Pentecost and the gift of holy spirit

Do I have to learn the whole written Word before I can receive revelation via my holy spirit?

No. Once you have received the gift of holy spirit from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ, you can receive information from God and from the Lord Jesus Christ via that holy spirit. Of course, God wants us to learn about God Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ, and all the information that He has already made available for us to know about many, many things (refer to I Timothy 2:1-4). It certainly helps us to understand the past, the present, and what will take place at a future time as recorded in the written Word.

What is the difference between the spirit that God gave to Jesus in Matthew 3:16, which was before the day of Pentecost - and the spirit that holy-people (Christians) have received today, which is after the day of Pentecost?

The spirit that the only true God gives at any time to mankind has-been and is and will-be the same constitution and consistency as God Himself (Holy Spirit, the living and moving God within His sphere of action) - this does not change. But the degree of the spirit that God gives has changed.

During the old covenant times before the day of Pentecost (refer to Acts chapter 2), people could believe and obey what God said to them, and then sometimes God would allow them to have holy spirit for the time that they would carry-out what He wanted them to do. He gave portions of holy spirit to different men and women such as Adam, Eve, Joseph, King Saul, King David, Isaiah, Elijah, Elisha, Moses, Abraham, etc. However, this spirit was given to them inside their bodies upon the condition of believing and obeying what God asked them to do for Him. It was given conditionally - and so if that person stopped believing and obeying what God told them then God would take it away from them back to Himself (refer to Genesis 41:38; Numbers 27:18; II Kings 2:9).

The spirit that God gave to Jesus recorded in Matthew 3:16 was holy spirit from God Who is Holy Spirit. God gave Jesus as much as was available to be given to a human-being at that time. Let us read the record in Matthew chapter 3:

Matthew 3:13-17:

^.13Then Jesus arrives from Galilee on Jordan towards John to be baptized by him, ^.14but John used-to throughly-hinder him saying, "I have need to be baptized by you and you come towards me?" ^.15But Jesus having answered said towards him, "You must leave (me) now, for thus it is becoming for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he leaves him. ^.16But Jesus having been baptized ascended immediately from the water, ^.17and look!, the heavens were opened and he saw the spirit of God descending as-though a dove coming on him, and look!, a sound out-from the heavens saying, "This is My son, the loved¹ (son) in whom I consider-it-good."

Jesus approached and came away from Galilee down upon Jordan towards John for the purpose of being baptized by John. But John was thoroughly preventing or blocking Jesus from what he was wanting to do saying to him:

• "Emphatically I have need (a necessity)
  • to be baptized by you (whereby you are the one doing the baptizing),
• and emphatically you come towards me?"

John knew that the Christ would baptize with holy spirit and fire and so from John's viewpoint it was the wrong way round – he did not understand why Jesus would want to be baptized by him, which was a water baptism, and so he was hindering Jesus and told him his logic asking him to explain.

Jesus answered:

• "You must leave me now (in the sense of let it go from your concern as to what I do at this time),
• for in this manner it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness (justice, justness)."

Then John leaves Jesus do what he wanted to do which was for John to baptize him in the Jordan river.

After Jesus was baptized by John, he ascended immediately from the water (he was not in the water anymore)…

• and behold – the heavens were caused to be open and Jesus perceived and knew God's spirit as if it were a dove coming down upon him (the spirit was not a dove but this is how God chose to communicate what He was doing)
• and behold – a sound (voice) out-from the heavens saying:
• "This is My son, the loved¹ son (My son who is loved by Me, he originates from Me and is beloved)
  • within whom I consider-it-good (I suppose it well in him, I have willing purpose with good design within My beloved son)."

God had just given Jesus Christ holy spirit and this is God's declaration regarding the one who would accomplish God's plan of redemption and salvation once and for all.

This is the moment when Jesus received holy spirit-life from God, which was similar to many of God's people who received holy spirit from God for specific periods of time throughout the ages. Jesus' ministry officially began at that time. God had indicated that Jesus is His apostle and prophet having received the spirit from God.

We need to understand that the spirit which God gave Jesus at that time immediately after his water baptism by John, was not the same as the spirit that is now available to mankind. It was only after Christ's resurrection and ascension into heaven that he could shed forth the gift of holy spirit, which is the spirit of Christ, on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts chapter 2 – the spirit of Christ was not available until after redemption and salvation were accomplished by Jesus Christ.

John the baptizer (baptist) and Jesus spoke about the time when the gift of holy spirit would be made available:

Luke 3:16:

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] and with fire:

John 7:37-39:

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 14:15-20, and 26:

If ye love me [Jesus Christ], keep my commandments.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

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.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Verse 26:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:12-16:

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come.

