When we behold the glory of God, we are changed into His image from glory to glory. The ministry of the HolySpirit is to reveal Jesus to us through the Bible, and to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ, as we behold Him (2Cor 3:18). All it takes to be like Jesus is to behold Him consistently through the words of the Bible, as the HolySpirit illuminates them. The Divinely intended purpose of the Bible is not merely to acquaint us with the historical Jesus, but to lead us into an intimate relationship with the Jesus who is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb 13:8).
    God is interested in revealing Himself to man. That is the implication of the following words of the Bible: “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.” (Jer 9:23,24). No man knows God by his human wisdom, might or riches. To know God is not by might or by power but by the HolySpirit (Zech 4:6).
    Jesus is the way to the Father, the truth about the Father and the manifestation of the life of the Father to mankind (Jn 14:6). Apart from Jesus, it is impossible to know God. However, apart from the HolySpirit, it is impossible to know Jesus. John the Baptist said, “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’” (Jn 1:33). Without the HolySpirit’s spotlight on Him, even John the Baptist, His herald would not have recognised Jesus by His true identity. For  this reason, the HolySpirit plays certain significant roles among human beings.
    Firstly, the HolySpirit convicts the sinner of his or her sinfulness and consequent need of a saviour. Jesus said the HolySpirit would convict the world of sin (Jn 16:8). If that sinner responds positively by receiving Jesus into his or her life, the HolySpirit immerses or initiates him or her into the body of Christ. This is what 1Cor 12:13, means by saying, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” That person, as a result of this baptism, from that moment, becomes a bona fide member of the body of Christ. This baptism is the inward reality which water baptism outwardly symbolizes. This is the born again experience.
    Secondly, the HolySpirit testifies to the believer’s NewBirth experience (Rom 8:16). The born again experience is not a mental or physical phenomenon, but a spiritual one. A person who gets born again does not experience mental or physical transformation, though progressive mental transformation should follow. This is what the second verse of the twelfth chapter of the book of  Romans calls the ‘renewing of the mind’. The body, however, remains the same, until the return of Jesus, when it will be transformed into a glorious body (Philip 3:20,21; 1Cor 15:42-44). Hence, the HolySpirit who lives in the reborn spirit of the believer gives him or her the assurance of salvation within. He is the Spirit of adoption in the Christian, who cries out Abba, Father (Rom 8:15).
    Among the the things that Jesus said the HolySpirit would do for us as believers is to teach and remind us of everything He has said. This is an important role the HolySpirit plays in the life of a Christian (Jn 14:26). The Bible, which is God’s manual for our lives, remains a closed book until the HolySpirit teaches us from it. The true milk of the word by which the believer grows spiritually is not the letters of the Bible, but the spirit and life contained therein (Jn 6:63; 2Cor 3:6). The essence of the Bible is to guide mankind to a relationship, fellowship and growth in Jesus. Shalom.   

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Updated: April 11, 2021 — 5:27 am

The Author

Pastor Obinna Ihekaike

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