send:
John 14:15-21
15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever
17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
John 14:25-29
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
John 15:26-16:16
26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
16:1 “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.
2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.
3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.
4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.
5 “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.
7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;
10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;
11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.
15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
16 “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
Acts 1:5-8
5 For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”*
*This is also proven and documented fact that once you are filled God the Holy Spirit you are able (when God enables you) to speak to people in their own languages while you may only speak English for example when being led and walking in The Holy Spirit you will be able to speak to their languages to spread the gospel. See Agnes Ozman documented story and writing (in an another language other than here native English” in a following chapter.
Acts 2:4, 38-39
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
The Epistle, the letter, of the Apostle Paul to the people in Rome is a wonderful truth and encouragement to us concerning the truth of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
When studying the glorious guiding of the Holy Spirit we need to keep in mind as the elect that in everything we are to “be spiritual” (1 Cor 12:1).
Before examining the hard reality of our human weakness we need to be truly spiritual and obedient, I wish to re-visit the truths discussed in the chapter The Glory of The Deity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said concerning John 4:23-24
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
This proves The Holy Spirit will guide us.
Truly Born Again Holy Spirit filled elect are able not to sin. Salvation can never be lost (Heb 13:5). We need to “get real” and be obedient. We are eternally justified through Jesus sacrifice.
Faithfully being Spiritual
What follows has been discussed before but repeated in a different context – following conviction and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
James 3:2
2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
Romans 6:11-23
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!
16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.
18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Davis explains that God pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous and that this is through faith. I add that righteousness is God’s commitment to do (for those to whom He has given faith) for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Indeed it is the side of His justice that concerns our rescue and acquittal (Rom 4). Davis notes the Scripture (Rom 3:20, 23, 24, 28; 5:1). I further add from Davis’ listing of Romans 3:23, that whilst we are still sinners, through faith God sees us as justified – “Just-if-I or just-as-if-I” had not sinned (I emphase and comment).
Hunt discusses justification and the word justify, explaining that it means “to declare righteous or to treat as righteous.”[3] He continues “justify is the verdict of acquittal …”[4]
Watson defines justification as “an act of God, God’s free grace whereby He pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ, imputed to us, and received by faith alone.”[5] Watson highlights that Christ has made us to be righteous through faith (1 Cor 1:30; Rom 5:1). Watson also highlights that “justification is a fixed permanent thing, it can never be lost.”[6]
Thus the need to re-visit how the Father chose His elect in His saving Son Jesus. Also in this chapter the focus is on always “being spiritual” – being guided by the Holy Spirit 24/7.
Concerning the wisdom of Christ and being mindful of His divinity, one area I am very interested in, is the authority given to Jesus by the Father concerning the truth again in John 10:29:
29 “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no-one can snatch out of my Father’s hand.”
Jesus follows this with the wonderful truth, “I and the Father are one” (Jn 10:30).
Does God choose as He pleases? Does His choice depend on advanced awareness? For Augustine, suggests Erickson, “for God by an unalterable decree has determined who is to be saved; being totally of God’s grace, salvation in no way depends on humans or what they do…”[7]
Following these comments by Augustine, Erickson looks at differing views of predestination, firstly Calvin. He notes the “acronym TULIP: total depravity, unconditional predestination, limited atonement, irresistible grace and perseverance.”[8] I have touched on these truths already, however the focus and context now concerns Jesus and His deity as God – the Son of God. We are obedient to His Holy Spirit with whom we and in we are sealed. Erickson notes that total depravity “means that every individual is so sinful as to be unable to respond to any offer of grace.”[9] I see this in many instances where Jesus speaks to the Pharisees. He adds that sometimes “the phrase ‘total inability’ is used, meaning that sinners have lost the ability to do good and are unable to convert themselves.” I add the last two words “convert themselves” should actually be “regenerate themselves” as conversion is the process of growth and knowledge as the elect’s response. This is why I have already acknowledged Romans 3:10-12 and Jesus’ words:
“The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Lk 19:10).
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The infilling of your body (which upon so becomes a Temple of God) is the faith seed of Holy Faith.
Matthew 17:20
20 And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
Remember you build up your faith by praying in the Holy Ghost when given Holy Faith to you when you have received the Holy Spirit.
