One of the strongest verses in the Bible concerning the Rapture of the Church

2 Peter 3:9-10...the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to "us-ward", not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come...

• First...The Day of the Lord will come (Judgment and Wrath upon an unbelieving world)
• Second...God is longsuffering to us-ward now
• Third...Us-ward is "us"...saved members of the body of Christ that will escape Tribulation
• Forth...God does not want members of the body of Christ to perish during the Great Tribulation. The Rapture or the calling up of the Church is God's Provision of escape from Great Tribulation
• Fifth...Those who perish are those who do not repent now and accept Christ as personal Lord and Saviour
• Sixth...That sinners (through the longsuffering of God now) would repent and accept Christ thus escaping the Tribulation by the Rapture of the Church...before God's Wrath and Judgment comes on the great and terrible day of the Lord's return

The Rapture of the Church is a blessing of God's Grace that allows believers (us-ward) to be caught up to meet with Christ in the air. This calling up will include those dead in Christ and those who are alive. These people in the Rapture will be translated like Enoch in the twinkling of an eye. Right now God long-suffers toward us-ward, before the Rapture of the Church. Through preaching now God provides repentance and Salvation for men and women and is willing that none should perish.

This very strong verse from the Bible on the Rapture of the Church was taken from Saint Peter's second Epistle chapter 3 from the ninth and tenth verse.

How can you prove the truth about God?

Two of the greatest evidences that God is real:

1. Israel
2. The Bible

Why? Neither have been destroyed or lost through the pages of history.

The preservation of Israel is proof God is real.
The preservation of the God's written Word proves God is real.

God would never allow either to be destroyed. The Bible cannot be destroyed because God has preserved it for thousands of years. Israel cannot be destroyed because God preserved it to set up His Kingdom there.

Only God could preserve Israel through worst Anti-Semitic conditions known to humanity. Only God could preserve a Bible that is hated, tossed aside, and misunderstood more than any other document in the pages of history.

God is real and has put Christ in control of time and eternity. Be ready for His calling out of the Church - which is just like the days of Noah. Be ready because God is real and Christ is soon going to allow His Church to escape the destruction that's coming.

Proof and evidence. Simple.

The ministry and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit

From the beginning of this writers Salvation, the subject of "Sanctification" had always attracted my attention. I knew from the beginning of a personal relationship with Christ that God had placed a call on my life. After the new birth experience was found I always realized, "I wanted to do right in the eyes of God". For years I tossed with various doctrinal views about sanctification from books and commentators...but was never completely settled on which particular view was the right way.

Hubert Lindsey's impact on my life swayed my personal position on the holy heart and holy living in Christ. Why? Hubert preached against sin and disobedience to God. He preached right and holy living exactly like the Bible teaches! Nobody was teaching this stuff! I could clearly see the same thing in the Word of God! The holy heart and life given from God compelled this writer to study the Bible more closely. Hubert's preaching basically prompted me to STUDY MORE! Personal study was helping me to sort out commentators views and opinions that had stumped me on sanctification in the past. Personal Bible study (prompted by Brother Lindsey) revealed to this writer's heart the actual truth of God's Word concerning the holy heart. The Holy Spirit thus"confirmed the truth of the Scriptures" through this writer's sanctified life in Christ. That's the reason why I write this Blog! That's the reason why I preach the Gospel today! That's the reason the Spirit "urged" me to build the Church that we named the "Upper Room".

The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit put a witness in this writers heart...may it minister truth for Christ. Here's the nice Christian Blog for Friday March 06, 2009... May the contents of this Blog for Christ bless others as much as it has this writer.

Christ ministers to both saved and unsaved souls through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Through infinite love and mercy the Father draws men to salvation of the soul through conviction, repentance, and faith in the death of a Savior for personal forgiveness from sin. All these come from hearing, learning, and accepting the Gospel message that Christ commanded us to preach. Since the original sin in the Garden of Eden man has remained unholy from birth and polluted with an Adamic nature.  The Bible teaches the will and desire of every human being born is to do wrong in the sight of God. The ministry and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is God’s method of restoring humanity back to a God-given state of righteousness.

