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The problem is that people will make a distinction between being saved and then "inviting" the Holy Spirit. When one is "truly" Saved, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you. No special invitation is needed.
I didn't choose God he chose me! I never asked him to come into my life He just did. He's the Best Thing that ever happened to me.
Unless a person is born of the Spirit he/she can not be part of the Kingdom of God/heaven. So the simple truth is it is impossible to be a saved apart from the Holy Spirit. Jesus said this plainly in John 3:6 - "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
There are accounts in the book of Acts that describe "believers" that had not yet been filled with the Holy Ghost. In upmost humility I agree with the scriptures that there is a gift that "saved Christians" have not received, beit they were never taught or have not recognized. Again, with all humility I can not judge a persons salvation which is between them and God, but I can justify through scripture (Acts) that being filled with the spirit of God enables His power to work through us. When we walk in the power of God we bare fruit, and are more effective for the kingdom of God. Thanks for reading, and may God bless you.
I think that the problem is trying to separate God who is a spirit, into pieces. If you haven't asked God into your heart. What exactly have you done? If we yield our whole self to God, and truly let him work in us, being filled with the Holy Spirit would not be a strange thing, a "separate experience". It would be God's children obeying the scriptures, and "walking in the spirit".
The bible says unless you be born of the water and spirit you can't enter the kingdom of heaven. John 3:5 Acts 2:38 says to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and ye shall be filled with the Holy Ghost. It's a promise that was made to us, but He's a gentleman and will not force anyone to let His spirit in. He is awesome!
Ephesians 4:30 AMP And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). Without the Holy Spirit we will not be inspired to be saved. One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to lead us to repentance and convict us of our sins.
Yes, when I was younger I was a believer but as I grew upon went away from the church. I was lost but still heard god, but didn't obey. Then at a time in my life where I was at rock bottom god sent me a friend in the most unusal way. We became close friends and after a year eventually became a couple. During this time she tried really hard to bring me to god and resisted. I finally after a couple of months in our relationship started going towards god I felt cause I loved this friend, and that's when she we started to have problem with another man! I stayed away from god still coming in and out when ever I wanted, but the relationship kept getting worst! There was a time where god showed me she was the one so I liked that allow myself to go towards him. Then that vision he showed me came crumbling down due to my sins and her sins. After that it went down hill! I hit rock bottom again but we where no longer together. I went out and strayed so far away from god there would be no way I could hear him that's what I thought. After a few weeks of this I went out and partied my lasttime the next morning I was pulled in by the Holy Spirit and came to church. The friend god gave me isn't talking me due to my sin and its ok god is gracious and moves. All what I thought I wanted weren't my desires they where gods and couldn't do them with out him! It was never me! All the bad not that was my sinful nature and god has forgiven me. No I love god so much I find strength and comfort in his arms. I pray and many more people that were on my sinful road, god will put road signs to detour to road he built for us! Amen
We can't do anything that is pleasing to God without the HS... Rom 8:8 NIV - Those who are in the realm of the flesh CANNOT PLEASE God. Rom 8:9 NIV - You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, IF INDEED the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. I'm sure we all agree that coming to the Lord IS pleasing to him...So without the HS we can't come to him. He has to give it to us first... Love you all and may God continue to Bless you and yours!
The answer is simple, yes! He is the one who bears witness with our spirit that we have eternal life. Acts 15:8 when we the Gentiles believe the gospel then our Father God gives us the precious Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit in the guarantor of our inheritance in Heaven (Eph. 1:13-14). That means to be a Christian without Holy Spirit is impossible. Rom.8:9 clearly says no Holy Spirit, no belonging to Christ,;that means they belong to Satan, who does not have Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit indwelling is a must and is found as we believe in Lord Jesus John.14:16-17 Holy Spirit empowerment with His gifts is for believers as we minister His gospel Acts.1:8;2:1-4;1 cor.12 Holy Spirit filling is a must in order to daily walk and live in His will, not fulfilling fleshly desires, but being filled with the Spirit to do what the Spirit says. Eph. 5:18; Gal.5:16-17; Rom.8:5-7.
Without going into a long drawn out explanation, there will be no better than the simple example of the thief on the cross. He was converted right there in the middle of mocking Jesus, and heaping insults upon Him (Mark 15:32, Mat 27:44). Then in (Luke 23:40), the same thief rebuked the other in an admission of their guilt and Jesus' innocence, and asked the other if he did not fear God. In the end, he proclaimed Jesus' deity and asked Him to remember him, when Jesus came into His kingdom (Luke 23:42). Easy to see here that this man did not intend to be saved. It was the Holy Spirit that did everything. What I find interesting is that even as the man was mocking Jesus in His suffering and humility, the Spirit regenerated this man and turned his heart and mind to Christ. And His righteousness, which in turn revealed to the man his own shame and sinfulness. He even admits to the other thief that they both deserve their punishment. I am guessing that this happened so that we would have this wonderful, even remarkable example of the Spirit at work in changing the darkness inside a man, to light. Another example is the Roman centurion, who stood at the foot of the same cross, in which a now dead Jesus was hanging on. This man, after seeing Jesus' execution carried out, looked up at the heavens and declared Jesus as the Son of God. Again, this is the Holy Spirit bearing witness of the truth to this man's spirit after it is regenerated to life, just as it was with the thief. This, being what Jesus meant in [John 3], when He told Nicodemus, "Unless a man be born again, he cannot see or enter the Kingdom of Heaven". Both accounts serve as testimonies to the unfathomable grace of God, which is found in Christ Jesus alone.
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