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Matthew 3:11:

^.11I [John] indeed baptize you in water into repentance, but the (one) coming behind me he is stronger-than me, whose sandals I am not sufficient to lift-up, he will baptize you in holy spirit and fire,

John said:

• "Emphatically I indeed baptize you in water into repentance (the word 'repentance' means changing your minds from bad to good regarding God and the things of God, emphasizing your minds' change after re-thinking the matter),
• but the one who is coming behind/after me he is stronger than me (comparatively more inherently strong, more strength than I have),
  • whose sandals I am not sufficient to lift-up (as a slave/servant would do for his master),
    • emphatically he (himself, the same) will baptize you in holy spirit and fire."

Referring to the Christ, John said that he would baptize in holy spirit and fire. John was prophesying regarding the time when the Lord Jesus Christ would give holy spirit-life to those who believe what God says regarding God and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Fire burns what can be burned, and leaves what cannot be burned thus purifying what is left. Here, fire signifies or indicates God's presence and His acceptance and purification of this baptism that came to pass on the day of Pentecost (recorded in Acts 2:1-4).

John's baptism with water was a type (pattern) of the baptism that Jesus was going to bring to pass - baptism in holy spirit (refer also to John 1:31). As with John's baptism which was made available to all but all did not choose to partake of it, so it was and is with Jesus' baptism since the day he first made it available, and only those who choose to believe what God says regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, will receive new spiritual bodies in the future.

In Acts chapter 1, Jesus also refers to the first time when the gift of holy spirit would be made available:

Acts 1:4 and 5:

^.4and being gathered-together with (them) he charged to them not to separate-themselves away-from Jerusalem but to wait-concerning "the promise of the Father which you heard of me, ^.5that John indeed baptized with water but you will be baptized in holy spirit after not many (of) these days,"

While the resurrected Christ Jesus was assembled together with them prior to his ascension into heaven - he passed a message on from himself to them. They were to remain in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father (God) which they had previously heard about from Jesus.

Jesus reminded them that he had already told them what this promise is which God had made: that John (his cousin the baptizer, baptist) indeed baptized (immersed, surrounded) people with/by water but emphatically you will be baptized in/within holy spirit after a few days' time.

What a promise! God's promise to them by means of the Lord Jesus Christ was that they will be baptized - not with physical water (H₂0) but in holy spirit. This baptism in holy spirit is permanent. It would give the apostles holy spirit-life within them which would-not or could-not leave them or be taken away from them. It would be the same holy spirit-life that Jesus received from God when He raised him up giving him his new spiritual body. Therefore in these respects, it was going to be different from the holy spirit which they had received at certain times during his earthly ministry before his death.

Acts 1:8:

^.8but you will receive ability - the holy spirit having come on you - and you will be my witnesses in both Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and until (the) last-part of the earth."

Jesus told them that they would receive ability (take able-power, capability) to themselves. This ability would be theirs to personally know and manifestly-use because it was going to be that promised holy spirit-life which would come upon them.

And Jesus told them that after the holy spirit will have come on them, they will be his witnesses. Witnesses of whom? Witnesses of the resurrected Christ Jesus - not of themselves, nor of what they did previously, nor of the local denomination, nor of the latest craze, nor of anything else!

Witnesses are people who bear witness, attesting to the information and knowledge that they have regarding a certain-thing, and they can therefore confirm it, giving information bringing it to light on the strength of the authority that they have. Christ Jesus' witnesses would therefore receive information or knowledge from him via the holy spirit that they were going to receive not many days from then and thereby give that information to other people as he directs.

They were to be his witnesses among the people:

1. within Jerusalem - the city which was the center for those who claimed to love and believe God and His words, the Judeans/Israelites ,
2. and within every part of Judea - the countryside of those who claimed to love and believe God and His words, the Judeans/Israelites living outside of the city,
3. and those living in Samaria - the area where people of the Judean/Israeli background had mixed with people of the Gentile background, but who also claimed to love and believe God,
4. and until the last, most-remote part, the final or extreme place, the uttermost part of the earth - the area where people of the Gentile background did not claim to love and believe God and His words.

As we have read earlier in this article, the gift of holy spirit was first made available on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2. This holy spirit-life is given permanently to those who believe what God says about Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ. God will not take this gift of holy spirit away from anyone who receives it. It is the spirit of Christ in a holy-person (refer to Colossians 1:27), the spirit of life in Christ Jesus (refer to Romans 8:2), and a spirit of sonship (refer to Romans 1:3 and 4, 8:8-15). A person who believes receives a token, an earnest, a deposit of holy spirit-life (refer to Ephesians 1:13 and 14). This spirit was NOT available to be given to anyone, not even Jesus, until after God raised Jesus up from the dead and gave him his new spiritual body with its holy spirit-life.

