[Adino]

mizpeh,

"...Spirit of God to have departed from the spirit of man breaking a once existing union between the two."

What do you mean by the bolded part?

I mean that the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Life. Man's spirit only truly lives when in fellowship with the Spirit of Life.

When did this union take place? Are you referring to a similar type of union which we have now with God when we are filled with the Spirit of Christ?

The eternal life taken from man in the garden is given to those today who have faith in God through Christ. This Spirit of eternal Life is the Spirit of God himself. Oneness Pentecostals would stress the point that the Holy Spirit (of Life) is God himself. Again, we only truly live when in holy fellowship with God.

Hmmm, I guess I'm not too quick to catch on. Are you speaking about Adam and God in the garden of Eden? Why do you think Adam was filled with the Holy Spirit? What scripture tells us this?

The point is that Adam began in spiritual life. His sin resulted in not only physical death, but spiritual death as well. Adam's human spirit was no longer in communion with the eternal life giving Spirit of God as it had been before the fall.

We all are encased in sinful flesh. By your logic I wonder how God can dwell in us since we have sin abiding/dwelling in our flesh.

He can fellowship with us because our sin has been dealt with. We have been reconciled unto God and saved by his life. We have the righteousness of Christ imputed to our account and rest in his finished saving work on Calvary.

Cornelius was accepted of God and worked righteousness. He was not sinning actively with forethought.

Are you saying he did not need sin remission and the indwelling Spirit?

A couple of questions for you. How do you interpret these scriptures?

Acts 10:15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

I believe that what God cleanses should not be called common (or unclean). His purification is sufficient.

Acts 15:7-9....Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

I realize God gave Cornelius the Spirit only AFTER he heard the Gospel and believed. God, who alone knows the heart of man, recognized that Cornelius' heart had received the good news of Christ and gave him the Spirit as witness to this internal miracle which had just taken place within the confines of Cornelius' heart. Cornelius' heart was purified by faith and the Spirit which was given to Cornelius to bear witness of his faith then overwhelmed him the point of manifesting tongues. This manifestation was for the benefit of Peter to show him that God had poured out eternal life on the Gentiles as well as on the Jews. Peter's peers later recognize this when they voice to all that God had granted also to the gentiles repentance unto life.

Thank you for your thoughts, mizpeh. God bless.

Back to work in the morning. Not quite sure when I'll be able to return.