X-Sender: benschop@nic.cc.ruu.nl X-Organization: IPB Mime-Version: 1.0 Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 12:34:10 +0200 Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel From: Teus Benschop Subject: Catechism, 26 To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP "I believe that the Holy Ghost is the true and coeternal God with the Father and the Son". This means, that the Holy Ghost is no less God than the Father. Some say that He is mere power, but that is wrong. Though He is a power, yet, He is also God, together with the Father and the Son. That the Holy Ghost is God, appears from several places of Scripture. One of them is the following. Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? (...) Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (Acts 5:3,4) In this text, it can be seen that the Holy Spirit is God. After Peter had said to Ananias, that he had lied to the Holy Ghost, he says the same in other words: "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God". So, the Holy Spirit is God. "I believe that the Holy Ghost is given me of the Father, through Christ". That is, the Holy Ghost is given to the believers, that He dwells in their heart, and leads them in all truth. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; (...) ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16,17) Christ prayed the Father, Who gave us another Comforter, namely the Holy Spirit. He dwells in us, and will abide in us forever. That Spirit is not given unto the world, but only to the true believers. "I believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates me". A natural man cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. A man, as he is born, must be regenerated, that is, he must receive a renewed heart. Now, that is the task of the Holy Spirit. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:5,6) A man must be born of water and the Spirit. That is, he must be regenerated. Such a man is born of the Spirit. Such a rebirth is not something, which happens in a corner. It will be known among the children of God, who live near to it. "I believe that the Holy Ghost leads me in all truth, and comforts me, and will abide with me forever". A man in itself is so inclined to evil, that he cannot keep himself in the way of all truth. To keep one in the truth, is the task of the Holy Ghost. That appears from the following text. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. (John 16:13) The Spirit of truth will guide into all truth. Besides that, He will also comfort me. A regenerated man or woman, living in this world, will continually suffer all kinds of persecution. He or she has also to do with his own evil heart, which daily tempts him to all kinds of sins. So, that man or woman needs much comfort, lest he perish in all distress. It is the task of the Spirit to give that comfort. In the following text, the Spirit is called the Comforter. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16) Besides leading me in all truth, and comforting me, the Holy Ghost also shall abide with me forever. Jesus said: "I give you a Comforter, that he may abide with you forever" (John 14:16). There are many, who think of themselves, that they have received the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, they think to feel some comfort, and they also imagine that they walk in the truth. Not so long ago, I met one, who said that he had received the Spirit, but what appeared? He said that he walked in the truth, but he denied some of the most important truths of the whole Bible. Now, it is evident, that such a person deceives himself terribly. How can he have received the Spirit, and at the same time deny the most important truths? That is impossible. In order that nobody deceives himself so awfully, it is important that everybody examines himself, whether he walks in the truth, or not. Also, whether or not he has the Spirit. Let us then look what will happen to one, who for the first times receives the Spirit. As appears from the following text, the first task of the Spirit is to reprove of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. I will write out the text here. 7 It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. <- The Spirit is sent; 8 And when he is come, <- He comes to you; he will reprove the world of sin, <- He reproves of sin, and of righteousness, <- of righteousness, and and of judgement: <- of judgement. 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:7-11) Ask yourself now, reader, whether you are reproved of sin, righteousness and of judgement. Of sin, because you discovered that you were nearly the greatest sinner of the world. Of righteousness, because you knew that a full righteousness was needed, and that the righteousness which Christ earned, was more then enough for your lack of even the least righteous deed. Of judgement, for you were assured that there would be a day of judgement, and you feared that day, because you knew that you could not stand before God. Then hell opened his mouth for you, to devour you. And it would have devoured you, when not Christ stood surety for you. If you know these things, reader, then you have received the Holy Spirit. If you are a stranger to these things, then you lack the Spirit. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Teus Benschop | t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl | editor of the list Chr-Exp "A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel" More info? Send mail containing: review chr-exp Subscribe? 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