The Role Of The Holy Spirit And Word Of God In Conversion

As we know, the Day of Pentecost is eight days away. The title today, The Role of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in Conversion. This sermon and, to some degree, a Bible study, hopefully preparing us for the Day of Pentecost. So let's begin by laying a firm foundation for what we'll be studying today. To put these scriptures together in a systematic order, to learn more about the Holy Spirit up front, I think one of the great keystone scriptures is John 4 in verse 24. John 4 verse 24 says that God is Spirit.

And those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. So God is Spirit. Jesus Christ is Spirit as well. We'll mention that also a little bit later. I want us to turn now to Zechariah chapter 4. Through the years, oftentimes people would define the Holy Spirit by merely quoting, by saying, Holy Spirit is the power of God. Holy Spirit is the power of God. Well, technically God is Spirit, and that's not too technical.

John 4, 24 says it very clearly. God is Spirit, and through His Spirit He does works of power. As we'll read a little later from Acts chapter 1, that the disciples were instructed to wait here in Jerusalem, and you shall receive power from on high. That power from on high was the Holy Spirit, and it is through the Holy Spirit that God does works of power. Just like with us, through our flesh, we can do works of power. Zechariah 4 verse 6 brings us out very clearly.

Then He answered and spoken to me, saying, This is the word of the eternal unto Jerubabel, saying, Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, says the eternal of host. So it is through God's Spirit He does works of power.

There is one Spirit, like all human beings are of flesh, and they are of one blood, as it says in Acts 17. Let's turn now to Ephesians chapter 4, and we shall see very clearly this statement, and we will follow up on it as well. In Ephesians chapter 4, beginning in verse 2, there are seven unities that are mentioned here. Ephesians 4, too, with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, one Spirit, even as you're called in one hope of your calling.

One Lord, one faith, one baptism. And some people might question that one baptism. The Bible speaks of three baptisms. There is the baptism by fire, which you don't want, which is being thrown into the lake of fire. The incorrigibly wicked will be thrown in the lake of fire, which is the second death, from which there is no resurrection.

And there is the baptism in water, and there is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is that baptism which places you in the body of Christ, that we'll see more about later. There is one baptism into the body of Christ, and that baptism is of the Father through Jesus Christ.

So one baptism, one God, and Father of all, who is above all, through all, and in you all. That, of course, is not to say that Christ is not in you as well, because both God and Christ are in you. As it says in John 14.23, we will both make our abode in you. So there is one Spirit. Christ is Spirit. Upon resurrection, turn to 1 Corinthians 15 now, in verse 40. Putting these scriptures together in this manner, I've never seen it done just exactly like this.

Hopefully you will get much from just us putting these scriptures together. Christ is Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 15, and we will begin in verse 40, 1 Corinthians 15 verse 40, there are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial, but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There's one glory of the Sun, another glory of the moon, another glory of the stars, for one star differs from another stars in glory.

So using that analogy of the difference in the glory of the various bodies, so also as a resurrection of the dead, it is sown in corruption. It is raised in in corruption. Jesus Christ was in the tomb for three days and three nights. He was dead. His spirit had ascended back to the Father. In fact, just before he died, he said, Father, into your hands, come in, die you my spirit. So it was in the Father's hands to resurrect him, which he did.

It is sown in dishonor. It is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness. It is raised in power. It is sown in natural body. It is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body. There is a spiritual body. And so, as it is written, the first man, Adam, was made a living soul, a nafesh, an air-breathing creature.

The last Adam was made a quickening, a life-giving, that's what quickening means, a life-giving spirit. Howbeit that which was first, which is spiritual, howbeit that which not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterward that which is spiritual. So there's no question that Jesus Christ was raised a quickening spirit, that he also is a spirit being.

We're baptized into one body. Look now at 1 Corinthians 12. Back a few pages. 1 Corinthians 12 verse 12. 1 Corinthians 12 verse 12. There was some discussion about, in the roundtable discussions, how to better reach youth and sermons. And some said, well, we have too many scriptures. Tell more stories. Paul said, preach the Word. Be incident, seize and out of season. Rebuke, reprove, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. Preach the Word. That's what I prefer to do. The Bible story is the greatest story ever told, and all of it hasn't yet been told. But I think it's the most interesting, challenging thing that has ever been written.

