[sky.]

Originally Posted by lifeisgood

Absolutely. If I was a homeless person and then somebody came and took me in, gave me a place where I could bathe, gave me new clothes, feed me, etc., I would absolutely look different in the outside and everybody would see from my appearance that something good did happen to me. Jesus did that --- took me, washed me, gave me new clothes (spiritually speaking) and because of the change on the inside it shows on the outside by the way I talk, the way I walk, the way I dress, etc.

Romans 13:14

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

[lifeisgood]

Originally Posted by Untellectual

We should say yes to Christ and no to sin. Maybe this is going back to love God hate sin.Fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith...

But is the verse about the victorious Christian life?

Yes, it is talking about the victorious Christian life.

[lifeisgood]

Originally Posted by Untellectual

Was he quoting something when the text reads to remove the wicked man from among yourself?

The question is if he really had fellowship in Christ if he was wicked enough to need to be removed.

My question was about if the text says he is a believer. If a believer, then why does he need to be delivered over to satan for the destruction of his flesh that his soul, excuse me it may be spirit, would be saved?

I decided to insert the verses before here also. Hope it helps to answer some of the questions.



CHAPTER 5
MORAL STANDARDS

IT is reported commonly that there is fornication among you (fornication speaks of all types of immorality; it seemed to have been more widespread than just a case or two), and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles (meaning this type was not common among the Gentiles), that one should have his father’s wife (refers to the man’s step-mother; it also seems the Father was alive [II Cor. 7:12]).

2 And you are puffed up (it seems that some were attempting to say such was allowed under the guise of Christian liberty), and have not rather mourned (presents that which should have been the norm, but seemingly was not), that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you (the idea is the individual repent, thereby ceasing such activity or be disfellowshiped).


JUDGMENT OF SIN

3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit (means that even though he is not present personally in Corinth, the direction he will now give is still to be taken just as seriously as if he were there personally), have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him who has so done this deed. (Does not, as some think, contradict Jesus’ instructions to not judge [Mat. 7:1–5]. Paul is judging an action here, as all Believers are called upon to do, i.e., “Fruit” [Mat. 7:15–20].)

4 In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ (refers to Christ as the Head of the Church), when you are gathered together (presents the authority of the local Church), and my spirit (refers to Paul being there in spirit, even though he could not be there in the flesh), with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. (The authority is in the “Name,” and the “Power” is in the Person of Christ. This recognizes Him totally as the Head of the Church.)

5 To deliver such an one (the one committing the sin of incest) unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh (it refers to ceasing all prayer for such an individual, and can be done by the local Body, providing the Church is correct in its position; God will no more honor wrong committed by the Church than He will by an individual), that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (it is hoped that such action will cause the person to repent).


Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor's Study Bible (2008–2009). Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press.

[Untellectual]

Originally Posted by lifeisgood

It is a perfect tense in the original Greek. The verb tense expressing action in the present time. So, if it is in the present tense, which is always, then you can say 'sanctified' as if it has already happened. That's my reasoning.

Hebrews 10:10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all].

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

[Untellectual]

Acts 26:18 (NASB) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

1 Corinthians 1:2 (NASB) To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

[Untellectual]

Originally Posted by lifeisgood

Absolutely. If I was a homeless person and then somebody came and took me in, gave me a place where I could bathe, gave me new clothes, feed me, etc., I would absolutely look different in the outside and everybody would see from my appearance that something good did happen to me. Jesus did that --- took me, washed me, gave me new clothes (spiritually speaking) and because of the change on the inside it shows on the outside by the way I talk, the way I walk, the way I dress, etc.

I guess I was thinking you were talking about modest apparel.

Or guys wearing a suit and tie. I really don't do that.

I have heard that its what's on the inside that matters.

And the religious people of Jesus' day were clean on the outside.

But this doesn't mean that we shouldn't dress appropriately for whatever the occassion may be.

For example, wearing wedding clothes to a wedding makes sense. Whatever wedding clothes are (maybe different in our day and age than in Bible times).

