Acts 11:15-17 (NASB20) 15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. 16 “And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 “Therefore, if God gave them the same gift as He also gave to us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NASB20) 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Notice both verses say they were given the Holy Spirit AFTER believing. The Holy Spirit is the first installment of our inheritance. To obtain an inheritance, you first have to qualify as a descendant … but a descendant of whom?
Romans 4:9-17 (NASB20) 9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, then faith is made void and the promise is nullified; 15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written: “I HAVE MADE YOU A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, that is, God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that do not exist.
Galatians 3:6-9 (NASB20) 6 Just as Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, recognize that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
when we have the same faith in the gospel that Abraham had, we are counted as Abraham’s descendants & heirs of the righteousness he was given for his faith.
Genesis 17:4-7 (NASB20) 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 “No longer shall you be named Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 “I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.
The Holy Spirit in us is “circumcision of the heart.” It replaces circumcision of the flesh as the seal of the righteousness which comes through faith in the gospel. Deuteronomy 30:6 prophesied that circumcision would eventually be “of the heart.”
note the language of Romans 4 where Paul repeatedly makes the point that righteousness came prior to circumcision, but after faith in the gospel. Abraham was circumcised as a seal of the righteousness of faith- creating the pattern we all follow after.
Romans 2:29 (NASB20) But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.