Jude 20-21
20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Thus here I observe and see the need to look to Jesus completely in the right action or behaviour with the aim of being successful for eternity through faith in Jesus – being declared righteous, and the comfort only He gives, mindful that even our faith is His gift (Eph 2:5-8). Jesus is Saviour and has God’s full authority. Further commenting on God’s actions, Erickson notes the choice of the nation of Israel and comments “in Romans 9 Paul argues impressively that all of these choices are totally of God and in no way depend on the people chosen.”[10] Romans 9:15-16 is cited here. Erickson also notes that election is “Efficacious”,[11] in that those whom God chooses will most certainly come to faith in Jesus and, for that matter, will persevere in that faith to the end.”[12] A comment on “chooses.” Erickson comments here that election is efficacious and the elect will certainly come to faith in Jesus and will persevere to the end could be more accurately stated. I have already revisited and discussed the sovereignty of God. What I am emphasizing here is that Erickson’s comments in this context limit the sovereignty of God. I ask the question, who is doing the “coming to faith”? Who is doing the “persevering to the end”? I emphasize here that God gives the faith in Jesus, through the grace of Jesus (Rom 3:22, 26); where the Greek teaches faith “of” Jesus (again, Rom 3:22; Eph 2:5-8), and God preserves His elect (Heb 13:5).
Erickson explains that we confidently understand God’s plan will be fulfilled and that the “elect will come to faith,”[13]also understanding that we must not criticize ourselves when in our witness some do not come to faith in Jesus for that occurred in His ministry also (Jn 6:37, 44), and we should be encouraged in our witness and evangelism as we do not know who is the elect and we must understand and acknowledge that it is all by grace – God’s unmerited favour through the authority given through Jesus. What a comfort this is and an encouragement to press on towards the goal God has given to believers – to be successful, that is to be faithful to Jesus.
Jesus is at the follower’s side in the Holy Spirit. From truths above then we need to ger real – obedient to the Holy Spirit in whom we are sealed and whom guides us through Holy Faith.
Commenting on the above – the Grace of Jesus, and Jesus’ requirement also for our obedience, Carson in his reflections on assurance makes an interesting comment about election that as an “element in the Biblical portrayal of God’s sovereignty never functions so as to destroy human responsibility…”[14]I add that here “sovereignty” points directly to the deity of Jesus. This is a very important truth. Jesus taught the wisdom of this truth the day before Good Friday.
“Jesus said: ‘I am the Way the Truth and the Life.
Jesus said: “If you love me you will obey what I command.’” (Jn 14:15)
Jesus then explained that he had authority to say these words – authority
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.” (Jn 15:9-10)
Once truly regenerated we can never lose our salvation. I am not being Universalist here. I have already mentioned John 10:29; 5:24.
We have been given by the Father to the Son for all Eternity but we will still sin. This is an important through for our attitudes in “being spiritual” (1 Cor 12:1).
It’s wonderful to focus again on the truth of the selfless love of Jesus – His dedication to “save His people from their sins” (Mt 1:21) – His obligatory love, His mission and duty in obedience to His Father to complete the Father’s purposes – the redemption of the elect. Also commenting on the point above, Schreiner explains that God – YAHWEH (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) – is completely sovereign and “yet human choices and responsibility are not a charade. God ordains all that comes to pass and is good; and yet evil exists, and it is really evil. God chooses only some to be saved, and yet there is also the true sense in which He desires the salvation of all. Those who are elect will never lose their salvation, and yet those who do not persevere to the end will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”[15] The above statement is of a human mind – a Christian brother or sister with the mind of Christ. However, none can judge, and I thus focus on the truth of the parable of the sower and the wheat and the tares here.
Westblade in Schreiner comments on ability in his discussion on divine election. He notes “God Himself gives and withholds the ability to trust. God, not the sinner, should therefore be held responsible.”[16] This highlights how difficult this theological truth is to our finite minds as Westblade continues “that God gives, an ability to trust to have a will that is favourably disposed, is a moral ability, one that we commonly distinguish in practice from our natural or physical abilities.”[17] Schreiner expands this comment by his comment on prevenient grace where he distinguishes between moral and physical ability.
