Holy Spirit Guarantees Our Obedience

How to Know That You Know You’re a Christian

Ken

You’ve prayed the sinner’s prayer, been baptized, attend or joined in membership to a church, volunteered your service with the church, and even contributed financially to support the church, which is all fitting and right. But, Scripture is actually very specific about how to know that you know you’re a Christian. The Apostle John was inspired to write a letter or epistle dedicated to his little children about this very subject. “These things have I written unto you that believe [Greek, pisteuō] on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe [Greek, pisteuō]  on the name of the Son of God” (1John 5:13 KJV). 

Pisteuō can properly be translated commit, as in commitment, giving us a more forceful grasp of the meaning of this foundational, consequential, evangelical word. Commit gives us the sense we are making a long term investment in Christ, since we have counted the cost. In the KJV, in all but a handful of the 250 verses it appears in the New Testament, pisteuō is translated as some form of the word believe; in eight verses, it appears as some form of the word commit, and in three verses, it appears as trust. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth [Greek, pisteuō, commits] in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). 

Back to our topic of how to know that you know you’re a Christian.

Let us examine 1John 2:3-5. 

2:3 

 “And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1John 2:3). 

Here is how we know that we know Jesus, if we presently, actively keep His commands. John plainly exhorts us to walk in present obedience, in order to know that we know Jesus.

2:4  

“He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1John 2:4). 

Just as plainly, declaring a present knowledge of Jesus, while walking in disobedience, makes one a liar. The truth cannot exist in a liar, for John further declares, “All liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). This is very blunt language. 

2:5 

“But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him” (1John 2:5). 

Truth and obedience perfect God’s love. Actively keeping God’s Word is the perfection of God’s love. This is the only means to know that we know Him and are in Him. All other methods do not represent exactly what God says about how to know that you know you’re a Christian. 

Analyzing 1John 2:3-5 

First, spiritual knowing and intellectual knowing are different. What your mind intellectually remembers is not necessarily the same as what you spiritually know. When God says you spiritually know something, then you know it. Otherwise, your intellectual recall of praying the sinner’s prayer, being baptized, attending  or joining in membership to a church, volunteering your service with the church, and even contributing financially to support the church, all are what you intellectually know. But, walking in present tense, heart obedience to Jesus Christ is the only way to spiritually know that you know Him. “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked” (1John 2:6). 

Second, everything then can be reduced to walking “in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25 NIV). If we walk in step with the Spirit, then our intellectual knowledge will coincide with our spiritual knowledge. When disciples backslide into carnality, they insist their intellectual knowledge of past events is correct. This is called self deception. “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Galatians 6:3). 

Third, the great mistake made still by those insisting on this understanding of how to know that you know Him, is not understanding the significance of God’s Spirit working in us “to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Unless properly understanding the Spirit’s role, you can easily develop a pharisaical, arminianism, i.e., my obedience makes me righteous. 

A- God’s presence through His creation of the physical world (Romans 1:20) puts us on notice He is the One with whom we have to do, and He alone can save. “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22). 

B- God’s Word enables our salvation. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). 

C- In this New Covenant age, God has given His Spirit to inspire us to obedience. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). This was the great achievement of the outpouring of His Spirit at Pentecost— not the miracle of tongues (Acts 2:4), but the giving of the Holy Spirit to those who gladly received God’s Word. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). 

D- The Gift of the Holy Spirit is evidenced not by speaking in tongues but by obedience. “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32). We obey Him “because He first loved us” (1John 4:19). He granted us “repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2Timothy 2:25). Understanding our ability and responsibility to obey, we know we never will obey without God’s help. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). 

All of this brings us back to how you know that you know you’re a Christian. 

“Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit” (1John 4:13). 

If you can live without obedience, you can live without His Spirit, and you can live without the assurance of how you know that you know you’re a Christian. But, may God grant you the joy of knowing Him! 

How to Walk in the Spirit

Ken

“Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16 KJV). If we are fulfilling the lust of the flesh, then we are NOT walking in the Spirit. What does it mean to “fulfil the lust [Greek, epithumia, desires, longings] of the flesh” (5:16)? To pursue the desires and longings of the flesh is to “fulfill the lust of the flesh” (5:16). There is no mystery about walking in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit is simply conducting ourselves consistent with the supreme heart choice of continually choosing Christ Jesus. The goal we seek is also the means to attain it. This is a virtuous cycle of “I sought the LORD, because He sought me first, so I seek Him, because He continually chooses me to be conformed to the image of His Son.” This virtuous cycle is walking in the Spirit. A scriptural example. The Holy Spirit is “given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32), and God’s Spirit inspires us “to walk in [His] statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). Think on these things.  

