Quote:
Originally Posted by mfblume
Amen.
Exactly, which is why many with the Holy Ghost still sin.
From what I studied in Romans 6, Paul said that unless we know we died with Jesus so we could be dead to sin, and rise in newness of life, and come to God in faith with that mindset, we will sin. We will think we have to sin. And whatever we think we have to do, we will find ourselves doing it. So, Paul changes our expectations, and shows us we can expect victory if we understand the purpose of Christ's death and our baptism into it. We need confidence and God sees this faith for the purpose of His Spirit, and will empower us.
So, it is MUCH MORE than having the Holy Ghost.
It reminds me of Israel having the Ark. God's Presence. And they spied out Canaan and doubted they could enter. Joshua and Caleb said GOD IS WITH US! We can do this. But the other people looked at their own natural abilities, and looked at the giants and walls, and said they could not.
This showed God's power was abandoned and they relied on themselves. And God COULD NOT HELP THEM. Same with us. We can have the Holy Ghost like they had the Ark. But if we still rely on ourselves and not His power, we will fail.
Notice 39 years later they held the ark aloft and opened up the Jordan and brought down the same kind of walls their parents feared!
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The children of Israel where doubting their entrance and victory of the promised land. That promised land is heaven.BTW, I don't doubt my salvation. All of Israel would of thought it to be absurd that they would reach a place of literal perfection in this life. The reason they were even given the law was as temporary way to God for their sins until Christ.
To me even if we aren't committing sin we are going to have sinful thoughts to come to us. I believe John the beloved wanted to call down fire from heaven upon people's head. We must continue to trust in the grace of God. The Holy Ghost is only the earnest of our inheritance. We have more to come. I believe we are in the kingdom of God at present, but I don't believe that the kingdom is complete at present. Heaven is our eternal inheritance.