The Holy Spirit

I keep mention we need to regret and change our ways for getting the faith inside our hearts instead of our minds and this migth look a bit strange, so lets dig deep in the bible for theological facts so it will be backed up with facts and not just my opinion. This is of huge importance because if we don't get this part right the whole consept collapse. In other words; if you don't do this the right way, you won't get the Holy Spirit inside you and Jesus' death and arising prosess was all for nothing when it comes to your case.

Humans are more or less doomed if they try to save themselves, but there's necessery help available: The Holy Spirit is here and it's an actually "thing". We have already covered the topic holy and know it's real and available, and the biggest question in human history should be: How do we get the Holy Spirit inside us? And why is the help we need necessery?

First of all; this change can't happen by yourself, that's the most important message in this topic; It's not you placing the Holy Spirit inside you, it's given to you as a gift from God, and before we go into the details about this matter I need to take you for a historical trip. Yes, historical because these events have actually occured and they were all written down by a doctor named Lukas.

The historical events which occured earlier

The book of Luke is different from the other three Gospels, and the reason for that is (in my opinion) the author had a totally different focus: in the first book he told the historical facts and events about Jesus, the book of Luke is packed with historical fact combined with Jesus' interactings with people. Lukas' fokus continues in his book number 2; Acts of the Apostles. Scientists are certain Luke is the writer of both mentioned books (Luke and Acts). Here we read how Jesus (God) still works in the world , but now he works as The Holy Spirit. This historical telling of the fact about Gods Spirit starting to work in our world is one of the most important information in christian history. The way I (and hopefully many other) see this fact; The Holy Spirit is the redeemer in this lifetime. That's what we all actually are longing for, but we try to comfort ourselves in materialism and fail.

Okey, so now we know about the Holy Spirit and it's existance. The Holy Spirit is Gods presence in this world and it is available, but how?

I covered this in a very short version under "keeping the contact" and under the headline; Academic insight versus Faith.
 I will probably get in trouble for saying what I am about to say, but this question is of huge importance and I will turn to Paul and his overall theology-teaching in the bible. Before we go there you need some background information and a good example of how it works, let's do a short story about one the most important theologians in the history;

Pauls story of repentance, his work and integrety

Paul was well read, he knew the holy scriptures and he was very active in his work while he actually hunted down christians after Jesus' death and arising. Paul was a very religous Jude and God-fearing man who saw the christians as blasfemic since they claimed Jesus was God, but under one of his hunting affairs he had a sudden fysical incident with the arisen Jesus. He saw the arisen Jesus himself, understood he actually was God, and at the same time he was fysically blinded. After a short period of recovery, while he also got the Holy Spirit and therefore was convinced about the hole truth Paul switched sides and started to work for God. However; there's nothing mentioned in the scripture of Paul regretting his actions, but I will imagine he did regret, since chasing righteous people to death normally would have an impact on an intellegent man as he was, and after his experiance with Jesus it's easy to understand why he changed side. 

Paul (since he had the Holy Spirit) worked hard and built all of the congregations all over the Mediterranean area for decades, he recruited people he trusted and kept in touch with all of the parishes by letters which were read out loud in public and even copied for delegation. 

Paul decribed himself almost consistantly in the letters as Gods chosen one, in other words; his knowledge was not from himselves, but given to him from God.
He never received money for his christian work as he fed himself as a tentmaker. He had a hard time as he was beaten up several times, hunted down for his work, and once he was even being stoned almost to death. 

As you may understand Paul was 100% dedicated in his work and reacted every time he heard about his fellow friends were under attack, like he did when he wrote to the Korintians. 

The importance of the content in Pauls first letter to the Corinthians is huge, his concern about their approach to the "glossolali" which were in conflict with the truth.
The content of Pauls letter to the Corinthers is still of importance in our time of age.
Let's take a look at the facts he addressed:

Pauls second journey were he established the congregation of the Corinthers located left to Athens (above Achaia).
The Galatian congregation were established on his first journey, located south in the Galatian region.

Paul and the first letter to the Korintians' importance

Paul wrote the letter because he was really conserned about the congregations development, Paul heared they were very interested and focused on being in possession of the "glossolalia" which occur when people are in religious exstacy. Glossolalia means: "speaking in tounges" and is one of Gods gifts of rightgousness. The exstatic emotion which origin from religious prayer was well known is this period of time, but searching the glossolalia and the emotion of exstacy for itselves was something Paul didn't approve. The reason was quite obvious; he was terrified the congregation would collapse since they didn't seem to care about the glossolalias message content. Paul pointed out the glossolalias message needed to be deciphered so they understood what's been said. If the message wasn't deciphered it migth be in conflict with the gospel Paul (and don't forget; The Holy Spirit) had taught them. So in other words, if the Korinters didn't decipher the message been told when they were in ecstasy and if the message in worst case was in conflict with Jesus being the Lord, they were most likely getting the message from other spirits than the Holy one. 

