Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | A fresh mental and spiritual attitude? | Eph 4:23 | Ray | 149920 | ||
Reference: #149919 Does Ephesians 4:23 relate to Romans 8:15 and receiving a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Daddy, Father"? |
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2 | A fresh mental and spiritual attitude? | Eph 4:23 | Ray | 150038 | ||
I am still waiting for reasons to capitalize holy spirit in the passages dealing with "being filled with the spirit" or being filled with the holy spirit". From the heart, Ray |
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3 | A fresh mental and spiritual attitude? | Eph 4:23 | Aixen7z4 | 150136 | ||
It would be nice to say it is your brethren who are waiting to hear some scripture to support the idea of a holy spirit. That would be to say that the burden of proof rests with the proponent of the idea. But we have understood all along that being filled with the Holy Spirit means being filled with “the Spirit of God” (as in 1 Corinthians 12). We understand from a passage like that, that he is otherwise called the Holy Ghost (v. 3). We have understood that the same Spirit (v. 4) is Lord (v. 5). Moreover, we have understood that the Holy Spirit is working in us (v. 6). We have understood that he gives gifts to individuals in the church (vv. 7 and 11). He gives these gifted men to the church (Ephesians 4) so that all can profit from their ministry, as we read again in 1 Corinthians 12:7. It is apparent that the brethren are not ready to receive any information suggesting that the Holy Spirit is other than a person, one of the three in the Godhead. They do not believe that any such information exists in scripture. The Holy Spirit gives specific gifts, and he produces certain fruit (Galatians 6). We understand that he works in us to produce the desire (Philippians 2), and the ability (Zechariah 4) and the actual operations (1 Corinthians 12) and fruit (John 15). But we do not read anywhere that he gives anything called “holy spirit”. Above, this writer had to be careful to not say, “It is he …” because someone would think he was referring to the Holy Spirit as an “It”. He had to make sure he did not say “…anything other than a person …” so that no one would think he was referring to the Holy Spirit as a “thing”. We are very sensitive to the fact the Holy Spirit is a person. The conventions of the English language would allow us to say those things, but we are careful not to give a wrong impression. We understand that God can and does give a spirit, for example, a spirit of wisdom (Exodus 28). He may give, through the Holy Spirit, a fullness “in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship (Exodus 35). He may give a spirit of a spirit of judgment (Isaiah 28); even a spirit of deep sleep (Isaiah 29). But none of these things is referred to as a “holy spirit”. Peter tells us (Chapter 3) that we should have a meek and quiet spirit. But that is not referred to as a “holy spirit”. Jesus, being always full of the Holy Spirit (John 3) always had all of the gifts. Isaiah said of him (chapter 11), that there would come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and as a branch out of his roots. The Spirit of Jehovah would rest on Him; and he would have “the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and power, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah”. But even when those were put together, they are not said to constitute a “holy spirit”. It never was said in scripture that that Jesus had a holy spirit. Now, there is a spirit in man, “the candle of the LORD” (Proverbs 20:27) and it is through that spirit that a man knows what is in his mind. And the Spirit of God knows what is in God’s mind. He reveals God’s mind to us (1 Corinthians 1). And he witnesses with our spirits, telling us, for example, that we are the children of God (Romans 8). He is the one who tells us what the word of God means. It is interesting that this thread begins to suggest we can have a kind of mind, as in Ephesians 2:23, an attitude that might, apparently, take the place of the active ministry of the Holy Spirit in filling us. There is such an attitude: “Let this mind be in you” (Philippians 2). And yet, that attitude, of humility, only allows us to yield to the Holy Spirit, so he can fill us and work in us. It is apparent that it is the Holy Spirit who provides that attitude (v.13). But we can resist him (Acts 7:51). But we are encouraged to allow him to fill us. And he can do that, because he is God, and like the Father (1 Corinthians 15:58) and like the Son (Ephesians 1:23) he can fill all in all. It is not only a mental and spiritual attitude we need, though those may be prerequisites. We need the Holy Spirit himself to fill us. As for a holy spirit, we have never heard of a holy spirit. We know that angels are spirits (Hebrews 4) and they may be holy (Matthew 25, Revelation 14). But that is another subject. We have no information about being filled with something called holy spirit. Having searched the scripture in vain for it, we should be on guard, and fortify the brethren so they can resist the idea. We should discourage anyone from taking on a burden of proof, as it were, in order to try to import that doctrine into the faith. |
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4 | A fresh mental and spiritual attitude? | Eph 4:23 | Ray | 150280 | ||
Hi Aixen7z4, I have written a response to you, but do not have time to write it out now. I have not forgotten you. You wrote "As for a holy spirit, we have never heard of a holy spirit." Consider Acts 19:2, "and he said to them, "Did you receive the *holy *spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a *holy *spirit." [Marginal note, Or, the Holy Spirit has been given]. From the heart, Ray |
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5 | A fresh mental and spiritual attitude? | Eph 4:23 | Aixen7z4 | 150286 | ||
Please try to understand. In my last paragraph, above, I am saying that I have never seen the term holy spirit. It is not used even in a case where it might be used. Angels are spirits, and they are holy, and yet they are never called holy spirits. A single angel is not called a holy spirit. I have noted before that God gives a spirit of wisdom, a spirit of understanding, etc. But these are never called holy. The term is never used. In Acts 19 the believers were responding to a question, whether they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed. They replied that they had never heard that there was such a person as the Holy Spirit. There is no missing the point that Paul was talking about God the Holy Spirit. And there is no reason to think that they conceived of some holy influence before they found out the truth. Paul was referring to the Holy Spirit. He is the one Jesus had promised to send. He is the one Jesus had spoken of in John 7, when he invited the thirsty to come to him. John tells us he was referring to of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive, although the Holy Ghost had not yet been given. But Paul was himself filled with the Holy Ghost, in Acts chapter 9 and afterwards. The Holy Spirit is a person. But I cannot imagine what holy spirit would be. Even my spellchecker is asking me to change the words, as it knows of no such formulation. I heard the term “Jesus juice” recently, and I wondered whether they were talking about such a thing. I know that the Jehovah’s Witnesses think of an influence from the father and the Son that they call holy spirit, but I understand that you are not of that persuasion. And yet it seems to be the same idea that you are trying to get accepted on the forum. I really think you should give up on the idea. I have tried to show, through an exhaustive search of the scriptures, that the term is never used except in reference to God the Holy Spirit. Again, not even angels, who are spirits, and who are holy, are described by the use of that term. The disciples in Acts 19 had not heard of the Holy Spirit, but of course he existed as eternal God. They soon knew him because Paul laid hands on them and the Holy Spirit came to them, not only on them but into them, as I understand from the promise Jesus made. But I do not believe we will become acquainted with holy spirit because the scriptures know of no such thing. We will not change that by employing rules of capitalization, so I’d suggest, in love, that we forget it. |
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