12/12/22

The Surprise, The Desire and The Path by Gary Rose

The Surprise

Just believing in God is not enough, for even demons believe in God and I have never, ever heard anyone say that demons are saved from sin. In fact, demons are not saved from the consequences of their sin, period. From the lower part of the picture, its easy to see that the cab driver is surprised and in fact many people will also be surprised on judgment day.

I really prefer to look at the Scriptures in their context, so here the above verse in its immediate context…

James 2 ( World English Bible )

¹⁸Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

¹⁹You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.

²⁰But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

Faith or works; which is it? The answer- both. Just acknowledging God is not enough, we must respond to God not only with our mind, but with our attitude and actions as well. Take a little time and read Hebrews 11. The people listed there believed in God and did something about it- they acted. Genuine faith acts in obedience to God. In fact, most people really want to go to heaven and be with God, but they are led astray by people who distort or change the truth. Consider the following picture...

The Desire

The “Heavenward” picture shows a way to heaven. Stairs someone may take to reach the realm where God and his chosen ones dwell. But, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 7: 21ff, not everyone ( in fact, the vast majority of people ) who acknowledge God will be excluded from fellowship with the Almighty and denied entrance into heaven.

But, to those who will hear what God says in his word and obey HIM, will have fellowship and eternal life with him in heaven. So, what path ( or narrow way- Matthew 7 ) will get you there.

Consider the following steps and follow them…

The Path

In his first sermon, the apostle Peter says…

^{Acts
2 (}^W^orld^E^nglish^B^{ible )}

³⁶“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

³⁷Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

³⁸Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

³⁹For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”

⁴⁰With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

⁴¹Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

Peter was speaking to Jews who had previously tried to follow God, but had rejected Jesus. They had not realized that Jesus is the one and only way to God, killed him and were guilty. Peter told them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. They did this and were added to the church.

So, repentance and baptism are necessary actions in the path that leads to heaven. Next, consider the following Scriptures…

Revelation 2:10 ( WEB )

...Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Its not enough to just believe and obey, one has to continue to follow God for the rest of their lives. Why? Because to go back to a previous life of sin results in death, that’s why!

But what will happen after one dies. The truth is, God will judge everyone on their thoughts, motives and actions ( aka… works ).

Please read the following…

Revelation 20 ( WEB )

¹²I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.

¹³The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works.

¹⁴Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

¹⁵If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 22 ( WEB )

¹²“Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.

¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

¹⁴Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

¹⁵Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

¹⁶I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star.”

¹⁷The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.

¹⁸I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.

¹⁹If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

²⁰He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.

²¹The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.

Now, it is possible that someone out there may say that the above passages are just from the book of Revelation and could be interpreted differently, so perhaps we should remove that argument by considering the earthly words of Jesus.

Matthew 28 ( WEB )

¹⁸Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

¹⁹Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

²⁰teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Mark 16 ( WEB )

¹⁵He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.

¹⁶He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.

Jesus said the words above from the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus has the authority to determine who enters heaven ( after all, he is the one who died on the cross for OUR SINS ). And, it is Jesus who determines who has genuine saving faith (see Mark 16:16 above):

1. Genuine Belief= belief plus baptism.

2. Condemnation= by belief minus baptism.

Surprise, you may want to be with heaven with God, but if you have not followed THE PATH that God has set forth for you, then you just will not be allowed to enter. Truthfully, the only other alternative is HELL and who in their right mind would really want THAT?

Please, please listen- your eternal life depends upon it. Follow Jesus correctly and faithfully, for it is my sincere hope to see you in heaven.

May God bless your decision,

Your friend,

Gary

Is the Bible Scientifically Accurate? by Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

https://thepreachersword.com/2017/06/29/is-the-bible-scientifically-accurate/#more-10897

Is the Bible Scientifically Accurate?

Johannes Kepler, the 16th-century German mathematician, and astronomer is famous for discovering the laws of planetary motion, known as Kepler’s laws. He was also a devoted follower of Christ and a believer in the Bible.

Kepler once observed, “Science is simply thinking God’s thoughts after him.”

While the Bible does not claim to be a book of science, God, the Creator, ordered the laws of science. The Psalmist put it like this.

“Praise him, you highest heaven and the water above the sky. Let them praise the name of the Lord because they were created by his command. He set them in their places forever and ever. He made it a law that no one can break” (Psalm 148:4-6 GW).