[glorydaz]

Originally Posted by Untellectual

Acts 26:18 (NASB) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

1 Corinthians 1:2 (NASB) To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

Sanctification is both an event and a process. We're "set apart" and declared holy...called "saints" when we're legally "justified" by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then there is the on-going process of "being made holy" as we're conformed into His image.

1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

[Untellectual]

Originally Posted by glorydaz

Sanctification is both an event and a process. We're "set apart" and declared holy...called "saints" when we're legally "justified" by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then there is the on-going process of "being made holy" as we're conformed into His image.

1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

I don't know.

I don't know where to go from here.

I know what the verse is saying.

Some believe in progressive sanctification.

[lifeisgood]

Originally Posted by Untellectual

I don't know.

I don't know where to go from here.

You keep going back to Jesus and He will, through His Holy Spirit, show you were He wants you to go. No, not necessarily that you will hear a voice talking to you, but you will know that knowing. Trust me if you are in Him, you will know. My knowing He is 'speaking' to me will be different than your knowing that he is 'speaking' to you. Trust Him.

Humbly I ask you to read all the information I have posted here. Copy and past it into a document if you can do that, and read it. Take notes about things in there. It is NOT something EASY to understand, you have to keep at it until the illumination comes to you.

Originally Posted by Untellectual

Some believe in progressive sanctification.

Do we become perfect (Christlike, because that's what the Bible says we have to be 'perfect' [Matthew 5:48]) in one day? Can we make ourselves perfect? Obviously no. So, as I have stated previously, our sanctification is a lifelong process. We keep at it. We fall. We get up. We continue after Him --- no matter what, no matter the cost.

Isa. 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little

The Bible was not given in one day.

The more relationship with Him you have, the more 'knowing' you will receive. Part of that relationship is reading His Word. He left an awful lot in there.

Take baby steps. Do not frustrate yourself. Keep following Jesus, He will direct your paths. Hold fast of the things you know already.

When you find something that is confusing, pray about it, ask questions, read about it from different sources, check them against the Bible. The Lord will give you all the answers you are looking for. No one else can do that, but HE CAN and what is most wonderful HE WILL.

Have a blessed Sunday.

[lifeisgood]

Originally Posted by Untellectual

Acts 26:18 (NASB) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

1 Corinthians 1:2 (NASB) To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

You can go here

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfect.html

to see if it can take away your confusion about 'sanctified'.

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

It also says 'The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners".

Hope this helps you in this area.

You were sanctified, you are being sanctified, you will continue to be sanctified. It is a process, a long one at that. It is EVERY DAY with Jesus and what He did for you at Calvary. EVERY DAY renew your commitment to Him, not that you are to be born again every day, but that you acknowledge you already are born again.

Let the results to Him. You..............just come to Him as you are EVERY DAY. He will do the rest.

[lifeisgood]

Grace: undeserved favor in the face of deserved wrath.

Mercy: withheld or suspended judgment (justice)

Justification is greater than our sin — For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. If my Faith stays in Jesus Christ and what He did for me on the Cross, I am justified before God, not because of me but because of Jesus.

In Justification, the Lord fights ‘for’ us. Justification declares one clean.

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

THEREFORE being Justified by Faith (this is the only way one can be justified; refers to Faith in Christ and what He did at the Cross), we have peace with God (justifying peace) through our Lord Jesus Christ (what He did at the Cross):

Rom 5:2 By Whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace (we have access to the Goodness of God by Faith in Christ) wherein we stand (wherein alone we can stand), and rejoice in hope (a hope that is guaranteed) of the Glory of God (our Faith in Christ always brings Glory to God; anything else brings glory to self, which God can never accept).

Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also (in the fact that tribulations do not hurt us): knowing that tribulation works patience (points to the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to Faith, even by the greatest trials and sufferings);

Rom 5:4 And patience, experience (points to an end result); and experience, hope (presents the natural product of an approved experience).

