OK, I didn’t forget that I was going to get back to the subject of the Spirit. I don’t promise anything earth-shaking nor definitive, but I’ll share some of what I’ve come to see in the Bible.
I believe that when we are baptized (Acts 2:38; 5:32) Christ/the Spirit/the Spirit of God/the Spirit of Christ/the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:9-11) comes to live in us (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Colossians 1:27; 2 Timothy 1:14).
For reasons that I don’t fully understand, some have tried to explain away this reality, either saying that the Spirit only works through the Word and doesn’t indwell or by saying that the Spirit only indwells us through the Word (and no, I don’t fully see the difference in those two arguments). I believe that Jesus Christ comes to live in us through the Spirit, helping us to live the way God desires us to live. Let us give thanks to God that he saw fit to make us his temples, leading us to be ever holier, day by day.
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“I believe that Jesus Christ comes to live in us through the Spirit, helping us to live the way God desires us to live.”
Tim, even Jesus was tempted while in a human body.
I had a friend who just happened to be my preacher tell me if you expect to have things much easier, after baptism you will be disappointed, When you come up from the water, if anything you have more problems, not fewer.
I believe Jesus said the same thing. (but the rewards will be great)
following Christ is not easier than following Satan.
Yes, definitely, we will be tempted after becoming Christians. Being led by the Spirit does not make us perfect, mainly because we are incapable of following the Spirit’s lead in a perfect manner.
Grace and peace,
Tim
But the indwelling Spirit *will* make us complete — fully able to grow into mature disciples who manifest the fruit of the Spirit.
The Jews on Pentecost already had the Spirit working through the word — they were promised something more — and it was not the 27 books we call the NT either! :)