Pneumatology Realization

Ezekiel 36 is a prophecy of a new day for the nation of Israel and awaits that time when the nation of Israel shall be saved (Romans 11:26). At that time, the earthly people of God will as a whole be brought under the new covenant and this is exactly what Ezekiel 36:26,27 describes. First Israel will receive "a new heart ...and a new spirit." This is the experience of every person who has ever been saved. By the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the human spirit is regenerated (made new) and the heart is transformed from a "stony heart" to a "heart of flesh."

Simultaneous to receiving a new heart is the entrance of the Holy Spirit into the body of the believer (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). Thus, the future experience of Israel here prophesied is the present experience of every individual who places faith in Christ. It is vastly important to realize that the ministry of the Holy Spirit of God is vital to the very existence of Christianity. Without His presence in the life of the believer, Christianity is impossible.

The Essence of Christianity The Christianity of the Bible is founded upon a unique relationship with God through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the agency of the Holy Spirit. The blessed Comforter promised by our Lord in John 14:17 is the Holy Spirit. Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of His power in the believer’s life, it is possible for the Christian to maintain certain aspects of a relationship with God which are impossible otherwise.

Prayer – Jude 20; Eph. 6;18 Praise – 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:18,19 Worship – John 4:24 Prayer – Jude 20; Eph. 6;18 Praise – 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:18,19 Assurance – Gal. 4:6

The Effervescence of Christianity The crowning feature of vital Christianity is genuine joy. Joy is the result of a state of being, not the state of the being; that is, the believer experiences deep joy because of the presence of the Holy Spirit regardless of the conditions of his earthly life. (Gal. 5:22; Rom. 14:17. This produces peace (Phil. 4:7; Isa. 26:3; Rom. 15:13; 1 Th. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:7,8; Jude 24,25)

The Evidence of Christianity Worldly people are gullible when it comes to error and cynical when it comes to truth. While the simple exposition of the truth ought to be sufficient, it is not to unbelievers. Paul explains why. (2 Cor. 4:3,4) Not only must the truth of God be preached but it must also be practiced before the world. Christianity must be manifested in all its power. (Acts 17:6; 2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 1:27-29)

The power of the Holy Spirit working in the life of the believer clearly manifests to the eyes of the world that the gospel is indeed a reality with which to contend. The Holy Spirit within is the very life of God being lived through the lives of the saints, that God may be glorified, that the church may be edified, and the world may be electrified.