The New Testament analogy of the Old Testament Fish Gate. Filling of the Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit. Part 8.

Friday, July 27, 2012

1. The Holy Spirit indwells the body of the believer at the moment of salvation to provide the divine power to offset the continued presence of the old sin nature.

ROM 8:3-4, For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice], [LEV 7:37.] So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].

ROM 8:5-6, For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

ROM 8:7-9, [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot. So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him. But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God]. [ROM 8:14]

ROM 8:10 But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you].

1. The Holy Spirit indwells the body of the believer at the moment of salvation to provide the divine power to offset the continued presence of the OSN.
2. The Holy Spirit indwells the body of the believer also as a sign of the Royal family status, which is superior to being in the family of God, as believers in past dispensations were.
3. The primary objective of the indwelling of Holy Spirit is to provide divine energy or power to execute the Christian way of life.

2CO 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

These characteristics are only manifested in those believers who fulfill
ROM 8:4, they do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

(1) The works of the flesh shall not be fulfilled.
 GAL 5:16, But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
(2) The fruit of the Spirit shall have its manifestation.

The nine words which denote the fruit of the Spirit represent superhuman qualities of character. They are all considered to be "one" fruit of the Spirit.

In our day and age, many Christian pastors have crammed upon believers the idea that Christian character is a thing to be built by strenuous self-effort and self discipline.

This leads to a path which is characterized by dependence upon self and human works as the basis for acceptance with God.

They end up trusting in the flesh or in their ability to conform to what they "think" God desires them to conform to.

JER 17:5 Thus says the Lord, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the Lord.

Many times this type of message is taught with good intentions, however, there is little need for a Savior or the power of God in such a program of this improving self-development. They don’t realize that after salvation they still need to be saved from themselves.

1CO 1:18 For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

We are "being saved“, a pres-pass-part, so-zo-me-nois =
to be delivered, and in the present tense it speaks of an action that is happening habitually. Every day we have the opportunity to be delivered or saved from ourselves.

Christian character is a divine production which is not to be achieved by self-effort but
by the ministry of God the Holy Spirit. As one writer said, GAL 5:22-23 is the shortest life of Christ ever written, for the fruit of the Spirit is the outliving of the in-living Christ.

Dr. Scofield said “Christian character is not mere moral or legal correctness but the possession and manifestation of nine graces: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.”

When accepted all together, the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit presents a spiritual portrait of Christ.

This character is possible because of the believer’s vital union to Christ (JOH 15:5; 1CO 12:12-13), and is the fruit of the Spirit in those believers who have learned to rely on the indwelling power of God the Holy Spirit, (GAL 5:22-23).

JOH 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.

“fruit” is the nominative singular masculine noun "karpos" = production and it is in the singular revealing the fact that God the Holy Spirit has to develop in us all nine of the characteristics which are about to be mentioned.

"of the Spirit" is “tou” plus the ablative of source “Pneu-ma-tos” = God the Holy Spirit.
pres-act-ind of “eimi” = “estin” = “it keeps on being.”
the first part of “the fruit” = the nominative singular feminine noun "agape" = love.
Agape love is a relaxed mental attitude love.

Agape loves is a mental attitude love which manifests itself through thoughtfulness of others, good manners, being relaxed around others and avoiding the sins of the tongue.

ROM 5:5 The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Doctrine gives integrity, concentration, the royal family honor code, spirituality, stability, which all in effect add up to genuine love.

Agape love is also unconditional.
And this means you will accept and tolerate people as you find them.
Agape love contains built-in virtue and therefore has the capacity for true biblical unconditional virtuous love in friendship, romance, marriage, and all other human interaction.

You will know that God the Holy Spirit has produced this love in you when you can handle being the victim of others’ mental attitude sins. And the object of impersonal love can be anyone: Someone who is antagonistic, an enemy, someone that despises you, someone who is trying to destroy you.

MAT 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. MAT 5:46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same?

1. Agape love is that problem solving device of Christianity which is defined as unconditional love toward all mankind.
2. Being impersonal, agape love emphasizes the virtue of the subject rather than attraction to an object or rapport with an object.

3. Agape love toward all mankind is the ultimate expression of virtue.
4. Agape love for all mankind is therefore the ultimate expression of virtue, humility, objectivity, and is the basis for being receptive to Bible doctrine, which is the basis for growing in grace and knowledge.

JOH 13:34-35, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. This all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

PRO 17:9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.
True biblical unconditional virtuous love does not gossip and malign and repeat things about others.

MAT 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you True biblical unconditional virtuous love covers transgressions. True biblical unconditional virtuous love operates with this love even toward it’s enemies, and it prays for those who are persecuting them.

LUK 6:27 But I say to you who hear, love Your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
JOH 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep my commands.
True biblical unconditional virtuous love is manifested by keeping with doctrine, "not" putting aside your doctrinal differences.

JOH 14:21 He who has My doctrines and keeps them, he it is who loves Me;
JOH 14:24 He who does not love Me does not keep My doctrines;

You’ll recognize true biblical unconditional virtuous love by the fact that those who have it keep with doctrine.