Thus, the Bible, God’s revealed Word is accurate when it refers to facts of a scientific nature, as well as in all other disciplines. The skeptic who scoffs at the Bible and claims that it is scientifically inaccurate has either never studied the Bible or never studied science. Or he may just be parroting what other infidels have alleged without proper investigation.

Consider these facts.

Historically, for thousands of years, people believed the earth was flat. Yet, the Bible affirmed 800 years before Jesus was born in Isaiah 40:22 that “God sits enthroned above the circle of the earth.”

At one time scientists believed that the number of stars was finite. But Jeremiah 33:22 says the number of stars can’t be counted.

It was not until the invention of the telescope in 1687 that men knew the earth is not “supported” but instead is “suspended” in space. Yet, in 2,000 B.C., the Bible says, “He..hangs the earth upon nothing.” (Job 26:7)

Before 1935, scientists believed that the earth had “no foundation, but was full of hot molten Nichol-steel and covered with a floating, thin crust.” Today, using special equipment and instruments, scientists have discovered a solid foundation that no drill can penetrate. However, Old Testament writers spoke of the “foundations of the earth.” (Job 38: 5-11; Ps. 104:5-9; Jer. 31:37)

Oceanography is a study of the geography of the oceans. It was not until 1840 that James Clark Rose made the first oceanic sounding. Before 1945, scientists thought the ocean floor was basically flat. Scientists now know that the ocean has valleys, mountain ranges and huge recesses similar to those on dry land. Yet Jehovah asks Job in Job 38:16: “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or, have you walked in search of the depths?” Also, David refers to the “channels of the sea” in 2 Sam. 22:16. These Hebrew words literally refer to canyons or crevasses. Again, the Bible correctly reveals pre-scientific insights.

Men of ancient times thought that matter was composed of visible things. With the invention of special instruments, matter was divided into smaller and smaller particles. At one time, atoms were thought to be the smallest division of matter until Dr. Robert Millikan developed an instrument to isolate an electron in 1923. For this discovery, he won the Nobel Physics award. Yet, Hebrew, 11:3 teaches that the universe is built of things which are not seen!

Until 1900, men thought different races of men had different blood. However, Karl Lansteiner found that human blood has one common base, plasma. In 63 A.D., the Apostle Paul states that God “made of one blood all nations of men.” ( Acts 17:26 )

In a book “Know Why You Believe” by Paul E. Little, he cites theologian W.A. Criswell who wrote, “In 1861… the French Academy of Science published a little brochure in which they stated fifty-one scientific facts that controverted the Word of God. Today there is not a scientist in the world who believes a single one of those fifty-one so-called scientific facts that in 1861 were published as controverting the Word of God. Not a one!”

Instead of disproving God and the accuracy of the Bible, science affirms His Almighty power and the veracity of Scripture. Indeed, “the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork (Ps 19:1)

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

God Is “A” Spirit? by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

https://apologeticspress.org/god-is-a-spirit/

God Is “A” Spirit?

Dave Miller, Ph.D.

Doctrinal Matters Existence of God Nature of God Transmission/Textual Criticism

From Issue: R&R – December 2022

The process of translating from one language to another is an arduous undertaking that entails consideration of a wide variety of linguistic issues. It is very often the case that the “receptor language” may not have a single word that corresponds to a word in the “parent language.” Hence, translators may include additional words in order to convey the meaning of the original—words which they may (or may not) place in italics. Italicized words are intended to flag for the English reader the fact that the translators added the words in hopes of making the meaning of the original accessible.¹ Most of the time, translators do well in their attempts to translate accurately and use italics effectively. However, on occasion their decisions can hamper comprehension.

In addition to inserting italicized words, English translations also contain words that were inserted by translators without being italicized. Again, perhaps most of the time, their decisions are well-intentioned and helpful. At other times, however, they can mislead the English reader. One such example is seen in Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Among His remarks to her was the declaration that “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24) Some translations insert the article “a” before “spirit.” This erroneous insertion of the indefinite article is unwarranted. Most English translations recognize this fact and render it accordingly.²

“God is spirit” is equivalent to comparable biblical constructions, including “God is light” (1 John 1:5) and “God is love” (1 John 4:8). In each case, we are being informed about the very nature and essence of God—not His personality.³ “Spirit,” “light,” and “love” are attributes of God. They are characteristics or qualities of His being. We humans possess a spirit and a physical body; but God is spirit. He is non-corporeal. Jesus said, “a spirit does not have flesh and bones” (Luke 24:39). Though in the eternal realm, “we will be like Him” and “we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2), nevertheless, His being will most surely far surpass and transcend our spiritual, heavenly bodies (1 Corinthians 15:44,49).

