Bible Teachings About Salvation Part 2 (The Holy Spirit)

Read Bible Teachings About Salvation 1.0 (Following Jesus NOT Religion) first, as this blog will make more sense after reading that one.

Before I dive into talking about the Holy Spirit, I want to remind you that God is a patient God.

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)

If you overthink things like me, the devil can get in your head and cause you fear, but through faith you can fight off that evil. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are in your life, the devil gets into everyone’s head and causes fear. You can give into it, or you can fight it off.

Obeying God

“³ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.⁴ He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. – 1 John 2:3-4 (KJV)

²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
– Matthew 7:21 (KJV) 

¹⁵ If ye love me, keep my commandments. – John 14:15 (KJV) 

1 John 3:6

We MUST OBEY GOD to go to Heaven. That’s the truth, the sins in the bible are not archaic and no longer apply to today’s society like many people want to believe. I know that would be easier, just picking and choosing what we like and don’t like. But that’s now how it works. God knows how hard it is, and that is why we have the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ in us which changes out hearts and our minds so we don’t want to sin! If it feels like it is impossible to obey it is because you don’t have the Holy Spirit, and your flesh will always want to sin! Therefore, it is Jesus Christ in us that truly saves us not obeying. (View: 1 John 2:27) Jesus in you obeys for you. Don’t worry, you still are free to make choices daily on what you do in your life, but you stop living for worldy pleasures. You are living to have a better life in your next life which lasts forever!

1 John 3:6 – “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.”
1 John 3:9 – “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning…”
Romans 6:14 – “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

When it comes to obeying God, we do have the resources to understand what is sinful. We have Exodus that talks about the 10 Commandments and other sins, Romans 1:29-32, Galatians 5, and many other sins are listed throughout the bible. Reading the scripture is so important. God talks to us through scripture.

We all know sins such as murder, adultery, stealing, are morally wrong – they are sins. But we can easily fall into sins such as pride, gossiping, jealousy, putting something in our lives before God, taking the Lord’s name in vain. I hear people ALL the time saying “Oh My God” and they are not talking to God or about God. These words are constantly heard across TV and in movies. I hear many people who call themselves Christians saying these words with no idea that what they are saying is breaking a commandment.

It is very important to read scripture, even though the Holy Spirit will point out sin in your life.

The Holy Spirit Helps You to Obey

The Holy Spirit is God in you.

TRUST, have FAITH and be patient, as you might slowly notice changes or you might notice things immediately.

How do you know it is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit can work through your conscious, so you may of heard it even if you haven’t fully repented. Just the fact that we understand morally what is right and wrong is proof of the Holy Spirit. However, you don’t have the Holy Spirit fully until you repent. After you have repented and asked for the Holy Spirit, you will have greater awareness.

²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, 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 14:26 (KJV) 

²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: – John 10:27 (KJV) 

The Holy Spirit Changes You!

The Holy Spirit makes me want to please God more than other people. I have a change of heart.

It is easier not to sin, then to sin.

You take on God’s character traits as you listen and obey the Holy Spirit and of course learn the scripture. You will have a greater love for people, more compassion, forgiveness, humility, obedience, servant leadership, prayerfulness, truthfulness, wisdom, courage, etc. These are all character traits of Jesus who is God, and is also the Holy Spirit.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) 

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. – 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (KJV)

When you continue to pray, obey, and read scripture with the power of the Holy Spirit, you grow in ways beyond that of religion. The Holy Spirit will provide you with a love for everyone as Jesus loved everyone. You don’t think you are better than anyone, you don’t have anger towards anyone, you care about every person. You want to see everyone turn toward God and receive salvation. If you share the Gospel, but don’t have love, you are not sharing through the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts happen with receiving the Holy Spirit.

Route to Salvation

You start with understanding who Jesus is and what he did on the cross, you have to fully believe in Jesus and the Trinity (Believe everything Jesus says and does is TRUTH, not just the parts you like – Jesus also says Forgive). Then, you have to repent, which only works if you understand fully that you are giving up sin completely, and God knows if you are committed. You can’t receive the Holy Spirit until you repent, but you NEED to HAVE FAITH TOO and believe you will receive it. Then, when you have the Holy Spirit which is God in you, you can truly obey.