Rom 5:5 And hope makes not ashamed (in effect, tells us that this is not a false hope); because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts (God’s Love brings all of this about) by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us (all of this is wholly a work of the Holy Spirit).

Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength (before we were saved), in due time (at the appointed time) Christ died for the ungodly (the entirety of humanity fell into this category).

Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a Righteous man will one die (not many would do such): yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die (some few might).

Rom 5:8 But God Commendeth His Love toward us (Christ dying for the ungodly is a proof of Love immeasurable), in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Jesus died for those who bitterly hate Him).

Rom 5:9 Much more then (if Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, how much more will He do for us now that we are Redeemed and, thereby, reconciled to Him!), being now Justified by His Blood (we are justified now, and the Blood of Christ stands as the guarantee for that Justification), we shall be saved from wrath through Him (the Wrath of God, which is always manifested against sin).

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the Death of His Son (the only way we could be reconciled; this Verse shoots down the “Jesus died spiritually doctrine”), much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (does not speak of His Perfect Life, but rather the pouring out of His Life’s Blood at Calvary).

Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ (we are to boast of our Reconciliation to God, for it is a true confidence [I Cor. 1:31; II Cor. 10:17]), by Whom we have now received the Atonement (Reconciliation).

Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor's Study Bible (1977). Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press.



In Sanctification, He fights ‘in’ us.” Sanctification makes one clean;

SANCTIFICATION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

In the work of Sanctification, the Holy Spirit has a twofold Ministry, one, as one might say, to the unsaved, and the other to the saved. The first is called Positional Sanctification, and refers to the Work of the Spirit in bringing a lost sinner to the act of Faith in the Lord Jesus as Saviour, and giving them a position of Sanctification which comes automatically at conversion. If one is to notice, “Sanctification” comes first in the conversion process, immediately before Justification (I Cor. 6:11). This should be obvious, in that one must be first cleansed, which one is by the Blood of Christ, before one can be legally justified.

The second is called Progressive Sanctification, and speaks of the work of the Spirit causing the Christian to grow in the knowledge and likeness of the Lord Jesus, hence Paul’s admonition in I Thessalonians 5:23, “And the very God of Peace Sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

POSITIONAL SANCTIFICATION

We will look at Positional Sanctification first. In I Peter 1:2 we have the words “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ.”

The word “Sanctification” actually means to be “set apart,” and as it refers to a sinner, upon his Faith in Christ, he is at that time “set apart” unto God. This means that he no longer belongs to the world or its spirit in any fashion, but now belongs to God exclusively. This position is carried out by the Holy Spirit, which means that the Holy Spirit is the One Who does the sanctifying, the setting apart.

UNTO OBEDIENCE

This setting apart work of the Spirit is “unto obedience,” exactly as we quoted from I Peter 1:2. It results in the obedience of the sinner to the Faith. We have the expression in Acts 6:7, “A great company of the Priests were obedient to the Faith.” This obedience in I Peter 1:2 is not that engendered in the heart of the Saint, but rather produced in the heart of the sinner, for it is followed by the Work of God the Son in cleansing that sinner in response to his obedience.

We have here the Divine order; God the Father calls the sinner to Salvation, God the Spirit brings him to the act of Faith, and God the Son cleanses him from sin.

We have the same Truth brought out in II Thessalonians 2:3, “God from the beginning chose you for Salvation in the sphere of the Sanctification of the Spirit and in the sphere of belief of the Truth.” (It is decreed that He choose those who choose Him—Jn. 3:16; Rev. 22:17.)

THE CONVICTING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

An instance of the pre-Salvation work of the Holy Spirit is found in John 16:8, where our Lord speaks of the Holy Spirit reproving the world. The Greek word here refers to a rebuke which results in the person’s conviction of sin. This the Holy Spirit does through the Word of God.

This acknowledgment, however, on the part of the sinner is not the same as the act of placing Faith in the Lord Jesus for Salvation. It is the result of one of the Ministries of the Holy Spirit to the unsaved, and as such leads that person on towards the place where he exercises Saving Faith. The Holy Spirit brings this person to a new conviction concerning sin, Righteousness, and Judgment.

