The Holy Spirit and the Children of God:
“9) However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Romans 8:9
“14) For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15) For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16) The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,” Romans 8:14-16
“10) By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:10
I want to talk for a moment about a very important subject. It is mentioned more in the New Testament than most ever notice. What is the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil? (1 John 3:10)
According to the above verses, it is the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the life of the born-again believer. They have received the promise of the Father. This theme is woven throughout the entire New Testament.
If you have not become a temple of the Holy Spirit with the Spirit dwelling in you; something is wrong. (See 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20)
If you do not have rivers of life flowing from within you; something is wrong. (John 7:37-39)
If the fruit of the Holy Spirit is not evident in your life; something is wrong. (Galatians 5:22-24)
If your inner being does not cry out “Abba, Father”; something is wrong. (Galatians 4:6)
If there are no gifts of the Holy Spirit being manifest in and through your life; something is wrong. (1 Corinthians 12:11)
If there is no unity of the Spirit with other born-again believers; something is wrong. (Ephesians 4:1-3)
If there is no inner anointing of the Holy Spirit teaching you; something is wrong. (1 John 2:25-27)
If there is no evidence of sanctification and regeneration in your life; something is wrong. (Titus 3:4-7)
If there is no Zoe life in you; something is wrong. (Romans 8:11)
I could go on and on with many passages of Scripture. I am very concerned about the modern church which holds to a form of godliness but denies the power of the Promise from the Father.
In the past few weeks, I have been asked to pray for several people involved in churches but having deep spiritual struggles. In each case, I started at the beginning by asking if they had ever repented of their sin and placed saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Five of them responded with blank looks on their faces and basically said they were trying to be religious so God would accept them. I quickly reviewed the gospel with them and led them into receiving Jesus Christ into their lives. The transformation was immediate and glorious!
Until you become a child of God through personal saving faith in Jesus Christ, you will forever be frustrated trying to live the Christian life. The precious Promise of the Father and the deep things of the Holy Spirit will remain like foolishness to you. (1 Corinthians 2:12-16)
It doesn’t work to skip salvation and then try to turn people into disciples of Christ! Start the way the early church did the gospel and dramatic conversions. (Acts 2:37-39) Then disciple making will become natural and organic because the Holy Spirit will be transforming them from within.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“9) However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Romans 8:9
“14) For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15) For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16) The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,” Romans 8:14-16
“10) By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:10
I want to talk for a moment about a very important subject. It is mentioned more in the New Testament than most ever notice. What is the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil? (1 John 3:10)
According to the above verses, it is the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the life of the born-again believer. They have received the promise of the Father. This theme is woven throughout the entire New Testament.
If you have not become a temple of the Holy Spirit with the Spirit dwelling in you; something is wrong. (See 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20)
If you do not have rivers of life flowing from within you; something is wrong. (John 7:37-39)
If the fruit of the Holy Spirit is not evident in your life; something is wrong. (Galatians 5:22-24)
If your inner being does not cry out “Abba, Father”; something is wrong. (Galatians 4:6)
If there are no gifts of the Holy Spirit being manifest in and through your life; something is wrong. (1 Corinthians 12:11)
If there is no unity of the Spirit with other born-again believers; something is wrong. (Ephesians 4:1-3)
If there is no inner anointing of the Holy Spirit teaching you; something is wrong. (1 John 2:25-27)
If there is no evidence of sanctification and regeneration in your life; something is wrong. (Titus 3:4-7)
If there is no Zoe life in you; something is wrong. (Romans 8:11)
I could go on and on with many passages of Scripture. I am very concerned about the modern church which holds to a form of godliness but denies the power of the Promise from the Father.
In the past few weeks, I have been asked to pray for several people involved in churches but having deep spiritual struggles. In each case, I started at the beginning by asking if they had ever repented of their sin and placed saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Five of them responded with blank looks on their faces and basically said they were trying to be religious so God would accept them. I quickly reviewed the gospel with them and led them into receiving Jesus Christ into their lives. The transformation was immediate and glorious!
Until you become a child of God through personal saving faith in Jesus Christ, you will forever be frustrated trying to live the Christian life. The precious Promise of the Father and the deep things of the Holy Spirit will remain like foolishness to you. (1 Corinthians 2:12-16)
It doesn’t work to skip salvation and then try to turn people into disciples of Christ! Start the way the early church did the gospel and dramatic conversions. (Acts 2:37-39) Then disciple making will become natural and organic because the Holy Spirit will be transforming them from within.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