So in 1 Corinthians 12. For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many are one, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit, we just read from Ephesians chapter 4 that there is one Spirit, one baptism. For by one Spirit, we're all baptized into one body, whether we be Jew or Gentile, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

We are members one of another. You look down at verse 25, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care of one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it, or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now back a few pages to Romans 12 and verse 5, and Paul could make this statement because we are all baptized into one body by one Spirit. Therefore, you can safely conclude as he does here in Romans 12 verse 5. So we being many are one body. He uses the analogy of the human body.

We're one body, but we have many members of that body from the head to the toes on the feet and the soles of our feet, many different parts. So we being many are one body in Christ and everyone members one of another. So we are joined together by that one Spirit and our purpose for existence. Look at John chapter 1. We want verses 12 and 13 in John chapter 1. Jesus Christ was the firstborn from the dead.

He was made, as we have read, from 1 Corinthians chapter 15, a quickening Spirit, a life-giving Spirit. And here we read in 1 John 1 verse 12, but as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God. Now every human being is a son of God by creation or by reproduction, as Adam and Eve were created and then had the powers for procreation, the power to become the Son of God.

But as many as received him, that is Christ, them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood. So we were born of blood and water in the physical sense, but this is a different birth, which were born not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God, born of God.

Jesus Christ being the firstborn among many brethren. So our purpose here today is to gain a deeper understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in the Word of God in the conversion process and some of the things that go along with it. We ask the question here, even though they had been taught by Christ for three and a half years, were the apostles converted? Were the apostles converted before Pentecost? So let's read now from Luke 22 and verse 24. Luke 22 and verse 24. Luke 22 and verse 24.

In Luke 22, beginning in verse 24, and there was all strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest? Now this was on the heels. The preceding verses talk about Jesus Christ instituting the symbols of the New Covenant Passover. We talk about what a sacred time and all it is coming to the Passover and partaking of the symbols of the bread and wine, the bread symbolizing the broken body of Christ, and the wine, his shed blood, and on the heels, and during that ceremony in which the new symbols of the New Covenant Passover were instituted, the disciples get into a debate over who is the greatest.

So we pick it up here. There was strife among them. Who should be accounted the greatest? And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercised lordship over them, and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

But it shall not be so with you, but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he that is chief as he that does serve, for which is greater? He that sits at meat or he that serves? It's not he that sits at meat, but I am among you as he that serves.

You are they which have continued with me in my trials, and I appoint unto you a kingdom as my father has appointed unto me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on the thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you his wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not, and when you are converted, strengthen your brethren.

And he said unto him, Lord, I'm ready to go with you both into prison and to death.

And then Christ says, before the cock crows three times, you'll deny me three times.

Before the... I guess I said that wrong before the cock crows, you'll deny me three times.

So even though they'd been taught by Christ for three and a half years, they did not fully understand the conversion process. And here they are arguing over who will be greatest at the very time, this very sobering time in which Christ gave them the symbols of the New Covenant Passover and telling them what was to be befall him that shortly thereafter, that very night he was betrayed by Judas and the mock trial took place and the next day he was crucified.

Then we look at Luke 24. Luke 24 and verse 44. After he had been crucified in the tomb three days, three nights, resurrected, he appeared to his disciples off and on. We know at least three times for 40 days in which he taught them further. And in Luke 24 and verse 44, we see this, where their eyes of understanding were really opened.

Luke 24 verse 44, and he said unto them, These are the words which have spoken to you when I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms concerning me, the tripartite division of the Old Testament, law, prophet, and writing psalms, then opened he their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit is powerful. They had not yet been begotten of the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit obviously was working with them, and here they had the resurrected Jesus Christ who had been resurrected as a quickening spirit teaching them. And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoove Christ to suffer, to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sin should be preached.

Repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things, and behold I send the promise of my Father upon you, but wait you in the city of Jerusalem until you have been endued with power from on high. That power, of course, we'll read in just a moment from Acts chapter 1, the power of the Holy Spirit. And as we read in Zechariah 4-6, through that Holy Spirit, not by works, not by might, not by power, but through my Spirit, says the Eternal of Host, and he led them out so far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them, and it came to pass while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven.

And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. And so they were there for some 10 days after the ascension, holy Pentecost, 50 days after the wave sheaf, counting the day of the wave sheaf. Now we go to Acts chapter 1, and we see something similar with regard to Christ's ascension. Remember, we're reading there the words of Luke, the Gospel according to Luke. The authorship of Acts is attributed to Luke as well. We'll begin in verse 1. Very interesting here what Jesus has to say to the apostles at this time. The former treatise have a maid, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. Of course, that would be the Gospel of Luke.