He comes to see under the Holy Spirit’s illumination that his unbelief is sin, that the exaltation of the Lord Jesus is a proof of His Righteousness and, therefore, he cherishes new convictions concerning Righteousness. And, seeing the distinction between sin and Righteousness, he is able to now understand that the world’s rejection of Christ as seen at the Cross, is in fact, rejecting Christ altogether, and that if he persists in that rejection, he will share in the judgment that was meted out to the “Prince of this world,” namely, Satan.

REPENTANCE

A further work of the Spirit for the unsaved is to produce repentance in his mind and heart. The word “repentance” is the translation of a Greek word which means in the verb “to change one’s mind,” and in the noun, “a change of mind.”

When the Spirit reproves the unsaved concerning sin, He causes that one to change his mind regarding it. Before, he loved it. Now, he turns against it and desires the Lord Jesus to break its power in his life. He desires to be done with it. He changes his mind regarding Righteousness. Before, he hated it. Now, he wants it in his life.

He changes his mind regarding judgment in that, instead of remaining under the Wrath of God, he takes refuge in His Grace. The final step in the Spirit’s Ministry to this unsaved person as He leads him onto Christ, is to impart to him the necessary Faith to appropriate the Lord Jesus as Saviour.

There is nothing in the totally depraved sin-darkened heart of the unsaved that would cause him to turn to the Saviour, turn away from his sin, and desire Holiness. The hand of Faith must be motivated by the Spirit.

In Ephesians 2:8 we have, “By Grace are ye saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of God.”

The meaning of this Verse is that we are saved by Grace, and that Salvation does not find its source in us. That Salvation is the Gift of God. But the fact that Faith is embedded in this statement, makes it clear that it is included in the Salvation which God provides.

This Salvation Work of the Spirit is spoken of in Scripture as the Sanctification of the Spirit. It is the setting-apart Work of the Spirit in that He sets the unsaved person apart from his unbelief to the act of Faith, from his standing in the First Adam which brought him sin and death, to a new standing in the Last Adam which brings him Righteousness and Life. This we call “Positional Sanctification.”

PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION

We come now to Progressive Sanctification or one might refer to it as “Conditional Sanctification.” Positional Sanctification which we’ve just now studied, is the place and position in which the Holy Spirit places the sinner upon that individual coming to Christ. It’s an automatic process and takes place instantly upon one’s Faith. It is a position in which every single Believer who has ever lived, has been placed at conversion. There are no exceptions, as there can be no exceptions. As well, that position never changes, because it is in Christ.

However, our “Progressive” or “Conditional” Sanctification is altogether different, which refers to the Holy Spirit attempting to bring our “condition” up to our “position,” or that we are supposed to “progress” in the Lord in our daily lives.

As already stated, this is spoken of in I Thessalonians 5:23, “And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Literally it is, “And the God of Peace set you apart wholly.”

The Believer is set apart for what?

This refers to the Work of the Holy Spirit setting the Believer apart from sin, which is His work of putting sin out of the Believer’s life and keeping it out as the Believer trusts Him to do that for him, and His Work of setting the Believer apart to a holy life, which is His Work of producing His Own Fruit in the Believer’s life as the Believer trusts Him to do that for him.

THE FELLOWSHIP AND COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

In Philippians 2:2, Paul exhorts the Saints to be like-minded, to have the same love, to be of one accord, of one mind. In Verse 1 he gives the reasons why such unity is expected of the Saints, and why it should naturally come about. One of these is that there is “a certain fellowship of the Spirit.” In II Corinthians 13:14 we have the Apostolic benediction, “The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.” The question before us is, “What is meant by the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit?”

We will put aside the two English words (Fellowship and Communion) and proceed to the solid ground of the Greek Text. Too often we interpret the Bible by putting upon certain English words a meaning which is current usage with us in our ordinary conversation, actually giving words a meaning which is not rightly theirs.

