"Test yourselves whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves, Or do you not realize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you." (2 Cor. 13:5)
Jesus Christ has been copied and pasted into all those who received Him. Brothers and sisters in Christ " . . . do you not realize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?"
That is why we can be one.
Time out. Someone may say -
"Oh, but if I admit that Jesus Christ is living in me then I'll be mistaken for a follower of that bad Witness Lee."
Relax, not necessarily. You will however be a follower of 2 Cor. 13:5. And that is the New Testament.
Make sure that is ok with the village atheist Ghost of a Chance.
Unfortunately, not the Holy Ghost.
@sonship saidHush. I'm waiting for another Christian to post.
Time out. Someone may say -
"Oh, but if I admit that Jesus Christ is living in me then I'll be mistaken for a follower of that bad Witness Lee."
Relax, not necessarily. You will however be a follower of 2 Cor. 13:5. And that is the New Testament.
Make sure that is ok with the village atheist Ghost of a Chance.
Unfortunately, not the Holy Ghost.
@sonship
So you like to post a lot. So here is mine...... If you don't see this here, then there is nothing else I can say. But unless you know it all, I sure don't, you need to take your time and read and research this closely.
“Your Word Is Truth”
The Holy Spirit—A Person?
WHILE Jesus was on earth with his followers he taught them as well as provided them with his help and guidance. But what was to happen after his death? Would they have no spiritual help?
On the night before he was executed Christ made an assuring promise to them, saying: “I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete [Greek, pa·raʹkle·tos], that he may abide with you for ever. The spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, nor knoweth him.” (John 14:16, 17, Catholic Douay Version [Dy] Persons who use the King James Version AV may be more familiar with the term “Comforter,” which that version uses instead of “Paraclete.” In either case, many persons conclude that Jesus was promising that a divine person would help his followers, that the holy spirit or “Holy Ghost” is a person.
But does what the Bible says about the “Paraclete” or “Comforter” really prove that the holy spirit is a living person?
Both the Hebrew and Greek words for “spirit” are the same words that are translated “wind.” Like the wind, the holy spirit cannot be seen; still it is an active force that can produce effects. Its being referred to as the “Spirit of God” or the “Spirit of the LORD” is evidence that it is an instrumentality that belongs to God.—Gen. 1:2; Judg. 15:14; AV, Dy.
Evidence of the impersonal nature of the holy spirit is found in the way it is mentioned in the Bible in association with other impersonal things, such as water and fire. As John the Baptist baptized with water, so Jesus would baptize with holy spirit and fire. (Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Acts 1:5) You can baptize a person with water or fire by immersing him in such, but you cannot baptize a person with another person. Hence, the holy spirit must be impersonal, as are fire and water. Also, the Bible speaks of persons as being “filled with” holy spirit, and of the spirit’s being “poured forth,” which obviously rule out its being a divine person, a part of a triune Godhead.—Eph. 5:18; Luke 1:67; Acts 2:33; Dy.
How, then, are we to understand the references to the holy spirit as the Paraclete or Comforter, as if it were a personage? And why does the Bible use such personal pronouns as “he” and “himself” with reference to the “Spirit of truth”? John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7, 13, Dy, AV Since all Scripture is truthful and inspired of God, there must be a reasonable explanation.—2 Tim. 3:16, 17.
What Jesus promised was another pa·raʹkle·tos. In extra-Biblical Greek literature that term was applied to a person who served as “a legal adviser or helper or advocate in the relevant court.” But in the Bible the word “seems to have the broad and general sense of ‘helper.”’ (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, edited by G. Friedrich, Vol. V, pp. 803, 804) While some Bible versions translate the word as “Comforter,” “Advocate” or “Counselor,” many modern Bible translations render pa·raʹkle·tos as “helper.”
Even though pa·raʹkle·tos was a word applied to a person who performed a certain function, this does not necessarily establish that the holy spirit is also a person. Its use in the book of John may be viewed simply as a personification. At Matthew 11:19 Jesus personified “wisdom” and depicted it as having “works” or “children.” Yet “wisdom” is not a person with an individual existence. Also, Romans 5:14, 21 personalizes “death” and “sin” as reigning kings. But they are not living personages. Evidently Jesus did the same in regard to the spirit; he personalized something that was actually not a person.
Why, though, if the spirit is not a person, does the Bible refer to the “helper” or “Paraclete” as “he” instead of “it”? Pa·raʹkle·tos is Scripturally treated as the masculine form of the word. A feminine form is pa·raʹkle·tri·a. In speaking or writing Greek, if one uses either of these words, the pronouns applied to it must match in gender—“he” and “him” with pa·raʹkle·tos and “she” and “her” with a feminine form. It might be compared to the English words “emperor” and “empress.” With “emperor” you use “he” and with “empress” you use “she,” but with neither does “it” apply. Thus when John presents Jesus’ words about the “helper,” he is simply following proper Greek grammar by employing personal pronouns such as “he” instead of the impersonal “it.”
However, it is noteworthy that in the same context John uses the Greek word pneuʹma spirit, which is neuter, having neither a masculine nor a feminine gender. In accord with Greek grammar, John employs the corresponding neuter pronoun au·toʹ it, as at John 14:17. Many Bible translations hide this fact by substituting personal pronouns. Dy, AV Nevertheless, the 1970 Roman Catholic Bible translation called “The New American Bible” admits in a footnote on John 14:17: “The Greek word for ‘Spirit’ is neuter, and while [in this translation] we use personal pronouns in English ‘he,’ ‘his,’ ‘him’ most Greek MSS [manuscripts] employ ‘it.’”
