Subject: How? |
Bible Note: Hi, IE... The terms to grieve (Ephesians 4:30) and quench (1 Thessalonians 5:19) the Holy Spirit only occur in these two passages. The first instance uses an anthropomorphism, and the second extends the fire metaphor of Matthew 3:11. We can discuss them in their proper context. However, we ought not deem form these passages that the eternal purposes of God can be thwarted. (What God is working out He will work out in perfect faithfulness. Neither man, angel, or demon can withstand His purposes (Psalms 33:11, 148:3, Proverbs 19:21, Job 41:11, Isaiah 14:27, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:17).) As has already been demonstrated, obstructing the Holy Spirit is not possible (post #197488). To use the marriage analogy again, the fact of the marriage (indicative) is not effected by the relational experience of the married couple (imperative). The husband and wife may act in ways that positively promote the benefits of the marital experience, or detract from them. In the same way, the believer can draw close to the Lord by walking in the things God has accomplished or draw away from the Lord by walking in the things of his old nature (Galatians 5:16ff). In Him, Doc |