He notes that “God gives commands to unbelievers that they can physically obey; that is, they could observe His commandments if they desired to do so. Unbelievers are morally unable to keep God’s commands in the sense that they have no desire to obey all of His commandments.”[18] Thus he explains prevenient grace that before they repent as the scriptures teach “that they have no moral ability to believe, and the only way they will believe is if they are given by the Father to the Son. This revelation is not vouchsafed to all people but only to the elect.”[19] He takes this thought one step further by commenting on Scripture where Jesus commands believers “to be perfect (Mt 5:48), but the need for forgiveness (Mt 6:14-15) demonstrates that perfection is impossible to attain.”[20] I note as Schreiner discusses that it is difficult for humankind to accept their responsibility for sin irrespective of the truth that “they are born with an inclination and that will inevitably lead them to sin.”[21]
The reality discussed by Schreiner that it is “the kindness of God”[22] that should give people understanding and leading to repentance. As Schreiner had already stated that Adam was still responsible for their “failure to respond to God’s grace.”[23]
These are awesome thoughts as we stand in awe of the righteousness and wisdom of Jesus in the care of our loving and merciful Father who patiently waits for those to change – to turn to Him in repentance and faith answering the call in actions that are successful – wise actions for now and eternity through truly trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit through praying in Holy Faith.
I reason that the Holy Spirit through the conviction of those to be regenerated will always be successful through Jesus’ irresistible grace. I cannot judge as stated but can only be a faithful teacher of Scripture to all. I am not a judge but be a fruit inspector as led by the Holy Spirit. Those who are elect will come to Jesus. Only Jesus knows who the elect are. The elect will respond to the Holy Spirit’s, the Spirit of Jesus’ effectual calling.
“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:21)
Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit I focus again on that no-one is perfect, good or holy by their own self-righteousness (Rom 3:10-12). I also focus on the reality of:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons and daughters through Jesus Christ…in Him we were also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with His purpose and will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. And you were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance …” (Eph 1:3, 4; 11-14)
I acknowledge that this is a very important truth especially concerning purity where believers are to be “holy and blameless in the Father’s sight”.
The focus of this chapter on the Holy Spirit is – being Spiritual (1 Cor 12:1). This is translated “spiritual gifts” or “spiritual matters” but this simply means “being Spiritual” walking and being led of the Holy Spirit who gives words or messages.
Let us repeat for emphasis in Holy Faith:
I Cor 12:1
1 Now about the “gifts” of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
And again;
1 Now about the “matters” of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
The word “matters” legally means:[24]
Legal matter management or “matters management” refers to activities involved in managing all aspects of the corporate legal spiritual matters events when the church comes together. As the Spirit-filled Elect and non-believers meet in public meetings around the word of God, the spiritual matters of the voice of The Holy Spirit can be operated in the church corporately which as described (1 Cor 12) and which is further explained later in the book.
We have to be “Totally Spiritually Truthful and Obedient”.
i.e. The Real Thing. The need of being Spiritual in Holy Faith.
Acts 10:46
45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.
46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Acts 19:6
6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
This is the working of the Holy Spirit that you would hear the sound of the Spirit.
John 3:8
8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
John 4:23-24
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Jude 20:20-21
20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
I stated above that the elect are able not to sin. With the above truths in mind we need to examine why we do not have to sin because of the indwelling guidance of the Holy Spirit 24/7.
Romans 6:1-23
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death?
4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.
18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In this wonderful truth above, the Holy Spirit guides us to understand that we really do not want to sin (:2). We “died to sin” and this is now past tense, past attitudes. God has given us His love as His Holy Spirit is in us and guiding us (Romans 5:5). We need to get real and spiritually obedient! We as elect are raised with Jesus and have a new life (:4-6). We are free (John 8:32,36). We do not have to sin anymore (:18) – we are free from sin. We are justified – “just-as-if-I” did not sin. Thank you, Jesus and for your Holy Spirit’s guidance in my life.
However, Paul goes on to say that as the elect we are human. Paul teaches on the Law:
Romans 7:7-10
7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead.
9 Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.
10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.
Paul continues with the constant human weakness which from time to time distracts all of us.
Romans 7:22-25
22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;
23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Then, in this wonderful teaching by Paul concerning life through The Holy Spirit he begins with the word “Therefore,”.
Romans 8
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.
13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express*.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In :2 above “law of spirit of life” is controlling power of the Holy Spirit through Holy Faith in an obedient life set free from controlling power of sin and death.
*:26 This has been medically and speech pathology proven to be true as noted below.
In the above truth Paul teaches in Romans 8 that we as the elect are not controlled by the sinful nature but through the strength Jesus gives, we are controlled and guided – yes – and convicted to obedience, by His Holy Spirit. Remember in Romans 6, Paul teaches we do not have to sin any longer. In Romans 7 he teaches that in our humanity we may be weakened by the devil. In Romans’ 8, above, Paul encourages us (:12) that we have “an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature…” We are encouraged by Paul that through the Holy Spirits’ guidance we will share in Jesus’ Glory – heirs with Jesus!