Until the day in which he was taken up after that, he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen. To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion, his suffering, crucifixion, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which he you have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence. There is one baptism and two, the body of Christ. By one Spirit, are you all baptized into one body? We read it from 1 Corinthians 12 and 13.

See, man cannot do that. Man cannot baptize you into the body of Christ through the Spirit.

Man can baptize you in water. And when you're baptized in water, that is symbolic that you are going to put the old man to death and keep him under the water, crucifying the old man.

When they therefore come together, they ask him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? See, they did not yet understand that it was a spiritual kingdom.

See, I did not read on there in 1 Corinthians 15 where it says that the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom. It says that flesh and blood cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

However, the kingdom of God will, during the millennium, rule over human beings. And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times of the seasons which the Father had put in his own power. You shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit. When will you receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you? And you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in Al-Jiddiya and in Samaria and to the other, uttermost parts of the earth. In this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached, all the world in the end shall come. Matthew 24. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel. Of course, apparently angels, and angels can manifest themselves as human beings. Of course, two angels were there at the tomb when they came. He said, he's not here, he is risen. Which also said, you men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in light manner as you have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Oliv, Mount Oliv, the Mount of Olives, which is from Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey.

And when they were come, as they went up into the upper room, were abode both Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, the son of Balfias, and Simon, and Judas, the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

So that is the background, of course, to some of the things that took place leading up to the day of Pentecost. And as we have seen here, even after they had had their eyes open concerning the kingdom of God, as we read from Luke 24, they still didn't fully understand that the kingdom of God was a spiritual kingdom, and they asked the question here in Acts 1, will you restore the kingdom to Israel at this time?

And even after the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost, 31 A.D., they didn't understand that the kingdom of God and Christ was to be a universal kingdom of all peoples, regardless of their racial, ethnic, or national heritage, for everyone.

Now we go to Acts 10 to see that.

See, mainly Pentecost, that day the Holy Spirit fell upon them on the day of Pentecost there in Jerusalem. That was mainly a Jewish affair. There were proselytes gathered from all over the Mediterranean world, and as the Holy Spirit came as a mighty sound of a rushing of wind, and they began to speak, all of those assembled there heard them speak in their native tongue so that they understood. But that was Jews and proselytes. What about the Gentiles? What about the other people? So Peter has a vision of the clean and the unclean animals and told to rise and eat, and he kept thinking he was talking about meat, but then God showed him that he was not talking about meat, but about human beings. So we pick it up there in Acts 10, verse 34.

Then Peter opened his mouth and said of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, regardless of racial, ethnic, or national heritage. It's for everybody. But in every nation, he that fears him and works righteousness is accepted with him the word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ.

He is Lord of all. Everybody. Is he the Lord or God of the Jews? Only no, he's not just the God of the Jews, but the Gentiles also. That's from Romans 3. That word I say, you know, which was published throughout all Judea and began from Galilee after the baptism from John, or the baptism that John preached. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him. There are so many instances in the Gospels where Jesus Christ cast out devils.

And we better be aware that the devil is more at work today than I say he's ever been. It seemed like there was a scourge of devil work during the days of Jesus, but I would say it's much greater now, but most people don't even recognize it. And many people in the so-called Christian professing world don't even believe that there is a live entity, Satan the devil.

Verse 39, and you are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree, him God raised up the third day and showed him openly, not to all the people but under the witnesses, chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And of course, we've read from Luke that he also taught them. And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of the living and the dead. Quick and the dead. Quick meaning living. Through him give all the prophets witness that through his name whosoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins. And of course, you read, you can just read one verse like that which many people do, or even Acts 2.38. Verse 37 in Acts 2 says, men and brethren, they were pricked in the heart and said, men and brethren, what shall we do? And verse 38 says, repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. But repentance is also a part of that process of salvation.

To him give all the prophets witness, reading once again, that through his name whosoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on them which heard the word. So here's a case in which they received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles, not just the Jews, but on the nations, regardless of race, ethnic origin, or national heritage, upon the Gentiles also was poured out the gift to the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnified God, then answered Peter, can any man forbid water that these should be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

Then they asked him, pleaded with him, to stay with them for several days.

So this is an amazing account here of what happened. And you continue down there.