The first work of the Holy Spirit through conviction affects the will, conscience, and desire of man by revealing the sinful and unholy heart. Man’s need for a Savior’s love is made known to the penitent as the Holy Spirit testifies the person of Christ to the human soul. Through conviction from the Holy Spirit and guilt from the human conscience, condemnation from sin is revealed and placed heavy upon mans inner being. The Holy Spirit places a desire in that heart of man to quit wrong doing.  Conviction is the ministry of the Holy Spirit that affects the human soul and leads a sinful man to repentance.

Repentance is the process of an unbeliever changing his mind after the ministry of the Holy Spirit’s conviction sways the human will to change or brokenness. God’s goodness leads men to repentance as the Holy Spirit reveals man’s need for a Savior’s mercy and forgiveness. When man recognizes Christ and sees himself as he really is, the presence of the Holy Spirit makes man sorrowful for a wrongful past and his unholiness of heart. This man will no longer want to continue in sin and unrighteousness. Man thus turns away from sin and cries out to God for help.  The process of repentance through the work of the Holy Spirit is a sinful mans action of turning away from sin and disobedience to a life of obedience and trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Repentance is simply a change of mind.

Trusting in the death of Christ for personal forgiveness of sins allows God to give man a new heart which begins the new life in Christ. This new creation in Christ comes through the Spirit’s work of regeneration in the human soul.  Regeneration is a re-created mind, will, and conscience produced by God’s Grace in the new birth. The inner make-up of man is morally restored with a divine nature like Adam had before the fall.  Through the Holy Spirit’s power of regeneration a sinful man is converted into a child of God and thus receives a God-given divine nature. In this new birth man’s sins are not only forgiven but also a new desire from the Holy Spirit is given to the believer in Christ… to forsake sin.

The Holy Spirit testifies Christ and confirms the truth of God’s Word.  This revelation does not come from flesh and blood it comes straight from the Throne of God. After regeneration the work of the Holy Spirit continues making Christ known to the heart of a believer through divine revelation. This witness from the Spirit not only reveals Christ but also strengthens the believer inwardly. Regeneration from the Holy Spirit leads the believer in Christ to sanctification. Sanctification allows the Spirit of God to cut the believer away from the old man and the old life of self consisting of bad habits, selfish desires, selfish affections, etc. that still exists. An inner conflict which began through the power of the new birth arises between mans inherited carnal nature and the newly given divine nature. The power of the Holy Spirit’s witness exposes the conflict caused from the Old Man that still tries to rule. This exposure in light of the death of Christ on the cross reveals the crucifixion of self.  Crucifixion of self is brought more to a believer’s attention by the Spirit of God. Crucifixion of self is an actual death to the Old Man. This crucifixion of self is experienced in the life of a believer by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. The Bible states, “The body of sin might be destroyed”. Romans 6:6

Sanctification through the Spirit reaches to the deepest need found in the heart of a believer. This need is the crucifixion of self that gets in the way of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit leads the believer in Christ to the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying power that’s found in the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. Sanctification through the Spirit is a work that enables the Spirit of God to sever a believer away from a selfish life of I, me, and mine that exists… to the complete crucifixion (death) of the Old Man. After Sanctification through the Spirit cuts man away from all the conflicts in life God also can preserve and fortify this faithful man in Christ.  This operation in the life of a believer is the “fullness” of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and comes after regeneration and after the crucifixion of self where the body of sin, the Adamic nature is destroyed. Yes, a believer can be completely rid of the Old Man. God said so!

        
Indwelling sin is destroyed as the indwelling Holy Spirit takes full possession of mans total being.  This final work of the Holy Spirit is called, “Entire Sanctification”. It’s proven in New Testament records through the sanctifying power of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire and follows the regenerating work of the new birth.  Two complete experiences through the ministry and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.  Both experiences take place at separate times. Regeneration is the experience of a sinner and takes place when forgiveness of sins is received. Sanctification is the experience of the believer and takes place when the Old Man is crucified.

Unlike the new convert at regeneration where the conflicting Adamic nature still tries to rule, the entirely sanctified believer is completely delivered from the carnal nature and relieved from the bondage caused from all struggles in life… both inner* and outer*. This completed work of Sanctification allows the Holy Spirit to have full sway of the believer’s entire being and character. After the inward work of the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire is experienced, a believer’s life is renewed in the Spirit.  Holiness of heart and full trust in Christ for everything in life without an inner or outer struggle is proof of this renewal.