We know there will be difficulties. Jesus in His second nature as perfect man knew the difficulties – for example, temptation in the wilderness. We are helped in our weakness – the weakness Paul teaches in Romans 7. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we will overcome, again:
Romans 8:22-30
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness*. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.**
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
*Weakness is sickness. It has been medically proven by Carl R Peterson MD, that when one prays in tongues The Holy Spirit activates two parts of the brain that otherwise are inactive and by doing so increases the persons immune system by 35-40%[25].
EFFECTS OF EXTENDED VERBAL PRAYER
“I have had a number of inquiries concerning the efficacy of praying in the spirit (speaking in tongues) and its benefit to the human immune system, i.e., immunity enhanced by chemicals released from a part of the brain. I am attempting to clarify some information I have shared with a number of ministers. This is information that may be deduced from what we know about the way the brain functions. We do know the part of the brain affected most noticeably by extended prayer represents a significant portion of the brain and its metabolic activity. Therefore, voluntary speech during extended vocal prayer causes a major stimulation in these parts of the brain (mainly the hypothalamus).
The hypothalamus has direct regulation of four major systems of the body, mainly: a) the pituitary gland and all target endocrine glands;
- b) the total immune system;
- c) the entire autonomic system; and
- d) the production of brain hormones called endorphins and encephalons, which are chemicals the body produces and are 100-200 times more powerful than morphine.
In summary, a very significant percentage of the central nervous system is directly and indirectly activated in the process of extended verbal and musical prayer over a period of time. This results in a significant release of brain hormones which, in turn, increases the body’s general immunity. It is further enhanced through joyful laughter with increased respirations and oxygen intake to the brain, diaphragm and other muscles. This same phenomenon is seen in physical activity in general, i.e., running, etc.
We know from the Word of God that there is a true joy that builds and sustains. Nehemiah tells us the joy of the Lord is our strength. There is joy in the presence of Jehovah. We, as believers having entered into that wonderful presence of our Lord, know this to be true. What we must continue to remember is that the joy of the Lord spoken of in the Word is so much more than any manifestation. We can truly have that unspeakable joy in the face of any trials we may encounter, if our joy is grounded in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I hope the above information helps to clarify the report you received regarding my statement in the area of the physical effects of speaking in tongues and joyful laughter for extended periods of time. Truly, we all benefit — body, soul, and spirit — from obedience and yielding to the Spirit of God in every area of our lives.
Carl R. Peterson, M.D.” This excerpt is extracted in verbatim.
** Also the spiritual opposition is stronger than us humans, therefore praying in the Holy Spirit builds up our Spiritual Weakness’s and Holy Faith.
Remember it’s all about being Spiritual.
True believers, true born again believers never lose their salvation. We are part of God’s treasured possession – the House of Israel. (Rom 11) I need to include here a truth already discussed in the chapter – The Glory of the Deity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with comment in Hebrews 6. I do this to explain further that in weakness or not knowing what OUGHT TO PRAY we pray in Tongues because the Holy Spirit knows all things even better than we know ourselves.
John 16:13
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth when we do not resist Him, but rather praying in our Holy Spirit tongue He gives us the ability to be led by Him.
I am reminded that Griffith Thomas comments on atoning propitiation sacrifice of Jesus and His righteousness which is imputed to the believer. Griffith Thomas states “It is not enough that our Lord’s death occurred in history; it must also become part of our personal experience, in order that it may be a spiritual force in our life.”[26] He goes on to explain Article 11 in the Book of Common Prayer – “We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works …”[27] Commenting on Article 11 Griffith Thomas suggest that it is the compliment of Article 2 – “The Son which is the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the very and eternal God, and of one substance with the Father, took man’s nature….”[28] I observes from Griffith Thomas’ comments the valuable truth that Jesus is the eternal second Person, the Son from everlasting, the eternal Living Word (Jn 1:1). Where I have said “observes above”, I need to expand this important truth noted by Griffith Thomas concerning “…imputed to the believer.” The phrase above “…imputed to the believer…” is wonderful. Regenerated with Holy Faith.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit and knowing this glorious anointing (1 Jn 2:20ff) this imputation is amazing. On regeneration, on being saved, salvation is not lost (Lk 19:10; Heb 13:5). Each new believer now begins to know and grow in obedience. Of course there is a warning in relation to sin as already noted above (Rom 6:1-18). This warning is highlighted in the following passage.
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2. instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3. And God permitting, we will do so. 4. It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5. who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6. if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. 9. Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case – things that accompany salvation. 10. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.
