This week, as we continue our 6-week study on the person of the Holy Spirit, we will be looking at the Holy Spirit’s role in our becoming Christians.
Just imagine that you are the notorious ‘sinner’ like Zacchaeus whose story is told in Luke 19. Jesus, to the chagrin of the self-righteous, came to his house.
‘When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”’ (Luke 19:5-10)
i) THE HOLY SPIRIT TELLS US OF OUR CERTAIN SALVATION
Jesus gives Zacchaeus two forms of assurance that he’s saved: Firstly, as we saw yesterday, Jesus points to Zacchaeus’ transformed life (his sanctification) to show that he is saved. Secondly, Jesus also assures him of his salvation by speaking to him: ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’
Today, Jesus, by the Spirit, wants to speak to you and assure you of His love and the unshakeable nature of your salvation in Christ. Here are two texts that speak of the Spirit’s assurance,
‘Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.’ (Romans 8:14-16)
‘Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.’ (Galatians 4:6-7)
ii) THE SPIRIT ASSURES US OF ULTIMATE SALVATION
The Holy Spirit also wants you to know that you will, without doubt, experience eternal glory with Him. The Spirit is sometimes spoken of as being a ‘deposit’ or ‘down payment’ as we read in Ephesians,
‘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.’ (Ephesians 1:13-14)
‘Guarantee' (ἀρραβών) is a Greek word that means to receive the first instalment or to receive the deposit of something greater. What does the Holy Spirit guarantee?
i) He guarantees eternal life
We have salvation now but He guarantees our ‘inheritance’ - eternal life with God.
ii) He guarantees our perfect restoration
We have been transform now but we will be perfected at Christ’ return. God has begun His restoration process in us that will result in our complete restoration including a new ‘resurrection’ body.
iii) The Vision of God
We know God and ‘see’ Him by the Spirit but this is ‘as in a glass darkly’ compared to the glory of God that He guarantees for us. This inheritance, guaranteed by the Spirit, is well summed up,
‘Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”’ (Revelation 21:3-4)
RESPONSE
Take some time to reflect on how the Spirit guarantees so much to us. The Spirit does not want you to be ignorant and unmoved by the great inheritance that Jesus has won for you.
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