*Inner Struggle…conflict between the new nature and the Adamic life…after the new birth

*Outer Struggle…conflict with the problems of life that man can’t control

Unfortunately for many, the fullness of the work of the Holy Spirit is missed and never experienced until late stages of the Christian life or even after death to the physical body.  When the blessing of Entire sanctification is however; experienced and walked out for a long period of time on this side of heaven it offers: an unimaginable life that provides victory over sin; gives a sense of contentment the world can never offer; and provides a full assurance to an eternal inheritance that awaits every child of God in heaven. There is no struggle when God has your complete trust and dependency on Him for everything in life. There is a contentment found in this experience that can be found in no other place in life on this side of Heaven. It’s Full Salvation that offers the full blessing of deliverance. It’s not just being saved it’s being completely dependent on God without the Old man trying to dictate your life.

This writer does not have all the Biblical answers for all of our encounters in life. I know the new birth is taught in the Bible. I know the baptism with the Holy Ghost is taught in the Bible. Both operations regeneration and Sanctification have their distinct purpose. This discourse on the ministry and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit was written only to build up ones personal faith in Christ who regenerates and sanctifies. This document is intended only to encourage men to learn more about the truth of the Bible.  This writing is based on an overview of all New Testament records that agrees with the Epistles of Paul, John, James, and Peter after the death of Christ. This writing contains many years of doctrinal clarification and clarifies with words the most blessed experience any man can receive from a living Christ in the Throneroom.  Sanctification entire, the will of God, is one of the greatest blessing’s any believer can receive on the Christian side of life.

….As a believer grows in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ a closer walk with God is developed.  A shallow knowledge of Christ can also mean a shallow walk with God. A broad knowledge of Christ will increase faith and bring responsibility to the heart of a believer…

                                                                                                            

 Hubert T. Lindsey

Life-changing forgiveness

Life-changing forgiveness is spoken by God to a believer in Christ. Man hears and knows forgiveness. God lets one know that every sin is forgiven. A state of holiness is granted and a new life begins. Why? You were "put into" Christ by the Spirit of the living God. Power from above took you out of sin and put you into Christ - because God spoke. This baptism is performed by the Spirit of God just like God delivered Israel through the Red Sea.

Life-changing forgiveness will forsake sin and have a reason to forsake sin to live holy. When forgiveness is found God's pardon overwhelms the soul so much that you don't want to wrong God anymore. A new nature is born. A new character is created. A clean moral conscience allows the believer to make right and holy decisions. Christ centered decisions. Christ centered choices. Christ centered lifestyle.

Forgiveness is to be treasured above all things. Forgiveness is given to allow man to be holy and without blame before God in Christ. A forgiven heart is heart full of peace, joy, and righteousness in the Holy Spirit. Anyone can live and know every sin is forgiven. How? Christ is personally experienced and redemption cleanses the human soul. Many around the globe are taught to live in sin and ask forgiveness daily. What a tragedy! What a bad habit! What a misconception of life-changing forgiveness personally found in the redemptive work of Christ. Forgiveness is not blanket coverage to sin. Forgiveness doesn't entitle you to take for granted wronging God. Forgiveness is life-changing and manifests a life of obedience to Christ. Don't be deceived into thinking you get forgiven once and everything is OK down the road. Forgiveness is a present tense moral state of holiness and right living in the eyes of Christ. Without holiness in this life no man will see the Lord. Without forgiveness when you die no man will see Heaven. Don't kid yourself! You definitely aren't kidding God.

Forgiveness is a state of being. A forgiven life-style is not a life of unholiness or disobedience. Forgiveness is a present tense state of being and doesn't cover your future sin. Sin violates God Almighty like it did in the Fall of Adam. When sin is committed it must be forgiven by Christ. Why not be what God wants you to be. You have power to quit sinning. This tears down the trap of Theological barriers. Christ becomes the central focus on a daily basis. Christ is made your personal forgiveness on a daily basis. The reality of Christ becomes "present tense" in life-changing forgiveness. This kind of forgiveness keeps man from grieving the Spirit of God. Life-changing forgiveness is not given because you asked its given because you trust Christ for personal forgiveness. A forgiven life is a blessed life of holiness and must be maintained daily. A forgiven life is not a license to sin.

Your personal life-changing forgiveness is "present tense proof" a Savior lives.

Repentance

(What is repentance? Why do we need to repent? How do we repent? When do we repent?)

