Post by Admin on Nov 22, 2015 7:34:07 GMT -5
This is a post on a forum of a Church which I was made aware of due to complaints by a person on another forum, and while I went there to find out if what they said was true, I have not as of yet seen justification for the negative comments made about it.
A member started a thread that basically questioned the ladies in his fellowship, when they were out witnessing, telling people they "needed to ask Jesus into their hearts."
Here is my response:
I view it as not only Biblical but a direct teaching of Christ in John 14. There He teaches the distinction between the Old Testament Ministry of the Spirit with the (soon to come) Ministry of the Comforter, Who, He states, was with the disciples but would be in them forever.
We cannot separate God in His indwelling of the believer, as Christ makes clear:
John 14:16-18; 23
King James Version (KJV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Christ gives an invitation to the lost here:
Revelation 3:20
King James Version (KJV)
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
So I would agree that the ladies witnessing are correct that men must ask Christ to come into their hearts. This is precisely what Christ taught the disciples would happen:
John 14:20
King James Version (KJV)
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Paul also equates the Spirit of Christ with the Spirit of God:
Romans 8:9-10
King James Version (KJV)
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
The distinction of the New Covenant is the eternal indwelling of God, which is contrasted with the ministry He performed under Old Testament Economies, where He would empower men for ministries (i.e., Prophet, Priest, King). He still does that today, but, for believers we have received the earnest of our salvation in the eternal indwelling we receive when we are saved.
Consider:
Titus 3:4-5
King James Version (KJV)
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Most will view the "renewing of the Holy Ghost" to refer to the Spirit making us new, but...that is stated in the "washing of regeneration" (cleansing of new birth). What is in view is the reconciliatory aspect od salvation in Christ, where the relationship lost in Adam is restored.
And that Reconciliation is Christ in us.
God bless.
A member started a thread that basically questioned the ladies in his fellowship, when they were out witnessing, telling people they "needed to ask Jesus into their hearts."
Here is my response:
I view it as not only Biblical but a direct teaching of Christ in John 14. There He teaches the distinction between the Old Testament Ministry of the Spirit with the (soon to come) Ministry of the Comforter, Who, He states, was with the disciples but would be in them forever.
We cannot separate God in His indwelling of the believer, as Christ makes clear:
John 14:16-18; 23
King James Version (KJV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Christ gives an invitation to the lost here:
Revelation 3:20
King James Version (KJV)
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
So I would agree that the ladies witnessing are correct that men must ask Christ to come into their hearts. This is precisely what Christ taught the disciples would happen:
John 14:20
King James Version (KJV)
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Paul also equates the Spirit of Christ with the Spirit of God:
Romans 8:9-10
King James Version (KJV)
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
The distinction of the New Covenant is the eternal indwelling of God, which is contrasted with the ministry He performed under Old Testament Economies, where He would empower men for ministries (i.e., Prophet, Priest, King). He still does that today, but, for believers we have received the earnest of our salvation in the eternal indwelling we receive when we are saved.
Consider:
Titus 3:4-5
King James Version (KJV)
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Most will view the "renewing of the Holy Ghost" to refer to the Spirit making us new, but...that is stated in the "washing of regeneration" (cleansing of new birth). What is in view is the reconciliatory aspect od salvation in Christ, where the relationship lost in Adam is restored.
And that Reconciliation is Christ in us.
God bless.