The depiction of the nature and character of God in the Bible is unlike any other representation of deity by humans throughout history. The God of the Bible is not physical,⁴ but rather transcends the physical. As the Creator, He brought into being all that is physical when He created the Universe. Humans are created “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27)—which refers to spiritual aspects of the divine nature. Our physical bodies are not created in His image, since He is non-physical. For Jesus to leave the spiritual realm to come to the Earth to die a physical death and shed physical blood on our behalf, a physical body had to be “prepared” (Hebrews 10:5) for Him to inhabit temporarily.

A host of descriptions of the spiritual nature of deity may be found in the Bible—though human limitations can hamper our comprehension and our ability to conceptualize fully the divine nature. In closing, consider these two:

Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise! You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You” (Nehemiah 9:5-6).

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:22-29).

Endnotes

¹ For more on this thorny subject, see Jack Lewis (1991), Questions You’ve Asked About Bible Translations (Searcy, AR: Resource Publications), pp. 141-171; Walter Specht (1968), “The Use of Italics in English Versions of the New Testament,” Andrews University Studies, 6:88-109, January; John Eadie (1876), The English Bible (London: Macmillan), 2:180-285; William Wonderly (1956), “What About Italics?” Bible Translator, 7:114-116, July; F.H.A. Scrivener (1884), “On the Use of the Italic Type by the Translators, and on the Extension of their Principles by Subsequent Editors,” in The Authorized Edition of the English Bible (1611) (Cambridge: University Press), pp. 61-81.

² English translations that include “a” are the ASV, AMPC, BRG, DARBY, DRA, GNV, GW, JUB, KJV, NOG, NMB, TPT, RGT, WYC, and YLC. Those that omit “a” are the AMP, CSB, CEB, CJB, CEV, DLNT, ERV, EHV, ESV, EXB, GNT, HCSB, ICB, ISV, PHILLIPS, LEB, TLB, MSG, MEV, MOUNCE, NABRE, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NKJV, NLV, NLT, NRSV, NTE, OJB, RSV, TLV, VOICE, and WEB.

³ Henry Alford (1980 reprint), Alford’s Greek Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker), 1:732.

⁴ It is true that the Holy Spirit utilized anthropomorphisms to accommodate Himself to the finite human mind. But the Bible is consistent in its representation of deity as a non-physical, spiritual Being Whose eternal nature preceded the creation of physical matter. God created time, matter, and space—but He Himself exists outside of time and space.

Published December 1, 2022

“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” Romans 6:1 by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/042-continuenotinsin.html

“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”
Romans 6:1

In the first century some were “turning the grace of our God into licentiousness” (Jude 4) by teaching that God’s grace would cover the sins of a person who just kept on living a life of sin. To combat this error Paul asks: “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1). His reply is unequivocal, “By no means. How shall we, who are dead to sin, live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:2).

This false doctrine is also refuted by John in his first letter, and he clarifies the difference between the saved and the lost with regard to sin.

Everyone sins.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ... If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8, 10).

If we say that we ‘have no sin’ or that we ‘have not sinned’, we are contradicting the word of God.

At the dedication of the temple, when Solomon prayed that God would forgive the people if they repented, he interjected, “For there is no one who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46).

To establish that everyone needs God’s forgiveness, Paul states: “There is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22b, 23). As in 1 John 1:8, 10 both the past and the present are included. All have sinned in the past and all fall short in the present. Thus if we say that we have not sinned or that we have no sin, we are contradicting God’s word, which is the same as calling Him a liar.

Of himself, Paul writes: “I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good” (Romans 7:21). “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice” (Romans 7:19).

The sinfulness of man includes both bad things that are done and good things that are left undone (sins of commission and sins of omission). Anyone who evaluates himself honestly must confess that he is a sinner. That is why John writes, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” (1 John 1:8).

One woman told me that she did not recall that she had ever sinned. She thought only things like murder and adultery were sin.