Repentance is a necessary path for all sinful men to receive salvation of the human soul. Repentance comes to a sinner’s thinking through realization of the person of Christ. Repentance is not just asking God for forgiveness as many people think. The Bible teaches that repentance is man’s renunciation of sin prompted by the Holy Spirit’s convicting work. Repentance involves man’s knowledge of sin and his attitude to turn away from sinful conduct. Repentance is the mental process that leads a sinful man to an acceptance of the redemptive work of Christ for salvation. Repentance is man's change of mind; and means to turn from sin and disobedience to God.

A penitent man turns to Christ when he acknowledges his own helplessness to break away from the bondage of sin. The sinner’s path of repentance is a conscious acknowledgement of the truth where he sees himself in light of Christ’s suffering on the cross. Through man’s acknowledgement of what Christ did at Calvary, God leads sinful men to repentance.

· 2 Tim 2:25-26…if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Repentance is more than asking God for forgiveness. Repentance is a Spirit influenced change of mind that causes men to cry out to God. Repentance allows the hardness of fallen mans being to be swayed by the work of the Holy Spirit. Repentance moves the penitent toward being Christ conscious and sin conscious. After true repentance a believer in Christ experiences the power of Divine Grace that enables man to live a holy life.

The penitent’s attitude toward wrongdoing in the sight of God changes from finding satisfaction in sin… to abstaining from every appearance of evil.(1 Thess.5:22) When man truly repents and turns to Christ, holiness of heart is found in the Grace of God; thus condemnation that comes from sin is thoroughly comprehended. True repentance makes men ashamed of a wrongful past. True repentance is brokenness within the heart of man that reaches to Christ for help. Sorrow and shame both being products of contrition can lead man to repentance.

· Ps 34:18… The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

· Isa 57:15-16… For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

· Ps 51:17…The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

It’s the power of Calvary that breaks the hardness of the human soul. Godly sorrow produced by Calvary breaks the soul enough that fallen man can repent and quit doing wrong. Brokenness and contrition reduces man to nothing. The cross shows fallen man he has nothing to approach God with but helplessness and hopelessness. When man realizes he is nothing at the feet of a Savior on the cross…God can perform His saving work. This sorrowful yielding from the heart of man, allows the Spirit of God to perform the greatest of all miracles…Salvation of the human soul.

· 2 Cor 7:10… For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation

Repentance is offered to all men through hearing about Jesus. The truth of the Gospel message stirs the conscience of man enough that repentance can be made. When Christ is preached the Holy Ghost convicts the soul; and reveals to man his depraved state of being. In light of the cross, man sees himself as he really is.

Members of the body of Christ tell the world about the person of Christ...so that unsaved men can come to repentance through the knowledge of truth. The Church knows forgiveness of sins comes through Christ’s death at Calvary. This is the testimony of the child of God! Members of the Church testify to the power of Salvation that comes through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Repentance and forgiveness of sins are both ministered to the hearer of the Gospel message through the power and presence of a living Christ.

· Luke 24:47…And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem

· Acts 13:38…Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

Through the truth of the Gospel message the presence of the Holy Spirit condemns sinful man’s unholiness. The Church tells the sinner how to get away from this condemnation through Christ. The Holy Spirit reveals sin to the heart of man. The Church tells the sinner how trusting in the person of Christ can deliver man from his sinful condition. When the truth about Christ is ministered the Holy Spirit can sway man from rejection to an acceptance of the person of Christ. Through Gospel preaching…God’s goodness and love both can affect the soul of fallen man enough that it can lead man to repentance.

· Rom 2:4…Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Repentance is man’s turning away from sinful conduct. True repentance takes man away from sin to a place where he don’t want to commit sin anymore. The changed mind of the penitent will no longer try to conceal secret sins. Why? A penitent man stays conscious and obedient to the Holy Spirit’s presence. A penitent man recognizes the truth and power of Calvary. Repentance turns man away from sin and causes him to look to Christ for all of his needs to live a holy life. When true repentance occurs...man believes and receives salvation of the human soul through God’s Divine Grace. The penitent trusts what Christ did at Calvary for forgiveness of sins. The sins of the penitent are blotted out; and all the guilt from past sins is removed by the power of God's Grace.

After repentance when man trusts in Calvary… man knows Christ in his conscience through the Holy Spirit’s presence. A heart full of holiness and repentant works are produced in the life of this believer. Works meet for repentance prove the believer is truly forgiven of his sins; and converted to a life of holiness. True repentance keeps man refreshed in the presence of Christ…every day of his life.

