Unless we receive the indwelling of the Spirit, we cannot claim that we are ‘saved’ because he is the ‘deposit guaranteeing our inheritance’ ( Eph 1 : 13 )
Since it is indwelling of the Holy Spirit that imparts the righteousness by faith in Christ Jesus, how are we justified without him ? ( Gal 5 : 5 )
So it mattered to the Apostles that the people receive the Spirit after having believed. They refuted every ‘teachings of men’ that it was by ‘works’, meaning the law, that we receive this free gift of God.
So the Apostle Paul asked the Galatians, “I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law or by believing what you heard ? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law or because you believed what you heard ?” ( Gal 3 : 2, 5 )
Let not the Christian Sacraments of Baptism and Communion or Eucharist be the ‘works’ by which we think we receive the Spirit but only by believing the gospel. Amen.
Category: Biblestudy – Questions and Answers
Qn 2. Are the phrases ‘all nations on earth will be blessed through you’ and ‘you will be the father of many nations’, one and the same ?
‘Understand then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify Gentiles by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham, “All nations will be blessed through you.” (Gal 3: 7 – 8 )
All the nations on earth have been blessed to know about a Saviour who is the ‘seed’ of Abraham and now these gentiles who believe are being counted as Abraham’s descendants, implying he fathered them in the spirit.
‘Therefore the promise ( of the Spirit ) comes by faith so that it is by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring – not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” ( Ro 4 : 16 – 17 )
Qn 1. When was the promise of the Spirit made to Abraham and why ?
After Abraham was tested on Mount Moriah, the angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, … I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore …Your descendants will take possession of the land … and through your seed (meaning Christ ) … all nations on earth will be blessed …” ( Gen 22 :16 – 18 ) ‘ … Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be the HEIR OF THE WORLD, through the righteousness that comes by faith.’ ( Ro 4 : 13 )
How can all this be humanly possible, if it is not for the Spirit of God ? How can Gentiles be reckoned as Abraham’s descendants, if the Holy Spirit doesn’t impart the faith of Abraham to them ? ‘This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are HEIRS together with Israel, members together of one body and sharers together in the PROMISE ( of the Spirit ) in Christ Jesus.’ ( Eph 3 : 6 )
He redeemed us inorder that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, so that by faith we might receive the ‘PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT.’ ( Gal 3 : 14 )
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