Isaac L
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Posts posted by Isaac L
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:34 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (Romans 7:7-25) What does Paul mean by “the sinful nature” (NIV) or “the flesh” (ESV, KJV)? Is this ever eradicated? Can there ever be victory over temptation?
The flesh refers to the human tendency to sin (and even love sinning).
This is not eradicated in this life on earth.
However, we can get victory over temptation by yielding to the Holy Spirit instead of our flesh.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:32 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Devout Christians differ on their understanding of these things. So please be gentle in your interchanges with each other on the Forum. You can disagree, but it must be expressed in love!
Q3. (Acts 10-11; Acts 19:1-7) The Holy Spirit comes upon new believers in both Caesarea and Ephesus accompanied by speaking in tongues (and prophecy and praise) like on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4). Does He always come like this initially? What about the times when people are saved in the New Testament but tongues aren’t mentioned? Are they filled with the Spirit also?It is logically impossible to argue for a definitive "always" from a few records, since it is never possible to have records of ALL fillings in ALL of history. Nevertheless, the tone of the verses imply to me that the coming of the Spirit "often", if not "always", carries visible signs like speaking in tongues and prophecy.
If you think that when tongues aren't mentioned then surely those saved people did not speak in tongues, your proof by silence is a weak argument. To illustrate this argument, does it mean that if those verses did not state they were baptized in water they must have skipped water baptism as well? Or does it mean that since the New Testament did not mention how the sun rose and set every day, then the sun must have stopped rising and setting since Jesus came? This argument from silence is truly ridiculous. When God inspires a Scripture passage to be written, He can mention something in order to emphasize it, or omit it in order to emphasize something else, but it doesn't prove that thing never occurred.
So I think those people were probably filled with the Spirit too.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:25 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (Acts 4:8, 31) What does it mean that Peter and the believers are “filled with the Holy Spirit” in these passages? Are they “re-filled”? Is it possible for a believer to have many “fillings” of the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?
It meant that the Spirit came upon them in a special way, such that they were able to rise up to the challenges of that day. In v. 8, it was to enable Peter to testify in front of the chief priests. In v. 31, it was to enable the church to witness boldly in spite of fierce persecution.
Since they had already received a similar experience in Acts 2, these subsequent records can be regarded as "re-fillings".
It isn't strange for a believer to have this experience repeatedly - hence we may call it as many fillings. It isn't strange.
On the contrary, it would be strange to postulate that God would want his children to experience His Spirit only once, and thereafter to withdraw His Spirit during the rest of their lifetimes! Why would God want to deny them continuous filling of the Spirit? If a human father knows how to give good things to his children (and I'm sure it isn't just once!), how much more does the Father want to give the Spirit to us all the time!
If a Christian seems to have an initial filling of the Spirit and thereafter never had it again, it is more likely because he had sinned or strayed far from God, rather than because God wants us to experience His Spirit only once and after that never again.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:24 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (Acts 2) What happened at Pentecost that was different than anything that had happened in previous history? What word analogies are used to describe this phenomenon? Are these word analogies essentially used synonymously with others in Acts 2? What did the Jews from foreign lands hear and see? How did Peter interpret what they heard and saw? (Acts 2:14-21)
It was a baptism or a filling of the Spirit, that John the Baptist had prophesied and that Jesus had promised to his disciples. If it were the same as what had happened in previous history, the prophecy and the promise would've been void. Hence it was actually something different in essence.
Six word analogies have been used to describe this same phenomenon:
1. Baptize (Acts 1:5)
2. Come upon (Acts 1:8)
3. Filled (Acts 2:4)
4. Pour out (Acts 2:17-18, 33)
5. Receive a gift (Acts 2:38)
6. Promise (Acts 2:39, cf. 2:33)
I think they are synonymous.
In Acts, the Jews from foreign lands heard the disciples praising God in their various languages. Peter interpreted it to be the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy about the pouring out of the Spirit.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:23 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. (1 John 4:4) Why does John need to remind us that we have “overcome” the world? Is the potential power of the Holy Spirit within you less than the power in the Apostle Paul. What might be the factors that seem to limit our sense of power?
Perhaps it's because many Christians do not realize the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in them, that John has to remind them this.
Theologically, the power of the Spirit in me is the same as that in Paul, because we believe in the same Christ.
Yet in practice, we may feel limited in power because:
a) we don't understand or believe in the presence and power of the Spirit.
b) we have sinned, but not confessed and reconciled to God, so that the sin and its attendant guilt causes blockage to the Holy Spirit.
c) the devil has deceived us and aroused fear in our hearts concerning his power.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:22 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) What does the Holy Spirit as a “seal of ownership” teach us? What does the Spirit as a “down payment” teach us? When is the full payment made in this analogy? What does the Spirit as an “anointing” teach us?
