The Holy Spirit and Salvation !
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What is this Blessing of Abraham ?
Gal 3:13-14
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Hint, its something stated in this verse that shall happen or come upon the Gentiles through/in Jesus Christ
The Blessing of Abraham is that God through or in Christ, Abraham's Seed Gal 3:16, that the Gentiles might receive upon them, the Promise of the Spirit, for as in Christ they are Abrahams Spiritual Seed.
God gives Abraham a Spiritual Seed, as He did give Him a natural seed, yet this Spiritual Seed is not through being born physically, but being born Spiritually, and by this Birth Spiritually comes the fruit of Faith Gal 5:22 which identifies them as Abraham's Spiritual Seed, that's why we read in Gal 3:7,9
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
We become of Faith because we are Children given to Abraham by the Promise of God.
God Promised Abraham a Seed or that He would multiply him here Gen 17:1-5
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Those who are of Faith are part of the Multiplying God promised to Abraham in Vs 2 !
They are found to be amongst the Gentiles from Vs 4-5 , that's how he becomes a Father of many nations, because God has given him a seed or children from the many nations, and so upon them comes the Blessing of Abraham, which is the Spirit in and through Jesus Christ, which seals them and identifies them as Abraham's Spiritual Children promised by God Himself ! God sware this to Abraham Heb 6:13-14
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
This agrees with Gen 17:2
2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. and
Gen 22:17-18
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
This Blessing comes through/in Christ Jesus Abrahams Seed, and its the Blessing of the Spirit !
God would give Abraham a Spiritual seed, not born by natural birth, but by a Spiritual birth, which is what Isaacs birth typified by his supernatural birth, opposed to what ishmaels birth typified by his birth by the flesh, one after the Spirit and promise, and one after the flesh and human effort Gal 4:29
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
And all True Believers, whether jew or Gentile are born after the typical Isaac, the Child of Promise Gal 4:28
28 Now we, brethren[believers in Christ], as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
And have receive the Spirit of Promise through Jesus Christ Gal 3:14
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith or according to the Faith. 8
Gal 3:13-14
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Hint, its something stated in this verse that shall happen or come upon the Gentiles through/in Jesus Christ
The Blessing of Abraham is that God through or in Christ, Abraham's Seed Gal 3:16, that the Gentiles might receive upon them, the Promise of the Spirit, for as in Christ they are Abrahams Spiritual Seed.
God gives Abraham a Spiritual Seed, as He did give Him a natural seed, yet this Spiritual Seed is not through being born physically, but being born Spiritually, and by this Birth Spiritually comes the fruit of Faith Gal 5:22 which identifies them as Abraham's Spiritual Seed, that's why we read in Gal 3:7,9
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
We become of Faith because we are Children given to Abraham by the Promise of God.
God Promised Abraham a Seed or that He would multiply him here Gen 17:1-5
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Those who are of Faith are part of the Multiplying God promised to Abraham in Vs 2 !
They are found to be amongst the Gentiles from Vs 4-5 , that's how he becomes a Father of many nations, because God has given him a seed or children from the many nations, and so upon them comes the Blessing of Abraham, which is the Spirit in and through Jesus Christ, which seals them and identifies them as Abraham's Spiritual Children promised by God Himself ! God sware this to Abraham Heb 6:13-14
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
This agrees with Gen 17:2
2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. and
Gen 22:17-18
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
This Blessing comes through/in Christ Jesus Abrahams Seed, and its the Blessing of the Spirit !
God would give Abraham a Spiritual seed, not born by natural birth, but by a Spiritual birth, which is what Isaacs birth typified by his supernatural birth, opposed to what ishmaels birth typified by his birth by the flesh, one after the Spirit and promise, and one after the flesh and human effort Gal 4:29
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
And all True Believers, whether jew or Gentile are born after the typical Isaac, the Child of Promise Gal 4:28
28 Now we, brethren[believers in Christ], as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
And have receive the Spirit of Promise through Jesus Christ Gal 3:14
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith or according to the Faith. 8
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The New Birth foreordained from the beginning !
Another reason why Jesus said to nicodemus " Ye must be born again " as Per Jn 3:6-7
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
For it is by this means man can be confirmed into that Image of Christ, as being confirmed to being originally made or created in the Image of God from the beginning here Gen 1:26
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
The True Image and Likeness of God lied not in our natural creation in Adam from the dust of the ground, but in our election in Christ, who is the Image and Likeness of God with Heavenly Glory Heb 1:2-3
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 8
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
That word image the greek word charaktér:
an impression, representation, exact reproduction; a graving-tool.
properly, an engraving; (figuratively) an exact impression (likeness) which also reflects inner character.
