(WWN) A Biblical Scholar's Work (Not mine- except for what is between the DOUBLE parenthesis, those are my thoughts. (( )) )
ANOTHER COMFORTER
(Part Two)
As we continue our study of the revelation of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, we turn first to the prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians.
The primary references are found in the letter to the church at Ephesus. There Paul sets forth the Holy Spirit as the builder of the Church. (Eph. 2:22)
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God THROUGH THE SPIRT.
Then he specifically warned the church - "GRIEVE NOT the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (4:30)
In Hebrews, the Holy Spirit is portrayed as One who speaks.
"The Holy Spirit SAITH" (3:7); and "The Holy Spirit...had SAID before" (10:15).
Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the HOLY SPIRIT SAITH, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness
Heb 10:15 Whereof the HOLY SPIRIT also is a witness to us: for after that HE had SAID before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
The first quote is from the 95th Psalm, while the second is taken from Jeremiah. (31:33)
Psa 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Psa 95:11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
The early church recognized that the Holy Spirit SPAKE "by the mouth of David." (Acts 1:16)
Act 1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the HOLY SPIRIT by the mouth of David SPAKE before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
However, Jeremiah clearly says that what he wrote was a "Thus saith the Lord." (31:31) Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, SAITH the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah
There is a relationship between the "Lord" of the Old Testament, and the Holy Spirit of the New.
((Read that again- there is a RELATIONSHIP between the LORD of the OLD TESTAMENT and the HOLY SPIRIT of the NEW TESTAMENT.))
As noted in Part I, Paul declared - "Now the Lord is that Spirit." (II Cor. 3:17) We also noted the same picture in the epistles of Peter. Peter wrote that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (II Peter 1:21) Yet these men - prophets - searched "what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify." (I Peter 1:10-11) Peter also adds that this "Spirit" was "sent down from heaven" as a co-laborer with the Apostles as they preached the gospel. (I Peter 1:12)
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the HOLY SPIRIT sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
The final writings of the New Testament - those of the beloved John - give a full revelation of the Holy Spirit which completes the picture and solves for us the problems intimated in the rest of the New Testament, occasioned by the Incarnation.
In fact, the test by which we can know we are confronted by the true Holy Spirit, and that the Spirit is indeed guiding a professed messenger of the gospel involves the doctrine of the Incarnation. John wrote - "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God." And how do we know? "Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." (I John 4:2)
There is in the first Epistle of John an interpolation which John did NOT write, but which those who hold to papal trinitarianism grasp as evidence of the Trinity. In I John 5:7-8, the words beginning with "in heaven" in verse 7, and ending with "in earth" in verse 8 appear in NO Greek manuscript of the New Testament prior to the 11TH CENTURY.
((READ THAT AGAIN- it's important and those who ARE Bible scholars can help us by guiding us with their knowledge. This Bible scholar WANTS us to verify the truth. We can delve into this right now we have knowledge at our fingertips- the internet.
Online google search -
Is 1 John 5:7 in the original manuscripts?
Modern versions of the Bible from the Critical Text usually omit the addition to 1 John 5:7, but some place it in a footnote, with a comment indicating that "it is not found in the earliest manuscripts".
An Historical Account of Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture - Wikipedia))
These words were first found in a Latin treatise of the 4th Century, and inserted into the Sacred Scriptures during the noonday of the Papacy. The verses should read: "For there are three that bare record, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one."
The book of Revelation while using symbolic language adds much to our understanding of the Holy Spirit. When the door was opened in heaven, and John was asked to enter, he saw a throne on which sat the Eternal One - He "which is, and which was, and which is to come." Before the throne were seven lamps of fire which are stated to be "the seven Spirits of God." (4:5) Then John beheld "a Lamb as it had been slain" with seven horns and seven eyes. These horns and eyes are declared to be the same "seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." (5:6) With the fulness of omnipotence, and the completeness of omnipresence, the Holy Spirit is sent forth into "all the earth." But the symbolism indicates that when the "Lamb" as the sacrifice appeared, the Spirit of God was so closely identified with the "Lamb" so as to be even as the horns and eyes are to an animal.
This Spirit speaks to the seven churches. (Rev. 2:7, 17) Yet the messages are declared to be coming from Christ to the same seven churches. (Rev. 2:1, 8, etc.) There is one voice. The voice of the Spirit is also heard speaking of those who have heeded the Three Angels' Messages. (Rev. 14:13) First John hears "a voice from heaven" pronouncing a blessing; then comes the voice of the Spirit which was sent forth into all the earth - the same area to be covered by the angel messages. (Rev. 14:6) The same Person who directed the Church in its beginning as revealed in the Book of Acts also directs the giving of the final messages of God to earth's inhabitants. In fact, the New Testament presents the Holy Spirit as the new commander of the "ministering spirits" in the warfare between good and evil till earth's last hour, when Jesus himself shall return as Lord of lords and King of kings.
There is one final picture in the book of Revelation: - "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." (Rev. 22:17) Even as Revelation pictures Jesus and the Spirit speaking as one voice so also does the bride of Christ and the Spirit speak ultimately as one voice. A question: Is this symbolism suggesting that even as the Holy Spirit consummated the Incarnation so that He might be one flesh with us, so also the same Spirit effects the "bride" of Christ so that she might be one spirit with Him?
((What a question for consideration! The Holy Spirit did overshadow Mary and Jesus was conceived (in a way we are not allowed to fully comprehend). This verse says- the Spirit and the bride SAY. God's chosen are His bride. We do know this as well…
Luk 12:12 For the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
The SPIRIT and the BRIDE united so closely the SPIRIT speaks through US! This isn't the ordinary belief that the Holy Spirit dwells in us guiding us always. This is a union so perfected that the SPIRIT and the BRIDE SAY "Come" They SAY this together in one voice. This union between the SPIRIT and the BRIDE- the SPIRIT and US who would be Christ's will be that of the inexplicable to us and nothing we've done for ourselves any more than Mary did a single thing to be overshadowed by the SPIRIT. The HOLY SPIRIT and Mary's humanity united to bring forth God in flesh and blood - God and humanity united. The HOLY SPIRIT will be in all those who are Christ's- God and humanity united. This perfected union will be fully realized by the Bride, not by all people everywhere, not by those who at His coming Christ will tell to get away from Him because He never knew them even though they claim to know Him and have done many thing in His name. That's scary isn't it? To realize that there are going to be people so incredibly deceived they won't know they aren't Christ's but truly believe they are His. Very scary to contemplate. Just as the Pharisees and Jewish hierarchy along with many of the Jewish people- they believed they were God's chosen and rejected Christ! Blinded to their state of being, still today there are so many who believe they are God's but are not. This isn't a Jewish issue and hasn't been since the days of the Apostles when we are told in God's Word that the deceptions had already begun among the Christ followers. Those deceptions didn't disappear, they only grew and grew and grew and envelope every single religious organization from the smallest to the largest right now, today. We need to understand, we need to study to shew ourselves approved-- this is God's word NOT MINE. May God help us as we continue to study the Holy Spirit- Another Comforter. All through the love of our Lord now and forever! All through the love of the Father now and forever! And all through the love of the Holy spirit now and forever! Amen!!!!!!!
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