In the Scriptures God designates many things as sin, such as love of the world, "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life," carnal mindedness, hatred, arrogance, conceit, pride, prejudice, partiality, love of self, selfish ambition, love of money, envy, slander, outbursts of wrath, dissension, contentiousness, divisiveness, heresy, complaining and unthankfulness [Matthew 5:28; Romans 8:6, 7; 16:17; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Galatians 5:20; Philippians 2:3, 14; 1 Timothy 5:21; 2 Timothy 3:2-4; Titus 3:9, 10; James 2:9; 3:16; 1 John 2:15, 16].

In addition to deeds, there are also thoughts and attitudes that are sinful. The removal of such inner sins is a lifetime assignment in our “striving against sin” (as it is called in Hebrews 12:4).

What about sins of negligence: “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

And what about those absolute commands such as: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). Do we not fall short in this every day? Is this not something we seek, yet never fully accomplish, in our “striving against sin”?

Many other commands come to mind, such as: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31); “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33); “Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).

Who, without deceiving himself, can say at the close of any day, “Today I have not thought, done or said anything wrong, and I have committed no sins of omission”?

If we are honest with ourselves, and if the word of God is in us, we must humbly confess at the close of each day that we have sinned and that we fall short of the glory of God.

“The Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:22).

The pervasiveness of sin may not be used as an excuse to sin!

Since all have sinned, salvation is possible only by the grace of God.

Some had twisted Paul’s teaching to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). They misused Paul’s emphasis on salvation by grace to justify continuing in sin. He condemns such: “And why not say, ‘Let us do evil that good may come’? - as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just” (Romans 3:8). “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1, 2).

When one accepts the grace of God and is baptized into Christ, he dies to sin and does not continue to live in sin: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3, 4). “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts” (Romans 6:12). “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:15).

Since everyone sins, what is the difference between the saved and the lost?

In Paul’s wording, the lost “live in sin” (Romans 6:2) and the saved “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

John describes these two conditions as “walking in darkness” and “walking in light” (1 John 1:6, 7).

Paul also uses the contrast between light and darkness: “Let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12).

To be cleansed from sin we must walk in the light. “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:6, 7).

The Greek present tense as used here describes continuing action¹: if we are walking in the light the blood of Jesus is cleansing us from all sin.

“Come and let us walk in the light of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:5).

If we follow Christ we walk in the light. Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).

All of us were in darkness before we became Christians, as Paul told the Ephesians: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).

They who walk in the light do not continue in a sinful way of life. It is not possible to walk in the light and in darkness at the same time.

Walking in the light is a requirement for forgiveness.

The aim of the Christian is not to sin at all! Yet “we all stumble in many things” (James 3:2).

Walking in the light does not mean that there is never a need for forgiveness, since it is a condition for receiving forgiveness! “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

John clarifies this in chapter two: “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1, 2). Here ‘if anyone sins’ [aorist²] does not refer to a situation where someone continues to live in sin.

Being wounded in battle or even losing a battle, is not the same as fighting for the enemy. When we are on the Lord’s side in the war with Satan, Jesus provides satisfaction for our sins. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

A Christian may not continue living a life of sin.

In chapter three, John discusses the incongruity of living in sin and claiming to be in Christ.

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him” (1 John 3:4-6).

Here John is not referring to the same situation as in 1 John 2:1 where he says: “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father.” In that case the verb does not indicate continuation². Here ‘whoever commits sin’ means ‘the one practicing sin’. The Greek present in this passage indicates continuation in sin¹, which is not possible for someone who is abiding in Christ.

The present tense in English and Greek are quite different. In English ‘if anyone sins’ refers to sinning at anytime whatever, but in Greek, ‘if anyone sins’ communicates a continuing action: ‘if anyone keeps on sinning’.

“Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7). This seems obvious, but false teachers were claiming that one could be declared righteous by the grace of God even though he continued living an unrighteous lifestyle!

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning” (1 John 3:8). Here again, the meaning in Greek is “the one who is practicing sin” referring to a way of life.

“Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9). This refers to a continuing action: “does not practice sin” and “he is not able to be sinning.”

“In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:10).

Something wonderful about the fellowship among those who walk in the light is that we can pray for each other’s sins to be forgiven! But there is a limit. It does not apply for someone whose sin is such that he is walking in darkness.

“If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death” (1 John 5:16, 17).

“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:18, 19). The form of the verb ‘does not sin’ means ‘does not keep on sinning’.

What does it mean to walk in the light?

