May 9, 2023 THE EVIDENCE
Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
At times, we may wonder if we are truly a born again believer. We know that salvation comes by trusting Jesus as our Savior alone; we are not saved by works. When one comes to know God as Savior, everything changes. The most important change is that the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us; in this process, we are made new creations with new hearts, new minds, and new spirits. Becoming a believer does not mean that the old nature, the flesh, is annihilated, but it does mean that we have the power not to live according to the desires of the flesh. It is only by the Spirit of God living in us that we can live according to the Spirit. The Spirit is real; He is a person; He is a part of the Trinity; and He is the source of power in the believer. The Spirit is always drawing us to the Father and equipping us to live in a way that is pleasing to the Father. If we ever find ourselves doubting our salvation, there is a sure way of alleviating that doubt. It sounds simple, but are we experiencing the fruit of the Spirt as listed above. Again, its not about trying in our own power to ‘do’ or to produce the fruit of the Spirit; the fruit of the Spirit is a by-product of the Spirit living in us. (It is another subject, but we must understand that a believer can resist the work of the Spirit and thus not experience the fruit of the Spirit.) We must choose to cooperate with the Spirit and work with Him as He works in us. The fruit of the Spirit is a package deal-we either experience all of the fruit of the Spirit, or we experience none of the fruit. The idea of trying to ‘work on’ having one of the fruits is foreign to scripture. Having the fruit of the Spirit in no way means that we are exempt from troubles and trials; but it does mean that even in the difficult times, the Spirit continues to produce fruit. This list of the fruit of the Spirit might sound like ‘pie in the sky’ to some; however, it is a miracle and a blessing of God for each believer to be able to be a temple of the Holy Spirt, experiencing the life that God has for those who love Him and walk according to His ways. The Holy Spirit enables us to crucify the flesh and He enables us to live according to the Spirit.
Romans 6:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
Blessings, Buddy
Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
At times, we may wonder if we are truly a born again believer. We know that salvation comes by trusting Jesus as our Savior alone; we are not saved by works. When one comes to know God as Savior, everything changes. The most important change is that the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us; in this process, we are made new creations with new hearts, new minds, and new spirits. Becoming a believer does not mean that the old nature, the flesh, is annihilated, but it does mean that we have the power not to live according to the desires of the flesh. It is only by the Spirit of God living in us that we can live according to the Spirit. The Spirit is real; He is a person; He is a part of the Trinity; and He is the source of power in the believer. The Spirit is always drawing us to the Father and equipping us to live in a way that is pleasing to the Father. If we ever find ourselves doubting our salvation, there is a sure way of alleviating that doubt. It sounds simple, but are we experiencing the fruit of the Spirt as listed above. Again, its not about trying in our own power to ‘do’ or to produce the fruit of the Spirit; the fruit of the Spirit is a by-product of the Spirit living in us. (It is another subject, but we must understand that a believer can resist the work of the Spirit and thus not experience the fruit of the Spirit.) We must choose to cooperate with the Spirit and work with Him as He works in us. The fruit of the Spirit is a package deal-we either experience all of the fruit of the Spirit, or we experience none of the fruit. The idea of trying to ‘work on’ having one of the fruits is foreign to scripture. Having the fruit of the Spirit in no way means that we are exempt from troubles and trials; but it does mean that even in the difficult times, the Spirit continues to produce fruit. This list of the fruit of the Spirit might sound like ‘pie in the sky’ to some; however, it is a miracle and a blessing of God for each believer to be able to be a temple of the Holy Spirt, experiencing the life that God has for those who love Him and walk according to His ways. The Holy Spirit enables us to crucify the flesh and He enables us to live according to the Spirit.
Romans 6:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
Blessings, Buddy
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