The two words “Fellowship” and “Communion,” are the translation of one Greek word which we will carefully study.

Thayer in his Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament gives the following on this one Greek word translated into two words “Fellowship and Communion.” It means “association, community, joint-participation, intercourse, the share which one has in anything, participation, etc.” Commenting on I John 1:3, 6 he says, “Which fellowship consists in the fact that Christians are partakers in common of the same mind as God and Christ, and of the Blessings arising therefrom.”

JOINT-PARTICIPATION

Our next task will be to examine every place where this Greek word is found in the New Testament and where it is translated by the words “Fellowship” and “Communion,” and look at its usage.

Paul thanks God for the fellowship of the Philippian Saints in the Gospel, namely, their joint-participation with him in the progress of the Gospel (Phil. 1:3–5). In Ephesians 3:1–12 he speaks of a mystery which was hid in God’s heart until it was revealed to Paul, and through Paul was given to the Church. It was given him “to make all men see what is the fellowship of this mystery.” That is, the mystery is not known only to God now, but He is sharing it with Believers, the word “sharing” expressing what the word “Fellowship” here means.

In Philippians 3:7–10, Paul has suffered the loss of all things that he may know the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings, that is, be associated with God in His sufferings, have joint-participation with Him in those sufferings, in order that he may reap the benefit of all that Jesus did at Calvary and the Resurrection. We enter into the sufferings of Christ, by exhibiting Faith in what those sufferings did and thereby, deriving the benefits thereof. The Lord is not expecting us to climb upon a cross, for in fact, it would do no good if we did.

PARTAKERS IN COMMON

In I John 1:3, the Apostle writes to the Christians in the Church at large, that he has in his Gospel reported the things which he heard Jesus say and which he saw Jesus do, and this, in order that they might have fellowship with him (with John), namely joint-participation with John in the knowledge of the things Jesus said and did. That is, John tells them that he wishes to share these things with them.

When he says, “Truly, our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ,” we repeat Thayer’s words, “Which fellowship consists in the fact that Christians are partakers in common of the same mind as God and Christ, and of the Blessings arising therefrom.”

God and His Child have things in common. Then “If we (who profess to be Christians) say that we have fellowship with Him (have things in common with Him), and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the Truth” (I Jn. 1:6). That is, the things possessed in common here are a like nature, and thus the same likes and dislikes.

But to be a partaker of the Divine Nature, to love Holiness and hate sin, make impossible a life lived in the darkness of sin. “But if we walk in the Light as He is in the Light, we (God and the Believer) have fellowship one with another.”

The thing possessed in common here by both God and the Saint is Light. In the case of God, He is as to His Essence, Light. In the case of the Believer, he lives in the sphere of the Light which God is (I Jn. 1:7).

A COLLECTIVE PARTICIPATION

Paul says in I Corinthians 1:9, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The words “fellowship of His Son,” do not mean here “a communion or partnership with His Son.” It is rather into a “Communion or joint-participation belonging to His Son, and named after His Son, of which He (God) is the Founder.” The Greek word here denotes a collective participation.

In this the Saints partake “with all those who call on the Name of the Lord Jesus.” This fellowship is a sharing in common on the part of all the Saints. Its content, namely, that which all the Saints share in, is Sonship to God, for it is a Communion of His Son, and this is with Christ, since He is the “Firstborn among many Brethren,” and heirship with Christ, for the Saints are joint-heirs with Christ. In other words, this particular “fellowship” of which Paul speaks is the participation by all the Saints in Christ, i.e., “all members of one Body, the Body of Christ, the Church.”

A MUTUAL, ACTIVE PARTICIPATION

In Acts 2:42 we have, “And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles’ Doctrine and Fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

The word “Fellowship” here refers to “a relation between individuals which involves a common interest and a mutual, active participation in that interest and in each other.”

In Galatians 2:9 we have, “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the Grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the Circumcision.”

The word “Fellowship” here refers to the common interest which all had in the Salvation of the lost, and a mutual, active participation in that interest.