The "seal of ownership" gives us assurance of salvation, as we know we belong to God. As a result, we also feel assured that God Himself will preserve us and we can overcome the evil one. "For you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:9).
The "down payment" gives us a "living hope" (1 Peter 1:3), because we know that the blessings we experience now (like peace, the power of God, etc.) is only a foretaste of much greater, unimaginable blessings in heaven. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).
I believe we receive the full payment when Christ comes again and receives us as his own into heaven. "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed" (Romans 8:19). That is, all creation is pining for this Day when Christians will be glorified together with Christ, and creation can be remade into the new heaven and new earth. This is the full payment.
The "anointing" gives us a commission. It tells us that God set us apart and will empower us to do His work on earth, in particular, to be His witnesses. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses..." (Acts 1:8)
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:21 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16) What are the implications of having access through the Spirit to the “mind of Christ”? How does this Holy Spirit connection explain spiritual gifts such as prophecy, teaching, healing, etc.?
It implies that when we listen well to the Spirit living within us, He can impress on our minds the things of God. This "mind of Christ" may include communicating to us the meaning of the words in the Bible, or an impression of what God is thinking or wants us to do, etc.
If the Holy Spirit can connect us to what God wants to say or do, it is no wonder that it is sometimes manifested as a word of prophecy to a person about what God wants him to do, or the gift of teaching to communicate what God desires of the church, or a prayer/declaration of healing to the one God wants to heal.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:19 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (Romans 8:9-11; John 14:23) Do people who aren’t Christians have Christ living within them? In what Person do Christ and the Father make their home in us? What should you do to make them feel “at home” in you? How is the Home Analogy like the Temple Analogy. How might it differ? How does the Spirit living within you affect your holiness of life? Your witness to others? Your spiritual power?
In Biblical terminology, non-Christians do NOT have Christ living within them. Of course, the Father can still draw such a person to come to Christ (John 6:65), but technically he doesn't yet have Christ living in him.
Christ and the Father comes to dwell in him in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He is "the other" Paraclete.
Since Christ is without sin and God the Father is holy, I should also live a holy life, if I want them to feel at home in me.
Both Home and Temple give the idea of something housing someone, so that it has the presence of that someone. I'm not sure if there's a difference. If I must propose a difference, it is that Temple emphasizes holiness and reverence, whereas home emphasizes warmth, relationship and rest.
The Spirit of holiness will convict me of sin, give me desire to pursue holiness, and give me power to do so. He also gives me the boldness and words to witness to others. He gives me spiritual power to do the works of God.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:17 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. (John 3:8) What does Jesus’ reference to “the wind” teach us about people who have been born of the Spirit?
The tone of the surrounding sentences seems to emphasize to me that wind:
1) has power. Just look at the windmills in Holland.
2) has autonomy. You can control which way the monsoon winds or a tornedo blow, for example.
3) works mysteriously. You can't see the wind with your eyes, but you know it's there, from the things it blows away.
So I think Jesus means that people are converted and changed by a powerful, autonomous and mysterious move of the Spirit. In practical life, I think it tells us to let God be God, in 3 aspects:
1) We don't box God up to see He must only work in certain ways. E.g. The argument about whether a person can be healed of disease before he is converted or after, is pointless. Then again, the Gentiles in Cornelius' house were baptized in the Spirit before they were baptized in water - reversing the order we would've preferred.
2) We don't criticize whom He saves. Perhaps we think someone who we know is very devout and moral deserves more to be saved than that vagabond or hooligan who just gave his life to Christ.
3) We don't play Holy Spirit for someone and control his choices (I mean, choices that are neither moral nor immoral). Because in doing so, who knows whether we are quenching the prompting of the Spirit in him? What man can become "the wind" in place of the Holy Spirit?
Let God be God.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:17 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be “born of water and the Spirit”? What do you think “water” refers to? Why have you come to this conclusion? How, then, would you paraphrase “born of water and the Spirit” to best bring out the full meaning?
Since Jesus says, only the Spirit gives birth to spirit, to be "born of the Spirit" seems to emphasize an internal conversion and transformation, both initiated and sustained by the Spirit, rather than by mere self-effort and self-discipline.
To be "born of water" is more difficult to understand, for which Dr Ralph Wilson has given 3 possible meanings. I think the people of those days easily and automatically associate "water" with washing, cleansing and purifying, whether in baptism or in the many procedures of washing before eating and before temple procedures. So without stretching to far-fetched analogies, maybe Jesus just meant the person must be cleansed from his sins?