IF you don’t have the faith or don’t understand, you get the faith in scripture, read the Gospel. 

PRACTICING RELIGION WON’T SAVE YOU!

Okay, some people are going to say and you have to be baptized in water first. I specifically said “water” because you get baptized with the Holy Spirit and the fire through believing and repenting. God did give people the Holy Spirit before they were baptized in water, there is evidence of this such as Acts 10. But I’m not saying you shouldn’t or it is a bad idea to get water baptized first. I have a separate blog on this because the churches make baptism super confusing by all saying different things.

³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. — Romans 6:3-6

So you don’t just get dunked in water and come out being saved. And then go back to your normal life doing things as you have always done them. But you feel this emotion that your saved. No, you have been deceived. I have too! This is not how salvation works. As it says above, you have to die to your sins, and start living a new life. A life where you obey and put God first.

Some More of My Testimonial

The Holy Spirit Helped Me Write About Baptism

I devoted two days to researching baptism, and got frustrated because I KNEW I was missing something. Then, it was humbling because the Holy Spirit through my husband, gave me the missing piece. I love that the Holy Spirit didn’t tell me directly, because it reminded me, I can’t take credit for anything I learn or the insights I receive when I write. It is God who gets the credit. I don’t deserve to be given praise for my writing or my insights. I’m just obeying, using the gifts and wisdom/knowledge God gives me.

People can devote their lives to researching and understanding the bible, and can still completely miss things because they don’t have the faith, they don’t have the Holy Spirit! Even with the Holy Spirit none of us will truly fully understand everything though.

Holy Spirit Also Gave me a HUNGER for Scripture

I’ve also experienced a great HUNGER for scripture, to read, listen, to understand every day! I used to push myself to read scripture knowing it was a good thing for me to do. But now I have this fire and passion to learn and understand scripture. This comes from the Holy Spirit.

It is so incredible now that I can read through (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and understand it really well! Between the podcast and the Holy Spirit I understand. I was able to read the rest of the New Testament and understand quite a bit of it without the podcast. (1 Corinthians 2:14). Now I just read without relying on a podcast or teacher.

⁴ But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
– Matthew 4:4 (KJV)

Did you know the Holy Spirit is the GREATEST teacher? Yes, not your pastor, priest, your friend, your family member. The Holy Spirit wants to be your guide in your life and teach you.

²⁷ But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
– 1 John 2:27 (KJV)

I’m Still Finding My Way

It is hard for me to share all this because I know the Holy Spirit has a lot to teach me. I wish I was further along in my journey, but I can’t live with myself, if I don’t share. I feel what I’m sharing is accurate, as I waited long enough to make sure I understand and feel confident. My goal was not to rush into sharing this thinking I knew everything I needed to know. Instead, I’ve taken time to make sure I feel peace from God (the Holy Spirit) before I share.

I’m continuously learning and growing. I continue to talk to God every day, and I keep asking for the Holy Spirit to guide me every day.

I want to end this blog with 3 VERY POSITIVE NOTES: 

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. – Ephesians 1:13–14 (KJV) 

When you receive the Holy Spirit, you are saved! From what I have learned – it is rare for a person to lose their salvation, but the bible does talk about it, it can happen. The Holy Spirit doesn’t abandon you the moment you mess up. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need to repent and turn away from sinning. It says, “ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” But again, you don’t just find out your saved and then sit around and wait for the end. God has plans for you.

¹⁰ Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
– Luke 15:10

HEAVEN REJOICES & GOD when you REPENT AND TURN TO GOD! (Luke 15:7, Zephaniah 3:17)

²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28–30

This bible verse is Jesus saying it is joyful and peaceful following Him! There are many bible verses that talk about the peace you receive from following Jesus.

NEXT BLOG: Making Sense of Baptism – When All Churches Say Something Different

So, Why do I Share This? 

I share this because I want to see you in Heaven. 

God deserves all the credit and all the glory! I don’t want to fall victim to vainglory or pride. If what you read makes a significant difference in your life – don’t give me credit. Thank God. 

What I do hope for though, I hope to see more people in the future sharing their testimonials of the Holy Spirit changing them.

Resources:

The Holy Spirit & Bible

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