The glossolalia is as we see one of Gods gifts of righteousness, but Paul made a clear point in his letter; the most important gift of Gods gifts of righteousness is faith. In his letter he empheziced they should encourage eachother in prioritice faith as Gods gift number one.

Now we're getting into what's really interesting in my own personal opinion; how does Paul explain the reason for faith being Gods gifts of rigthousness number one?

Gods gifts of righteousness 

This is of huge importance and we need to start with the definition of what Gods gifts of righteousness means in the origin texts; they used "Charisma" (Greek) in the origin texts and the word's meaning is of great importance when we're digging into how this consept works: "Charisma" is gifts given by God to the beleivers and are for example faith, wisdom, knowledge, glossolalia, deciphering the content of glossolalia, profetic speech, helping/comforting others, mercyfullness, hospitality and judgement (not the negative kind).
As you see the list is long and might be longer, but you see the point; the gifts of righteousness are positive abilities and they're all given you by God.

However the meaning of "given" is not how we normally know as a gift. Ordinarily we understand a gift given to us as ours, once we got it, it's ours for ever, but these gifts are not like that. The gifts given from God to us works as an activety working inside us, but the gift still belongs to God. When it comes to faith as the gift of righteousness this means we need to maintain the activety which lead to the gift been given; Remorse and selfreflection.
Faith is number one of Gods justification gifts and actually a living gift and by far; getting the Holy Spirit inside us whom creates a Father/dauther or son relationship between God and the one having it. The other justifications gifts will be developed as the person continue his or her work for God. There might be as a pastor, diakon or as a volenteer in the local community.

So how does this work out?
My point here is following; to have a genuin faith in Christ you need to be justified by God, and it only works out as Paul says in the letter to the Galatians and how Peter says in Acts of the Apostles.

The consequences of Peters speech in Acts of the Apostles

As we see in Acts 2:37-38: "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent (metanoeo in Greek) and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

We see their hearts were "cut" and they really wanted to know what to do, this stands out as a genuine way to repent and is the only way for getting the Holy Spirit. Only then will God offer you the gift of rightguessness; faith. Those who disagree actually claim Jesus' death and resurrection were pointless since they stand out as humans whom are able to save themselves.

The gift given to you after repenting is though not yours as a gift to own. You need to cherish it for keeping it, and you have to keep the activety alive for still being in possession of this gift. 
(Baptism is also of great importance for getting The Holy Spirit, but thats a topic for later).

Now we see faith is not what we normally understand as the meaning of the word faith, on the contrary it's a teqnicality and works at Gods will. This is a fact and the same goes for what we actually beleive in, which brings us to another point Pauls needed to address;

Pauls letter to the Galatians (4:4-7)

Some scientists' work tells us this Letter was written in exactly year 48 A.D. and Pauls reason for writing it was even sligthly of a personal manner; some people were questioning Pauls authority as an apostle of Christ and at the same time they were trying to twist the Galatians' belief to turn in another direction. The short backstory was some Jude-christians claimed the Galatians needed to be circumsized for getting the Holy Spirit. Pauls counterpoint in the letter was; the Galatians had already felt and experianced the Holy Spirits' presence after he told them the gospel when they first met, so how can they turn away from this lifegiving faith now?

How is the gospel a lifegiving kind of faith? 

Paul explains it in a familiar way; because it creates a Father, -daugther and -son relationship when the Holy Spirit takes place inside the beleivers heart and start calling for God "the father". This is a teqnicality in my opinion and works as a dynamic relationship like this;
After you got The Holy Spirit inside you it's not yours to own, it stayes inside you as long as the "environment" is holy and as long as you beleive in exactly the gospel which is told by Paul and as you now well understand; by The Holy Spirit himself. 

If you read Gal 4:4-7 you'll see Pauls way of compressing the gospel and making it clear that this is the only valid gospel which provide you the Holy Spirit. He even puts a legal justification mark on it as an inheritance. Paul is actually explaining the doctrine of salvation in this letter and he lays it out in a very logic way when he points out that the promises of Abraham belongs to everyone whom believes in Jesus as God. Paul argues The Holy spirit as the link which makes this relationship real, alive and legally binded as in right of inheritance.
The point Paul makes by saying the ones beleiving in Jesus as God are the rightfull owners of the salvations by inheritence which comes from the promise being made to all of Abrahams descendants.
Pauls makes two great arguments in this small text (4:4-7): Jesus' actions was needed for our sake as a scapegoat and the ones whom see this logic after their own repentance is given the rigthousness gift number one; faith and become rightgeousness by God. This is in Paul and many theologians opinion the forfullment of the Promise of Abraham which we see in Genesis and Joel 3,1-5.
Pauls unwraps in Gal 3:6-9 like this; "just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."

So what's the consequences of all these teqnicalities?