If so, I paraphrase "born of water and the Spirit" to mean, a person must be cleansed from his sins and receive the Holy Spirit into his heart, in order to enter the kingdom of God.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:15 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (John 3:1-8) When Nicodemus came to Jesus, do you think he was already born of the Spirit? What is the difference between people who have experienced the second birth, and those who have only experienced the first birth?
Although Nicodemus was earnestly seeking the truth, I don't think he was born of the Spirit at this juncture. That's why Jesus chose to address this matter to him.
On a theological level and from God's perspective, the difference is the presence of the Holy Spirit who changes a born-again from the inside out. One who only experienced the first birth may even agree with the truths about God or be earnestly trying to live a good life - but all these efforts are his own, without the presence and help of the Holy Spirit.
On a practical level and from a human perspective, it is truly difficult to tell sometimes who has experienced the second birth and who has not.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:14 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (John 7:37-39) In Jesus’ teaching on streams of living water from within, whom does he invite to drink? What does he promise to believers? To what degree has a spring of living water been fulfilled in your life?
Jesus invites whoever is thirsty and willing to come to him.
He promises believers that in them will be a river of living (running) water, i.e. the Holy Spirit.
I suppose that although I have the Holy Spirit in me and the potential of freshness of life is there everyday, I'm not always experiencing this. There are filled moments and dry moments. I experience this vitality when I consciously tap on it to minister to others.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:14 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q5. (John 16:12-15) In what sense does the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth? Does this promise apply only to the apostolic age and its task of laying the foundations of the faith? In what sense does it apply to us today?
The Holy Spirit reminds us of what Jesus had taught. Or as 1 Corinthians 2 suggests, he reveals and interprets the things of God to those who are spiritually discerned.
I believe this promise can also apply to Christians today, as we read/hear the Bible and seek to understand its meaning. Sometimes a new light on a passage dawns upon us. Sometimes we suddenly see the relevance of the Scripture to ourselves and are so convicted by it. These are ways in which the Holy Spirit is still guiding Christians into the truth today.
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Hi, I'm from Asia. Although I join this forum late (you all probably have finished the whole series and are off-line now), I still look forward to learning something from this forum.
Although I got this series material last year, I never got around to doing it. Last September onward was too stormy a period for me, when my father caught pneumonia and lost his function for eating. Although he still needs our daily caregiving, the situation has stabilized somewhat, so that I can commence on this study.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:13 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. (John 16:5-7; 14:12) What benefit is there to the disciples that Jesus goes away? What promise do we have in John 14:12 concerning the Spirit’s power in believers?
After Jesus departs, the Spirit will be sent to dwell within the disciples. Therefore this is actually an advantage and blessing.
With the Spirit, we will have power to do even greater things than Jesus did!
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:11 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13a) Why do we believe that the Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force or power, but a Person? What kinds of functions that we attribute to persons does the Holy Spirit do? Why is it so easy to refer to the Spirit as “it” rather than “Him”?
Reasons why the Holy Spirit is a Person: (1) In John 14-16, Jesus' choice of pronoun referring to the Spirit carry a masculine gender. (2) The Spirit is attributed with a lot of roles and actions that only a personal being can perform.
In particular, He appoints missionaries, directs workers, speaks, corrects, teaches and comforts; He helps, sanctifies and testifies; He empowers and searches; He can be grieved, resisted or tempted.
It's easy to mistake the Spirit as "it" perhaps because we grew up associating it with an inanimate force. It may also be because the people who treated the Spirit as "it" never had a distinct and unmistakable encounter with the Spirit at all. To them, the Spirit is an abstract idea.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:11 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (John 15:26-27) What does it mean to “testify”? In what way does the Spirit testify about Jesus? Can you testify from personal knowledge about Jesus? Or were the apostles the only first-hand witnesses?
To "testify" has a legal connotation. It is to declare that you know for certain that something is true - perhaps you have seen it, or have firsthand knowledge or encounter with it.
The Spirit reminds us of what Jesus taught, and renders it understandable to us. Perhaps the miracles that the Spirit performs in power also testify to the truth about Jesus.
Yes, we can testify about Jesus. Although we have not had the same physical encounters with Jesus that the first-century apostles had, our spiritual encounters with Jesus suffice as evidence to testify about.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:10 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (John 14:15-17) In what sense is the Holy Spirit “another” Paraclete? Who was the initial Paraclete? In what way can the Holy Spirit replace him? How was he “with” the disciples? When will he be “in” them?
There was already a Helper (Paraclete) in the form of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is another one.
Because Jesus would be betrayed, slain, risen and ascended to the Father, and thereafter no longer physically with the disciples, the Holy Spirit would replace him as an internal presence.
He was "with" the disciples, because when Jesus was physically present with the disciples, Jesus taught in the power of the Spirit.