We should realize that today it is the holy spirit-life in a person (the spirit of Christ within him/her) that makes that person a holy-person (a true Christian). If someone has not received the gift of holy spirit - that person is not a Christian. Also, a devil-spirit (demon) cannot enter into the body of a holy-person (a person who already has the spirit of Christ within him/her). However, a holy-person can of course be influenced adversely by the devil/satan if the holy-person allows himself to listen, and see, and do what satan propounds via his beguiling methods and schemes used by those who work for him (spirits and people).

Even during the old covenant times, including when Jesus was carrying out his ministry before the day of Pentecost, no person could have an evil spirit within his/her body at exactly the same time as having God’s temporary and conditional holy spirit (example: King Saul, etc).

What kind of spirit does the Lord Jesus Christ have today after his resurrection?

The subject matter of the good-message (gospel, evangel) regarding which Paul was an apostle – is concerning God's son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul explains:

Romans 1:3 and 4:

^.3concerning His son – the (son) having come-into-being out-from (the) seed of David according to (the) flesh, ^.4the (son) having been marked-out-definitely (as being) God's son in ability according to (the) spirit of holiness out-from (the) resurrection of dead-people – Jesus Christ our Lord,

As well as Jesus Christ having come into being out-from the seed of David according to the flesh, he was marked out definitely that he is the son of God within the sphere of action of ability (able-power, capability)…

• in accordance (conformity, proportion) to/with
  • the spirit of holiness (the spirit of sanctity, the condition or state of being holy, sanctified, set-apart from that-which is common; the spirit which is/has holiness being evidenced and demonstrated)
• out-from resurrection of dead-people.

Jesus Christ was dead but now he is alive. God gave the spirit of holiness to Jesus Christ when He raised him out from the rest of the dead people who remain dead until their resurrection. The spirit of holiness is the spiritual essence of the resurrected Christ Jesus. He has his spiritual body (refer also to Acts 26:23; I Corinthians chapter 15; Colossians 1:18).

What kind of spirit does a holy-person (a true Christian) have today?

Romans 8:14 and 15:

^.14for as-many-as are led by (the) spirit of God these-people are sons of God; ^.15for you did not receive a spirit of slavery again into fear, but you received a spirit of sonship – in which we shout, "Abba, Father";

The amount of people who are being conveyed by/with the spirit from God...

• these people are sons of God (God’s sons; the word "son" emphasizes origin, quality, and essence);

…for you did not receive...

• a spirit of slavery again into fear (a spirit pertaining to bondage, servitude directed back to fright, with a view for you to be afraid at the consequences of your performance of any wrong behavior as though you could lose your holy spirit and revert back to being only flesh which would result in your death),

...but on the contrary, you received (you holy-people have already taken from God Who gave to you for you to use)…

• a spirit of sonship (a spirit pertaining to being put or placed as sons of God, a sonship spirit) –

…in which we shout (within the sphere of action of this spirit of sonship all of us cry out towards God)…

• "Abba, Father".

The word Abba is an Aramaic or Hebrew word meaning "Father" and it was considered the language of the Scriptures because the old covenant was written in Hebrew. The reverential Abba is written plus the Greek which was the language Paul spoke and wrote to the holy-people in Rome.

We shout with reverence, not fear of death, to God within the holy spirit-life we have: "Abba, Father" – and it does not matter what language a person speaks in the flesh category. The only true God is the Father of the holy spirit-life which He placed in us. God is our Father in the spirit category, not the flesh realm.

However, if a person does not have holy spirit-life dwelling within him/her, then it would not be possible to be led by it and that person is not a holy-person (he/she is not a true Christian). There is not a "spark of the Divine" or a "piece of God" in everybody! Also, this verse does not say that the gift of holy spirit “forces” or “controls” any person, but it leads a holy-person and then it is up to the freedom of will of that holy-person whether or not to follow and do what the spirit within him/her communicates.

II Corinthians 3:17 and 18:

^.17but the Lord is the spirit, and where the spirit of (the) Lord (is there is) freedom, ^.18and we, with (our) face having been uncovered², reflect-from-ourselves the glory of (the) Lord, the (people) transforming the same image from glory into glory, fully-as from (the) Lord (who is) spirit.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the spirit proceeding-from the living God, the spirit of the new covenant which makes-alive, the spirit of the ministry in glory - and where the Lord's spirit is there is freedom (liberty).

The usage of the word "Lord" when referring to the Lord Jesus Christ here is noteworthy because it emphasizes the lordship or mastership of the resurrected Christ Jesus.

Paul continues: emphatically we – who have had our face uncovered (unveiled, the cover has been and is still taken-upwards thus revealing what is underneath)...

• reflect from ourselves (we mirror)
  • the glory (importance, splendor, renown)
    • belonging-to and proceeding-from the Lord Jesus Christ.

All holy-people have holy spirit-life within us, which is the spirit of the new covenant, the spirit of the Lord in us, and we reflect from ourselves our Lord's glory, as a mirror reflects outward from itself the light-rays which arrive on it from the source which causes the image to form on the mirror.

