What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer?
Bible Study Network
Jesus told His disciples that after He “goes to the Father,” He will
send the Comforter (some translations call Him the Counselor or
Helper). (John 14:16-26, 15:26, and 16:7-14.) This is the Spirit of Truth
or the Holy Spirit (John 14:17, 26.). In fact, after His resurrection, Jesus
breathed on the disciples and they “received” the Holy Spirit. Then, on
the Day of Pentecost (after Jesus ascended to the Father), as He
promised before his crucifixion, Jesus caused the Holy Spirit to fall upon
the disciples. That day, 3,000 on-lookers were converted. (Acts 2.)
The Holy Spirit continues to encourage believers today. He
reproves (convicts) the world of sin (John 16:8.), brings the Word of
God to our rememberance (John 14:26.), and guides us in truth (John 16:
13.). But the Spirit also gives us power to overcome sin. Paul the
Apostle encourages us to “. . . be strengthened with might through His
Spirit in the inner man. . .” (Ephesians 3:16.) “And the Holy Spirit helps
us in our weakness.” (Romans 8:26 NLT.) This is the grace of God:
pointing out how we deviate from His will, allowing us to come to Him
for forgiveness, and giving us the strength to overcome our failings.
The Holy Spirit is also a source of renewal and regeneration. “But
when the kindness and love of God our Savior was shown, he saved us
because of his mercy. It was not because of good deeds we did to be
right with him. He saved us through the washing that made us new
people through the Holy Spirit. God poured out richly upon us that Holy
Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior. Being made right with God by his
grace, we could have the hope of receiving the life that never ends.”
(Titus 3:4-7 NCV.)
Oftentimes, the natural man can sin without any feeling of guilt.
“When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do
right.” (Romans 6:20 NLT.) In other words, God’s righteous standard is
easily compromised.
However, for the spiritual man—someone who is born again
through faith in Jesus Christ—it hurts to sin. “Thank God! Once you
were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we
have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you
have become slaves to righteous living.” (Romans 6:17-18 NLT.) In
other words, while we are all sinners, someone who has received the
spirit of Christ, feels differently about sin, it just doesn’t feel right. “The
Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously” (James 4:5.)
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