What then shall we
say to these things?
If God is for us, who
can be against us?
He who did not spare
His own Son,
but delivered Him up
for us all,
how shall He not with
Him
also freely give us
all things?
Who shall bring a
charge against God's elect?
It is God who
justifies.
Romans 8:31 -- 33
The opening
Scriptures provide for us tremendous hope for we are told that nothing can be
against us because God is for us and we have this assurance, God did not spare
His own Son and delivered Him up for us all.
Also, God has freely given us all things and this free gift is His
salvation that can only be found in His Son, Jesus Christ, and that salvation
is full and complete, lacking nothing.
Upon our conversion and reception of Jesus Christ in our lives, we receive
everything that God desires to give to His elect those things that come by
means of our salvation through Jesus Christ.
This being true according to Scripture then the question is: "why
should anyone attempt to get additional gifts and additional blessings?" Did not God give us all things freely? It is in our desire to seek out additional
gifts and additional blessings, no, our desire should be to grow in our Christian
life and to discover all that we already have from Him. Understand this one fact if you can't
understand anything: you are already rich in Jesus Christ and we must learn how
to live our Christian life in this richness.
This means that we must understand whose we are, and who we are so that
we may live our Christian life according to His Scriptures. Take a moment and think; is there anything
that you really need that you don't already have in Jesus Christ?
Should
Christian believers be looking for a "second blessing?" Paul in writing to the Ephesians wrote: "Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1: 3). Take a moment and dwell on this: how rich are Christian believers
blessed, and how poor Christ came so that we could be blessed and rich in Him: "For you know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes he kept that became
poor, that through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8: 9). Christian believers lack nothing for in
Jesus Christ we are complete: "For
in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and are complete in Him,
who is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2: 9 -- 10). Scripture then teaches us that God has freely
given us all things and that we are complete in Jesus Christ, therefore,
Christians are not missing a second blessing experience. Unfortunately, so often, Christians fail to
claim the riches that they already have, those riches of the grace of God. When this occurs we fail to possess our
possessions!
Here then
lies a question, a question that not only Christians ask of themselves, but
also unbelievers, and the question is: "what evidence or proof of the
person have that they received the Spirit?" As Peter wrote that we should be prepared to give an answer, or a
defense for the reason for the hope that we have, then what evidence or proof
can you provide that indicates that you have received the Holy Spirit? You might even say, "I don't feel like
anything has occurred or that the Holy Spirit actually is in me, for I can't
feel anything." So there are those
who are of the Charismatic, or Pentecostal beliefs who point to speaking in
tongues as evidence of the baptism of the Spirit, that one has received the Holy
Spirit. Is this true? What do the Scriptures reveal? First and foremost, if you have received the
Holy Spirit then we have received the fruit of the Spirit and we should not
expect anything less then the fruit of the Spirit being demonstrated in our
life. What is that fruit? "But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control. Against such
things there is no law" (Galatians 5: 22 -- 23). To
answer those questions that may be asked in regards to your faith and your
ability to provide evidence of your faith and that we have the Holy Spirit,
then demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit!
God makes it very clear to us that this is His will: "For this
is the will of God, you're sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual
immorality.... For God did not call us
to uncleanness, but in the holiness.
Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also
given us His Holy Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 4:3, 7 -- 8). Do you need evidence that you have the Holy
Spirit? The evidence is very
simple. I did not say it was easy. The evidence is that you should live a holy
life: "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this
seal: the Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names
the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2: 19). God having freely given us all things upon
our conversion and that includes the giving of Himself, the Holy Spirit, then we
are sealed until the day of redemption therefore we should not grieve the Holy
Spirit: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4: 30). When we have failed and sinned, are you
convicted and troubled, even miserable knowing that you were disobedient to the
Lord and not doing the things that are pleasing to Him? If so then you have the Holy Spirit for when
you do those things which are against the will of God you are grieving Him, the
Holy Spirit, the Godhead. The
indwelling of the Holy Spirit causes us to know His indwelling and His presence.
We are rich in Jesus Christ for God
has given us all things and that includes the Holy Spirit Who enables us to
live according to his will and that will has been revealed to us in His Scripture. The question is: "Do you live
according to Scripture or will you continue to seek that which you already have?"
The simple
believers every word,
but the prudent considers
well his
steps. A wise man fears
and departs from evil.
But a fool rages
and is self-confident.
Proverbs 14: 15 -- 16
The love of God is
great
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