2 November 2025
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BELIEVER (part 2)
(Biblical Teachings on The Christian Life.: BTCL 6)
When a person is born again at the time of faith, he is immediately sealed with the Holy Spirit for the Day of Redemption. He is also guaranteed of Heaven as he lives the new life of love and holiness in Christ. Living a holy life in Christ is sure proof that one is born of God the Holy Spirit: “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s Seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning because they have been born of God” (1 John 3:9). The Holy Spirit is “God’s Seed” in us and He empowers the child of faith to be holy like Jesus.
The Holy Spirit also adopts the believer into the Family of God, and enables him to acknowledge God as Father: “You received the Spirit of adoption by Whom we cry out, “Abba, Father”. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children, then heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Rom.8:15-17). What wonderful Grace has God shown us that sinners can be called the children of God. What a great privilege given us that we can call the Great God of Creation “Father” when angels could not! Praise God!
In this new relationship and privileged status, we are also expected walk like Jesus: “Whoever claims to live in Him must walk like Jesus walked” (1 John 2:6). Jesus is the only Begotten Son of God and we are God’s adopted children. Jesus was filled, empowered and led by the Spirit (Luke 4:1-2, 14). So must we! Hence, we are told, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Rom.8:14). Before knowing Christ, we were under the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19) and controlled by the spirit of disobedience causing us to be worldly and in bondage to sin (Eph.2:1-3). The “born again” child of God is set free and now walks in obedience because he is now led and controlled by the Spirit of God.
It is in this new life and conduct, that the believer is assured of his salvation, and that he does not feel “condemned” any more. God promises us: “There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom.8:1-2 – NKJV). In Christ Jesus we are not condemned because “we walk according to the Spirit and not walk according to the flesh”. That means the Holy Spirit empowers us and leads us to walk in obedience to His direction. The Bible says, “Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (Gal.5:16). The “flesh” is the sinful nature that controls our desires and actions. Some preachers give false assurance and deceive Christians by quoting only part of the above verse: “There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”. The Truth is that “there is no condemnation” only when “we walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh”. Hence the Bible instructs us: “As He Who called you is Holy, be holy in all that you do; for it is written: “Be holy, for I Am Holy” (1 Peter 1:15-18). It also warns us that “Without holiness, on one shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
Click HERE to return to Biblical Teachings on The Christian Life Series
Click HERE to return to Articles Main Menu