But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. . But the natural man does not perceive the things of the Spirit of God. Christ said the Holy Spirit would convict the world "Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged" (John 16:11). John F. Walvoord, long-time president of Dallas Theological Seminary, was one of the most prominent evangelical scholars of his generation. You have not lied to man but to God. When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. The ministry of the Holy Spirit in restraining sin in the world is most important, however, though few direct references are found in Scripture. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, Look at us. And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth? So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.read more.Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go up and join this chariot. Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Do you understand what you are reading? And he said, Well, how could I, unless someone guides me? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Satan stands already convicted, doomed, and waiting the execution of the sentence. Genuine salvation is never found except among those who have heard the Word of God. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? The Bible says that the human spirit is the very breath of Almighty God and was breathed into man at the beginning of God's creation: "Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being" ( Genesis 2:7 ). Ecclesiastes 12:7 speaks of the time of death as the time when the "spirit shall return unto God who gave it." God gave the spirit and the spirit will return to God. 12. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. The prophets of the period of Israels decadence before the captivities were living examples of the power of the Holy Spirit to minister in the midst of sin and unbelief. Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. According to the passage, the man of sin will not be revealed until the one who restrains is removed. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. been overemphasized by the church, these sacraments do reveal in symbol the Gospel message, and the Lords Supper in particular is to be observed because it shows the Lords death till he come (1 Cor 11:26). Denney, Findlay, Alford, Moffatt, hold that this refers to law and order, especially as embodied in the Roman Empire. Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. By the husband; rather, in the brother. Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.. The Bible, wherever it has gone, has produced its attendant effect not only on those who believed it but also indirectly has influenced the thought and action of the unsaved world. Also, the prince of Persia (Daniel 10:13) is a reference to an evil spiritual entity . And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted;Moreover my flesh also will live in hope; Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades,Nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. If it be conceded that the Holy Spirit undertook to strive with men to restrain sin in the Old Testament, it is even more evident that a similar ministry will be found in the present age in which the Spirit is present in the Church. But the person who is not a Christian does not understand these words from the Holy Spirit. As Dr. Thiessen writes: But who is the one that restraineth? 3 He shall be like a tree. But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. They have no ability to worship or serve God. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit: the Unforgivable Sin. I am the good shepherd. There is one body and one Spiritjust as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call one Lord, one faith, one baptism, For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. In fact, such things cant be understood without the Spirits help. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD" (Jeremiah 17:7). This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. For they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. They are foolishness to such people, you see, and they cant understand them because they need to be discerned spiritually. (Series to be continued in the July-September Number, 1941). Introduction. Because of it, sin was imputed to the race; men are spiritually dead apart from Christ; men possess a fallen nature which issues in manifestation; and, important to our present study, men are unable to comprehend the truth of God. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. The unsaved must see Christ as judged and executed for them, and their judgment for sin as already past. Apart from this work of the Holy Spirit, God would continue to be unrevealed to a lost race; the death of Christ would be inapplicable to men; and the purpose of God to save the elect would be impossible of fulfillment. In the case of Balaam, God even used a donkey to communicate truth (Numbers 22). Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. Summary Before a person becomes a Christian, Scripture calls them the natural man. Attitudes While Waiting For Second Coming. But it is a spirit in man,And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know. Ephesians 2:8-9 serves as a wonderful summary of this dynamic, stating, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. The importance of this ministry of the Spirit must be recognized before the necessity of prayer for the lost can be realized. To answer the question, we can turn to the book of Ecclesiastes. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Everyone will stand before God in judgment. While unsaved men may be able to imitate some of the outward manifestations of Christian conduct, there is never the reality of inward experience, though in some cases it may be difficult to determine whether some individuals are unsaved or saved. The work of the Holy Spirit in restraining sin as found in the Old Testament continues in the present age. The presence of the individual Christian, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, constitutes a force to hinder the world in its sin. They cant understand them. First, the unsaved must understand that salvation depends upon faith in Christ. The church corporately has done much to influence the world, even though it has failed to measure up to Biblical standards itself. then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition, New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The character of this work of restraining sin varies slightly in different ages, however. For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean., (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.). 