Do you think everybody was pleased? Not so. You look at verse 1 of chapter 11.

And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, You went to men uncircumcised and did eat with them.

But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning.

So much of what was in Acts 10 is also in Acts 11, and expounded it by order unto them, saying.

Told them about the vision and all of that. We come down to verse 17. For as much then as God gave them the gift as he did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I that I could understand or withstand God? This was God's doing. It's not mine, Peter's saying. This is not a man.

This is of God. When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

And of course, this fulfills this promise that was made to Abraham. You look at Genesis chapter 12. Abraham called out from beyond the river. Tiger Shufreides, going to a strange land, a land that I will show you. And so Abraham picked up and left the land of his nativity and came into what is called the land of Israel today.

In Genesis 12.1, Now the Lord said unto Abram, Get you out of your country from your kindred and from your father's house unto a land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless you and curse him that curses you. Now that first phrase here of this sentence is quoted very often by the Jews and by some of the fundamentalist Christians with regard to Israel at the present time, that if we bless Israel as a physical nation, then God will bless us. But the overriding principle of this is that which was to come, that is of salvation to all people through the seed of Abraham. And that seed is Christ, as we shall see from Galatians chapter 3 in just a moment. So we continue here. And I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless you, curse him that curses you, and in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And one of the goals of Zionism is that they will build a temple, that this temple will be the house of prayer for all nations, and that all nations will come into this house of prayer, and they, all nations, will be blessed, like in the physical sense, and there will be peace on earth.

But we look now at Galatians, the greater spiritual fulfillment of this, and the intent of this promise is made clear by the Apostle Paul. And we have read some of the clarity of it from Acts chapter 10 and 11 already, but in Galatians 3, Galatians 3 and verse 14, that the blessing of Abraham might come on the nations. How?

Through physical Israel? That the blessings of the nations might come through Jesus Christ.

That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith, brethren, I speak after the manner of men, though it be but a man's commandment, yet if it be confirmed, no man, dissonance, or adds thereunto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made, he said, not and to seeds as of many, but as of one, and to your seed, which is Christ.

And it is, as we'll see continuing a little later in Galatians 3, that is how that promise is fulfilled. In this I say that the covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, so the law covenant, which was 430 years after, cannot disannul that it should make the promise of non-effect, even though there was a law covenant. The purpose of the law covenant, as Paul goes on to explain here in Galatians 3, was to serve as a schoolmaster to bring them to Christ.

And so that law covenant does not disannul the promise made to Abraham, that the blessing would come upon Abraham's seed. So we pick it up at the end of the chapter, verse 24, wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Now, some people don't understand this. You don't have time to rehearse the whole matter about faith. It's inextricably linked to obedience, that it is faith in the sacrifice of Christ for the remission of sins that are past. Law keeping in and of itself does not forgive sins that are past or sins that we commit to the future. But after that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster, for you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither bond or free. There is neither male nor female.

For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you be Christ, then, not because you are physically born of the seed of Abraham, as the identity groups might teach.

And if you be Christ, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. The apostles followed their master where he went and sensed that they were part of a great mission, three and a half years. But they did not understand the deeper mysteries of God as he explained, as he expounded them, as we have seen even at the Passover ceremony in which the symbols of the New Covenant were instituted.

The desire for power and rank was with them. The concept of authority, rank, power, remains a problem among the peoples of God to this very day.

Many people are called in the churches of God because of the Bible message. And sometimes the way is presented. Oh, you can have a happy life, you can have a prosperous life, you can have a happy marriage, you can overcome all your addictions, and it goes on and on.

But see, the gospel is about repentance, turning from sin, having your sins remitted through faith and the sacrifice of Christ. And once again, repentance and forgiveness, mercy, justification, all of that is inextricably linked to obedience.

So many of the people didn't really understand, or maybe don't still understand, what conversion is all about. They did not understand that through the Word and Spirit of God and Christ, they must crucify the old man. Now you can overcome an addiction through willpower.

When I was about four years old, up until that time, my dad smoked. It was the day of Prince Albert. You take your little can of tobacco and you row your own. He didn't smoke very much, maybe four or five a day. But he came home one day and he said, I am not smoking another cigarette. And he didn't.

Now sometimes you counsel people with baptism and say, well, I'm a smoker, but I need the Holy Spirit so I can stop smoking. So I want to be baptized. Well, there's a lot more to it than that.