So mans being made at the first in the Image and Likeness of God in Adam, had to be confirmed by being conformed to the Image of Christ , Gods Son Rom 8:29
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
The same Son as in Heb 1:2-3
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Now understand, its the Spirits New Creation of us that experimentally conforms us to the Image of Gods Son, the Lord Jesus Christ as Per 2 Cor 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
You see that ? The fulfillment of being made in the Image and Likeness of God from Gen 1:26, lies in a work of the Spirit, its confirmed upon us by the Spirit of the Lord !
This was a preordained Glory 1 Cor 2:7
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
The Father Purposed Our Glory in the Image and Likeness of God, the Son provided the Necessary satisfaction to the Law and Justice of Gods Holy Law we sinned against originally in Adam, and the Spirit, out of the ruins of the Fall makes us again by New Birth and changes us into the Image of Christ, the Lord of Glory !
When it says in Gen 1:26 " Let us make Man in Our Image and Likeness" the Spirit was speaking as well, and He fulfills His Part in making Us New Creatures in Christ, He Himself performs a Creation Act 2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Eph 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created[by the Spirit] in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Eph 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created[by the Spirit] in righteousness and true holiness.
Col 3:10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created[by the Spirit] him:
It was written once in the Book of Job ,Job 33:4
The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
John Gill comments on this verse is noteworthy
This also may more than suggest that men in OT times, knew of the Birth of the Spirit !
So, in order for man to live up to what he was in the beginning at Creation according to the Purpose of the Triune God, Made in the Image and Likeness of God, he must be in due time be born of the Spirit !
Another reason why Jesus said to nicodemus " Ye must be born again " as Per Jn 3:6-7
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
For it is by this means man can be confirmed into that Image of Christ, as being confirmed to being originally made or created in the Image of God from the beginning here Gen 1:26
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
The True Image and Likeness of God lied not in our natural creation in Adam from the dust of the ground, but in our election in Christ, who is the Image and Likeness of God with Heavenly Glory Heb 1:2-3
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 8
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
That word image the greek word charaktér:
an impression, representation, exact reproduction; a graving-tool.
properly, an engraving; (figuratively) an exact impression (likeness) which also reflects inner character.
So mans being made at the first in the Image and Likeness of God in Adam, had to be confirmed by being conformed to the Image of Christ , Gods Son Rom 8:29
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
The same Son as in Heb 1:2-3
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Now understand, its the Spirits New Creation of us that experimentally conforms us to the Image of Gods Son, the Lord Jesus Christ as Per 2 Cor 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
You see that ? The fulfillment of being made in the Image and Likeness of God from Gen 1:26, lies in a work of the Spirit, its confirmed upon us by the Spirit of the Lord !
This was a preordained Glory 1 Cor 2:7
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
The Father Purposed Our Glory in the Image and Likeness of God, the Son provided the Necessary satisfaction to the Law and Justice of Gods Holy Law we sinned against originally in Adam, and the Spirit, out of the ruins of the Fall makes us again by New Birth and changes us into the Image of Christ, the Lord of Glory !
When it says in Gen 1:26 " Let us make Man in Our Image and Likeness" the Spirit was speaking as well, and He fulfills His Part in making Us New Creatures in Christ, He Himself performs a Creation Act 2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Eph 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created[by the Spirit] in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Eph 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created[by the Spirit] in righteousness and true holiness.
Col 3:10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created[by the Spirit] him:
It was written once in the Book of Job ,Job 33:4
The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
John Gill comments on this verse is noteworthy
The Spirit of God hath made me,.... As a man; so every man is made by God, and not by himself; Father, Son, and Spirit, are his Makers or Creators, as we read of them in the plural number, Psalm 149:2; and this is a proof of the deity of the Spirit, who was not only concerned in the creation of all things, garnishing the heavens, and moving upon the face of the waters on the earth; but in the formation of man:
and the breath of the mighty hath given me life; the same with the Spirit of God, the allusion is to the creation of man at first, when God breathed into him the breath of life, and he became a living soul: life natural is from God, he is the God of our life, he gives all the mercies of life, and by him is this life preserved; and the whole is the effect of almighty power: now this is observed by Elihu to Job, to encourage him to attend to him without fear, since he was a man, a creature of God, as he was: it may be understood of his spiritual formation, the Spirit of God remakes men, or makes them new men, new creatures; this is done in regeneration, which is the work of the Holy Spirit; hence regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, are put together; and being a work of almighty power, is proof of the deity of the Spirit of God; it is he that quickens men when dead in trespasses and sins, and makes them alive to God; which appears by their spiritual breathings after divine things, and by the exercise of their spiritual senses, and by their performance of spiritual actions; and now Elihu, being a man regenerated and quickened by the Spirit, might more justly claim the attention of Job, since what he should say was what he had heard, felt, and seen, as good man, one that had an experience of divine and spiritual things.
