Subject: How? |
Bible Note: Hi, IE... You are, if I may say so, confusing the indicative (facts) with the imperative (command/experience). You can't hand-cuff the Holy Spirit (Job 40:9-12; Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 43:13; Acts 5:39; 11:17; 1 Corinthians 10:22). A believer has as much of the Holy Spirit as he/she is going to get: i.e., all of Him for all eternity. One can, however, experience more or less of Him in this life -- this is the continuous struggle we have until glory between the things of the Spirit and the sinful nature of the flesh. It is like being married: one cannot get more married or less married. However, one can experience greater or lesser degrees of intimacy in the marital relationship. During those fluctuations the fact of being married does not change. Galatians 5 explains all this very well; see particularly verses 22 through 25. If it is true that our life is in the Spirit (indicative), then we ought to live lives in the Spirit (imperative). In Him, Doc |