Tag: hope

Real Talk – Seal of the Holy Spirit

As I said in my previous post, Allentown Part II, I first accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was homeless at the Allentown Rescue Mission. Because I was fretful over not being able to pay my credit card bills. But I didn’t stop there. I accepted every altar call at every service because I felt my sins could not be forgiven.

Was that similar to me dying to myself over and over again? What does the Bible say about dying to oneself? The best search that could come close is “crucifying the flesh”. The results brought Romans 6:6, Romans 8:13, and Colossians 3:5. But one verse in Galatians serves best to prove my point:

Galatians 2:20 NIV

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

So if we accept Christ once, is that sufficient to receive eternal life? My pastor told me each time, but he appreciated the gesture. So if Romans 10:9-10 is a verbal, emotional (it involves the heart) and a spiritual declaration; gaining eternal life, is it the resulting seal of the Holy Spirit that guarantees eternal life?

Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Galatians 2:20 also suggests likewise. The rest is faith (Ephesians 3:17) and hope (Colossians 1:27).

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. http://www.zondervan.com

Real Talk – If the Son Sets You Free

John 8:36 ESV

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

What if you found out that a spirit of divination (Acts 16:16-18 ESV) had been cast over your life? And over a period of roughly six months you pieced each spell or incantation together like a puzzle. At the expense of others who suffered from the decisions you made.

Would you have the faith to overcome it? Would faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20) be large enough overcome it? Would legalism or dogma be necessary? Ritualism? Or would shoot from the hip Christianity, the opposite, be sufficient?

What if you were off on your game? What if it had been while since you stepped on the court?

In Real Talk- A Series of Unfortunate Events, I spoke about being exhausted and not knowing what to do or where to go back in October. I guess what I am asking is, do I have the strength to continue?

I do not trust a single soul; the devil is a liar (John 8:44). Can I win the race the Lord has given me? And what is the prize? Is it a crown (1 Corinthians 9:24, 25)? New Jerusalem (Revelation 21)? A gold city (Revelation 21:18)? Paul said that we “glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produce perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3, 4 NKJV).

However, if you have made the inward and outward (spiritual, emotional, and verbal) expressions of accepting Christ (Romans 10:9-10), can we believe that faith in Christ is sufficient—therefore, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.