“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will…In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:11-14)
Mankind has been "predestined" to hear and believe the good news of their salvation and upon believing they become sealed with the promise of "Holy Spirit".
I have heard much teaching about the Holy Spirit over the years. Like “walking in the Spirit”, or “receiving the Spirit”, or being “filled with the Spirit”. Some teach that the Holy Spirit is a person and part of a “trinity”. Some even teach about a “second blessing” when one is “baptized in the Holy Spirit”. Any many say things like “the Spirit led me” to do such and such.
The various and conflicting teachings on the “Holy Spirit” is confusing and probably wrong to some degree.
Here is a simple way I keep what God says about “Spirit” straight in my mind, Holy or not. I am a man of the flesh…a "soul" which is mortal and controlled by those natural emotions that all mankind experience (the flesh). I will stay “mortal” until I die and am raised a “Spiritual body". It is a promise from God. That body will be Holy and Spiritual - a new creation - only when I am made immortal. But that is in the future…it is our inheritance an hope as children of God.
“So also is the resurrection of the dead…it is sown a natural body, it is raised a SPIRITUAL body. If there is a natural body, there is also a SPIRITUAL body. So also it is written, the first man, Adam, became a living SOUL. The last Adam became a life-giving SPIRIT. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven…Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery…we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the DEAD will be raised imperishable… But when this…mortal will have put on IMMORTALITY, then will come about the saying that is written, DEATH is swallowed up in VICTORY.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-57)
Mankind has been "predestined" to hear and believe the good news of their salvation and upon believing they become sealed with the promise of "Holy Spirit".
I have heard much teaching about the Holy Spirit over the years. Like “walking in the Spirit”, or “receiving the Spirit”, or being “filled with the Spirit”. Some teach that the Holy Spirit is a person and part of a “trinity”. Some even teach about a “second blessing” when one is “baptized in the Holy Spirit”. Any many say things like “the Spirit led me” to do such and such.
The various and conflicting teachings on the “Holy Spirit” is confusing and probably wrong to some degree.
Here is a simple way I keep what God says about “Spirit” straight in my mind, Holy or not. I am a man of the flesh…a "soul" which is mortal and controlled by those natural emotions that all mankind experience (the flesh). I will stay “mortal” until I die and am raised a “Spiritual body". It is a promise from God. That body will be Holy and Spiritual - a new creation - only when I am made immortal. But that is in the future…it is our inheritance an hope as children of God.
“So also is the resurrection of the dead…it is sown a natural body, it is raised a SPIRITUAL body. If there is a natural body, there is also a SPIRITUAL body. So also it is written, the first man, Adam, became a living SOUL. The last Adam became a life-giving SPIRIT. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven…Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery…we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the DEAD will be raised imperishable… But when this…mortal will have put on IMMORTALITY, then will come about the saying that is written, DEATH is swallowed up in VICTORY.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-57)