In his first letter, John mentions various things that are associated with walking in the light³. Briefly summarized, this requires being in fellowship with the Father and the Son through the teaching of the apostles. Not only must we believe in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ, but we must confess His name and walk as He walked by obeying His commandments. We must know the truth and have the word of God dwelling in us. We must practice righteousness. The love of God must dwell within us and we must love the children of God. We may not love the world. We must confess our sins and purify ourselves. We may not continue in a life of sin.

What have we learned from the Scriptures ?

“Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? By no means. How shall we, who are dead to sin, live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1, 2). Everyone sins. But the prevalence of sin may not be used as an excuse to keep on sinning. Since everyone sins, salvation is only possible by grace. The difference between the saved and the lost is that the lost “live in sin” (Romans 6:2) whereas the saved “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). The lost, walk in darkness. The saved, walk in the light. One must walk in the light to receive God’s forgiveness.

When a Christian sins he has “an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” who is the propitiation for his sins. But a Christian may not continue living a life of sin. To be forgiven he must walk in the light which involves being an obedient child of God who follows Christ. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Footnotes:

¹ Unless modified by the meaning of the word or the context, the present tense in Greek describes an action that is continuing. See the following explanation by Jeff Smelser, included with permission and downloaded from http://www.ntgreek.net/present.htm on March 31, 2012:
Aktionsart & the Present Tense

² The aorist in Greek simply states the action without providing any information about its duration. See Robertson, ‘Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the light of historical research’, pp. 831- 833.

³ What does it mean to walk in the light according to John’s first letter?
1. Having fellowship with the apostles and thereby with the Father and the Son (1:3).
2. Believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (5:1, 5, 10).
3. Believing in the name of God’s Son Jesus Christ (3:23; 5:13).
4. Believing the testimony that God has given of His Son (5:10).
5. Believing that God has given us eternal life in His Son (5:11).
6. Having confidence in Christ that God hears us when we pray according to the will of God (5:14).
7. Confessing that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (4:2).
8. Confessing that Jesus is the Son of God (2:23; 4:15).
9. Being born of God (2:29; 5:1).
10. Being children of God (3:1).
11. Having an anointing from the Holy One (2:20, 27).
12. Having the Spirit who has been given to us (3:24; 4:13).
13. Knowing Christ (2:3, 4, 13, 14).
14. Abiding in Christ (2:5, 6, 24).
15. Knowing the Father (2:13).
16. Abiding in the Father (2:24, 27, 28; 4:12, 13, 15, 16).
17. Knowing the truth and having it in us (1:8; 2:4, 21).
18. Having God’s word abiding in us (1:10; 2:14, 24).
19. Being of the truth (3:19).
20. Practicing the truth (1:6).
21. Keeping the word of Christ (2:5).
22. Walking as Jesus walked (2:6).
23. Practicing righteousness (2:29).
24. Keeping the commandments of Jesus (2:3, 4).
25. Keeping the commandments of God and doing what is pleasing in His sight (3:22; 5:3).
26. Doing the will of God (2:17).
27. Loving God (4:19, 21).
28. Having the love of God abiding in us (2:5; 3:17).
29. Knowing and believing the love that God has for us (4:16).
30. Loving the children of God (5:1, 2).
31. Loving our brethren (2:10; 3:14, 23; 4:11, 12, 16).
32. Loving in deed and in truth (3:18).
33. Having fellowship with one another (1:7).
34. Having overcome the wicked one and the world (2:13, 14; 5:4).
35. Not loving the world or the things in the world (2:15).
36. Confessing our sins (1:9).
37. Purifying ourselves (3:3).
38. Not continuing in a life of sin (3:6; 5:18).

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

The Lord is our Judge, Lawgiver and King! by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/043-JudgeLawgiverKing.html

The Lord is our Judge, Lawgiver and King!

“For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us” (Isaiah 33:22).

As is true of every effective government, God's kingdom has judicial, legislative and executive powers.

Because in worldly governments, people in power tend to misuse their power, the judicial and the executive powers are separated in democracies. Sometimes the legislative and executive powers are also separated.

God does not misuse His power. He knows everything, including “the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Because of His holiness, justice, knowledge, wisdom, love, goodness, mercy and power, the Lord is infinitely qualified to serve as Judge, Lawgiver and King.

The Lord is our Judge.

