SPIRITUALITY IS NOT:
a. Quietism
b. Eradication
c. Suppressionism
d. Self-crucifixion
e. Passivism
f. Making Christ Lord
A SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN IS A SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN BECAUSE HE IS VITALLY RELATED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE HOLY SPIRIT’S ACTIVITY AT THE MOMENT OF SALVATION:
Regenerates, John 3:5
Indwells, 1 Corinthians 6:19,20
Baptizes, 1 Corinthians 12:13
Seals, Ephesians 4:30
SUBSEQUENT TO SALVATION, THE HOLY FILLS THE BELIEVER AT THE POINT OF FELLOWSHIP.
Spirituality and carnality are mutually exclusive, 1 John 1:5-7; 3:4-9, therefore, spirituality is an absolute.
The spiritual believer is not subject to the Mosaic Law, Romans 8:2-4; 10:4; Galatians 5:18,23.
The spiritual believer is under a supernatural law, Galatians 5:16-18; Romans 8:2-4.
When filled with the Spirit, the believer cannot sin.
A Christian must make a decision to go out of fellowship, then he can sin, 1 John 3:4-9 (unyielded).
Fruit in the life depends on the filling of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 3:1-15.
Results of the control of the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 5:18ff:
a. Singing, Ephesians 5:19
b. Thanksgiving, Ephesians 5:20
c. Good relations with other believers, Ephesians 5:21
d. Domestic tranquility, Ephesians 5:22
e. Good relations on the job, Ephesians 6:5-9
f. A well equipped believer, Ephesians 6:10-17
g. Prayer, Ephesians 6:18
h. Witnessing, Ephesians 6:19-20
The workings of spirituality:
a. Confess, I John 1:9
b. Yield, Romans 6:13, 12:1
Spirituality must have constant application, Ephesians 5:18 (present tense); John 15:1-5.
The Spiritual life is never free from temptation.
There is no room for a defeated attitude.
True spirituality is the manifestation of Christ in the believer, Ephesians 5:1.
Spirituality is always based on the work of Christ:
a. Present work of Christ, John 16:13-14, Hebrews 2:18, 4:15-16; 7:25, 1 John 2:1
b. Past work of Christ, Romans 6:3-4, 7:4; John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 2:11,12,20; 3:1-3,9,10.
c. Faith appropriates Christ’s work, John 7:37-39.
The power of spirituality is the Holy Spirit.
a. Baptizes, 1 Corinthians 12:13
b. Indwells, 1 Corinthians 6:19
c. Fills, Ephesians 5:18
d. Produces fruit, Galatians 5:22,23
Spirituality is both passive (grace) and active (human responsibility).
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AND MAN’S RIGHTEOUSNESS (total depravity)
Total depravity does not mean that man has no concept of right and wrong, Romans 2:14,15
All men are completely sinful in relation to God, 2 Timothy 3:13, James 3:9
Everyone is defective in personality:
Mind, Romans 1:20, 3:11
Will, Romans 1:32, 3:12
Emotion, Romans 1:32, 3:17
All men have an evil tendency, Romans 7:17, 20,21,23,25.
No one has capacity to produce self-righteousness that will please God, Isaiah 64:6
Two kinds of righteousness:
Man’s, Philippians 3:7-9
God’s, Romans 10:1-4
Difference is one of quality, not quantity.
SPIRITUALITY MEANS THE BELIEVER IS FREE FROM THE LAW
Law has three parts:
Ceremonial
Civil
Moral (we did not die to the moral law) Romans 7
Contrast the Law and Imperatives of the New Testament:
OT Law = penalty, NT Imperative = no penalty, but corrects
OT Law = no supernatural enablement, NT Imperative = there is supernatural enablement
OT Law = motivation to get blessed, NT Imperative = motivation because we are blessed
OT Law = results in man’s righteousness, NT Imperative = results in God’s righteousness, Romans 3:7-9.
THE NEW MAN
The new man is not the natural man made better
The new man is not the infusing of a new personality
The new man is a new influence on personality
The old and new men do co-exist — the old is not eradicated, Romans 7:14-25; 8:23; Galatians 5:16,17; I John 1:8
The new man is a new capacity implanted in us, Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9,10, 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15.
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Never repeated in an individual in the NT
It is universal – He baptizes every Christian into his body, 1 Corinthians 12:13
It is never commanded so it is not our responsibility
In NT, experience is related to filling, never baptism
The baptism of the Spirit is positional truth
Spiritual baptism is distinctive of the dispensation of grace
In Gospels –baptism of the Spirit always anticipated, Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:7; Luke 3:13; John 1:33
Occurred first at Pentecost, Acts 1:4-5 (prophesied), Acts 11:16 (occurred already)
Church not found in the OT
Spiritual baptism is the basis of justification, 1 Corinthians 5:21
Spiritual baptism is the basis of unity; 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 7:37-39
Union with Christ is the basis of sanctification, Romans 6-8
Positional sanctification by union with Christ, Romans 6:1-14, Judicial; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 2:9-12
Distinction between baptism of the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit:
Baptism
– never commanded
– past event
– true of all believers
– occurs once
– union
– positional
and
Filling
– commanded
– present experience
– true only of some
– continuance
– communion
– experiential
