Category Archives: Doctrinal Studies

To Be Filled by the Holy Spirit

The coming of the Holy Spirit has long been prophesied by the prophets in the OT. Among all others, Joel and Isaiah are the most prominent. They gave lengthy and detailed descriptions to the functions and the works of the promised Holy Spirit. According to Joel, the Spirit is to be given to all flesh (Joel 2:28). It simply means that among those who come to Him, God can give the Spirit to whomever He chooses. The gift of the Spirit is no longer just for an elite few. One outstanding feature of the Promised Spirit is His ever-abiding presence in those whom He dwells, as opposed to His functions in the OT.

Those whom the Spirit dwells are filled by the Spirit. Being filled by the Spirit can be looked at from three perspectives. Firstly, when the Spirit came upon the 120, they were all filled by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). The entire fullness of God was in each and every one of them. The case of Paul being filled by the Holy Spirit is another example (Acts 9:17). This is in fulfillment of what Christ has said that the Spirit shall be given without measure (Jn. 3:34). Being filled here occurs at the receiving of the Holy Spirit. This is also Jesus’ promise before His suffering that after He has ascended back to Heavens He shall send His disciples the comforter (Jn. 14:16, 23; 16:13), who shall direct and build them up from within. Continue reading

To Drink of One Spirit

The OT’s events and teachings are there for us to learn from and be put to good use (Rom 15:4f; Jas 5:11ff). Many of which prophetically point to the work of God for the church. One notable example is the story of the Exodus Generation. It has been repeatedly talked about by countless writers throughout all generations. Without exception, in the NT, workers were also very much keen on expounding the story as a source of warning against rebellious Christians, and the dire consequence of falling under the judgment of God (1 Cor 10).

In stating the episode of the Exodus Incidence in a pre-figurative sense, Paul urged the believers in Corinth to be obedient. He attached great importance to the relationship they had with the Lord. God’s deliverance did not warrant the Exodus Generation to live a wayward life, acting against His commandments. They were severely punished as a result. Their sufferings were shown right throughout their history. Their downfall serves as a stern reminder to us all who have come to follow the Lord Jesus. Continue reading

We are the Temple of God

This is a spiritual reality that Paul had been talking about, specifically aimed at the church in Corinth. There are two perspectives given in both his epistles to the Corinthians. One perspective is the building of the temple (the church) from a collective standpoint. Paul warns that if anyone defiles the temple, God will destroy Him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple we are (1 Cor. 3:17). More importantly, the Holy Spirit dwells in us. The other perspective is directed to individual believers being the temple of God. For that reason, every believer, whose body is the temple of God, is to flee sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:17ff).

In making a clear distinction between God’s temple and idols, Paul states that collectively the church is the temple of God (2 Cor. 6:16a). The same reason is again given: “I will dwell in them…” (2 Cor. 6:16b). However, the temple here can also be referred to individual believers as well. This is confirmed in the counselling messages Paul gave to the believers to abstain from partaking of any food offered to idols, not to provoke the Lord to jealousy (1 Cor. 10:20ff), as the Exodus Generation did in the wilderness (1 Cor. 10:4ff).

Some therefore claim that ‘the Spirit living in us’ is a common experience and does not exclusively belong to those who speak in tongues in prayer alone. Some further argue that the Holy Spirit is already in them at their conversion. This means that they believe that once they are baptised in water, the Spirit dwells in them (1 Cor. 6:18f).

However, ‘we are God’s temple, in which the Spirit dwells’ does not suggest that to be the case. It is indeed superfluous and unbiblical to hold such a view, which reflects a major shift away from the teaching of the evidential value of speaking in tongues, which confirms the receiving of the Spirit. Such a shift dents the authenticity of the apostolic accounts regarding the reception of the Spirit as chronicled in Acts. To have a better understanding, this idea has to be explained based on its contextual meaning and the consistent views of the bible. Continue reading

The Rebirth

The definition of rebirth is a new birth or ‘to be born again’. The concept of rebirth is well documented in the bible, specifically during a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. It is clear from the conversation that in order to attain salvation, it is necessary to undergo a rebirth. Jesus emphatically says that we cannot see His Kingdom unless we are born again (Jn. 3:3). To be ‘born again’ requires two key requirements. The first requirement is that we need to be ‘born of water’ and the other is to be ‘born of the Spirit’ (Jn. 3:5). The combination of these two events is our only means of attaining salvation. Being ‘born of water’ refers to the receiving of Water Baptism and being ‘born of the Spirit’ is the receiving of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus clearly stated, without the completion of both these requirements, we cannot enter into God’s Kingdom (Jn. 3:5).

The ‘one Water Baptism’ is never man-made nor is it initiated by man. Although a human Baptist is required in the administering of a Water Baptism, it is in fact the Spirit that baptises us into the ‘one body of Christ’ (1 Cor. 12:13). The presence of the Holy Spirit is exactly what makes the Water Baptism, performed in the name of Jesus, by the apostles and the end-time true church, so unique. The efficacy of the Baptism lies with what the Spirit provides and not by the abilities of the human Baptist. At the same time, we understand that it is absolutely essential for the Baptism to be carried out precisely as laid out in the Bible. Continue reading

Washing of Love (3)

Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end (Jn 13:1).

The timing of Jesus’ footwashing was deliberate.

It was before the feast of the Passover. Jesus the Passover lamb was about to be slain to open the way of eternal life.

“His hour” had come—the hour foreordained by God in which Jesus must suffer death on the cross and be exalted in glory. Jesus knew fully that this time had come. He would soon depart from the world to the Father.

Jn 13:3 elaborates that Jesus knew that He had come from God and was going to God. This further emphasizes His divine origin. He, the eternal Word who had become flesh, was ready to reclaim His glory in heaven.

Jesus chose this critical moment, the moment before His death and glorification, to perform the washing of love for the disciples. Through this sacramental washing, He granted them a part with Him and prepared them for the spiritual life in Him.

Therefore, the status of having a part with our Lord is rooted in our Lord’s sacrifice and redemption. Without the atonement of Christ’s blood and His ascension to heaven, the act of footwashing would be ineffective, and we would have remained aliens to the house of God.

Paul reminds us, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand…” (Rom 5:1-2; emphasis added). Through Jesus’ footwashing and by the grace of salvation behind the washing, we are able to stand before God today. With such immeasurable price we have a footing in the kingdom of heaven.

Do you ever forget that your feet have been washed by the Lord? Are you aware that you now stand in God’s grace because of the love of Christ who laid down His life for you? You have the most extraordinary feet. Stand firm in grace and be forever grateful that Jesus has bought you a place in glory.