A judge is someone who is authorized to decide questions brought before a court of justice. A judge makes his decision after evaluating the facts and applying the law.

God is “the Judge of all the earth” (Genesis 18:25). “He is coming to judge the earth” (1 Chronicles 16:32). “God is a just judge” (Psalm 7:11). “The Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness” (Psalm 9:7, 8).

The heavenly Father has appointed His Son, Jesus Christ, to “judge the living and the dead at His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:1). “They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (1 Peter 4:5).

God “has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).

On your calendar you have no doubt noted important appointments. What could be more important than our appointment with God on Judgment Day? “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:9, 10).

Judgment Day is drawing near. It is extremely important that we know the basis upon which we will be judged.

The Lord is our Lawgiver.

A lawgiver is someone who is authorized to draft and enact laws. A law is a rule of conduct imposed by authority, which one is obligated to obey, usually with a designated punishment for violation.

“There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy” (James 4:12).

It is extremely important that we know the law of the Lord because compliance or non-compliance will determine whether we spend eternity in heaven or in hell. And eternity is a long, long time.

The law of the Lord must be learned. The Lord was well-disposed towards king Jehoshaphat of Judah because “his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 17:6). He sent leaders throughout the country to teach the law: “So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people” (2 Chronicles 17:9).

Ezra the priest “had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7).

Of “the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2) Paul wrote, “I delight in the law of God” and “I serve the law of God” (Romans 7:22, 26). He also explained that “the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

Of the Messianic reign it was predicted, “Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3).

Jesus said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him - the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

The Lord has given us His law. By learning and obeying His law we are getting ready for the day of judgment.

The Lord is our King.

A king is the sovereign ruler of a kingdom, the highest authority over a realm.

“The Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King” (Jeremiah 10:10).

“I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever” (Psalm 145:1).

“Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne” (Psalm 47:6-8).

The armed forces of a king support his authority. Our King is Yahweh Zebaoth, Lord of hosts, Lord of heavenly forces.

“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory” (Psalm 24:7-10).

When the king of Syria wanted to capture Elisha, “he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, 'Alas, my master! What shall we do?' So he answered, 'Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' And Elisha prayed, and said, 'LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.' Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:14-17).

At various times God's people were rebuked when they sought help from the Egyptian army, rather than placing their confidence in the power of God: “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the LORD!” (Isaiah 31:1).

Our King has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). “He is Lord of lords and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14).

“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God'” (Isaiah 44:6).

To Jesus, who is called 'the First and the Last' in Revelation 2:8, Nathanael said, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49).

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17).

“They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: 'Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested'” (Revelation 15:3, 4).

“The LORD shall reign forever and ever” (Exodus 15:18).

When the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, John heard loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15).

And the most wonderful thing about all of this is, that our Judge, Lawgiver and King is also our Savior! “For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us” (Isaiah 33:22). Amen.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Keep yourselves in the love of God by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/044-KeepYourselvesInGodsLove.html

Keep yourselves in the love of God

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 20, 21).

Important documents are often kept in a safety deposit box. We like to keep valuables in a safe place.

Where can we keep ourselves safe? In God’s love! “Keep yourselves in the love of God.” The word ‘keep’ here means ‘preserve’, ‘keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss or destruction’.

Jude uses the passive form of the same word in verse 1: “To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1). A Christian is preserved in Christ.

Paul wrote: “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18).

David prayed: “Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust” (Psalm 16:1).

“Keep yourselves in the love of God.” This is a command, which indicates that we must do something to remain in God’s love, and also that it is possible to forfeit the protection of God’s love. Otherwise this command would have no meaning whatever.

Nothing external can separate us from the love of God: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38, 39).

Only by his own neglect can a Christen lose the eternal protection of the love of God. Thus, it is extremely important that we know how to keep ourselves in the love of God.

Jesus gave a similar command: “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:9, 10).

Thus we must keep the commandments of Jesus to abide in His love.

Let us examine the context: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:4-10).

Thus, we remain in the love of Christ, we keep ourselves in the love of God, by keeping the commandments of Jesus. Jesus told His followers: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

Jude mentions two essential activities for keeping ourselves in the love of God: spiritual edification and prayer. “Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 20).

“Building yourselves up on your most holy faith”

Our most holy faith is the Christian faith. It is holy because it comes from God.

In verse three Jude wrote: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

This original faith for which we must contend is our most holy faith on which we must build ourselves up if we want to keep ourselves in the love of God.

