Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

The Holy Spirit's character does not change when He indwells those who have placed their faith in Christ for salvation. Instead, He commences a struggle within the Christian (which Paul discusses in Romans 7:15-25, and which did not exist before the person became a believer) between the person's old, sinful, fleshly nature (which even Christians retain until the end of this present life) and the new eternal life in Christ which the Holy Spirit imparts to the believer, and of which the Holy Spirit's presence in the believer is (as Paul put it in Ephesians 1:13-14 and 2 Corinthians 1:22) the seal and guarantee (the "earnest money" or "down payment", as it were) of the salvation that will be fully realized for the believer in eternity.

March 18 2018 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Lena Wms Student @Christ Gospel Church, S.S.Teacher, Observer

I believe and have been taught since I was a little child, that when you accept Jesus into your heart, your old corrupt sinful heart, there is no place for Jesus to live. Therefore, Jesus cleans out a place, a very small place, and resides there. When you accept the Holy Spirit into your life to lead and guide you and He comes in He also resides there with Jesus. You now have a new heart where Jesus and the Holy Spirit rest and a old corrupt heart where the 13 things are listed in Mark 7:21-25. 

If you desire the new heart to grow, which we are expected and commanded at every turn to grow, then we must be as Paul and "die" daily. Die to what? The old heart that is full of all its corruption. 

As you "die daily" and surrender your old heart to Jesus, your old wants, desires, habits, and ways... Jesus in His new heart gets bigger and bigger until you are lost in Him. This is true spiritual maturity that everyone desires and craves. 

We must remember, the Holy Spirit is a part of the Godhead and is holy. He is NOT going to live in a filthy place. This is why Jesus creates a New Heart within us. That place is holy, and fitting for the Holy Spirit. 

Be blessed 
Lena

November 19 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report