THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT IS AN UNDERVED, BUT LOVING "GIFT" OF GRACE

THE HOLY SPIRIT and UNDERSERVING GRACE (THE GIFT)

“…[God’s] grace is sufficient for you…” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV). “…Since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s GRACE would not be what it really is—free and undeserved…” (Romans 11:5 NLT).  “…A few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s GRACE—his UNDESERVED kindness in choosing them…” (Romans 11:4 NLT).

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“….God formed man of the dust of the ground (BODY), and breathed into his nostrils the BREATH OF LIFE (HOLY SPIRIT); and man became a living soul (SOUL)…” (Genesis 2:7 KJV).

Mankind once had a LIVING soul through the Holy Spirit, but they are now BORN spiritually DEAD WITH A SIN NATURE.

The price for ADAM’s CHOICE was SEPARATION from God, for himself and all his children after him.

Adam and Eve were “…separated from the LIFE of God…” (Ephesians 4:18 NIV). “…It is the SPIRIT who gives LIFE; the flesh profits nothing…” (John 6:63 NASB). “… [their] … iniquities (sin) …separated [them]… from God… …” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

It is traditional to view the serpent as a representative of evil.

The job of any representative of evil is to deceive mankind and destroy the relationship they have with God, the HOLY SPIRIT, by appealing to the senses through the SINFUL NATURE.

The representatives of evil appeal to the senses through the SINFUL NATURE in order to GAIN control over the SOUL’s choices. “… I have set before you LIFE and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may LIVE…” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV). “…Choose you this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV). “…The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who CHOOSE that way. …” (Matthew 7:13-14 NLT).

CHOOSING to follow the DICTATES of the FLESH, which is now the SINFUL NATURE, is HOW man’s SOUL became a SLAVE to SIN. “…Know … that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16 KJV). “… Everyone who sins is a slave to sin…” (John 8:34 NLT).

A SLAVE has “NO” true freedom of their OWN. They are UNDER BONDAGE to their MASTER and must submit to the POWER of that master’s dictatorship.

In the case of ADAM and EVE, the HOLY SPIRIT had DEPARTED from them, their once LIVING soul was now a LIFELESS soul, because the BODY, without the HOLY SPIRIT is DEAD.  “…the body without (apart from) the spirit is dead…” (James 2:26 KJV) “… [The SOUL is] DEAD in trespasses and sin…” (Ephesians 2:1 KJV).

Man’s SOUL, through the SINFUL NATURE, is a SLAVE to SIN. “The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right (choose life), but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.  And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right (choose life), but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. …I [am] …a slave to the sin that is … within me (withing my sinful nature). Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).

Mankind’s perpetual inability to CHOOSE HOLY LIFE is because their SOUL is totally UNDER the POWER of the EVIL ONE through the sinful nature WHY? “…It is the SPIRIT who gives (spiritual) LIFE (not the FLESH)…” (John 6:63 NASB).

The SEPARATION from God created a impenetrable chasm or barrier between God, the Holy Spirit and SINFUL mankind. “… [their] … iniquities (sin) …SEPARATION [them]… from God… …” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).“…All have sinned (due to the inherited sinful nature) and fallen SHORT of the GLORY of God (his indwelling Spirit)…” (Romans 3:23).

God’s GLORY is his HOLY SPIRIT, which is also his presence, his goodness, and his eternal power. “…All [humanity]… have …fallen short of the GLORY of God…” (Romans 3:23).

Let’s DARE to ponder the BIG question: Did God create evil? I will present a perspective and you answer the question yourself. My answer was YES. “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7 KJV).

From the perspective of this book, evil is not always, or simply, or necessarily a person or thing or something tangible; but it is the absence of God.

Just like darkness is the absence of light and cold is the absence of heat. Evil is the absence of God.

At one time, the presence of God, the HOLY SPIRIT was JOINED to the SOUL’s of Adam and Eve until they choose to follow the FLESH, which is NOW the SINFUL NATURE.

God takes full responsibility for creating evil SINCE he created MANKIND and human WILL. “…THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV).

Adam and Eve’s human will freely CHOSE: “….So she took some of the fruit and ATE IT. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and HE ATE IT, too …” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).  “… I have set before you LIFE and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose LIFE…” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV).

God created mankind with the complete freedom to exercise human will. The consequences of Adam and Eve’s choices SEPARATED them from God’s PRESENCE. “… [their] … iniquities (sin) …SEPARATED [them]… from God… …” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

The absence of light is darkness; the absence of God is evil. “… I …create evil…” (Isaiah 45:7 KJV).

Evil is the absence of God, who is HOLY. If God, the HOLY SPIRIT is absent, it CREATES the presence of evil. “…the … HOLY SPIRIT who is the source of …all [holiness, life, GOODNESS, etc.]… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). However, “…I… create evil: I the Lord do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7 KJV). HOW? “… [their] … iniquities (sin) …separated … [them]… from [God’s PRESENCE]… …” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

When my father died, his absence CREATED a void in my life. When my son grew up and went off to college, his absence CREATED an empty space in my life. When my best friend got married and moved to another state, her absence CREATED a vacuum. The absence of one thing creates the presence of another.

