I found today’s study to be truely great – inspirational, an excellent summary by Selwyn on the work of God’s Spirit. I think it is important to keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is not just some sort of ‘life force’ but God Himself. He is the God who loves us - who is in us – and we live through Him – to give Him glory.
As Selwyn says: “Jesus was conceived of the Spirit, baptised with the Spirit, led by the Spirit, cast out evil spirits by the Spirit, was offered up in sacrifice through the Eternal Spirit, and was raised from the dead by the Spirit. The same Spirit that worked in Christ now works in us, and only those who are led by the Spirit are counted as God’s children.”Â
The last sentence is really one to meditate upon – because the significance of it (I think), is often overlooked by many within the Church with the result that their ministry if far less than what it might otherwise be, if they took hold of this fact and lived with the full power of God directing their actions. What do you think?
Selwyn follows on with more great truths on the work of God: “We are made into Jesus’ image and are transformed from glory to glory by the Spirit. … It is the Spirit who guides us into all truth, empowers us for the work He wants us to do, and the fruit that comes from our lives is not said to be the fruit of self-effort but the fruit of the Spirit. Our mortal bodies are given life by the Spirit who dwells in us, and the law of the Spirit delivers us from the law of sin and death.”
I agree, with his conclusion: “If Christianity is not a religion of God’s Spirit then it is not a religion at all.” In the first few verses of Genesis (the first book in the Old Testament)Â we read: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Likewise, in the last few verses of Relevation, the last book in the New Testament, we read (22:17): “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let them who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let them come; and whoever wishes, let them take the free gift of the water of life.” We see the Spirit of God at work in the beginning of our history and He will be there at the end of our history on earth – for me, it strengthens my belief that God’s love will always be with us – life with God’s Spirit is a life worth living – don’t you agree?
A religion of God’s Spirit
I found today’s study to be truely great – inspirational, an excellent summary by Selwyn on the work of God’s Spirit. I think it is important to keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is not just some sort of ‘life force’ but God Himself. He is the God who loves us - who is in us – and we live through Him – to give Him glory.
As Selwyn says: “Jesus was conceived of the Spirit, baptised with the Spirit, led by the Spirit, cast out evil spirits by the Spirit, was offered up in sacrifice through the Eternal Spirit, and was raised from the dead by the Spirit. The same Spirit that worked in Christ now works in us, and only those who are led by the Spirit are counted as God’s children.”Â
The last sentence is really one to meditate upon – because the significance of it (I think), is often overlooked by many within the Church with the result that their ministry if far less than what it might otherwise be, if they took hold of this fact and lived with the full power of God directing their actions. What do you think?
Selwyn follows on with more great truths on the work of God: “We are made into Jesus’ image and are transformed from glory to glory by the Spirit. … It is the Spirit who guides us into all truth, empowers us for the work He wants us to do, and the fruit that comes from our lives is not said to be the fruit of self-effort but the fruit of the Spirit. Our mortal bodies are given life by the Spirit who dwells in us, and the law of the Spirit delivers us from the law of sin and death.”
I agree, with his conclusion: “If Christianity is not a religion of God’s Spirit then it is not a religion at all.” In the first few verses of Genesis (the first book in the Old Testament)Â we read: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Likewise, in the last few verses of Relevation, the last book in the New Testament, we read (22:17): “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let them who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let them come; and whoever wishes, let them take the free gift of the water of life.” We see the Spirit of God at work in the beginning of our history and He will be there at the end of our history on earth – for me, it strengthens my belief that God’s love will always be with us – life with God’s Spirit is a life worth living – don’t you agree?