As another example, the Macedonian Churches had given a liberal gift of money to Paul for needy Saints in Jerusalem, and the Apostle says, “Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the Saints” (II Cor. 8:4).

Here the Macedonian Christians who gave the money for the Saints, asked Paul to become their partner in its distribution. Thus, we have the idea of sharing, a sharing in the work of supplying needy Saints with money; the Macedonians, the givers; Paul, the distributor.

COMMUNION

We will now look at the Passages where the word “Communion” is the translation of our Greek word. In I Corinthians 10:16 we have, “The cup of Blessing which we bless, is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ?” This speaks of the Lord’s Supper and carries the following meaning; however, to understand it more properly, please allow us to contrast this with other types of Communion:

1. The Jewish Festal Rites, as it was described in the Law of Moses, centered up in “the Altar,” which was the manner in which Communion was established with Christ, that is, if it was entered into properly. The Altar represented Calvary, etc.

2. In the worshiping of idols by the pagans, demon spirits, actually the unseen objects of such idolatrous worship, supply their basis of communion in those idolatrous feasts. In other words, whether they realized it or not, these pagans were having communion with demon spirits.

3. The Lord’s Supper constitutes a Communion, centering in Christ, and more particularly in what He did at Calvary and the Resurrection.

This “Fellowship” or “Communion” as it involves the Lord’s Supper is based on two things: A. The ground of Communion: This speaks of the sacred object celebrated in common, which of course, is Christ and His Sacrifice at Calvary; and, B. The Association: This is the Body of Christ worshiping as a whole, separating us from the world.

The word “Communion” denotes the fellowship of persons with persons in one and the same object. Thus, in the Lord’s Supper, Believers participate together in Christ, in the recognition of His Atonement on our behalf, and in remembrance of His Death until He comes.

In II Corinthians 6:14 we have, “What communion hath light with darkness?” One could translate, “What things does light have in common with darkness?” Is there any common interest or mutual activity in which they participate one with another?

FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT AND COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We are now ready to consider the meaning of the words, “Fellowship of the Spirit,” and “Communion of the Holy Spirit,” in the light of the study which we have just made of the Greek word which is translated by the words “Fellowship” and “Communion.”

The Greek word, we have found, has the following meanings: “Joint-participation, belonging in common to, a partnership, association, intercourse, sharing, a relation between individuals which involves a common interest and a mutual, active participation in that interest and in each other.”

Therefore, when Paul speaks of a certain fellowship of the Holy Spirit that is obtained, or is brought about in the lives of the Saints, he refers to that relationship between the Spirit and the Saint which involves a common interest and a mutual, active participation in that interest. That is, as the result of the Spirit’s Work in Regeneration and in His control over the Saint as the Saint is definitely subjected to Him, there has been brought about in the life of the Saint a joint-participation on the part of the Believer with the Holy Spirit in an interest and a mutual and active participation in the things of God and the Work of God in saving lost souls.

It is a partnership, so to speak, between God and the Believer. Paul speaks of this in the words, “We are laborers together with God” (I Cor. 3:9).

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND TESTIMONY OF THE BELIEVER

Another interest held in common is the Christian Life and Testimony of the Believer. The Holy Spirit is desirous of producing the highest type of Christian experience in the life of the Believer, and the Believer has the same interest, and shows it by maintaining an attitude of dependence upon and trust in the Holy Spirit to produce such life in him.

This fellowship is a cooperation on the part of the Saint with the Holy Spirit in His Work of Sanctification.

When Paul in his Apostolic benediction prays that the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with all the Saints, he is asking that this mutual interest and activity may continue and become more rich and effective in the lives of the Saints.

THE DANGER

We now come to a consideration of the English word “Fellowship.” In its current usage among the Saints, it refers to the fellowship that Saints have with one another, that is, the companionship, friendliness, and sociability which are enjoyed when the Saints get together in Prayer meeting or Preaching services, or in other Christian society and association. Hence, there is a danger of thinking that the phrase “Fellowship of the Spirit” means “Companionship with the Spirit.” Right here is where some leave the path of Sound Doctrine and practice.