If God, who is LIFE and GOODNESS, is not presence; it CREATES DEATH and EVIL. “…I… create evil: I the Lord do all these things…” (Isaiah 45:7 KJV).

God created man in his image. Image is supposed to be a LIKENESS. “….Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). God “…does whatever pleases him [according to his DIVINE WILL]…” (Psalms 115:3 NIV). “… [God]… does as he pleases… No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” (Daniel 4 NLT). “…Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish (or CHOOSE to do)…” (Isaiah 46: 9-10 NLT).

“….Let us make man … after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). God made mankind after his likeness. God has sovereign DIVINE will and he gave mankind human will.

Mankind had to be able to make choices and decisions in order to have DOMINION over God’s creation. “…And God said …let them have DOMINION over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ….And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have DOMINION …over every living thing that moveth upon the earth….” (Genesis 1:26-28 KJV).

Adam made multiple choices before “THE FALL.” “…The Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man “CHOSE” A NAME for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. …..She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man…” (Genesis 2:19-20, 23 NLT).

Part of being created in God’s image was the ability to make choices. The ability to make choices is an ACT of the HUMAN WILL. “… I have set before you LIFE and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose LIFE…” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV).

“…THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK unto you, they ARE LIFE…” (John 6:63 KJV). “…choose LIFE…” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV).  God’s command, to Adam and Eve, had two options in which to CHOOSE from: Don’t eat (life) or eat (death). “…THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV).

Adam and Eve willfully PICKED between the two CHOICES. “….So she took some of the fruit and ATE IT. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and HE ATE IT, too …” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT). “…THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV). “…THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK unto you … they ARE LIFE…” (John 6:63 KJV). “… choose LIFE…” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV).

“…THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV). “….So she took some of the fruit and ATE IT. …” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT). “…At that moment their eyes were opened…” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).  “… [They were IMMEDIATELY] … separated from the LIFE of God…” (Ephesians 4:18 NIV).

Yes, God could have made them robots and FORCED them to choose ONLY what he wanted, but he said “….let us make man … after our LIKENESS…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). God “…does whatever pleases him [according to his DIVINE WILL]…” (Psalms 115:3 NIV).  “… [God has]… set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life,..” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV).

Mankind often judge God and question his LOVING, HOLY nature when their choices result in situations of death and evil.

Yet his absence in their lives, families, communities, and societies is of their very own CHOOSING.

  In the Old Testament, when “…there was no king in Israel (like God, the King of kings; the HOLY SPIRIT, etc.): every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25 KJV). Just like today, in the 21^st century.

The EVIL ONE (Satan) was kicked out of heaven (FAR AWAY from the Holy PRESENCE of God), because he made a CHOICE to do what HE wanted to do. “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! …For you said to yourself, ‘I will (I choose)…” (Isaiah 14:12-15 NLT).

“How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will (I CHOOSE TO) ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will (I CHOOSE TO) preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will (I CHOOSE TO) climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’ Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths…” (Isaiah 14:12-15 NLT).

The ABSENCE of God CREATES the PRESENCE of EVIL.

The EVIL ONE (Satan), “the shining star, son of the morning” was cast out of heaven away from the presence of God (Revelation 12:4, 9; Luke 10:18; Isaiah 14:12).

The EVIL ONE made his choice and said: “… [I choose to]…climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High…’ ” (Isaiah 14:12-15 NLT). “…Instead,  [the evil one was] …brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths…” (Isaiah 14:12-15 NLT).

When God said “….Let us make man … after our LIKENESS…” the POTENTIAL for evil pointed to the ability of mankind to CHOOSE just like the EVIL ONE, “…the shining star, son of the morning..” (Genesis 1:26 & Rev. 12:4 KJV). “…Therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed  (children) may live (be Spiritually ALIVE)…” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV).

They DIDN’T listen and their SEED (children) were born with a SINFUL NATURE, which means they are born without the indwelling Holy Spirit. Instead, “…the body without (apart from) the spirit is dead…” (James 2:26 KJV). “…Through one man sin entered into the world, and  (spiritual) DEATH through sin, and so (spiritual) DEATH passed to all men—“(Romans 5:12 KJV). They are born spiritually “…DEAD in [their] …sin” through the SINFUL NATURE (Ephesians 2:1 KJV). BECAUSE, “… It is the  (HOLY) SPIRIT who gives (spiritual) LIFE…” (John 6:63 NASB).

“ … The deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these …” (Galatians 5:20-22  NASB).