- We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. 13. When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14. saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15. And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 16. Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20. where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6)
I have emphasized that after regeneration the new believer will want to know and grow. Thus you will note that the passage starts with the word “therefore” which refers back to a previous warning about falling away. I ask the question, “Can a Christian fall away?” In the passage quoted the writer suggests that we “leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go onto maturity.” The passage raises the question about falling from grace or losing salvation. I suggest that the passage does not teach that one of the elect can ever lose salvation as suggested in verses 4-6.
I suggest that this is a “hypothetical argument” which warns Christians from a Jewish background that being born in the Spirit will result in encouragement from the Holy Spirit to want to know more about Jesus and to grow to maturity in Him. I also suggest these verses are a warning against backsliding. I do not consider that this passage is suggesting that the believer can “lose their salvation” for the truth is that this cannot happen. What can be the case is that the person had never been regenerated in the first place. I have included the whole passage (Heb 6) to emphasize that even though this Scripture “speaks like this” (:9) there is confidence that God is at work in their hearts and that they are regenerated and that these words in Scripture here are a great encouragement to those who are regenerated but who need emphasis by God of His promises and that they need to constantly look to Him whilst waiting patiently for His continual blessings. If there is any doubt on the part of the believer, this should not be seen as a sign that the believer is not a regenerated person. Doubt should send the believer back to God’s word in order to reconcile any differences or address any doubts. For example, if prayer is unanswered, a believer would not turn their back on God and His promises, but would go back to God’s word to confirm that God’s ways are far better than ours (Jn 6:39-40; 10:27-30; Phil 1:9-10; 3:12-17). I include the whole of Hebrews 6 passage for context purposes. It is dangerous in some cases to take a verse of Scripture by itself to prove a particular point.
Paul’s letter to the Hebrews’ 10:25-26 confirms the same truth of my comments for Hebrews 6.
Also in Paul’s letter to the people in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 2:6-12
6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”—
10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
1 Corinthians 12:1
1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
In the above passage (1 Cor 12:1) Paul is being very practical. The version NIV and RSV the Greek word pneumatikon is translated “Spiritual gifts”. The actual Greek word is “spiritual matters”. From my study of the Greek definition I suggest “being spiritual” – meaning actually “doing” – knowing and doing the work guided by the Person The Holy Spirit. We are saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph1:13) to Work:
Ephesians 1:13
“13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,”
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 6:17-20
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
3 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
Jude 20-21
20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
The Next two chapters explain and expound the following:
Firstly – How to get saved;
Secondly – How to walk in God the Holy Spirit;
Thirdly – How to operate correctly personally and in Corporate Spiritual Matters – when the church comes together corporately. i.e. When the church comes together are to operate spiritually – i.e. the voice messages of the Holy Spirit in an orderly method.
[1] By the Reverend Alfred Marshall D.litt. Published Zondervan Publishing House
[2] http://www.yourdictionary.com/rash#LOIeThGcuP4tTcsJ.99
[3] T W Hunt, The Mind of Christ. (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1995), p 152
[4] Ibid.
[5] Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity. (Edinburgh: the Banner of Truth Trust, 1978), p 226
[6] Ibid, 229
[7] Millard J Erickson, Christian Theology. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1998), p 924
[8] Ibid, 928
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid, 930
[11] Ibid.
[12] Millard J Erickson, Christian Theology. (Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Books, 1998), p 930
[13] Ibid, 940
[14] D A Carson, “Reflections on Assurance” Still Sovereign, eds Thomas R Schreiner, Bruce A Ware (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000), p 272
[15] Thomas R Schreiner, Bruce A Ware, eds Still Sovereign. (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000), p 19
[16] Donald Westblade, “Divine Election in the Pauline Literature.” Still Sovereign eds. Thomas R Schreiner, Bruce A Ware (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000), p 79
[17] Ibid.
[18] Thomas R Schreiner, “Does Scripture Teach Prevenient Grace in the Wesleyan Sense?” in Still Sovereign eds. Thomas R Schreiner, Bruce A Ware (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000), p 243
[19] Ibid.
[20] Ibid.
[21] Ibid, 244
[22] Ibid.
[23] Ibid.
[24] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_matter_management
[25] https://hischarisisenough.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/medical-facts-about-speaking-in-tongues-carl-r-peterson-m-d/
[26] W H Griffith Thomas, The Catholic Faith. (London: Church Book Room Press Ltd, 1966), p 54
[27] Ibid, 55
[28] Ibid.