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NASB | 2 Timothy 1:14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Timothy 1:14 Guard [with greatest care] and keep unchanged, the treasure [that precious truth] which has been entrusted to you [that is, the good news about salvation through personal faith in Christ Jesus], through [the help of] the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. |
Subject: Evidence of holy spirit in a Christian? |
Bible Note: Greetings Aixen7z4, The following should quell all your doubts. Those who are saved early in life may not as easily recognize the "putting off" of the old nature and taking on the new nature in Christ, as those who are saved at a later age. What would make an Eskimo renounce fur or make a vegetarian barbecue hamster? :-) What kind radical change in a human being produces a never-ending joy and song in his heart that wasn't there before, and could only be put there by one thing? When we are saved, we have a love for God that is undeniable (Ps. 42:1; 73:25; Luke 10:27; Rom. 8:7); we have humility (Ps. 51:17; Matt. 5:1-12; James 4:6,9) and truly repent of our sins (Ps. 32:5; Prov. 28:13; Rom. 7:14; 2 Cor. 7:10; 1 John 1:8-10); we have a love that is "selfless" (1 John 2:9, 3:14; 4:7). As I have said before in my first post, we stop doing that which we are doing (Eph. 4:28), and begin to do that which is of the will of God, being separated to Him from the world (1 Cor. 2:12; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; 5:5) and live obediently towards God (Matt. 7:21; John 15:14; Rom. 16:26; 1 Pet. 1:2,22; 1 John 2:3-5). And this is the true 'evidence' of salvation: that there is spiritual growth that takes place (Luke 8:15; John 15:1-6; Eph. 4:12-16); evidenced by our continual life of prayer (Luke 18:1; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; James 5:16-18) and devotion to God's glory (Ps. 105:3; 115:1; Is. 43:7; 48:10; Jer. 9:23,24; 1 Cor. 10:31). Therefore, if the above is true about a person, who has noticeably been changed (Eph. 4:17-32) from their former self, then we know that the visible, outward "signs" that we normally associate as being evidence for salvation, but cannot truly be convincing, in and of themselves of salvation, such as their visible morality (Matt. 19:16-21; 23:27), their intellectual knowledge (Rom. 1:21; 2:17) and their religious involvement (Matt. 25:1-10), will also be 'fruits' of that true, honest, inner conviction of the Holy Spirit that has taken place. Proverbs 11:1 states, "A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight." Therefore, one who is truly saved is one who is living his life based on a "true measure", or in purity of heart (Prov. 11:1-2). A saved person is one who can also be described as "principle driven" with the crowning hallmark of integrity (v. 3), without any "crookedness" of their former life (Eph. 4:18). A saved person is that which can be 'publicly effective' (v. 10,11) due to the righteousness (v. 5) that he embodies. A saved person is a sound provider of council (v. 14) who replies with understanding (v. 12,15). Authentic faith is provisional in its focus (vv. 24-26) with a goal in sight (v. 19), but the unsaved only scatter. One who is saved has a change in perspective- from a perspective that is temporary to that which is eternal (Proverbs 11:29-30), and he who is wise wins souls! So, therefore, the above, without any shadow of a doubt, will be true of a saved person, but not always true of a person who is not saved. And the same can be said of what Paul wrote in Eph. 4:17-32. Blessings to you, Makarios |