and the breath of the mighty hath given me life; the same with the Spirit of God, the allusion is to the creation of man at first, when God breathed into him the breath of life, and he became a living soul: life natural is from God, he is the God of our life, he gives all the mercies of life, and by him is this life preserved; and the whole is the effect of almighty power: now this is observed by Elihu to Job, to encourage him to attend to him without fear, since he was a man, a creature of God, as he was: it may be understood of his spiritual formation, the Spirit of God remakes men, or makes them new men, new creatures; this is done in regeneration, which is the work of the Holy Spirit; hence regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, are put together; and being a work of almighty power, is proof of the deity of the Spirit of God; it is he that quickens men when dead in trespasses and sins, and makes them alive to God; which appears by their spiritual breathings after divine things, and by the exercise of their spiritual senses, and by their performance of spiritual actions; and now Elihu, being a man regenerated and quickened by the Spirit, might more justly claim the attention of Job, since what he should say was what he had heard, felt, and seen, as good man, one that had an experience of divine and spiritual things.
This also may more than suggest that men in OT times, knew of the Birth of the Spirit !
So, in order for man to live up to what he was in the beginning at Creation according to the Purpose of the Triune God, Made in the Image and Likeness of God, he must be in due time be born of the Spirit !
If we look closely at the context—going all the way back to chapter 13, Jesus is with his 12 disciples. They have just eaten the Passover supper. They are together and Jesus is talking to them in chapters 13-16. There does not seem to be anyone else there—just Jesus and His disciples. In chapter 14:25, Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you ( the 12 disciples), being yet present with you.” Then in the very next verse, He promises to send them the comforter, the Holy Ghost. He, the Comforter, would bring all things to THEIR ( disciples) remembrance of what Jesus had spoken to them. Some of these men would be the writers of our Bible so that is how we know they have written by inspiration. He continues this discussion with His disciples into chapter 15, all the way through verse 26 where he again repeats the promise of sending the Holy Spirit. Verse 27 further validifies that He is speaking to His 12 disciples because He says, “…because YOU ( the disciples) have been with me from the beginning.”
Based on the context of John 15:26, I don’t believe that Jesus is speaking to The church. In fact, at this time the church did not exist. Matthew 16, Jesus says “I will build my church,” still in future tense. He is addressing all of these things to His (11) disciples. ( Judas having already left).
This is further proven by such passages as Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4, where Jesus tells His disciples to wait in Jerusalem where he would send “THE PROMISE” of the Father upon them and they “would be ensued with POWER from on high.” In fact, in Acts 1:5, right after He tells them to stay in Jerusalem, He specifically says that they will be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days later. This promise of sending them the Holy Ghost is fulfilled in Acts 2 where the 12 disciples are baptized with the holy Spirit and speak in tongues.
My point is, that, I believe, when Jesus promised to send the miraculous baptism of the Holy Ghost, it was not a promise to everyone. It was specific for those to whom He was speaking—His 11 disciples who had been with Him from the beginning, and who would preach His message in all the world. And it was specifically fulfilled in Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost.
It was a promise to His Church, His Body which His disciples at the time were prime representatives. All for whom He died and redeem receive the promise of the Spirit Gal 3:13-14
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
God has also promised the Spirit in other ways; not just in a miraculous baptism. We each receive the Spirit when we are water baptized into the name of Christ for the remission of our sins. Peter says we receive the Spirit as a “gift.” Acts 2:38. Galatians 3:13 is not a promise of miraculous Holy Spirit baptism. Miraculous Holy Spirit baptism was never promised to everyone; but receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit when we are baptized WAS and IS a promise to everyone who will obey him.
One verse theology . If I quote this
“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; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”
John 16:7 KJV
Jesus actually started speaking about the Holy Ghost in chapter 14 so there’s alot leading up to it like this
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; ( this part gets ignored ) whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
….He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. …..Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 14:15-17, 21, 23-
Which changes alot from only a single verse that this leads into. Now the person needs to keep the word of Christ and then he’ll send his spirit ….. but so many skip what he said and try to go around it
“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; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”
John 16:7 KJV
Jesus actually started speaking about the Holy Ghost in chapter 14 so there’s alot leading up to it like this
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; ( this part gets ignored ) whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
….He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. …..Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 14:15-17, 21, 23-
Which changes alot from only a single verse that this leads into. Now the person needs to keep the word of Christ and then he’ll send his spirit ….. but so many skip what he said and try to go around it