One of the principal dimensions of Jesus' mission was to show that a person could live in the flesh, and yet, through the Spirit of God, crucify the old man totally so that they could obey.

Now that's what Romans 8 to a large degree is all about. So let's go there.

This beautiful scripture in Romans 8 and verse 1 is one of the most encouraging scriptures in the whole Bible because every person who's ever lived, various thoughts come into their mind that are not good. And of course, you can have all kinds of things that are omitted from what they call the subconscious storehouse of memories into the conscious mind that you have to deal with. There's therefore now no condemnation or judgment to them which are in Christ Jesus who walked not after the flesh but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. How so?

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, and Romans 3, 23 says, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. So there's only one person that's lived in the flesh who didn't sin. That was Jesus Christ. And this shows you that you can live in the flesh and not sin. And then immediately say, are you saying anyway that you're perfect? No, far from it. The Apostle Paul could say, and I think I could say right with him, of sinners I am chief. That's what Paul said. God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. How did he condemn sin in the flesh? Through obedience.

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Who walk after the Spirit, as we'll see in just a moment. See, through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, you can have a new conscience.

Basically, a person's conscience is formulated by the way that they are reared from worship of ancestors in China to parts of Africa where some of the native tribes believe that through cannibalism their spirit can be enhanced and they can become stronger spiritually through eating the flesh of another human being. They believe that this is right. You hear the old saying that, let your conscience be your guide? Well, if your conscience is formulated by the Spirit Word of God, yes, let your conscience be your guide. We'll talk about that.

Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Verse 5, for they that are of the flesh, to mine the things of the flesh, but they which are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, because the carnal mind is enmity against God. No, human nature is not changed from the garden of Eden to the present time. No, the world is not getting better and better. And yes, humanity continues to repeat the same problems over and over. For it is not subject, that is, the fleshly mind, it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. So God wants us to be in the Spirit to walk in the Spirit. How do you walk in the Spirit?

Well, you walk in the Spirit according to the Word of God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is not of none of his. Some people read this and think there are two different spirits. There are not two different spirits. We have read at least two or three verses of there is one Spirit. The same spirit essence as in God is in Christ is in us. So we read nine and ten and nine again.

But if you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is not of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. It is through the Spirit of God that we are begotten to a new life. But as the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also make alive your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. God the Father is the one who begets us with his Spirit, but we cannot be begotten by the Spirit until Jesus Christ. We have faith in him and be reconciled to the Father so that we are viewed as sinless. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh, but if we live after the flesh, you shall die. But if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. So we need to understand that through repentance and obedience to the Spirit and the Word of God, a person can crucify the old man. Now you look at verse 14, and verse 14 says, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

And we can all examine ourselves in light of that. Those that are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. The Spirit of God and the Word of God cannot be separated. The Spirit of God and the Word of God cannot be separated.

Why? John 6, 63, the words I speak, they are spirit and they are life. They are spirit and they are life. So we can safely conclude that the Word of God is the voice of the Spirit.

So if we want to walk in the Spirit, we have to listen and heed the Word of God. Look at John 16, trying to understand the depth and the meaning that is in the Scripture. In John 16, verse 7.

In John 16, verse 7, Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you. And in John 14.26, the comforter is identified as the Holy Spirit. If I go not away, the Holy Spirit will not come unto you. John 14.26 says the comforter is the Holy Spirit. Will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you. See, Jesus Christ had to die and we had to have faith in His sacrifice so that we could be viewed as sinless, reconciled to the fathers. For when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to God or the Father by the death of His Son. And having been reconciled, we are viewed as sinless and we can receive the Holy Spirit. And when it has come the Holy Spirit, it will reprove, and that word, Elancho, convict the world of sin and righteousness and of judgment of sin, because they believe not on me of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you see me no more of judgment because the Prince of this world is judged. Jesus Christ said, Be of good cheer.

I have overcome the world, and so can we. I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. Howbeit when it, the Spirit of truth, tell numerous, is neutered and should be yet. Howbeit when the Spirit of truth is come, it will guide you into all truth, for it shall not speak of itself, but whatsoever it shall hear. What does it hear? It hears the truth. It hears the Word of God, of Christ. John 6, 63, the words I speak, they are spirit and they are life. That that shall it speak, and it will show you things to come.

So do we really comprehend the total significance of the sacrifice of Christ and the mercy and love of God in Christ? God so loved the world, he gave his Son, the Son so loved us that he gave his life for the joy that was set before him. Look at Psalm 103.

