Ken F. Miller
Author & Speaker
e-mail: [email protected]
During the process of deciding if we wanted to follow Jesus, we were told that when we are baptized the “gift of the Holy Spirit” would be given to us (Acts 2:38). Here’s the problem, most of the time we were not instructed as to what it is and what these gifts do for us. Much less how or when we are to nourish it so that these gifts and our new character of being a Christian become first nature to us. Even worst, through ignorance of this knowledge, we became stalemated, staying in a “dead zone”, when it comes to maturing in the Word. We have become a “saved bench warmer”. (We will be using the chart below to keep us on track in studying this subject.)
This “dead zone” is a very dangerous place for a “new Christian” to be. Why? That is why we are here, to find out but we must work together, this subject (gift of the Holy Spirit) has everything to do with the salvation process. This is our starting point to a Christian life and what we do with these gifts “makes or breaks” our salvation.
Let me stress this point to the max. the subjects “Holy Spirit”/” Holy Ghost” can become very complicated if a person loses track of the many, many functions, jobs, and workings of the Spirit. As a matter of fact, this subject is so large and complicated that a person can go to Seminary for four years to get a degree in it. We will not even attempt to do such a thing. Our purpose and goal is to get enough understanding of how the Holy Spirit is involved in our Christian life and our Salvation. As we continue to study God’s Word and growing in the Faith to Spiritual maturity more and more will be revealed to us that we can easily fit new knowledge into the “big picture” of God’s Word.
The hardest part of becoming a Christian is:
Changing our current Character into a CHRISTIAN Character.
To do this we must start with the fruit of the Spirit.
In a previous study we found that when we were baptized into Christ that we immediately received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39). We also learned that at this point our new Christian character was born. Now, we need to understand what is going to happen in this character-building process.
Here is the “Big Picture” of our new Character.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:9-12 (KJV)
We must maintain this “perfection”/”character” until our death to be given eternal life with Jesus. (vs 11-12) I will not in any shape, form, or fashion mis-led you into twisted truth or hope. However, at this stage of our study we must realize that understanding the process of developing and/or building our character is going to be a very hard undertaking and will not happen overnight. (I recommend reading my book “Understanding the Doctrine of Christ according to Hebrews 5:12-14 and Hebrews 6:1-20”, as well as, attending a home study group that teaches these truths.)