· Acts 26:20… then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

· Acts 3:19… Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

"Humility comes to the penitent through “recognition” of the person of Christ"...Hubert T. Lindsey"

Repentance

There are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote repentance. (1.) The verb _metamelomai_ is used of a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of heart. This word is used with reference to the repentance of Judas (Matt. 27:3). (2.) Metanoeo, meaning to change one's mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge. This verb, with (3.) the cognate noun _metanoia_, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised.
Evangelical repentance consists of (1) a true sense of one's own guilt and sinfulness; (2) an apprehension of God's mercy in Christ; (3) an actual hatred of sin (Ps.119:128; Job 42:5, 6; 2 Cor. 7:10) and turning from it to God; and (4) a persistent endeavor to walk with God in holiness.

The true penitent is conscious of guilt (Ps. 51:4, 9), of pollution (51:5, 7, 10), and of helplessness (51:11; 109:21, 22). Thus he apprehends himself to be just what God has always seen him to be and declares him to be. But repentance comprehends not only such a sense of sin, but also an apprehension of mercy, without which there can be no true repentance (Ps. 51:1; 130:4).

Eastons 1897 Bible Dictionary

The Holy Spirit’s Witness…Pt. 2

(Outer confession of Christ from the mouth of the believer) In simple terms..."tell the world about Christ".

The work of the Holy Spirit places a witness in the heart of a believer through the Christian experience of the new birth. This witness from the Spirit of God testifies salvation through the forgiveness of sins received within the human soul. A believer in Christ thus experiences a moral change of character and conduct through the Holy Spirit’s witness. How? freedom and deliverance from the bondage of sin produces the holy heart. The Holy Spirit’s union with the spirit of man in Salvation directs the believer in a holy life. Every believer in Christ has this witness in himself.

· 1 John 5:10…He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself

All believers become members of the body of Christ through the miracle of the new birth. The experience of the new birth allows a penitent man to receive a holy nature given from God. Since there is no man righteous without Christ, no not one, the “new nature” is what enables man, a sinner from birth to do right in the sight of God.

· Rom 3:10… As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

The moral transformation from sinner to saint allows this just man to be placed into right standing with God. A right standing with God comes through man’s trust in what Christ did for him personally at the cross; and what Christ is presently doing within his life from the Throneroom. The Holy Spirit’s witness placed within that heart and life directs the believer’s daily life in Christ.

· Gal 5:25… If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit

The Holy Spirit’s “inner witness” becomes the believer’s “outer witness” for the cause of Christ. Children of God become witnesses for Christ and this is how. First the Spirit’s witness is received into the heart of those who trust Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Secondly, the believer concerning the regenerating work of the new birth received within that soul makes confession. A believer’s confession of Christ is a testimony to “the world” about the inner work of Salvation that he personally received.

· Rom 10:10-11…For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed

The testimony of a believer is how Christ manifests Himself through His body, the Church. Members of the body of Christ are those converted by the Grace of God. Witnessing for Christ is how God draws men into His body. Christians tell the world about the person of Christ. The Holy Spirit performs the sanctifying work of Salvation in every soul that receives Christ. A witness for Christ tells the world about who Christ is. The Holy Spirit convicts those hearts of sin and unrighteousness. God puts witnesses for Christ across the paths of unsaved men. The Holy Spirit shows those men a need for a Savior. A witness for Christ tells the world of an Eternal Judgment. The Holy Spirit shows man how to escape it it. The harmony between a witness for Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in the negative side of man is how God through Christ draws sinful men to “repentance” and “acceptance”.

· John 12:32…And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

A believer in Christ becomes a witness for Christ because he is enlightened to the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit personally received in the soul. This child of God has a confession about Christ because of an actual moral change experienced within that heart and life. A child of God thus becomes a physical mouthpiece for Christ to the world. Why? Christ through the members of His body enlightens the unsaved world to the actual experience of becoming a child of God. This is why men of God to those who do not know or understand God offer invitations.

· Isa 55:1-2…Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Witnessing for Christ is part of being a Christian and not to be taken lightly. The believer’s witness for Christ is a love for humanity. The holy heart and life of a believer allows man to be a true and effective witness for Christ without a two-sided life. Confession in word is the believer’s witness for Christ. Confession in lifestyle shows the believers love toward God and his love for humanity. The true heart of a believer allows Christ to manifest in that life…both in deed and truth.