To abide in Christ’s love we must abide in His word: “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31, 32).

To abide in the word of Christ we must abide in His doctrine: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9).

God’s word builds us up. Paul told the Ephesian elders: “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

We are built up in Christ: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6, 7).

In the church of Christ, His “one body” (Ephesians 4:4), we build each other up “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

The church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20; 4:11).

To His church, Christ has also given evangelists, elders and teachers “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). To edify means to build up.

Each Christian helps to build up the church, that we, “speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ - from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:15, 16).

We build ourselves up on our most holy faith to keep ourselves in the love of God.

“Praying in the Holy Spirit”

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 20).

“By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit” (1 John 4:13).

To keep ourselves in the love of God we must pray in the Holy Spirit, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).

We need help when we pray: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26, 27).

Thus when we pray in the Spirit our inadequate prayers are accompanied by pleadings of the Holy Spirit in accordance with the will of God.

In Revelation, golden bowls full of incense represent the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8). An angel with a golden censer is “given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints” (Revelation 8:3).

Though we are weak, we pray as well as we can by following the guidelines on prayer in the Scriptures. Then we pray with confidence in the knowledge that the Spirit intercedes for us.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

“Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life”

When we keep ourselves in the love of God by keeping the commandments of Jesus, building ourselves up on our most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, we may look forward to eternal life.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24). Amen.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

"THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD" Summary: The Holy Spirit, Then And Now by Mark Copeland

https://executableoutlines.com/topical_series/holy-spirit/hs_13.html

"THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD"

Summary: The Holy Spirit, Then And Now

INTRODUCTION

In this study we have discussed various aspects of the Holy Spirit...

Why such a study is important g. The gift of the Spirit
The personality of the Spirit h. The indwelling of the Spirit
The deity of the Spirit i. The leading of the Spirit
The work of the Spirit j. The fruit of the Spirit
The promise of the Spirit k. The gifts of the Spirit
The baptism of the Spirit l. The sins against the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is certainly a challenging subject of study...

Which may explain the diversity of views that people have
Which ought to encourage a sense of caution and humility

Yet it is a much needed study, for many people...

Claim the Holy Spirit leads them in this way or that way
Base their faith upon what they believe the Spirit tells them

-- But when such people come up with contradictory beliefs, something is wrong!

Part of the difficulty may be a failure to distinguish between the work of the Spirit...

His work that was temporary, unique to the beginning of the church
His work that is age-lasting, continuing until Christ comes again

[In this final lesson, I wish to offer a summary with a focus on illustrating this distinction....]

THE HOLY SPIRIT THEN

THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT...

Promised by God (via Joel) - Joel 2:28-29
Promised by John the Baptist - Mt 3:11; Mk 1:8; Lk 3:16
Promised by Jesus Himself - Ac 1:4-5

-- The fulfillment of the promise occurs on Pentecost - Ac 2:1-22, 32-33

THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT...

As defined by John the Baptist - Mt 3:11-12

To serve as a winnowing fan in the hand of the Lord
Separating the wheat from the chaff, gathering the wheat into the barn

As defined by Jesus to His apostles

To guide them into all the truth - Jn 16:12-13

By teaching them all things - Jn 14:26a
By reminding them what Jesus told them - Jn 14:26b
By bearing witness together with the apostles - Jn 15:26-27

-- This the Spirit did through signs and wonders, confirming the Word - Mk 16:17-20; He 2:3-4

To convict the world - Jn 16:7-11

Of sin - Jn 16:9
Of righteousness - Jn 16:10
Of judgment - Jn 16:11

-- This the Spirit did through the preaching of the gospel - e.g., Ac 24:24-25

THE BLESSINGS OF THE SPIRIT...

