Please choose life Sohail

Submitted by Lactantius Jr (United Kingdom), Nov 22, 2006 at 16:42

To Sohail

Believing the Bible to be all-sufficient in matters of belief, conduct and doctrine, in my response to you I quote it extensively, and you can see these Scriptures online, by using http://www.biblegateway.com/ You can accept them with complete confidence Sohail, the Qur'an saying so, and I quote Surah's 5:47, 5:66 and 5:68 where you read Allah's testimony to both Old and New Testaments (‘Taurat' and ‘Injil'). You can refer to these online at http://www.quranbrowser.com/ where you can read them in 10 different English translations of the Qur'anic Arabic, together with transliterated Arabic.

"What has the Holy Spirit said about Jesus?" you ask Sohail? A great deal. He inspired the writing of the Bible " 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21 and the whole Bible is all about Jesus, though comprising 66 books, it is one book, describing one way to the One God, incarnate as the Lord Jesus Christ, "the visible image of the invisible God" Colossians 1:15

Whatever division there is in the Christian church, exists in spite of the Holy Spirit, not because of Him, Scripture saying:- "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future." Ephesians 4:2-4

I now outline Biblical teaching about the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and the works of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit was involved throughout Jesus' life, causing His conception Matthew 1:20, descending on Him at his baptism Matthew 3:16, leading Him into the desert Luke 4:1 and anointing Him to preach the Gospel Luke 4:18 that He Himself had inspired 2 Timothy 3:16. Jesus drove out demons by the Holy Spirit of God Matthew 12:28, and through the Holy Spirit, offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin Hebrews 9:14, being raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit Romans 8:11, Jesus' followers being promised their dead bodies will be raised by His power 1 Corinthians 6:14.

Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit would speak through His disciples in times of persecution Matthew 10:19-20, and telling them to baptize His followers in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19. He said that the Triune God was certain to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Luke 11:13.

Not surprisingly, Jesus' most important teachings about the Holy Spirit are recorded in the Gospel of John, the Apostle John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, saying, "The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him you will have life by the power of His Name."

John 20:30-31

First, people must be "born of water and the Spirit" John 3:5. They need a spiritual renewal, and this does not come from their own efforts, it is a gift of God. Although He can't be seen, the Holy Spirit makes such a difference to lives, producing a wonderful 9-flavoured fruit in them Galatians 5:22.

Jesus also taught, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him" John 7:37-38. John adding this explanation: "By this, He meant the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him were later to receive" John 7:39. The Holy Spirit satisfies an internal thirst, giving the relationship with God that we were created for. We receive the Holy Spirit by coming to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will fill our lives.

John also tells us, "Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified" John 7:39. The Holy Spirit had already filled men and women before the time of Jesus, and this is recorded in the Old Testament, but the Holy Spirit would soon come in a new and more powerful way—on the first day of Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus' resurrection from the dead. The Holy Spirit is now given on a far larger scale, to all who call on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ Acts 2:38-39.

Jesus promised His disciples would be given the Spirit of truth, who would live in them John 14:16-18, being equivalent to Jesus Himself coming to His disciples, verse 18, because He is the Spirit of Christ as well as the Spirit of the Father—sent by Jesus as well as the Father John 15:26. The Holy Spirit makes Jesus available to everyone who wants Him, and continues His work through them.

The Spirit would teach the disciples, and remind them of what Jesus had taught John 14:26, teaching them things they could not understand before Jesus' resurrection from the dead John 16:12-13.

The Spirit testifies about Jesus John 15:26; 16:14. He does not promote Himself, but leads people to Jesus Christ and the Father. He does not speak on His own, but only as the Father wants John 16:13. And because the Holy Spirit is omnipresent, it is for our good that Jesus left, and sent the Holy Spirit to us John 16:7.

The Holy Spirit works in evangelism, convicting the world of its sin, its guilt, its need for righteousness, and the certainty of its judgment John 16:8-10, pointing people to Jesus as the solution to guilt, and the source of righteousness.

The Works of the Holy Spirit

He gives access to God Ephesians 2:18 He Anoints for service Luke 4:18 He assures believers Romans 8:15-16 He authors Scripture 2 Peter 1:20-21 He baptizes John 1:23-34; 1 Corinthians 12:13-14 He gives birth to believers John 3:3-6 He calls and commissions Acts 20:28 He cleanses 1 Peter 1:2 He convicts of sin John 16:7-9 He creates Genesis 1:2;Job 33:4 He empowers Acts 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5 He fills Acts 2:4, 4:29-31 He gives gifts 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 He glorifies Jesus Christ John 16:14 He guides in truth John 16:13 He helps our weakness Romans 8:26 He indwells believers Romans 8:9-14;Galatians 4:6 He inspires prayer Ephesians 6:18;Jude 20 He intercedes Romans 8:26 He interprets Scripture 1 Corinthians 2:14 He leads Romans 8:14 He liberates Romans 8:2 He molds character Galatians 5:22-23 He produces fruit Galatians 5:22-23 He raises believers from the dead Romans 8:11 He regenerates Titus 3:5 He sanctifies Romans 15:16 He seals Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30 He strengthens Ephesians 3:16;Acts 1:8,2:4;1 Corinthians 2:4 He teaches John 14:26 He testifies of Jesus John 15:26 He gives victory over the flesh Romans 8:2-4; Galatians 4:6 He assists worship Philippians 3:3

Can the Holy Spirit talk you ask Sohail? Yes the Holy Spirit talks, for example,

"The Holy Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and walk along beside the carriage.' "

Acts 8:29

"One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.' "

Acts 13:2

Where is He now you ask Sohail? The Holy Spirit, being omnipresent, is everywhere, but especially, He is indwelling those who have committed themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body."

2 Corinthians 6:19-20

Why isn't He talking to me you ask Sohail? Have you asked Him to speak to you? Hear what Scripture says, "So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."

Luke 11:13

You say Sohail, "I guess I be going to hell because I won't believe that Jesus is God and he died for my sins," this is a terrible thing to read, and so unnecessary Sohail, the God of the Bible saying He doesn't want anybody to perish 2 Peter 3:9, but when the Lord Jesus Christ walked amongst us, here is what He said, "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."

Matthew 7:13-14

If Jesus is not God, then how do you explain the following Sohail?

1. How was it possible for Jesus to know all things, John 21:17?
2. How can Jesus know all men John 16:30?
3. How can Jesus, the Christ, dwell in you Colossians 1:27?
4. How can Jesus be the exact representation of the Nature of God Hebrews 1:3?
5. How can He be our only Lord and Master Jude 4?
6. How can Jesus be called the Mighty God Isaiah 9:6 if there is only one God
   in existence Isaiah 44:6-8; 45:5?
7. How was Jesus able to raise Himself from the dead John 2:19-21?
8. How can Jesus create all things Colossians 1:16-17, yet it is God who created all things by Himself Isaiah 44:24?
9. Why was Jesus worshiped Matthew 2:2; 2:2; 14:33; 28:9; John 9:35-38; Hebrews 1:6. when He says to worship God only Matthew 4:10? (same Greek word for worship is used in each place.)

10. Why did Jesus claim the most holy divine name, "I AM", for Himself in John 8:58? see Exodus 3:14 which describes Moses asking Almighty God, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they will ask me, ‘What is His name?' Then what should I tell them?

God replied to Moses, 'I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.' God also said to Moses, 'Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, My name to remember for all generations.' "

Please don't choose the highway to hell Sohail, please choose life,

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!"

Deuteronomy 30:19

Lactantius Jr.

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