A mirror in Paul's time-period was usually made with polished metal and the person looking at the mirror saw the reflected rays of light producing a reflection of the source-object whether it be the person himself or something else, and these reflected rays of light from the polished metal would also land-on and so light-up his face.

Paul and those with him were reflecting from themselves the present glory of the Lord. They were...

• transforming the same image (changing the form of the image itself, metamorphosis, the whole form of the same image, icon, resemblance, representation of the Lord Jesus Christ)
  • away-from the glory that they had received within their holy spirit
  • into the manifested glory emanating from it – and this manifested glory was fully-as away-from the Lord, the spirit.

There was and is no fading or blurring of the Lord's glory from our holy spirit-life. This glory is the manifested essence of God in Christ in us radiating forth.

All holy-people spiritually are in the process of transforming the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is our holy spirit-life, from its glorious light-rays emanating this glory outwards spiritually towards other people showing them the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ now, which is the guarantee of future glory to come.

The Lord who is spirit, the spirit of the new covenant, has entered our hearts in our reception of that holy spirit, and now we are the people transforming the same image of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ from glory into glory, fully-as from the Lord who is spirit (refer to Romans 1:4).

I Corinthians 2:12 and 13:

^.12and we did not receive the spirit of the world but the spirit, the (spirit) out-from God, in order that we may have known² the-things having been graced to us by God, ^.13which-things also we utter-forth, not in taught words of manly wisdom but in taught-things of spirit – judging-together spiritual-things with spiritual;

Paul writes that we did not receive...

• the spirit of the world (pertaining-to, consisting-of, or proceeding-from the cosmos, the ordered arrangement that God originally created, the creation, created-thing) –

...but on the contrary, we received (we took what was given to us to use, which is)...

• the spirit,
  • emphatically and specifically the spirit that is out-from the interior of God Himself.

God made this holy spirit-life available to be received by us for the purpose and result that we would know (perceive, see) the-things which have been graced to us (bestowed without any merit on our part) by the power of the only true God.

We did not take hold of the spirit of the world, which is what the devil offers - the devil is a created-being (refer to Romans 1:18-25). The spirit of the world refers to satan (the devil, the evil spirit) and the devil-spirits (demons) which take their instruction from satan. We did not receive a devil-spirit - that is not what was given to us by the only true God. BUT we received the spirit, emphatically the spirit out-from God, the Creator. The spirit from God is the consistency and constitution of the spiritual living and moving God within God’s sphere of action, which is His spirit realm.

We holy-people can speak the things which God has graciously bestowed to us – not within the words which are instructed proceeding-from or consisting-of the wisdom which pertains to mankind (human wisdom), but on the contrary, we can speak the things having been graced to us by God within the instructions taught to us proceeding from the holy spirit-life within us.

God Who is Holy Spirit communicates to the holy spirit within us (perfect communication at all times) and our holy spirit communicates this to our physical mind when we are receptive to it – like two-way voice and/or data and/or streaming video communications whereby all parties are actively connected one to another and all are transmitting and receiving information with one-another in the correct manner without interference.

When we utter-forth the things that God communicates to our holy spirit and it communicates to us, we spiritual-people are judging-together spiritual things with spiritual. We join all spiritual matters together and combine them so that the judgment (the decision made) is based on comparing spiritual with spiritual, not based upon things proceeding from the flesh, the soulish and natural/physical category.

Spiritual things are the things which belong-to or proceed-from spirit; these include God Who is Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ who is now in his new spiritual-body, God's and the Lord Jesus Christ's angels and other spirit-beings, or the devil/satan and his devil-spirits (demons, the angels which reject the only true God), or people with spirit in them either holy (holy spirit-life within them) or unholy (those people who are dominated or controlled by/with one or more devil-spirits).

Verses 14-16:

^.14but soulish man does not accept the-things of the Spirit of God for they are dullness to him and he is not able to know (them) because they are spiritually judged-up, ^.15but the spiritual-person judges-up all-things but he is judged-up by not-one (person or spirit), ^.16for "Who knew (the) mind of (the) Lord, he-who will compact it together with (his mind)?" - but we have (the) mind of Christ.

Paul continues by teaching clearly the difference between the people who do not have holy spirit-life within them – and those who have received holy spirit-life from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The soulish man is referring to the man who does not have holy spirit-life because he has not believed what God has given to be believed regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ (refer to Romans 10:9 and 10). The soulish man only has soul life which keeps him alive in the fleshy and physical category (evidenced by his breathing in the natural/physical realm). The soulish man...

• does not accept (he does not willingly take to himself what is presented to him, he does not welcome)
  • the-things pertaining-to and proceeding-from God Who is Holy Spirit.

The soulish man does not accept the-things of the Spirit of God. Why not? In truth the things which belong to God and which He would like to communicate to every man are dullness to the soulish man (they are considered to be foolishness, absurdity, not-acute by the soulish man)!

