Subject: Meaning of Spirit filled |
Bible Note: I have an article which I believe is recommended reading for everybody titled "Guidelines for Godly Dispute." I also recommend B.B. Warfield's "The Dogmatic Spirit." After several character assaults you proceed with your premise which you claim supports your conclusion that there are varying levels of the "Spirit" which one can have. Just a little argumentum ad hominem to start your post, eh? You seem to know the contents of Eph. 4:30 - Did you read 4:29, 4:31-33 also? Just in case you missed them, here they are: "29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Reading Eph. 4:30 "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." what I hear is stop doing those things Paul just mentioned. There is no information at all in this text that tells me anything about "spirit-filled"-ness or any degrees of "spirituality." 1 Thes. 5:19 simply tells me not to quench the Spirit. In what way am I not to quench the Spirit, what is quenching the Spirit? I find Matthew Henry's comments on Eph. 4:30 to be helpful with understanding this text - "In the midst of these exhortations and cautions the apostle interposes that general one, And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, v. 30. By looking to what precedes, and to what follows, we may see what it is that grieves the Spirit of God. In the previous verses it is intimated that all lewdness and filthiness, lying, and corrupt communications that stir up filthy appetites and lusts, grieve the Spirit of God. In what follows it is intimated that those corrupt passions of bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, and malice, grieve this good Spirit. By this we are not to understand that this blessed Being could properly be grieved or vexed as we are; but the design of the exhortation is that we act not towards him in such a manner as is wont to be grievous and disquieting to our fellow-creatures: we must not do that which is contrary to his holy nature and his will; we must not refuse to hearken to his counsels, nor rebel against his government, which things would provoke him to act towards us as men are wont to do towards those with whom they are displeased and grieved, withdrawing themselves and their wonted kindness from such, and abandoning them to their enemies." The quenching of the Spirit refers to suppressing the conviction, instruction and correction of the Spirit. Do not sear your conscience - do not disregard or ignore the feelings of guilt you have over your sins. The inference of the "Spirit-filled" philosophy is that the "power" available to us waxes or wanes in proportion to our "spirituality." This thought cannot be obtained from the TEXT of Sacred Scripture. If you want that RTF document, "Guidelines for Godly Dispute," let me know by sending an email to theopnuestos@hotmail.com. I apologize for the use of the word "crappy." It is just one of those words which don't "ping on my radar", but I can see how others may be offended by it. Let's replace "crappy" with "unsupported conclusions." I read all 4 and can honestly say YES! Regards, Matt. |