How do we know if we have the Holy Spirit?

[Ainesis]

We can't come to faith unless the Spirit directs us upon hearing the word of God.

The drawing of the Spirit is not the samething as the indwelling of the Spirit. Otherwise, Paul's question of whether they have "received" the Spirit since believing (having already come to faith) would be illogical. Regardless of the condition of the disciples being addressed, Paul puts forth the possibility of them being believers and not having "received" the Spirit. In fact, Paul himself believed before receiving the Spirit.

I don't have the Gift of Tongues. Does that mean that I am not saved?

Well, if your salvation is such that you have to ask me for verification, then I would say no, you probably are not. I understand your question, but salvation is not something that requires external verification. So, please either reread what I have written or tell me precisely what I have said to lead you to this question.

 

[Ainesis]

It says......Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the Evidence of things not seen.

thanks! I did.

Yet, that is a continuous string, one sentence expanding on one thought. It does not say faith is the substance of things hoped for "or" the evidence of things not seen.

Further, I would hardly say that the Spirit is not seen as there have been times as documented in Scripture where it has manifested in such a way as to be visible to others. So this verse does not seem to fit the Spirit in either case.

Lastly, we are told that the Spirit produces "fruit" that is visible to others, which is why we are to know others "by their fruit"; not by their faith, because many will claim to have faith, even falsely.

 

[duh_hikki_zealot]

First off, when we become Chrstians, we are automatically sealed with God with the "giving" of the Holy Spirit as an added bonus. Being indwelt with the Holy Spirit, does not mean that you are filled with it. We have the sinful nature and the Christian nature. Sure we are saved, the sins washed away, but the sinful nature still lurks there (proof o which is that we still sin..). Unless we experience freedom from sin (meaning after sinning), then that's the time the Holy Spirit comes in to "fill us up".

 

[troymartin]

Op here

Thanks for the replies.
I was under the impression that the holy spirit would be quite evident in us.
I can see definite changes in myself so i would certainly hope that it is spirit caused.
I dont speak in tongues or anything or have visions etc...
The outward signs of the spirit.
The inward signs of your personal relationship with christ should be the real evidence.
The realm of sensuality must surely be the realm of the devil because it is where i am most often deceived.

 

[SPALATIN]

The drawing of the Spirit is not the samething as the indwelling of the Spirit. Otherwise, Paul's question of whether they have "received" the Spirit since believing (having already come to faith) would be illogical. Regardless of the condition of the disciples being addressed, Paul puts forth the possibility of them being believers and not having "received" the Spirit. In fact, Paul himself believed before receiving the Spirit.

Since we can not come to salvation by manner of our own will or decision then we have to depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us once we have heard the word of God. For he does all of the work and not I so that I can not have the right to boast. [Eph 2:8-9]

Well, if your salvation is such that you have to ask me for verification, then I would say no, you probably are not. I understand your question, but salvation is not something that requires external verification. So, please either reread what I have written or tell me precisely what I have said to lead you to this question.

I was saying that because in some Christian denominations or sects there are those who will say that unless you have the gift of Tongues you can't be saved. It was a loaded question I realize but I was baiting not just you but anyone who might have that belief. I am sorry to have questioned your post in that way.

So is there anyone here that believes that the Gift of Tongues is the only sign of salvation in a person?

 

[Ainesis]

[/color]

Since we can not come to salvation by manner of our own will or decision then we have to depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us once we have heard the word of God. For he does all of the work and not I so that I can not have the right to boast. [Eph 2:8-9]

The drawing or guiding of the Holy Spirit is not the same thing as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Neither His drawing or indwelling is the work of man nor is it determined by man, but they are not the same still.

I was saying that because in some Christian denominations or sects there are those who will say that unless you have the gift of Tongues you can't be saved. It was a loaded question I realize but I was baiting not just you but anyone who might have that belief. I am sorry to have questioned your post in that way.

So is there anyone here that believes that the Gift of Tongues is the only sign of salvation in a person?