Psalm 103. This part that we're about to look at now is so vital in understanding how we can have love, joy, and peace in our lives in the face of some of the most difficult trials that you could possibly imagine. Psalm 103, and we will read verses 10 through 12.

103.10. He had not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our lawlessness.

For as the heavens as high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far as he removed our transgressions from us, like as a father pities his children, so the eternal pities them that fear him. For he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust for man, his days, or his grass, as a flower of the field, so he flourishes, and the wind passes over, and it is gone. So the plants that I had hanging in the hanging baskets while they were gone, and this dry wind that is blown, they wilted and they were like wet spaghetti. And the wind passes over, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear him and his children unto children's children, to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. This love, grace, mercy is predicated on repentance, faith, and obedience. Faith and obedience, as I've already said at least twice, are inextricably linked together. We really understand that a converted person is changed, and there is a new conscience, a new knowing within. It is not that old conscience that you may have learned growing up, and wherever you grew up. I grew up in a very religious kind of setting background, where the hell, fire, and brimstone was preached. You have an immortal soul, you're either going to heaven or hell, and we've got to go out and save the world, because this is the only day of salvation.

We can have—look at Hebrews 9 and 14. See, it is through the Word and Spirit of God that you can have a new conscience. And as we read from Romans 8-13, if you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.

In Hebrews 9 and verse 14, this is what can happen to each of us, and should happen to all of us, and should have already happened. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit—see, the Spirit is eternal. God and Jesus Christ are eternal. They are co-eternal. They are co-essential of the same essence. They are uncreated without further mother descent, beginning or end of days.

Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purged your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

So we must truly believe that our sins are forgiven, and that we do not keep dragging and digging up bones like the Randy Travis song. Tonight I'm digging up bones, and going back in the past. Christ nailed the record of our sins to the stake. This record, called the Karaogriphon, let's look at that in Colossians 2.13. What we're about to say here is to a large crux of the error that persists in the teachings of the churches of the world. Yes.

Christ nailed the record of our sins to the stake. The record, or Karaogriphon, translated as handwriting, Greek Karaogriphon, handwriting, is in fact a legal document as an accounting record or bill or account of our sins. Those who profess to be Christians failed to come to grips with what was nailed to the cross. And this has led to the spiritual blindness and to antinomianism. So antinomianism means against the law.

Nomos is the Greek word for law, so nomianism has to do with the law. Antinomianism is against the law. So in Colossians 2, verse 13, "...and you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses." Similar to what we read from Psalm 103.

Blotting out the karaogriphon, handwriting of ordinances, thou was against us, our sins, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the stake.

"...and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Let's see what is taught is that the law of God was nailed to the stake, instead of it being properly taught that it was our sins. So people are taught that the law was nailed to the cross and Christ did it all, whereas Christ and the apostles continually preach repentance. The handwriting against us was the dead of sin. We'll read 13 again.

"...and you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened or made a life together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us." The law of God cannot be against us because the law of God is good, holy, and righteous, that which is holy has God's active presence within it. So the nailing of that to the stake, that is your sins, did not do away with the law and testimony, which is the mark of the elect. The mark of the elect to a large degree is they keep the commandments of God. Let's look at those scriptures quickly. In Isaiah chapter 8, verse 20, "...to the law and the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Let's look at John 14, verse 15. Some people talk about, well, Christ, he was not one who advocated keeping this law. It says here in John 14, 15, and 21, let's read John 14, 15, 15, if you love me, keep my commandments.

And I will pray, the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that's the Holy Spirit, that it may abide with you forever. Look at verse 21. "...he that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me, and he that loves me shall be loved to the Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him." Now, let's see what the apostle of love said in 1 John chapter 2, verse 4. See, one of the great hallmarks of a Christian has to do with keeping the commandments. See, we turn to 1 John for the definition of sin. We quote 1 John 5, 3, for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous. And here in 1 John 2 and verse 4, "...he that says, I know him and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." So how could anyone turn around and say that the commandments were nailed to the stake? No, our sins were nailed to the stake because it was the death of Jesus Christ that paid for our sins.

The wages of sin is death.

Not only must we believe that God and Christ have forgiven us, but we also need to understand that God has forgiven each one of us. And we have to believe that our brothers and sisters have been forgiven as well. Now, a couple of more scriptures here. Revelation 12 and verse 17.

