The Spirit Via The Gospel
"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his...But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you...For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 9, 11, 15)
Another aspect of salvation, or another way in which the salvation experience is described, is that of "receiving" the "Holy Spirit," or the "Spirit of Christ," and the "Spirit of the Father." Those who are saved are those who possess the Holy Spirit, who have the Spirit indwelling them. Is it possible to have the Spirit dwelling within and not know it, as the Hardshells teach? Can one "receive" the Holy Spirit without cognition, and without faith? Is this "receiving" done with the heart and mind? What are the evidences of the Spirit possessing a man?
Paul says that a man who belongs to God, who is a child of God, who is spiritually alive, is one who has received the Spirit and who has the Spirit residing within the heart, mind, and soul. How does this happen? Does the Spirit simply "zap" a man? Or, does this receiving of the Spirit involve decision? Does it result from request? The word "receive" often denotes to "welcome," as people "receive" guests into their homes. And, the heart is a house or home.
"He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received (welcomed) him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1: 11, 12)
People can "receive" willingly or unwillingly. Do we think that the Lord and his Spirit are received unwillingly? Is it not willingly, as the old Baptist confession of 1689 states? How are they made willing? What is the result of this welcoming of Christ? This acceptance of him? Is it not the right to become sons of God? Further, this "receiving" of Christ involves "believing" in him.
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Rev. 3: 20)
This verse is talking about how Christ and his Spirit come to enter into a person. It gives his modus operandi. He comes to the heart of the sinner and knocks and speaks. Receiving Christ is all the same as opening the door to him, all the same as welcoming him, of inviting him into our hearts. Hardshells and Hyper Calvinists deny this, however.
"For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (II Cor. 11: 4)
Notice how "receiving" Christ is connected with "accepting" him. Receiving and accepting Christ and his Spirit is also connected with receiving and accepting the gospel.
"This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Gal. 3: 2, 3)
"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (vs. 14)
"But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7: 39)
These verses make it clear that the receiving of the Spirit and of being saved and born again is accomplished by the preaching of the gospel, that the Spirit is received "by faith." These verses overthrow the Hardshell notion that the Spirit is received apart from the gospel and apart from faith. People do not receive the Spirit in order to believe, but believe in order to receive the Spirit. The language is clear and unmistakeable. Those who do not believe in Jesus do not have the Spirit, and are therefore not children of God.
"And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." (I John 3: 24)
"Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." (I John 4: 13)
These verses show that those who have the Spirit are not ignorant of the fact. John says that all those who possess the Spirit, who have welcomed the Spirit into their hearts and lives, are they who know it. The Hardshells, however, speak of people who possess the Spirit, who have received the Spirit, but who do not know it, who do not know that they have received the Spirit.
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