| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church We have been talking about the seven New Testament mysteries, and are on # 4, the Mystery of the Indwelling Christ. Paul said: “it is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me” - Gal. 2:20. What about us? “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” - Colo. 1:27. This is what is known as the Holy Spirit. To most, this title conjures up mystical images predominantly the property of one denomination or the other, but what does the Bible tell us about Him (the Holy Spirit), our relationship to Him, and what Jesus thought of that relationship. Spiritual Switch: I sometimes hear Christians say: “It must have been so easy for the Old Testament saints to be faithful. After all, they got to witness Gods’ miracles first hand”. Although this sounds reasonable at face value, I submit they might want to change places with us. Why? The Indwelling Christ, or Holy Spirit. Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit made spotty (not random) appearances throughout the Old Testament. But at Pentecost, in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit fell on all believers, and indwells us when we place our faith and trust in Jesus alone, by Faith alone. He has many jobs if you will, all beneficial to us. He convicts and convinces us with regard to sin. Nugget. Absent the Holy Spirit, we all decide what is and is not sin, and to what degree it is acceptable, leading to relative morality. Oh, we have that now. He also reveals Gods’ truths to us. The implication is that we cannot understand (discern) without His help. He also gives us supernatural power to say no to the world. Unfortunately, we don’t always tap into this one. Jesus told His disciples over and over that it would be to their advantage when He was killed, because the Comforter (Holy Spirit) would come. They could not get past the part where Jesus dies. Mystery # 5 is the believing Jews and Gentiles in One Body, as found in Eph. 3:1-12. This today sounds like no big deal, but it was. Imagine growing up with a people that could not deal with you, at all. If you accidently brushed up against them in the market place, they would have to go home and ceremonially bath. They would yell at you and call you and your kids “Unclean”. How would you feel about them? Spiritual Switch: We must guard ourselves Christians, that we don’t set that tone in the avenue of witness God has given us. “But for the grace of God, there go I”. Sometimes the learned of us separate ourselves from the “baby Christians”, when Jesus called them Disciples (learners) the moment they followed Him. Church isn’t a country club for Gods’ elect, but rather a Hospital for those admitting they are sick. Next week we will finish up with the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Rapture. God Bless. |
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