He will be "in" the disciples, because they will be baptised in the Spirit thereafter.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:09 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. Who sends the Holy Spirit? The Father or Jesus? Does it matter?
Although most of the quoted verses from John say that the Father sends the Spirit, John 15:26 says that Jesus sends the Spirit. So maybe it doesn't matter whom, since both the Father and the Son are part of the Godhead.
Perhaps, Father is used more, out of reverence.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:08 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (Luke 3:22; 4:1, 14a; 4:18-19; 5:17b; 10:21; Acts 10:38a) Did Jesus do miracles by reason of being the unique Son of God, or by means of the power of the Holy Spirit upon him? Why is this important for us as his disciples? In what ways does Jesus serve as our example in ministry?
My interpretation is that Jesus did it by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is important for us because it tells us that, although we are not the Son of God, we can by the same Spirit do the same things Jesus did, or even greater things, as Jesus promised before going to the Father.
Jesus serves as our example of how the spiritual man can walk and serve in the Holy Spirit.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:06 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q2. (John 5:19; Philippians 2:6-7) What does Jesus’ statement, “the Son can do nothing by himself,” indicate about his relationship with the Father? Why did Jesus have to “empty himself” from his heavenly glory when he became a man?
It shows Jesus' willing and humble submission to God the Father.
Perhaps the "emptying" is part and parcel of becoming man fully - 100% and not in pretense. Becoming fully human is necessary on two counts:
1. Only as a representative of mankind can he die as a substitute for man to atone for man's sin.
2. Only as the perfect "spiritual man from heaven" can he model for us what it means for a human being to be filled with the Spirit and walk in the Spirit and minister in the power of the Spirit. If Jesus had done all these things by virtue of his own deity, then we can never replicate what he does, because we are not divine.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:05 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q1. (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:20; Luke 3:21-22) In what ways is the Holy Spirit active in establishing Jesus’ core identity as Son of God as Jesus came to earth? How does the Holy Spirit establish your core identity as a disciple of Jesus?
It seems that the Holy Spirit coming upon, remaining in and doing mighty deeds through Jesus confirms Jesus' identity as the Son of God. At least it authenticates him in the sight of men.
Ephesians 1 tells me, I'm sealed with the Holy Spirit, as a guarantee of the my identity and my inheritance in Christ.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:04 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q4. (Joel 2:28-32; Ezekiel 36:26-27; 37:14; 39:29) What promises do we find in Joel and Ezekiel concerning the Holy Spirit? Who are the recipients of these promises?
Joel and Ezekiel prophesied that the Spirit would come upon all people, and would be within them. Then they shall know the Lord, and have amazing encounters, like see visions, dream dreams.
The recipients are "all people", inclusive of male and female, young and old.
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On 7/24/2018 at 1:02 AM, Pastor Ralph said:
Q3. (Isaiah 11:1-2; 42:1; 61:1-2) What promises does God make through Isaiah the prophet concerning the Holy Spirit and the Messiah? How were these fulfilled?
God promises that the Holy Spirit would rest upon the Messiah; hence this Messiah would do mighty deeds.
This was fulfilled when Jesus came to earth, and he preached, taught, cast demons out, and healed the sick, with much authority. In Luke 4, Jesus Himself read Isaiah 61 in the synagogue at Nazareth, meaning the prophecy to be fulfilled in him.
Q2. Spirit Mindset
in 7. The Holy Spirit versus the Flesh
Posted
To set the mind on the things of the flesh is to be constantly thinking about things that satisfy our sinful desires, probably even relishing in those thoughts.
To set the mind on the things of the Spirit is to be constantly thinking about things that please God and about God Himself.
To have the mind stayed on Jesus is to become constantly aware of Jesus' presence and desires. I think it's just another terminology for minding the things of the Spirit.
From my own experience, I know this requires will-power. Moreover, the fact that Paul tells the Christians to do it in Romans logically implies that there is something they must exert to do about it.
However, both my experience and theology also tells me that I will fail if the Holy Spirit is not in this. So I conclude that it is a combination of my will-power choosing this and the Spirit assisting me.
I can't tell how much of each one, but perhaps it is an illogical question. When I ask how much of A and how much of B, I'm assuming A and B work independently of each other. But if A and B work interactively to enhance each other, such a question would be unanswerable. It is like asking what percent of a successful surgery is due to a surgeon's skill and what percent due to his surgical instruments. It's an unanswerable question because it is pointless to ask this way.
I suppose we can practise keeping our minds on Jesus until it becomes a habit. Perhaps this is akin to what Brother Lawrence wrote about practising the presence of God, where he is, and whatever he is doing, even if he's doing kitchen chores. We can practise keeping our minds on Jesus the same way.