Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Why did God wait to send the Holy Spirit | Joel 2:28 | Makarios | 113832 | ||
Greetings Sir Pent, You are welcome! I believe that the Holy Spirit was very active in God's dealings with man, right from the beginning. But I also believe that the Holy Spirit's "primary function of office" with man noticeably changed between the way the Holy Spirit 'operated' in the Old Testament compared with how He operates in the New Testament. Yes, the Holy Spirit selectively indwelt and filled many people during Old Testament times. But what is different now is that ALL true believers are indwelt with the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). This means that the Holy Spirit's role with man has been greatly expanded. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin (John 16:8-11), regenerates new life in us (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5), gives us a new nature (2 Cor. 5:17), and a new life (1 John 2:29). The Holy Spirit is a gift to those who place their faith in Christ (Romans 5:5), and the absence of the Spirit is proof of being unsaved (Romans 8:9). Believers in Christ may lose the "filling", but they never lose the "indwelling" (John 14:16). The difference between the Old Testament and New Testament operation of the Holy Spirit is that before Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13), some were temporarily indwelt (1 Sam. 16:14; Psalm 51:11), but not after Pentecost (1 John 2:20,27). After Pentecost, the Holy Spirit baptizes us (1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 1:5) and the baptism of the Holy Spirit involves all believers (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:5). The baptism of the Holy Spirit happens only once (aorist tense in 1 Cor. 12:13), making us a part of the body of Christ, uniting us in His death with respect to our sin nature (Romans 6:1-10). Moreover, the Holy Spirit gives gifts to those whom He baptizes and indwells (1 Peter 4:10). So, with that said, I would say that although the Holy Spirit was active before He came at Pentecost (Acts 2), He has been so much more active through the body of Christ then He was in Old Testament times. He has taken up an 'expanded role' with the body of Christ, by sealing us for our day of redemption. However, I say this while still contending that He was not at all idle throughout the Old Testament. Blessings to you, Makarios |
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2 | Why did God wait to send the Holy Spirit | Joel 2:28 | Sir Pent | 113861 | ||
I need more information.......................................... Hi Makarios, I'm a bit confused by your last post. You seem to be saying that the Holy Spirit's role has been expanded because He now fills ALL true Christians. So have His methods changed, or is He still doing the same things, just with more people? |
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3 | Why did God wait to send the Holy Spirit | Joel 2:28 | Sir Pent | 114165 | ||
Tieing up loose ends......................................... Hi Makarios and Ray, I think the only loose end left in this thread is to figure out whether the Holy Spirit's methods changed from the Old Testament to now. It seems that most people think that there is a differnce, which is supported by the Galations 4:1-7 passage. However, you both seem to think that the Holy Spirit's methods are the same and that the only change is one of quantity, in that He fills ALL true believers (Christians) now. Do I understand you correctly, and if so, could you back up that belief? |
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4 | Why did God wait to send the Holy Spirit | Joel 2:28 | Ray | 114918 | ||
Hi Sir Pent, Please consider my post #114917 above. I believe that the Holy Spirit as the Giver gives the gift of holy spirit to us and that is what we are to be filled with as believers. From the heart, Ray |
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5 | Why did God wait to send the Holy Spirit | Joel 2:28 | Sir Pent | 114952 | ||
My answer................................................... Hi again Ray, I have read your post that you asked me to respond to, but I regret that I continue to be somewhat lost by the whole capitalization thing. I understand that it is very important to you however. The one thought that did occur to me is whether there is any difference between God's "spirit" and the Holy "Spirit"? It seems to me that you can't have one without the other, and I can't even really think of anything that distinguishes them. |
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6 | Why did God wait to send the Holy Spirit | Joel 2:28 | Ray | 115107 | ||
Hi Sir Pent, I think that the question of "willing spirit"or generous Spirit" above will speak to your thinking here. I hope we get some responses. From the heart, Ray |
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