8.83 The Holy Spirit is received not by works of the law but by faith
The Holy Spirit could only be poured out after Jesus had been glorified (John 7:39). Jesus had to enter heaven as our High Priest to present His blood as our eternal sacrifice, and to purchase our righteousness. When it was accepted the Father, Jesus sat down at His right hand. He the received from the Father the Holy Spirit to be poured down on all believers.
(Acts 2:33)
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
The Holy Spirit is a gift of grace given in the New Covenant of grace. He is also called the “Spirit of grace” in Heb 10:29. The Holy Spirit and grace work hand in hand. He is given as a result of the complete remission of our sins by the grace of Jesus (Acts 2:38-39).
How do we receive the Holy Spirit? We cannot earn Him through our works for He is given by grace. The Bible says that we do not receive the Spirit by the works of the law but by faith. The Holy Spirit and faith work hand in hand. When we believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us.
(Gal 3:2-3)
…Did you receive the SPIRIT by the works of the law, or by the hearing of FAITH?
(Gal 3:14-15)
...that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the PROMISE of the SPIRIT through FAITH.
This is the key to experiencing God in the New Covenant. We have to take the first step of faith. Many people want to see first before they believe. But the Bible says, “These signs shall follow those who believe…” (Mark 16:17). Faith comes first before the demonstration of the Spirit. Mark 11:24 says when we pray, we are to believe that we have received; then we shall have it. The woman with the issue of blood believed in Christ the healer before the power flowed from Jesus.
Now that the Holy Spirit is in us, we experience His manifestation and power by faith. The Holy Spirit only responds to faith for without faith it is impossible to please God. The Holy Spirit does not respond to works of the law which is powered by self-ability. This explains why Christianity is a walk of faith or a fight of faith.
(Acts 2:33)
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
The Holy Spirit is a gift of grace given in the New Covenant of grace. He is also called the “Spirit of grace” in Heb 10:29. The Holy Spirit and grace work hand in hand. He is given as a result of the complete remission of our sins by the grace of Jesus (Acts 2:38-39).
How do we receive the Holy Spirit? We cannot earn Him through our works for He is given by grace. The Bible says that we do not receive the Spirit by the works of the law but by faith. The Holy Spirit and faith work hand in hand. When we believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us.
(Gal 3:2-3)
…Did you receive the SPIRIT by the works of the law, or by the hearing of FAITH?
(Gal 3:14-15)
...that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the PROMISE of the SPIRIT through FAITH.
This is the key to experiencing God in the New Covenant. We have to take the first step of faith. Many people want to see first before they believe. But the Bible says, “These signs shall follow those who believe…” (Mark 16:17). Faith comes first before the demonstration of the Spirit. Mark 11:24 says when we pray, we are to believe that we have received; then we shall have it. The woman with the issue of blood believed in Christ the healer before the power flowed from Jesus.
Now that the Holy Spirit is in us, we experience His manifestation and power by faith. The Holy Spirit only responds to faith for without faith it is impossible to please God. The Holy Spirit does not respond to works of the law which is powered by self-ability. This explains why Christianity is a walk of faith or a fight of faith.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 11:04 PM
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