The mechanics of the believer's appointment is the baptism of the Holy Spirit; John 15:16.Title: The mechanics of the believer's appointment is the baptism of the Holy Spirit; John 15:16.
The appointment of the believer at salvation is a part of the baptism of the Spirit in which the believer's body is made the temple of God and Christ who indwells becomes the foundation of all spiritual growth.
1 Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it.
1 Cor 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
No creature has the ability to lay this foundation or to appoint Christ as foundation and so this completely excludes asking Jesus into your heart or into your life or into anywhere!
Jesus Christ as your foundation is synonymous with positional truth; RPT and CPT, which is buildable with sound doctrine.
The baptism of the Spirit is the ministry that God uses to enter each believer in the CA into union with Christ.
Gal 3:1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
Gal 3:2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Gal 3:4 Did you suffer so many things in vain — if indeed it was in vain?
Gal 3:5 Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Gal 3:25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Eph 4:4-5 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
2 Thess 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
2 Thess 2:14 And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This baptism of the Spirit is one of the seven salvation ministries of God the HS and it is instantaneous and unfelt, 1 Cor 12:13.
1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
By placing the believer “in Christ” this ministry of GHS is the link between the great power given to Christ and the available power to the CA believer.
Throughout the CA, the baptism of the Spirit forms the royal family of God, the Church Universal, also called the body of Christ.
1 Cor 12:12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
Because we are in union with Christ, we now are able to be sustained, nourished, and empowered by the postsalvation ministry of God the HS, 2 Tim 2:21.
2 Tim 2:21 Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
At the moment in faith in Christ God the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer. In essence baptism means identification. Christ was identified with the sins of the whole world and satisfied the Father’s Justice concerning sin. A person who believes in Christ is identified with Christ through the supernatural work of God the Holy Spirit and he is entered into union with Christ forever.
The baptism of the Spirit sets the believer apart in positional sanctification from unbelievers and from believers in other dispensations.
Each believer has been sanctified in Christ for the glory of Christ. This is the purpose of his appointment in the body of Christ.
1 Cor 1:2 to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
1 Cor 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
This is addressed to a very cosmic church that was hampered by immoral and moral degeneracy, but the baptism of the Spirit at salvation for each believer results in positional sanctification and therefore it does not depend upon spiritual status.
Each believer is in union with the King of kings forever.
The baptism of the Spirit is not seen, felt, tasted, touched, or smelt. It is not an experience. It is a supernatural work of God for every believer.
Therefore, the appointment of the believer in union with Christ and in the body of Christ becomes the starting line of a tremendous journey and a great adventure with a definite goal; the glorification of Christ. Success in crossing the finish line of this journey requires tremendous power, deep seated faith, understanding the terrain, understanding the field manual or map (doctrine), and a willingness to press on despite setbacks.
This is not any old race that is full of hype just before the start and easily forgotten not long after the finish. This race is a matter of life abundantly or life miserably.
The plan of God can prosper your soul, making your life abundant or it can roll right over you. It can lift you up to great spiritual heights or crush you as it moves forward to ultimate victory.
God’s plan must originate completely from Him. Since He is perfect and His plan therefore is perfect, the plan can only be realized God’s way. His perfect plan can only be understood from His perfect revelation of His perfect word.
However, God’s perfect plan is designed for imperfect creatures. Any human substitution in any way, no matter how small, will destroy the integrity of the whole.
How does God protect the perfect integrity of His plan from the imperfections of His creatures? Grace! |