The gift of the Spirit

Promised to all who obey - Ac 2:38; 5:32
More on this and related blessings in the next section

The gifts of the Spirit

Miraculous manifestations of the Spirit - 1Co 12:1,4-11
Imparted by the laying on of the apostles' hands - e.g., Ac 8:14-18; 19:1-7; Ro 1:11; 2Ti 1:6
Enjoyed by some, but not all

Not all could heal, speak in tongues - cf. 1Co 12:29-30
Some were "ungifted" (NASB) - cf. 1Co 14:16,23

For the benefit of all, not just the possessors of the gifts

To reveal the truth - cf. 1Co 14:6
To confirm the truth - cf. 1Co 14:22

Temporary in their duration

To cease when knowledge is complete - 1Co 13:8-12
While faith, hope and love will remain - 1Co 13:13

The anointing of the Spirit

Spoken of by Paul in 2Co 1:21
Also by John in 1Jn 2:20,27

Enabling one to know all things
Not needing to be taught by anyone

Likely referring to those who possessed the gifts of the Spirit

-- Many of these blessings were related to the process of revealing God's Word

[The promise, work, and blessings of the Holy Spirit had an amazing and miraculous beginning. While some of this proved temporary, much appears to be age-lasting, continuing until Christ returns. Our focus now turns toward that which should be of special interest to us today...]

THE HOLY SPIRIT NOW

THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT...

Promised by Jesus - Jn 7:37-39

To all who believe in Him
A special dispensation of the Spirit, unlike any before; therefore different from...

The miraculous workings of the Spirit
The normal influences through the Word

Promised by Peter - Ac 2:38-39; 5:32

To all who repent and are baptized
To those who obey God

-- This promise of the Spirit relates to His indwelling and the accompanying blessings (see below)

THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT...

To convict the world through the gospel

To convict them of sin, righteousness and judgment - Jn 16:7-11
Done through the gospel

The instrument designed to produce faith - Ro 10:17; Co 1:5-6
God's power to save - Ro 1:16-17; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 2:13; He 4:12; Jm 1:21

To regenerate those who respond

Saving them through the washing of regeneration (baptism) - Tit 3:4-6; Ac 22:16
Causing them to be reborn, in conjunction with the Word - 1Pe 1:22-23

To sanctify those who are saved

A process begun when washed and justified - 1Co 6:11
A process that continues with the aid of the Word - cf. Jn 17:17; Ac 20:32; 1Th 5:23; 2Ti 2:21

-- This work of the Spirit is age-lasting, accomplished with the aid of blessings involving the Spirit (see next)

THE BLESSINGS OF THE SPIRIT...

The gift of the Spirit - Ac 2:38-39; 5:32

Indwelling the Christian - Ro 8:9-11; 1Co 6:19

Enabling us to overcome the flesh - Ro 8:12-13
Strengthening us in the inner man - Ep 3:16,20; Php 2:12-13; 4:13
Interceding in our behalf - Ro 8:26-27

Serving as a seal and an earnest

A seal marking us as belonging to God - Ep 1:13; 4:30; 2Co 1:22
An earnest or guarantee as a promise of our inheritance - Ep 1:14; 2Co 1:22

The fruit of the Spirit in our lives

Leading those who walk in the Spirit - Ga 5:16-18; Ro 8:5-6
Producing the graces of Christ-like conduct - Ga 5:22-26
Engendering a deepening love for God as our Father- Ga 4:6; Ro 8:15-16
Filling us with hope - Ro 15:13

-- These blessings the Spirit provides both internally (via His indwelling) and externally (via the Word of God)

CONCLUSION

The Spirit's promise, work, and blessings at the beginning of the Christian age...

Included the necessary process of revealing and confirming God's Word
Was accomplished by special offices (apostles, prophets) and gifts (signs, wonders)

-- Once the Word was fully revealed, the miraculous manifestations came to an end

Yet the Spirit's promise, work, and blessings throughout the Christian age...

Includes the important process of convicting, regenerating, and sanctifying souls
Is accomplished by preaching the gospel, and the gift of the Spirit given to those who obey

-- While not a miraculous manifestation, it is a Divine operation nonetheless

Many challenge the notion that miraculous manifestations of the Spirit ceased when the Word was completely revealed and confirmed...

But the burden of proof rests upon those who affirm that such gifts continue
All they need to do is to demonstrate that they do indeed possess the gifts
For such was the purpose of the gifts, to convince unbelievers! - cf. 1Co 14:22

-- When many Bible-believing disciples are not convinced such claims are real, what does that say about the validity of such "signs"?

But in reacting to many false claims about the Holy Spirit, we must be careful not to...

Quench the Spirit by denying His work in our salvation
Grieve the Spirit by failing to seek His aid in living holy lives

-- If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit! - cf. Ga 5:25

We close our study with these two benedictions by the apostle Paul:

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Ro 15:13

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit [be] with you all. Amen." - 2Co 13:14