Revelation 12 and verse 17. With regard to keeping the commandments is the hallmark of those who are of the elect. Who is Satan after? Chapter 12 is about Satan pursuing the church, trying to destroy it. Who is he trying to destroy? Verse 17.

And the dragon was mad with the woman, and he went to make more with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. That is the church. In Revelation 14 and verse 12. And I looked and behold, I'm sorry, Revelation 14, 12.

Here is the patience of the saints. Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith in Jesus. So the great hallmark, one of the great hallmarks, is that they continue to keep the commandments. So not only must we believe that God and Christ have forgiven us, but we also need to understand that God has forgiven each of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

It would also be helpful to understand and distinguish between our sins before baptism and after baptism. Sins that are passed before baptism are forgiven through repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ and removed as far as the east is from the west. Look at Romans 3. You see this very clearly. Romans chapter 3. But our tendency is to drag up, to dig up the bones from the past.

In verse 25 of Romans 3, whom God has set forth, that is Christ, to be a propituation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for their mission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God, to declare, I say at this time, his righteousness, that he might be just in the justifier of them which believe in Jesus. So these sins of the past are forgiven. God brings those sins no more to mind. God has forgiven you.

Have you forgiven yourself?

Sin, after initial repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ, is forgiven the same way. It is through repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ. Note how Satan is overcome after he is cast down. Look at Revelation 12 once again. Revelation 12. Revelation 12, verse 9, I'll be quoting it as we turn there. That old serpent, Satan the devil, who is deceiving the whole world. Revelation 12, verse 9. We get there. Revelation 12, verse 10.

And I heard a voice saying, In heaven now is come salvation and strength in the kingdom of God and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of the brethren is cast down, who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. Before baptism, after baptism, if you sin, it is only through repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ that your sins can be forgiven. And by the word of their testimony, as you heard in the sermon end, by the way, a very outstanding sermon end. And by the word of their testimony, and they love not their lives unto the death. Repeated sin, on the other hand, grieves the spirit and can result in a person's conscience being seared. So look at Ephesians 4.30. This part is so vital that we're talked about here. It only takes a couple of minutes. In Ephesians 4, verse 30.

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption. How do you grieve the Holy Spirit? By going against that new conscience within.

It says in 1 Thessalonians 5.19, quench not the spirit. In other words, the spirit and the word of God is urging you, guiding you, to go in a certain direction. Quench it not. He that knows to do good and does not unto him, it is a sin. Now you look at 1 Timothy 4, verse 1.

You see that the conscience then can be seared. So you say, well, I'm going to stop attending church. I'll be my own preacher, minister, I guess. Me and Jesus got our own thing going.

This is 1 Timothy 4.1. Now the Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron.

Then it lists some of the things they might be teaching, doctrines of devils, forbidding to marry, and on and on. Some of the things that are happening in legislation with regard to neutral gender and LGBT agenda and all of those things that are destroying the very fabric of our society and our world is sad beyond belief.

Quenching the Spirit leads to searing the conscience because the Word of God and the Holy Spirit imparts the new conscience. So what is the remedy? We'll close with the remedy.

The Word, turn to Psalm 119 verse 9. The world is in a state, and you I have never seen in my lifetime, and I'm only 80 years old, I've never seen in my lifetime a time in which people are accusing one another. They think that if they can accuse the other person more than the other person can accuse them, then they win the battle. Who is the accuser of the brethren? Who is cast down? Well, slander and accusations is one of Satan's main strategies. In Psalm 119 verse 9, How shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed according your word? With my whole heart have I sought you, let me not wander from your commandments. Your word have a head in mine heart that I might not sin against you. You see, if that conscience, that new mind is renewed every day, that inner man renewed every day, then you will have the power and the strength to continually overcome. In Ephesians chapter 6, the armor of God is described, and one of the things that it says about this armor is taking the sword of the Spirit. The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, is sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing us under the thoughts and intents of the heart of man.

So brethren, are we equipped to receive the Holy Spirit to overcome all the fiery darts that Satan can bring against us? In eight days, we will be observing that day in which it was made known to all of humanity, starting there in Jerusalem, then to be preached in all of Judea, Samaria, the other most parts of the earth, that God indeed is not a respecter of persons, and that through the Spirit of God and the Word of God, we can overcome the adversary, we can mortify the deeds of the flesh, we can defeat Satan, and we can live that life that God has called us to live, that life of joy and peace.