I truly appreciate your clarification. I am not one who believes that tongues is the evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, although it can be one evidence. We are not told to look for tongues, but for fruit. Even the devil has supernatural authority to mimick the gifts of God, so relying on supernatural gifts is a faulty premise.

 

[StevenL]

Yet, that is a continuous string, one sentence expanding on one thought. It does not say faith is the substance of things hoped for "or" the evidence of things not seen.

Further, I would hardly say that the Spirit is not seen as there have been times as documented in Scripture where it has manifested in such a way as to be visible to others. So this verse does not seem to fit the Spirit in either case.

Lastly, we are told that the Spirit produces "fruit" that is visible to others, which is why we are to know others "by their fruit"; not by their faith, because many will claim to have faith, even falsely.

Well, I see both sides of the discussion. So I'll just be satisfied that I have the Spirit because I believed. And yes, I think the fruit should be visible to others. But...I know people who don't claim to have the Spirit who have more outward lovingkindness, patience, self-control, etc., than many "Spirit-filled" christians with whom I'm acquainted so if those qualities are inherently "evidences" that someone has the Spirit of God...we've got some problems there. But anyway, one reason that I split the hairs like I do on the "evidence" teaching is that I've witnessed over many years the fruit of the "baptism-of-the-holy-ghost-with-the-evidence-of-speaking-in-tongues" doctrine and it stinks. It's just a personal thing I suppose. It was interesting tossing it about with you. Thanks for your perspective!

 

[Ainesis]

You are welcome. I enjoyed it as well. God Bless!

 

[Archangel]

The basic message is that if we are led by the Holy Spirit then we are the children of God.
This is then obviously an essential thing to consider regarding our salvation from God.
How then do we identify within ourselves if we have been blessed with the Holy Spirit?

Hey there.

Yes, God promises his Holy Spirit and on Pentecost poured him out for all nations and peoples [Acts 2] Pentecost is a new experience, it was the event that marked changed. An event that has never and probably will never been seen again.

Now as Christians we have an indwelling of the Spirit. When we come to Christ we recieve his Spirit. Some believe that we must experience a supernatural feat in order to provide evidence of a Spirit filled life. This is not so. The only evidence is the fruit of the Spirit [Colossians 3] It is true, the Holy Spirit does bring supernatural and exciting manifestations at times, but these experiences are not proof of our walk with God. We must concentrate on loving one and other and living "as a holy priesthood". All other Spirit given experiences are additional blessings from God.

Don't worry if you personally haven't recieved some spiritial experience, Jesus simply calls us to follow in faith, [like Peter]

For me, I know that the Spirit is in me because the bible says so. The bible says I have the outpouring of the Spirit in my life, its my job to show that, to show that evidence, by living in love and living Spirit filled life.

Besides that main reasons, other reasons such as his [sometimes immediate] answer to prayer, guidence [both scriptural and life] and encouragement. He encourages, supports, guides, strengthens and prepares us during our lives, sometimes in the most unusual ways!

Thank Jesus for his Spirit, now lets live like we have him, because we know we have him!

 

[Colossians]

The participants in the discussion to date, are confusing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit with the Baptism in the Spirit.

The former is synonomous with conversion.

The latter is a 'coming upon' of the Holy Spirit, given for power and boldness of witness to human beings, the demonic realm, and the heavenly realm. This does not elevate the status of a Christian: all are brothers saved by grace, none to boast. What it does is simply move the Christian into an experiental realm of warfare in spiritual things, thus presenting to him the experience of what he already possesses through having been born again.

 

[StevenL]

The participants in the discussion to date, are confusing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit with the Baptism in the Spirit.

The former is synonomous with conversion.

The latter is a 'coming upon' of the Holy Spirit, given for power and boldness of witness to human beings, the demonic realm, and the heavenly realm. This does not elevate the status of a Christian: all are brothers saved by grace, none to boast. What it does is simply move the Christian into an experiental realm of warfare in spiritual things, thus presenting to him the experience of what he already possesses through having been born again.

This only applies if you are of one of the sects that make such a distinction. I do not so I'm not confusing the two.