THE SPIRIT, AGENT OF SALVATION

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Acts 2:38-39

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”


The day of Pentecost finally arrived, power was released on those who were waiting in obedience to the instruction of Christ. They spake in that heavenly language such that all around could hear no matter what divers language they spoke, (this I believe, is not recorded to have happened anywhere else in scriptures). Well all to one aim:


Acts 2:40-41

Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.


This brings us to the essence of the Holy Spirit. 


Reading John chapter fourteen and sixteen we see how Christ described the role of the Holy Spirit:


Let me summarize it into three:


1. He convicts the sinner of sin: 


John 16:8

And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.


So for anyone to come to Christ, they have to yield their heart to the prompting of the Holy Spirit


(the enemy prompts the unbeliever to do the opposite, he hardens the heart not to yield to God's Spirit. . . Revelation 3:20, See the devil cannot do this for you, he only suggests it, every human will yet decide whether to yield or harden -  that is why there is judgement. Selah) 


2. He empowers the believer, in salvation


John 3:5-6

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.

Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.


The Holy Spirit becomes the birth source of the saved one (though the body remains the same, the mind is refreshed) 


2 Corinthians 5:17

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!


3. Sustains the believer till the final resurrection. 


Yes, so we now have a new life, the Spirit now begins to feed us with the nature and character of the Father. Teaching us, empowering us and guiding us as long as we stay in obedience:


John 16:13-15

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.

All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’


John 14:26

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.


He renews our mind as we study the word and pray:


Romans 12: 2

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.


He is then the seal by which God marks us as His own:


2 Corinthians 1:22 (KJV) 

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.


2 Corinthians 1:22(NLT) 

and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.


So the Holy Spirit's role is clear, of course it may not be fully exhaustive in this study. However it is well summarized. 


*Convicts of sin, *Agent of salvation and *Sustainer of the saved. 


Definitely not an agent of making money, producer of fire to kill enemies or a show off to make one feel important or better than another.!!! 


Finally:


1 Corinthians 12:1,7

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this.

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.


So help us Good Lord. 


Please this teaching is so important because Christ said:


Luke 12:10

Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.


So help us Good Lord. 


Are you saved? Have you returned to the Heavenly Father through the only mediator Yeshua Hamaschiach, Jesus the Christ? Have you yielded to the Holy Spirit? . . . time is running out. 


Tell others! 


He calls us blessed. 


Love

@the watcher

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