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). Whenever we are actively seeking God’s Kingdom first, then we are walking in the Spirit. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Since we cannot serve or seek two masters at the same time, then either we will walk in the Spirit or we will fulfill the lust of the flesh. “Ye cannot serve God and mammon [Greek, mammōnas, riches, wealth]” (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). 

How can anyone change their mind and their heart about the desirability of the Spirit and not the flesh to be the ultimate goal of their existence? Quite simply, 

Allow the Holy Spirit to Persuade and Teach You: 

First, crucifying the flesh spiritually is walking in the Spirit. “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). 

Second, the Spirit of God alone is capable of changing your heart and mind about sin (what is wrong), righteousness (what is right), and judgment (what God must judge, if we do not judge ourselves). “7 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. 8 And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:7-11). 

Third, though God rightly holds you responsible for obeying  Him, since He created you with the capacity for obedience, we thoughtfully realize we will never obey Him without His Spirit working in us “to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). 

Fourth, when we do repent, for which we have no excuse for resisting Him, it is God granting us repentance. “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2Timothy 2:25). 

Fifth, when we do believe, for which we have no good reason for not trusting Him, it is God’s gracious gift of faith, which makes our salvation possible. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

Sixth, God has always blessed us with obedience, when we wholeheartedly sought Him. “With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments” (Psalm 119:10).

Seventh, God’s Spirit, though always present among His people has been especially covenanted to dwell within the individual members of His Church, who have been grafted into the New Covenant promised to Israel. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). 

Father, cause us not to be in confusion about walking in the Spirit. Help us to realize and claim our promised condition of abiding in truth, love, and obedience. Grant us new understanding of You that we would not go to sleep in traditions. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Awakening the Church

Ken

The Holy Spirit has always been the Church’s greatest secret, but especially for the fragmented Church, its greatest mystery. Our most valuable connections are not man’s devices, such as the internet or social media — which have their place — but the Holy Spirit. We are accustomed to other means because of their obvious utility. What has the Church always had as both its Source and resource, but the Holy Spirit? How did the Early Church achieve such incomprehensible results without our modern devices, but through the Holy Spirit?  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). Disconnected from man’s devices, God is able to replicate and communicate His intentions and movement through the Holy Spirit. His Word is used to communicate to us by His Spirit. And, prayer is used to communicate with Him — and, to the rest of the Body of Christ. When His Spirit is moving upon us, then we can believe and pray He is similarly moving upon others. Use the assembling of the local church and the fellowship of disciples and believers, where possible and available, but do not neglect the Holy Spirit and prayer. Naturally, the enemy does not want us to fully appreciate our advantage. We neglect prayer because we do not well understand nor control it. “Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies” (Psalm 60:12). LORD, inspire us to pray like we believe prayer is more effective and valuable than man’s devices. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen. 

Why No Revival?

Ken

God is not to be blamed for the lack of revival in the churches. Reviving the same failed ideas does not require the moving of the Holy Spirit. Pulpit preaching seeking to inspire the congregation to recreate past ideas, only on a larger scale, and by getting out of our comfort zone, simply bewilders the hearers. Before the Holy Spirit will grant the miraculous, He requires a better comprehension of Him and what He is about to do. How does the Holy Spirit act? He moves upon us to cause us to obey Him without forcing us. “And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27 KJV). What does the Holy Spirit expects of us? He is both given to those who obey Him, as well as to cause us to obey Him. “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32). Miracles will be wasted on the Church, if God’s people have not learned the fundamentals of Spirit inspired obedience. If we still have reservations about why we can’t obey, then that must be removed before God’s Spirit will act. “Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow Me” (Luke 18:22). LORD, we need revival in the Church, but we need to address the deficiencies in our understanding before we can receive the outpouring of Your Spirit. Grant to us the new wineskins of better understanding that we may have the appropriate vessel for the filling of Your Spirit. Transform Your Church. Even so, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Why Was the Holy Spirit Given?

Ken

Jesus said He would send the Comforter to “reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8 KJV). How does reproving us for sin, righteousness, and judgment give us comfort? Of course, when we repent we have comfort, but that is only a remedy for the iniquity that had already occurred. What if the Holy Spirit was able also to prevent sin by guaranteeing our obedience; thus, fulfilling Christ’s words about the Comforter, but graciously giving more? “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Luke 11:13). The OT prophets prophesied of such a gracious gift from Yahweh (Ezekiel 36:27; Micah 7:19). And, Paul wrote by inspiration, “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). LORD, You are our help from ages past and our hope for years to come, teach us to value Your comfort and appreciate Your Spirit vouching our obedience that we may rejoice Your heart this day. Overcome the wicked one. Return quickly, Lord Jesus, and deliver us. In Your All Powerful Name, we pray. Amen.