In my opinion it's alot and lets point out the most important one: The salvation is (gladly) available for everyone, but only (sorry for saying this) if you repent in a genuine way which in it's own way also have a few consequences. First of all I wanna share a private story:

The relationship as Paul explained as a Father and son/daugther starts were the Holy Spirit takes place is the beleivers heart and starts calling for the Father from it's new location. This is what happend to me in my revelation-situation. I remember I started to beleive in God in an instant without even knowing anything about Him. So yes, I can really relate to this teqnicality being 100% true and even what caused it to happen; genuin remorsefullness. 


I would like to point out a few consequences of the theologies teqnicalities:

1.  Being caught for doing something bad "is a gift".
Why? Because then you will have a great oppurtunity to go through a genuine remorse were you will finally be in contact with God.

2.  Does this means many of those being born into a christian family and live like christians from the start and whom never (?!) sinned don't have the holy spirit? Maybe. Why? Because humans have to regret and show genuin remorse to be saved, and if you lived a life without doing something bad or wrong you don't have anything to be remorseful for and therefore nothing to ask forgiveness for.

Paul says: It's not possible to have the Holy Spirit without remorse and this consept creates a huge problem for every "born into" christianity and I wanna compare their situation with every other religion in this world; they all trying to save themselves instead of being saved by God. This situation is demanding and it's not in my place to tell people they are good or bad, I just want to make sure everybody understand Gods consept which applies to everyone; we're all sinners and we all need to be saved. Even after our redemtion!

So to make this clear, lets take one example from my own situation:
Yes, I was filled with love after my redemtion, Gods spirit filled me with love, but this situation won't last without subsequently effort. Some theologist will migth claim I'm saying :"I saved myself". No, I did not save myself, my remorse started the saving prosess and God saved me when I answered "yes we have a God". My point is I (and everyone else) have to keep up with "remorse-activity" and at the same time expand our knowledge about God and his consept. In my situation that came quite easy since I started studying theology, but at the same time I started to see how God actually work in my daily life. He corrects me, lead me and love me. The point? Even if I am saved by God doesn't meen I can sit down and just chill out, I need to work hard for keeping this relationship last and growing. My salvation was amazing, but the process leading to it was painful. The remorse activity was hard and maybe it was hard since I had alot to feel remorseful about, that's at least what I beleive. 

So lets be honest about this part, cause without genuine remorse you won't be filled with The Holy Spirit, it's just a fact and explained in Pauls theology. When all that's been said I beleive that those who are "born into" christianity (since childhood) have an easier way for being filled with the Holy spirit because they (most likely) have less to be remorseful for, but the consept were the Holy spirit is available after remorse also applies for them. The "remorse part" is most likely less painfull for them.

Why is the help necessary? 

Because we're all "sick" or "degenerated" if you like. It' just how we all are. You, me and even the Pope and every human walking around here, yes even the kindest person you have heard of in history have the ability to be evil. We just need the "right (or wrong) buttons to be pushed" for getting to the point were the evil nature inside us will show itselves in action. That's a fact and makes the help necessary.

In other words; You may try as hard as you can, but you don't stand a chance to make this on your own. And by all means; if you say you do, I'm sorry for saying it, but then you are lying to yourselves. Yes, this is a hard pill to swallow, but as we know; the help is available in a genuin remorse were you are 100% honest with yourself and God. He see you anyway, so what's the problem? Still proud? 

Basilica of Saint Paul "Outside the Walls"

Paul ended his days as a martyr in Rome being decapitated. He knew he was going to die a martyr.

Pauls tomb in Rome, available for anyone to see for themselves. 

Historical facts helps us get the correct perspectives in our faith, like seing Pauls tomb made me sure he was in fact a man whom had been walking around on the same place as myself, but the historical facts and the academic texts are not the most important when it comes to faith. The most important is to have genuine faith, whom Paul draws our attention to in his theological teaching. He stressed everyone about the need for receiving the gift of righteousness which is given by God after remorsefullness, and to stick to this activity.

This world also contain bad choices, evil actions and despicable thoughts. While Paul learned the Galatians and the Corinthians he made it clear they needed to stick to the one and only gospel and to decipher the message in the glossolalia so they were sure the message came from the Holy Spirit despite other spirits., this is of huge interest and in my opinion it  brings up several questions;
 First of all; whom migth the other sources be? And does this means there are invisible creatures whom trying to mislead us?

Remember what we learned about "other spirits" and what Paul said about those. Therefore I wanna emphasize this: there are other creatures/energies craving and figthing for our attention and it's not those we wanna get in tough with. They don't care about you being honest and going through a genuin selfreflection. They like you just the way you are and don't want you to change at all. They will most likely show up in your thoughts as well, but they will try making you beleive this is all nonsence and not worth while your time.
And last, but not least; how can we handle this situation without being in danger? Click into next page and read about "the Accuser".