Plus the soulish man does not have the ability (the capability, the able-power) to personally know the-things of the Spirit of God because God's communications are via holy spirit and therefore are spiritually judged-up - they can only be carefully examined or investigated by means of holy spirit-life, which the soulish man does not have.

But on the other hand, the spiritual-person (one who has received God's gift of holy spirit by means of the Lord Jesus Christ)...

• judges-up (carefully examines or investigates)
  • all-things pertaining-to and proceeding-from the only true God Who is Holy Spirit (the source of His information).

God's information may be either pertaining to the spirit realm - or it may be pertaining to the physical/natural realm (i.e. regarding whatever subject, situation or circumstance God may want to reveal information about within the physical/natural realm).

But the spiritual-person himself cannot be judged-up (carefully-examined or investigated) by anyone (not one, none, no person or spirit from God's point of view). This is referring to the spirit category - it is not referring to the walk, behavior, fellowship category.

Paul now references what had been previously written down as part of the old covenant writings (refer to Isaiah 40:13 and 14 regarding God):

• in truth, what person or spirit personally knew the mind of the Lord (the Lord's mind-set, His organ of mental perception, His mentality),
  • that is, he who will compact God's mind in conjunction with his own mind (cause God's mind-set to be brought or come together and so knit or united with his mind-set as far as reasoning, thinking, instruction, teaching, etc)?

The only logical and truthful answer to these questions at the time when Isaiah wrote this is: nobody, no-one, no spirit, not anything! BUT - here in I Corinthians, Paul throws new light on what is written in the Book of Isaiah and shows it as prophecy regarding the time since the day of Pentecost and this truth is still in effect today as we await Christ to gather us together with him.

The answer for this administration of blessing and grace in which we live in today is:

• emphatically we (holy-people)
  • have the mind (mind-set, mentality)
    • of Christ.

The gift of holy spirit is the spirit of Christ in us, and therefore we have God's mind which is in Christ's mind which is in us – within our holy spirit.

God has access to us spiritually via the holy spirit-life within us and we have access to God spiritually via the holy spirit-life within us which is the spirit of Christ in us. We do not have the whole of God's mind within us – but we have the mind of Christ within us! We have the great privilege of God revealing His information to us via the gift of holy spirit. We have the mind-set of Christ in us and we can think and do all of our mental calculations according to that holy spirit-life. We have all the ability spiritually that the resurrected Christ has, who himself has already received his spiritual-body and he is continuing to do the will of his Father and our Father – the only true God.

We do not know everything that God knows, we do not have all the wisdom that God has, etc, but because we have the spirit of Christ within us God is able to communicate as much information as He intends via that holy spirit-life to all of us or to particular individuals among us at particular and specific times during our lives.

All holy-people are in the same spirit category as God and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ – that is why no unholy spirit and no person who does not have holy spirit-life within him/her can make an accurate or right/just judgment concerning us.

Of course, it is up to each individual holy-person whether he/she will be receptive to the holy spirit-life within him/her or whether he/she will choose to ignore it during the everyday living of our lives awaiting Christ's coming to gather all holy people together with him.

II Timothy 1:7:

^.7for God did not give to us a spirit of cowardice but of ability and love¹ and sound-thinking,

Paul explains to Timothy that God did not give to us a spirit of cowardice (a cowardly spirit, a spirit having the distinctive quality of timidity, in awe and fearful regarding different circumstances or situations) – but on the contrary – God gave to us a spirit having the distinctive qualities of:

• ability (able-power, capability)
• and love¹ (God’s love, His kind of love)
• and sound-thinking (thoughts in its mind that are sound, safe in God's viewpoint, with prudence, thoughts in alignment with salvation).

Does it matter how a holy-person (a Christian) behaves?

Yes - it does matter (refer to the article Salvation and Behavior). Also, the following scriptures provide us with some details on the subject of behavior during the everyday living of our lives.

I Corinthians 6:18-20:

^.18You must flee fornication; every sin which if-ever a man may do is outside-of the body, but the (person) fornicating sins into (his) own body. ^.19Or, you knew² that your body is (the) interior-temple of the holy spirit in you which you have from God, and you are not of yourselves, don’t you? – (yes) – ^.20for you were bought of price; indeed you must glorify God in your body.

Paul writes:

• you holy-people must flee (put yourselves in flight)
  • away-from fornication.

Why? Because...

• all/every sin (sinful action, every deed which is contrary to God)
  • which a man may do (perform) during the everyday living of his life
    • is outside-of (on the outside of) the physical body;
  • but the person
    • who is fornicating (carrying-out that-which a fornicator does, having wrongful sexual activity/relations, committing pornographic actions)
  • sins (misses the correct mark, swerves from what is right)
    • into his own body (he directs that sin from the outside into the inside of his own body, since the person being glued together to a female fornicator is one body with her; refer to I Corinthians 6:16; the person fornicating sins into his own body, not into the other-party involved with him during the action of fornication as though they were two separate fleshes).