They seek the Holy Spirit and His fullness for His sake Alone. They seek intercourse with Him as an end in itself. Thus, they lay themselves open to the snares of Satan and the control of evil spirits.

There is no such thing in Scripture as the Believer’s Fellowship or Companionship with the Spirit comparable to the Believer’s Fellowship or Companionship with the Lord Jesus. In fact, the Ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son, and in doing that He always calls the Believer’s attention to the Lord Jesus, never to Himself. He keeps Himself in the background. The Lord Jesus must always be central in the life of the Saint. He is the One with Whom we have fellowship in the commonly accepted usage of the word today. The Holy Spirit makes this possible.

As someone has said, “In proportion therefore as mind and heart are fixed on Christ, we may count on the Spirit’s Presence and Power, but if we make the Holy Spirit Himself the object of our aspirations and worship, some false spirit may counterfeit the true and take us for a prey.”

That means it’s not proper to pray to the Holy Spirit or even to praise the Spirit as such. It is the business of the Holy Spirit to direct all praise to God the Father and God the Son.

THE CORRECT FORM

The association the correctly instructed Saint has with the Holy Spirit, is in the form of a moment-by-moment conscious dependence upon Him, a trust in Him for His Guidance and Strength, and a yielding to Him for His Ministry of putting sin out of the life and keeping it out, and of radiating the beauty of the Lord Jesus through our every thought, word and deed, this, together with a cooperation with Him which takes the form of a mutual interest and an active participation in the things of God.

G. D. Watson in “Living Words” has put this beautifully in the following words: “The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign, and has a right to do as He pleases with His Own.

“He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love, and bestow upon you many Blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.

“Settle it forever, then, that you have to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others.

“Now when you are so possessed with the Living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.”

THE FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT

Our first task will be to inquire as to the exact meaning of the word “fullness” when used in connection with the Ministry of the Spirit. The phrases, “Filled with the Holy Spirit” and “Full of the Holy Spirit,” are used in the Bible. They are the translation of one of two verbs and of a noun. The verb “pimplemi” is used in Luke 1:15, 41, 67; and, Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 13:9. An illustration of its use other than with the word “Spirit” is in the phrase, “Were filled with fear” (Lk. 5:26).

Thayer says this: “What wholly takes possession of the mind, is said to fill it.” Thus, the expression, “Filled with the Holy Spirit,” speaks of the Spirit possessing the mind and heart of the Believer. This possession implies His control over the mind and heart. Thus, the words “full” and “filled” refer to the control which the Spirit exerts over the Believer who is said to be filled with Him.

Another Greek word is “pleroo,” and is used in Acts 13:52 and Ephesians 5:18. An example of its use other than that in relation to the Spirit is in the sentence, “Sorrow hath filled your heart” (Jn. 16:6). This means “To take possession of.” Thus, as sorrow possessed or controlled the hearts of the Disciples, so the Holy Spirit possesses or controls the Believer who is said to be filled with Him.

Another Greek word is “pleres” and is used in Luke 4:1; Acts 6:3, 5; 7:55; 9:17; 11:24. In Acts 6:5 it is used in the phrase “full of Faith.”

Thayer says of this use, “Faith thoroughly permeated Stephen in the sense that it possessed or controlled him.” Thus, the fullness of the Holy Spirit refers to His control over the Believer who is said to be filled with Him.

CONTROL

But let us press the point still further by looking at the Greek grammar involved in these expressions. In the expression, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” we learn what the “filling” consists of, in this case, the Holy Spirit. The “filling” refers to a certain control exerted over the Believer. The word “Spirit” thus indicates Who is exerting this control, Who is of course, the Holy Spirit. Thus, the phrase “Be controlled by the Spirit,” is the same as saying, “Be filled with the Spirit.”