“….For from WITHIN (from within the SOUL), out of a person’s heart (out of part of the command center of the SOUL), come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,  adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful DESIRES (emotions, passions), envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from WITHIN (from within the SOUL); they are what defile you…”

Go ahead and judge God for creating mankind with human will and the freedom to make choices. Go ahead and judge God for not making you a robot and forcing you to do as he wants. Like it or not: God said “….Let us make man … after our LIKENESS…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV).

In your JUDGING, don’t forget to judge yourself and your own personal choices.  Wherever God is absence in your life, family community, or society all that is left is the presence of evil.

ALL physical birth can provide is a SINFUL NATURE. "That which is born of the FLESH IS FLESH…” (John 3:6 KJV). “…ALL HAVE SINNED (inherited the SINFUL nature) and fallen short of the glory of God (presence of God)…” (Romans 3:23). ALL“… [have become]…..unclean and [their] righteousnesses are as FILTHY RAGS….” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV).  

Unfortunately, “…There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10 KJV). “…There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not…” (Ecclesiastes 7:20 KJV).

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN SPIRITUALLY. Only Spiritual birth can provide a SPIRITUAL NATURE. “…You must be born again spiritually…” (John 3:7 NIV). "…That which is born of the FLESH IS FLESH; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6 KJV).

A PERSON must choose to become “… a new creature [in Christ]…” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “… [The person who]… is joined unto the Lord (Jesus) is ONE spirit… [again with God, the Holy Spirit]” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).

God, the HOLY SPIRIT, LOVES YOU and CHOSE to SAVE you. “…God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” (John 3:16 KJV). God “…spared not his own Son, [in order to express DIVINE LOVE] but delivered him up for us all?” (Romans 8:32 KJV). ^“….God SHOWED HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners…” (Romans 5:7-9 NLT).  “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV).). “…not that we loved God, but that [god] loved us...” (1 John 4:10 KJV). “…herein is love, not that we loved God, but that [God] loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 KJV).   “…There is no greater LOVE …” (John 15:13 NLT).

Even if you blame god for your sinful nature and condition; you do “NOT” have to remain in “that” condition?

 “…Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners…” (Romans 5:6-8 NLT).  “…“My grace is all you need. …” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT). “… My grace is sufficient for thee: …” (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV).

Even after being saved, I have not always lived right before God. Yet God says “…I WILL heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from them.…” (Hosea 14:4 KJV). “…Where sin increased, [My]...grace abounded all the more…” (Romans 5:20 NASB). God’s “…grace is sufficient for you…” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB).  His “…love covereth a multitude of sins…” (Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8 ASV). His “…Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB).

When I have NOT lived or DON’T live right before God or offend him through my actions, or my many flaws, mistakes, or unrighteous thoughts; I can't nor COULD I redeem myself without his endless GRACE.  “If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…” (1 John 1:9 KJV).

AND he won’t remember my sins because HIS GRACIOUS love covers them over. “…For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more…" (Hebrews 8:12 NIV). His “…love covereth a multitude of sins…” (Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8 ASV).

“ALL” SAVED PEOPLE HAVE ALL BEEN GIVEN ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BE WHOLE AGAIN. Therefore, “…Put on (by depending upon) your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy…” (Ephesians 4:24 NLT).

God, the HOLY SPIRIT and man’s SOUL IS joined together AGAIN THROUGH HIS GRACE! “…For God saved us and called us to live a HOLY life (a life set apart and completely separated from sin). He did this, not because we DESERVED it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his GRACE through Christ Jesus…” (2 Timothy 1:9 NLT). “…A few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s GRACE—his UNDESERVED kindness in choosing them…” (Romans 11:4 NLT).

 “…There[fore, there is] … …one … who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus (The Word of God)…” (1 Timothy 2:5 NLT).

“…And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Holy Spirit); and man became a living soul (soul)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV). “…May God himself …make you holy and whole, put you together [again]—spirit, soul, and body …” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 MSG). “….God saw every thing he had made……and, behold, it was very good…” (Genesis 1:31 KJV).

“… [God’s] grace is sufficient for you…” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV). “…“My grace is all you need. …” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT). “…Since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s GRACE would not be what it really is—free and undeserved…” (Romans 11:5 NLT).

WE MAY HAVE INHERITED THE SINFUL NATURE, BUT THE “FREE GIFT” OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE “THOUGH” JESUS CHRIST!

“…May God himself …make you holy and whole [BY PUTTING] … you together [again]—[THROUGH “HIS” HOLY] spirit, [and YOUR] soul, and body …” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 MSG).

“ …THE wages of sin [may be] death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 6:23 KJV).

“…BY GRACE … [you are] …saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; not of WORKS, that no man should glory…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).

“….ye shall receive the GIFT of the Holy [Spirit]…” (Acts 2:38 KJV).

 “…The GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ ….” (Romans 6:23 KJV).

HOWEVER, “[God’s] …Holy Spirit …is the SOURCE [of it ALL]…” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).