· 1 John 3:18-19…My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

It’s the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost that makes men witnesses for Christ. Christians “are” witnesses and they do “tell” the world about the person of Christ. Why? They personally know the love of God for the forgiveness of sins, in their own experience. They desire to tell the world about this blessed experience. They personally know that Christ gave them a clean heart. They desire to tell the world about that also. They personally know they were bought for a price and they desire to tell the world about that too. Christ is confirmed inwardly in their hearts and lives by the Holy Ghost; and glorified outwardly through the word of their testimony!

· 1 Cor 1:4-8…I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

· 2 Thess 1:10-12… (Because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit’s Witness

(The inner work of the Holy Spirit in the soul of a believer)

The witness of the Holy Spirit affects the inner part of man’s make-up in both sinner and saint alike. It deals with how the Spirit of God reaches the human soul in Salvation. The Holy Spirit affects the human soul when man "hears" the truth of the word of God. As the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit inwardly work together the unholy will and desire of man is affected or swayed. The Spirit’s witness through the Gospel message affects the mind and will of sinful man enough that sinful man can be led to repentance. The Spirit’s conviction pricks the heart by stirring the conscience and revealing to man (Christ) thus showing man his need to turn away from a life of sin.

· Acts 2:37-38…now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent

Repentance is work of the Holy Spirit in the human soul that helps sinful man to change his mind. The Spirit places a new desire in the heart to quit wrongdoing and helps one to recognize a consciousness to Christ. The Holy Spirit testifies Christ to the heart of man.

· John 15:26…But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me

As the Spirit testifies to the heart, man can see himself as he really is. Sin is exposed as the power of the Holy Spirit affects the will of man enough that a change of mind can be made. Mans choice to change is made as the goodness of God leads him to repentance.

· Rom 2:4…not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance

The Spirit’s witness makes Christ known to the human soul. This work of the Holy Spirit affects mans choices and decision making process. When a sinful man sees himself in the presence of Christ brokenness from the guilt of sin occurs. By the Spirits conviction man becomes sorrowful for sinful acts and wrongdoing. Sorrow then turns to consent of the human will in repentance, belief, and acceptance of Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

· 2 Cor 7:10…For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation

Unlike conviction and repentance which affect the will of man, believing and receiving deals with consent of the human will. Consent of human will is given through mans faith toward Christ. It is worked out through a life of obedience to God. Contempt of human will is reflected toward Christ through doubt, rejection, or unbelief. It is worked out through a life of disobedience to God. The Holy Spirit’s invitation through preaching the Gospel can disturb the conscience enough to sway the will of man. Through acceptance of Christ man makes a willful choice to get away from what he is. His choice to willfully exercise faith allows the power of God to produce a life of subjection and obedience to Christ. Note the fact that faith and the Holy Spirit enter into man through hearing… the word of God.

· Gal 3:2…Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
· Rom 10:17…So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The Holy Spirit cuts through the hardness of man’s negative side and bears witness with the spirit of man. The witness of the Holy Spirit unites with the spirit of man through regeneration of the new birth. The mind, will, and desires of a believer are not only affected …by the power of the Holy Spirit but are now… changed. Repentance and remission of sins allows this believer to be pardoned from all past sins. Justification is a pardon granted from God for all the past sins of a man who now trusts in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. For this reason the Gospel is preached.

· Luke 24:47…And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations
· Acts 13:38-39…through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things

When man believes and gives his heart to Christ he receives the down payment of a new life in the Spirit. He is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

· Eph 1:13…after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise

Sealing is an initial work of the Spirit that places a believer into Christ and into Christ’s spiritual body. When man is sealed into Christ by the Spirit, life is viewed through a different set of eyes. Man becomes aware of the Holy Spirits presence. He knows his sins are forgiven by trusting the death of Christ alone. He is conscious to righteousness rather than wrongdoing. He is given a holy heart with holy desires and reverence to God. He joyfully abides in the Spirit with a realization of holiness without guilt or condemnation from sin. He knows Christ and knows that his changed moral make up is sealed with the Holy Spirit. He’s Gods property and ownership. The seal of the Spirit of truth enables man to be guided morally into all truth.

· John 16:13-14…Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.