We must not think of the Holy Spirit filling our hearts as water fills a bottle, etc. The heart of a Christian is not a receptacle to be emptied in order that the Holy Spirit might fill it. In fact, the Holy Spirit is not a substance to fill an empty receptacle. He is a Person not a thing, and His express purpose in coming into the Believer, is to control that Believer. Inasmuch, as He is a Person, when He comes in, He cannot come in halfway or three quarters of the way, etc. He comes in totally and completely. That means that the weakest Child of God has the Holy Spirit in all of His Function, Power, and Glory, as much as the strongest Believer in the world. Now, how much the Believer allows the Holy Spirit to control him, and it is control which must be given, it will not be taken, is left up to the individual.

THE HEART

The heart is a symbol used to refer to the will, the reason, and the emotions. Thus, the Holy Spirit possesses or controls the volitional, rational, and emotional activities of the Believer who is said to be filled with Him.

He brings all these into the place of obedience and conformity to the Word of God, or at least, that is His intention. Therefore, when we speak of a Christian being filled with the Spirit, we are actually referring to the control which this Divine Person, the Holy Spirit, has over this particular human being, the Believer.


Swaggart, J. (1999). Jimmy Swaggart Bible Commentary: Galatians (320–323). Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press.
Swaggart, J. (1999). Jimmy Swaggart Bible Commentary: Galatians (318). Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press.

I hope you will take the time and really study all this information I have included for you. Please take the time, I feel sadness in some of your posts, but all I can do is direct you to where you can find the answers you are seeking.

[meshak]

Originally Posted by Untellectual

Christians like myself have made excuses for their sin. Is it possible to be a Christian and sin? And yet to say yes is to say yes to sin. Unless to say no is to say Christ's death is not for the sin even that we have committed since being born again from above, born of God by the Holy Spirit of God.

Therefore there is the existence of sin as an ever present reality in the world, and maybe it has had its affect in our lives as well.

But we are to live differently. A peculiar people. A people for God's own possession!

Not to do evil, but to do good. And that God would be glorified. For salvation has been bought, and there is forgiveness of sins.

We cannot say no to sin if we dont know what sins are. And this is the case with most churches; they simply dont seem to know what they are specifically.

What sin is if we practice or say against Jesus' word, it is sin. It is that simple but most of us dont know what Jesus teaches and commands, we dont know if we are living in a sin or not.

[DansingWall]

Originally Posted by Untellectual

Christians like myself have made excuses for their sin. Is it possible to be a Christian and sin? And yet to say yes is to say yes to sin. Unless to say no is to say Christ's death is not for the sin even that we have committed since being born again from above, born of God by the Holy Spirit of God.

Therefore there is the existence of sin as an ever present reality in the world, and maybe it has had its affect in our lives as well.

But we are to live differently. A peculiar people. A people for God's own possession!

Not to do evil, but to do good. And that God would be glorified. For salvation has been bought, and there is forgiveness of sins.

Theres a lot of people who believe there is no law. I suppose these people believe they cannot sin because sin is the transgression of the law. They figure they cannot transgress the law if there is no law.

1 JOHN 3 [4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW.

[meshak]

Originally Posted by DansingWall

Theres a lot of people who believe there is no law. I suppose these people believe they cannot sin because sin is the transgression of the law. They figure they cannot transgress the law if there is no law.

1 JOHN 3 [4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW.

You are right, they are confused when the Bible comment about the law, it is all about OT ceremonial and sacrificial law.

Mainstream churches are in a deep mess and they claim they are true believers and are saved already, and dont have to obey Jesus' teachings and commandments, and Jesus died for their sins and they cannot sin.

[lifeisgood]

Originally Posted by Untellectual

I don't know.

I don't know where to go from here.

I know what the verse is saying.

Some believe in progressive sanctification.

Justification declares one clean (Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness --- he did not have to do anything to be justified).

Sanctification makes one clean (he sinned many times --- did not wait for God's appointed time for the promised child, just as one example --- but Abraham never left God).

Justification comes first then we start in the sanctification journey, which is a lifelong process.