Next, Paul asks:

• you knew and you still know (perceive),
  • don’t you,
• that your body (singular – altogether as one unit)
• is the interior-temple of (belonging-to and containing)
  • the holy spirit within you which you have from God
  • and you are not belonging-to yourselves?

The unwritten answer to this two-fold question in the Greek construction must be in agreement – "yes, we know."

The "interior-temple" refers to the innermost-part of God's temple, as the most sacred area within the temple in Jerusalem where the only true God's presence was manifested-forth during the old covenant, called the "Holy of Holies." The interior-temple of God now consists of all holy-people, no matter what location we may live in. God's interior-temple is not a stone or brick building or any other materials which can be burned-down.

Today God's interior-temple is made up of His people who have received holy spirit, the spirit of Christ in us, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation (refer to I Corinthians 3:16 and 17).

Paul expected the Corinthian holy-people to know that their physical body is the interior-temple of the holy spirit-life within them which they have from God, their Father, and that they are not their own - they do not belong-to themselves. There is no place for "doing it my way" or "doing what the committee says" if it is against what God says!

In truth, you holy-people were bought of price. You were bought as a person buys in a market-place and pays the correct honorable price, the holding-worth of the item, the value of the item concerned. Jesus Christ is the one who paid the price that was necessary for redemption – his perfect walk with and for God his Father including his sacrificial offering of himself. The totality and fully-manifested reality of having been bought of price will come to pass when the resurrected Christ will come to gather all holy-people together with him.

For you were bought of price – absolutely you must glorify God in your body. Indeed all of you holy-people together must actively give God the glory (importance, splendor, renown) within your body (one-unit because of having the same holy spirit-life within you, you are the one spiritual body of Christ).

All that you do with your body during the everyday living of your lives must be to God's glory.

Galatians 5:25 and 26:

^.25since we live with spirit, let us walk-in-line-with spirit, ^.26let us not become empty-gloried provoking one-another, envying one-another.

Since it is true that we holy-people live (we are alive) with/by/in spirit (our holy spirit-life is the only true life we have from God's viewpoint) - therefore:

• we should walk-in-line-with spirit (we ought to behave ourselves walking in line and advancing in an orderly manner, step-by-step, in accordance with our holy spirit-life, which is the spirit of Christ in us),
• we should not become empty-gloried (empty or vain relative-to the importance, splendor, and renown that we have spiritually in our holy spirit)
  • provoking one-another (calling or inviting one another before ourselves in a challenging manner as if to duel over some question to see who "was right" and competing with one-another as though in combat to get "ahead" of one-another),
  • envying one-another (being jealous or resentful of another's considered-advantage with the desire to gain the same "advantage" for ourselves).

All Christians are limbs/members of the one spiritual body of Christ and we all have exactly the same holy spirit-life within us with the same abilities and authority as the resurrected Christ himself (refer to I Corinthians 12:11-27). No person or spirit can use the power or authority of the Lord Jesus Christ without being in agreement with the Lord Jesus Christ (refer to Acts 19:13-10).

God is our Father and Christ Jesus is our Lord and brother – therefore we ought to listen and believe and obey God and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:20 and 21:

^.20But you, loved-people¹, building yourselves on your holiest belief, praying in holy spirit, ^.21must keep yourselves in (the) love¹ of God waiting-for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ into eternal life;

Emphatically you, loved-people (beloved, truly you are loved by God and by myself with God’s kind of love)…

• building yourselves on (you are in the process of building or edifying yourselves in the walk/behavior category on top of something, as a house is built upon its foundation whereby the rest of the building stands on top of its foundation and is supported by it – building yourselves resting or based upon)
  • your holiest belief (this belief is regarding the Lord Jesus Christ who is the foundation – the belief that you have is sanctified, set-apart from what is common, defiled or unclean against God; it is the belief that corresponds to the essence of God – it is holy to the superlative degree, the most holy belief),
• praying in holy spirit (communicating to/with God, speaking generally with/to God within the sphere of action of the holy spirit-life within you, the spirit of Christ in you),

…must keep yourselves (in safekeeping and therefore not neglecting or violating but able to watch over, take care of, maintain, and be observant of one-another)…

• within the cause and sphere of action of God’s love (the love that proceeds-from God Who is its source and which you can and ought to manifest)
  • waiting for (being ready to accept at a future time)
    • the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (when he will give active-relief because of withholding merited judgment towards all holy-people at the time of his coming to gather us all together with him in the air)
  • resulting in eternal life.