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Is there a scripture of God casting our sins in a sea of forgetfulness? The period of tribulation on the contrary is one in which Satans work is most evident. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. The condition of man is hopeless apart from divine intervention. Z. For He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken, Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted, You have made known to me the ways of life, You will make me full of gladness with Your presence. Verse Concepts. No one comes to the Father except through me. His work in revealing truth through the prophets, particularly the warnings of judgment to come, and the work of inspiration of the Scriptures with their power helped to restrain sin. Common grace provides none of the normal experiences of the Christian such as are produced by the unhindered indwelling Holy Spirit. To the Holy Spirit, also, is committed the task of making known the way of salvation to a race which has no natural capacity to receive it with understanding. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them. But Peter began and explained it to them in order: I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. The work of the Holy Spirit in relation to the unsaved world is most important for a number of reasons. That person thinks they are foolish and cannot understand them, because they can only be judged to be true by the Spirit. While the Word of God is not necessarily related to the general works of God in restraining sin, in providence, and in acts of sovereignty, the revelation of the truth of the Gospel comes only through the Word of God. N Some have advanced another view which contends that Satan himself is restraining sin lest it manifest its true character. The present age enjoys the ministry of this restrainer whose presence and ministry make impossible the manifestation of the man of sin. and the natural man doth not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for to him they are foolishness, and he is not able to know [them], because spiritually they are discerned; Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Serving Wholeheartedly. Of himself or of someone else?. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. A popular view of this passage is that human government is this restraining force. This is the second death, the lake of fire. While all forces of law and order tend to restrain sin, they are not such in their own character, but rather as they are used and empowered to accomplish this end by God. Everyone will stand before God in judgment. The person who does not have the Spirit does not receive the blessings of the Spirit of God. After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. The subject of the passage is the coming day of the Lord in which the man of sin will be revealed (2 Thess 2:3). While the restraining hand of the Holy Spirit is little realized by the church at large, His protection and power shield the Christian from the impossible task of living in a world in which sin is unrestrained. B For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. Through the Bible, the Holy Spirit describes the redemptive work of Christ. Common grace in its broader sense may have the effect of restraining sin, and it is often regarded as including this aspect. Man and beast are distinguished in this way. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. 12:8 ). The natural man is an unsaved man, who views excess indulgence in the desires of the flesh to be a good thing. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. The fact remains that the Spirit of God brings conviction and understanding to many who never believe, who turn from the Gospel even after the way of salvation is made plain to them. While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. Do we have to live a perfect life to go to heaven? What prevents me from being baptized? [And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.] And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. Water! To him the gatekeeper opens. The unsaved need to know that sin was judged in the cross, and for those who trust in Christ there is deliverance from judgment upon sin and deliverance from condemnation. Plus, you'll also get some beautiful graphic goodies to go along with the lessons, the new scripture writing plan, and the monthly scripture writing questions. It would seem a preferable interpretation to view all restraint of sin, regardless of means, as proceeding from God as a ministry of the Holy Spirit. Q Section 2. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. Satan is nowhere given universal power over the world, though his influence is inestimable. You have made known to me the ways of life;You will make me full of gladness with Your presence. Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. The love, joy, peace, and other fruit of the Spirit are never found in those who have merely experienced common grace. In addition to natural inability is the work of Satan blinding the hearts of the lost to the light of the Gospel (2 Cor 4:4). The Bible gives an illustration of the spirit of man. Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of Gods Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. While these elements may not be always seen clearly, they form the principles which combine to bring the unsaved into the knowledge necessary to place saving faith in Christ. What is the name of the Father? I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Satan, also known as the Devil is sometimes referred to as the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), prince of demons (Matthew 9:34), father of lies (John 8:44), "ruler of this world" (John 12:31) and god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Now the natural person does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God, for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it, because it is judged spiritually. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Am I not an apostle? New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,Searching all the innermost parts of his being. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. 430, 431. That is where your battle comes in. TopicalBible He didn't judge and condemn the . The Bible call him an unbeliever, a sinner and an unregenerate person. The many other ministries of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament tended to restrain sin. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. For less than $5/mo. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. In relating the Word of God to the doctrine of common grace, two extremes in doctrine may be observed. Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.