Subject: How? |
Bible Note: Hi, IE... That's mixing up the indicative and the imperative again. The notion of chasing off the Holy Spirit may be a common and popular teaching in some circles, but it doesn't reflect the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in Scripture. "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you FOREVER, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17 ESV -- my emphasis) See how John records that Christ taught that the indwelling of the Spirit as only being associated with Christians? See how it is perpetual? The apostle John wrote his first epistle entirely about progressive sanctification -- only experienced by the believer. Therein you'll not find anything there about a revolving-door kind of filling, but a consistent message with that which he had already spoken. He writes, "Whoever keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in them [cf John 14:21]. And by this we know that He ABIDES in us, by the Spirit whom He HAS GIVEN us." (1 John 3:24 ESV) The presence of the Holy Spirit always has the consequence of bringing Christ-likeness (Isaiah 61:10-11; Titus 3:4-6). A believer can't get any more of Him, nor can he get any less of Him. The Spirit draws, regenerates, convicts, comforts, teaches, cleanses, leads, assures, seals, intercedes, preserves, confirms, endows, and transforms. His work in the life of a believer is a fundamental doctrine of salvation. The notion of a "second wind" or a "second blessing" is often taught in some circles. But with all the problems of the churches of Corinth, Galatian, Ephesus, Laodicea, etc. it isn't the lack of the Holy Spirit that is needed, but the failure to embrace the truth (indicative) of the Holy Spirit's indwelling (Romans 6:2; Galatians 3:3; etc.). Look for the fruit of Christ-likeness (Galatians 5:22-23), and you'll find the Holy Spirit at the root! In Him, Doc |