Testing the claim to holy spirit.
Sept 12, 2019 14:35:13 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Sept 12, 2019 14:35:13 GMT -5
Fruits or Effects of the holy spirit
It is called fruitage because Jesus compared people to trees and their behavior to fruitage.
The Apostle Paul expands on this concept in his letter to the Christian congregation in the city of Galatia, by making a detailed contrast between the two fruitages.
So if a person claims to have holy spirit behaves in a manner described as the fruitage of the flesh, by being sexually immoral, prone to impatience and anger, being a drunkard, full of selfishness, and so on, then that person's claim can justifiably be considered false. Instead, we can justifiably assume that the person is being led by the inclinations of his fallen flesh and that his false claim to having holy spirit is just one more debased manifestation of it.
There are many people who claim to be guided by God's holy spirit. Of course, only God can read the heart. However, there are ways in which we can evaluate such a claim as either likely to be genuine or false. You seem contrary to telling us to be gullible, the Bible tells us that a person full of holy spirit should be expected to behave in a certain way, while those who are led by the debased inclinations of the flesh should be recognizable by their sinful behavior or fruitage.
It is called fruitage because Jesus compared people to trees and their behavior to fruitage.
Mathew 7:
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.…
Matthew 12:35
The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.…
Matthew 12:35
The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
The Apostle Paul expands on this concept in his letter to the Christian congregation in the city of Galatia, by making a detailed contrast between the two fruitages.
Galatians
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
So if a person claims to have holy spirit behaves in a manner described as the fruitage of the flesh, by being sexually immoral, prone to impatience and anger, being a drunkard, full of selfishness, and so on, then that person's claim can justifiably be considered false. Instead, we can justifiably assume that the person is being led by the inclinations of his fallen flesh and that his false claim to having holy spirit is just one more debased manifestation of it.