For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:14-15
Do you think much about the Holy Spirit? If you are a true believer, then you should.
The Holy Spirit lives in your soul. You can know Him!
Scripture tells us that once we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we are immediately filled with the Holy Spirit. That happens one time and He never leaves. We do not have to keep receiving the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13 & 14)
“…a rushing mighty wind…”
Acts 2:2
Let’s take a look at just some of the things that He does for God’s sons and daughters.
- The Holy Spirit leads us to repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10)
- The Holy Spirit teaches us by the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 2:13-14)
- The Holy Spirit enables our adoption by God (Romans 8:16)
- The Holy Spirit works to make people holy. (Ephesians 1:4)
- The Holy Spirit transforms us so that we will look like Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- The Holy Spirit separates us from the world. This is what it means to be sanctified. (Romans 8:9)
- The Holy Spirit leads us from sin, which separates us from God. (Titus 3:5)
- The Holy Spirit seals our salvation. True believers can never be lost. (Ephesians 1:13)
…and so much more!
The way in which the Spirit accomplishes all of this is through God’s Holy Word. Through it, He produces holiness in us. He shows us the things of Christ so we can see the full representation of God. (Romans 5:5)
Submission to the authority of the Holy Spirit will help us look more like Christ. We won’t resemble the world.
The Spirit helps us to subdue our natural desire to sin. He fills us with love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, patience, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.
But when believers distance themselves from God, we appear hateful, joyless, greedy, selfish, chaotic, mean-spirited and impatient.
So, all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
2 Corinthians 3:18
By the work of the Holy Spirit, we are the adopted children of God. He chose us in spite of who we are or what we have done.
Our adoption cancels everything in our past. This adoption gives us a place in the family of God. Our adoption gives us every right granted by God.
But adoption does not regenerate us. Regeneration means that God has conferred upon us His divine nature by the work of the Holy Spirit. This is what changes us and gives us a new way of life. (Romans 6:4)
In return for this unmerited favor, believers are led by the Holy Spirit to love God. We will love what He loves and hate what He hates. We will love His law. We will love His Son and other believers.
Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.
Psalm 119:18
The Holy Spirit has sealed us. (2 Corinthians 1:22)
No one can take our inheritance. Our inheritance is undefiled and waiting for us to be fulfilled on that glorious day. (1 Peter 1:4)
We have this reliable hope because of the witness of the Holy Spirit in our heart. (Romans 15:13)
Take some time and begin your own self-guided study on the Holy Spirit of God. There are many trusted resources that can help. You can find archived sermons from pastors like David Jeremiah, John MacArthur and hopefully, your own pastor. Gotquestions.org and Bible Hub are also trustworthy resources.
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Statement of Faith
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 