Eternal life is lifelong life, everlasting life, life that lasts throughout all durations of life, all ages. This life will not end. It lasts throughout all durations of life, all ages from the time a person receives it. This life can only be received by God's giving of holy spirit by means of the Lord Jesus Christ. All holy-people (Christians) have received holy spirit-life within us - it is the deposit, token, earnest of what we will receive at a future time. This holy spirit-life will remain for the duration of God's life which will not end. The full completeness for us will come to pass when our Lord Jesus Christ will come to gather all holy-people together with him giving us new spiritual bodies, the life of which will be holy spirit-life, like the body he has already received from God, his Father and our Father, when God raised him up alive from-among the dead-people.

What does the gift of holy spirit contribute to a holy-person (a Christian)?

I Corinthians 12:7-11:

^.7But the manifestation of the spirit is given to each-person towards the contributing, ^.8for indeed, for which (contribution) a word of wisdom is given by means of the spirit, but for another (contribution) a word of knowledge according to the same spirit, ^.9but for a different (contribution) belief in the same spirit, but for another (contribution) gracious-gifts of healings in the spirit, ^.10but for another (contribution) in-workings of ability, for another (contribution) prophecy, for another (contribution) through-judgments of spirits, for a different (contribution) genera of tongues, but for another (contribution) interpretation of tongues – ^.11but the one and the same spirit in-works all these, diverging to each-person according as it deliberately-determines,

The manifestation of the spirit refers to the spirit's evidence, bringing to light, the showing-forth in the physical realm of (pertaining-to, belonging-to, and proceeding-from) the spirit. The holy spirit-life within each holy-person is able to manifest itself to the person's physical, fleshy mind and/or body whereby that person is aware of what the spirit communicates to him/her.

The manifestation of the spirit is given by God or by the Lord Jesus Christ – to whom? To each holy-person and each recipient is to hear, believe and obey what is communicated to him/her whether any other holy-person receives the same or similar information or not, and whether or not they carry it out. No holy-person is excluded from the availability to receive what is given because a person could not be a holy-person unless he/she has already received the gift of holy spirit.

That-which emanates from the holy spirit is spiritual, it is supernatural, it is definitely proceeding from the holy spirit-life within that holy-person (not from his fleshly and natural thinking patterns or feelings).

The manifestation of the spirit is given to each holy-person for the purpose of contributing (being contributive, bringing together, conferring help and benefit to the recipient of the thing/contribution which is contributed).

A contribution is something that is brought together with other parts to make one whole-unit, a unifying collection. It confers help and benefit. It is conducive to any holy-person's well-being. Therefore, what is contributed by the gift of holy spirit contributes to the whole church's well-being in our walk with and for God.

The holy spirit's evidence of itself is given to each holy-person towards the contributing, and a list of what the spirit contributes to each of us is given in three groups:

1. word of wisdom, word of knowledge;
2. belief, gracious-gifts of healings, in-workings of ability, prophecy, through-judgments of spirits;
3. genera of tongues, interpretation of tongues.

A detailed study of these verses is provided on our sister website at I Corinthians chapter 12.

Every holy-person has been given holy spirit which can manifest itself in nine different ways to each holy-person towards that-which contributes spiritually. Of course, we must remember that God does not force or take control of any holy-person, and neither does the Lord Jesus Christ, nor the gift of holy spirit. Therefore it is up to the freedom of will of each one whether he communicates to/with his holy spirit-life, and then to accept, believe, and do what is required after the spirit makes known this information.

How does the holy spirit within a holy-person (Christian) communicate with him/her?

• God is the source and He energizes His intention in the holy spirit within a holy-person (the spirit within every holy-person is the spirit of Christ) –
  • then the holy spirit energizes this information in the holy-person’s mind and/or body giving him/her the spiritual contribution.

How does a holy-person receive information from the holy spirit within him/her?

• The holy-person receives the information that the holy spirit gives to him/her by way of thoughts to the holy-person’s mind directly, or by way of sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch
  • then the holy-person knows that information in his/her mind or body.

The holy-person may also initiate (start) the communication by praying with his/her known language or by speaking with tongues to God (praying in holy spirit).

Verses 12-14:

^.12for fully-as the body is one (body) and it has many limbs, but all the limbs of the body, being many, it is one body – thus also (is) Christ, ^.13for also in one spirit we all were baptized into one body, whether Judeans or Greeks or slaves or freemen, and we were all given one spirit to drink, ^.14for also the body is not one limb but many.

Paul uses the physical body as an illustration to help us understand all these spiritual-things.

Fully-as the physical body is one body (not two or more), and this one body has a lot of limbs (members, such as arms, legs, a nose, a mouth, etc), but every one of the limbs together, which are a lot of limbs, make-up that one physical body…

• in this manner also is Christ,

…for also we holy-people all were baptized (immersed, surrounded)...

• within one spirit (one holy spirit-life – not two or more)

...into being inside-of one body (the resurrected Christ's spiritual body – not two or more)...

