Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

Written by: April J. Buchanan

Living in contradiction to the profession of one’s faith is not merely being a poor witness to the world; it grieves the Holy Spirit by whom we are sealed and who is actively at work in us, sanctifying us and conforming us to the image of Christ. When we walk according to our old nature, we demonstrate a heart in disobedience to God. We are not living as those empowered by grace to walk in truth, love, and unity within the body of Christ. While unbelievers walk according to their sinful nature because they cannot do otherwise, we walk according to the Spirit, and when we sin, we do so by choice. That reality ought to grieve our hearts, especially in light of the brevity of this life. We are enabled by the indwelling Spirit and empowered by the grace of God, and yet we choose disobedience. In doing so, we grieve the Holy Spirit.

Our lives ought to be markedly different from those who walk according to the flesh. We have not only been declared righteous by the righteousness of another, namely Christ, but we have also been indwelt, filled, baptized in, and sealed by the Holy Spirit of God. There are no second-class Christians or “levels.” There is maturity and growth, and every truly born-again believer possesses the Holy Spirit, who gives both the desire and the power to do what pleases God. When we act contrary to that grace and power at work within us, we cannot honestly say, “I couldn’t help it.” The truth is, we could have obeyed, but we chose not to.

There is grace sufficient for our sin, and that grace ought to lead us to repentance. It ought to grieve us when we sin against God, not harden us or excuse us. As we grow in the knowledge of God, we grow in grace and in the truth, and our lives ought increasingly to display the glory, grace, and power of God at work in the believer.

Many today speak enthusiastically of the power of the Holy Spirit, often defining that power in terms of miracles, signs, and wonders that bear no resemblance to scripture. Unsurprisingly, many who promote such teaching are later exposed for lives marked by gross immorality. The true work of the Spirit is far less attractive to those who seek fame, influence, and spectacle.

The most beautiful work of the Spirit is seen in the lives of those who are controlled by Him, those who submit to His work and walk in the grace and power He supplies. It is a glorious work of God to save and sanctify sinners who will one day stand before Him, glorified, though such an end is scarcely comprehensible to us now.

The Holy Spirit is not grieved, as false teachers often claim, by those who test doctrine, examine a man’s qualifications according to Scripture, or sit quietly under faithful preaching without outward displays of praise. Scripture is abundantly clear that grieving the Spirit is spoken of in the context of God’s sanctifying work in the believer, set in contrast to the unbeliever. It is a matter of personal holiness and life within the church.

Dear saint, let us live and walk according to the Spirit, being careful that these terms are defined biblically. Many have hijacked the language surrounding the Holy Spirit and so distorted His true work that Scripture bears little resemblance to what is said and done in His name, or to what He is blamed for.

There are those who claim to fear grieving the Spirit and yet preside over churches marked by disorder. They argue that order itself grieves the Spirit. Such conclusions are impossible to reconcile with Scripture. Others claim that restraining out-of-order behavior quenches or grieves the Spirit. Nonsense. Scripture plainly teaches that the fruit of the Spirit includes self-control.

Be careful who is leading you, and by what spirit.

The true work of the Holy Spirit produces a life increasingly conformed to the image of Christ and distinctly different from the world. He does all things decently and in order, just as Scripture teaches. He never contradicts God’s Word, but works through it as it is rightly taught and faithfully applied.

Many claim to love Jesus. Many claim to love the Holy Spirit. Many claim to love the Bible and to love God. Yet their love is not informed by the truth of Scripture. The result is devotion to a god who is not the God of the Bible, submission to a spirit who is not the Holy Spirit, and allegiance to a different Jesus and another gospel.

God’s self-revelation is Scripture. He will not contradict His Word.

Grace and peace, y’all.
Soli Deo Gloria