• no matter whether we are of the Judean background,
• or the Greek (Gentile, people of nations other-than Israel/Judah) background,
• or slaves (in servitude to other men),
• or freemen (at liberty from service to other men),

…and all of us holy-people were given to drink (and so we all received) one spirit (holy spirit-life), for also the spiritual body of Christ is not only one limb, but it is a lot of limbs put all together.

Every holy-person has been baptized in holy spirit and that is how each one of us became a limb of the one body of Christ. We are not all Christs – but spiritually we are all limbs of his spiritual body because we all (all holy-people and the Lord Jesus Christ) have the same holy spirit-life within us. It is this one and the same spirit that energizes all nine spiritual contributions, diverging to each holy-person according as it deliberately determines.

There cannot be any holy spiritual things without the only true God Who is Holy Spirit – not even the Lord Jesus Christ could be who he is today if God had not initially given him his holy and spiritual body with its holy spirit-life when He raised him from among the dead-people - nor could any person receive the gift of holy spirit if God had not initially given it to the Lord Jesus Christ to make it available to those of mankind who believe what God says.

Galatians 5:22 and 23:

^.22But the fruit of the spirit is: love¹, joy, peace, patience, benevolence, goodness, belief, ^.23meekness, self-control – against the things-of-this-kind there is not law,

The fruit (produce) of the spirit (belonging-to and proceeding-from the gift of holy spirit that is within all holy-people) is:

• love¹ (God's kind of love),
• joy (rejoicing, the state of elation or enjoyment because of having received something good ultimately from God),
• peace (tranquil harmony, tranquility, peaceful wholeness, without any strife or disagreement),
• patience (long-suffering, long-forbearance towards or with others, long-temperedness),
• benevolence (kindness, supplying what is appropriately needed for use in specific situations),
• goodness (the quality of that-which issues from God),
• belief (the information that God makes known to have confidence-in with assured certainty and surety),
• meekness (tender-receptiveness or receptivity towards God and the things of God),
• self-control (being strong within itself, mastery or dominion over itself, exerting inner force, effecting power and exercising strength in itself)…

…there is not law in a downward direction against the things of such fruit. This verse does not read "works" because this is referring to the spirit's fruit (what it produces). The spirit's work or energizing is described in I Corinthians 12:7-11.

There is no law spoken or written by God prescribed against any of this fruit of holy spirit, not even if somebody were to attempt to misuse the law of Moses and circumcision to try to force the gift of holy spirit to stop producing its fruit. The holy spirit makes or produces fruit in accordance with what it is itself; it cannot produce fruit that is different to what it is.

It is up to the freedom of will of every holy-person to partake of this fruit of the spirit, like picking an apple which is fruit from an apple-tree and eating it thus partaking-of and receiving its nourishment and enjoying the fruit of that tree. When we partake of the fruit of the spirit we receive the full effects of that fruit and we live our everyday lives utilizing the effects of that fruit.

Ephesians 2:18:

^.18because by means of him we both have the access in one spirit towards the Father.

It is through Christ that...

• we both (holy-people of the Gentile/ other-nation background and holy-people of the Judean/Israeli background)
  • have the access (the one and only leading or bringing towards, the approach)
  • within that one spirit (within the sphere of action of our holy spirit)
    • in motion towards being with and in the presence of the Father.

The only true God is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of all holy-people. The word "Father" emphasizes our sonship relationship with God because we have the spirit of Christ in us. Our holy spirit-life has all the righteousness and ability that the resurrected Christ himself has because we are limbs of his body, the one spiritual body of Christ. It gives us freedom of access to our spiritual Father Who is God. It also gives God freedom of access to us via our holy spirit-life. There is two-way spiritual communication between us.

Verse 19-22:

^.19Consequently you are no-longer strangers and sojourners but you are citizens-together with the holy-people, even God's household-people, ^.20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets – Christ Jesus himself being (the) extreme-corner, ^.21in whom all (the) building joining-together increases into (the) holy interior-temple in (the) Lord, ^.22in whom also you are being built-together into (the) dwelling-down-place of God in spirit.  

Christ Jesus himself, nobody or nothing else, is being the one in the honorable position of the "extreme-corner" which means: the pointed corner, the tip, top angle being the extremity which is necessary to bear, support and integrate the whole building because of its position in relation to the rest of this building or house.

The cornerstone is laid to be the joining and supporting strength to the two walls which are connected to it. Christ Jesus is the one in whom all holy-people, from both the Judean/Israeli and the Gentile backgrounds, are being connected. We are limbs of his one spiritual body – if Christ Jesus were not the extreme corner, then there could not be any building, no house!

It is within Christ Jesus that...

• all the building (every part of this one building, used in the figurative sense, not the literal sense of a physical building) -
  • which is joining-together (fitting or framing itself together because all parts, t