Used as a noun pa·raʹkle·tos and matching personal pronouns can be employed in reference to something that is not a living person. This might be illustrated with how the word could be applied to the sun, the Greek word for “sun” being heʹli·os. Anyone will admit that the sun is not a person; it does not think or live. Like the wind, aʹne·mos the sun is inanimate.
Nonetheless, the sun might be personified as a “helper,” just as the holy spirit was personified as being. Jesus said that Jehovah makes “his sun rise upon wicked people and good.” (Matt. 5:45) The sun does good, producing good effects. For instance, the sun helps the earth to produce vegetation. Also, scientists believe that the sun’s shining on a person’s skin helps him to produce Vitamin D, called the “sunshine vitamin.” Thus, if a man was experiencing bone changes resulting from a lack of Vitamin D, a doctor might advise the patient to get more sunshine. The doctor could refer to the sun heʹli·os as his “helper” pa·raʹkle·tos in bringing the man to good health. But the sun is still not a person. Neither is the holy spirit pneuʹma, neuter, which serves as a “helper” too.
Consequently, what is recorded in John chapters 14 through 16 about the pa·raʹkle·tos Paraclete, Comforter or helper harmonizes with what the rest of the Bible says about the holy spirit. Jehovah through Jesus Christ used the holy spirit to help Christians in the first century C.E. By means of it as a “helper” they gained increased understanding of God’s purposes and prophetic Word. Acts 2:33; 1 Cor. 2:10-16; Heb. 9:8-10 Men miraculously aided by the spirit spoke in foreign languages, explained God’s will and prophesied. (John 14:26; Acts 2:4; 21:4, 11; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; 14:1-4, 26) Thus, even though it is not a person, the holy spirit was used by God to help the Christians, to teach, to guide and to upbuild them."
<<Is the Holy Spirit a "He," "She," or “It,” male, female, or neuter?
A common mistake made with regard to the Holy Spirit is referring to the Spirit as "it," something most translations of the Bible are careful to avoid. The Holy Spirit is a person. He has the attributes of personhood, performs the actions of persons, and has personal relationships. He has insight (1 Corinthians 2:10-11). He knows things, which requires an intellect (Romans 8:27). He has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11). He convicts of sin (John 16:8). He performs miracles (Acts 8:39). He guides (John 16:13). He intercedes between persons (Romans 8:26). He is to be obeyed (Acts 10:19-20). He can be lied to (Acts 5:3), resisted (Acts 7:51), grieved (Ephesians 4:30), blasphemed (Matthew 12:31), even insulted (Hebrews 10:29). He relates to the apostles (Acts 15:28) and to each member of the Trinity (John 16:14; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). The personhood of the Holy Spirit is presented without question in the Bible, but what about gender?
Linguistically, it is clear that masculine theistic terminology dominates the Scriptures. Throughout both testaments, references to God use masculine pronouns. Specific names for God (e.g., Yahweh, Elohim, Adonai, Kurios, Theos, etc.) are all in the masculine gender. God is never given a feminine name, or referred to using feminine pronouns. The Holy Spirit is referred to in the masculine throughout the New Testament, although the word for "spirit" by itself (pneuma) is actually gender-neutral. The Hebrew word for "spirit" (ruach) is feminine in Genesis 1:2. But the gender of a word in Greek or Hebrew has nothing to do with gender identity.
Theologically speaking, since the Holy Spirit is God, we can make some statements about Him from general statements about God. God is spirit as opposed to physical or material. God is invisible and spirit (i.e., non-body) - (John 4:24; Luke 24:39; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17). This is why no material thing was ever to be used to represent God (Exodus 20:4). If gender is an attribute of the body, then a spirit does not have gender. God, in His essence, has no gender.
Gender identifications of God in the Bible are not unanimous. Many people think that the Bible presents God in exclusively male terms, but this is not the case. God is said to give birth in the book of Job and portrays Himself as a mother in Isaiah. Jesus described the Father as being like a woman in search of a lost coin in Luke 15 (and Himself as a "mother hen" in Matthew 23:37). In Genesis 1:26-27 God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness," and then "God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them." Thus, the image of God was male and female - not simply one or the other. This is further confirmed in Genesis 5:2, which can be literally translated as "He created them male and female; when they were created, he blessed them and named them Adam." The Hebrew term "adam" means "man" - the context showing whether it means "man" (as opposed to woman) or "mankind" (in the collective sense). Therefore, to whatever degree humanity is made in the image of God, gender is not an issue.
Masculine imagery in revelation is not without significance, however. A second time that God was specifically said to be revealed via a physical image was when Jesus was asked to show the Father to the disciples in John chapter 14. He responds in verse 9 by saying, “The person who has seen me has seen the Father!" Paul makes it clear that Jesus was the exact image of God in Colossians 1:15 calling Jesus "the image of the invisible God." This verse is couched in a section that demonstrates Christ’s superiority over all creation. Most ancient religions believed in a pantheon - both gods and goddesses - that were worthy of worship. But one of Judeo-Christianity’s distinctives is its belief in a supreme Creator. Masculine language better relates this relationship of creator to creation. As a man comes into a woman from without to make her pregnant, so God creates the universe from without rather than birthing it from within . . . As a woman cannot impregnate herself, so the universe cannot create itself. Paul echoes this idea in 1 Timothy 2:12-14 when he refers to the creation order as a template for church order.
In the end, whatever our theological explanation, the fact is that God used exclusively masculine terms to refer to Himself and almost exclusively masculine terminology even in metaphor. Through the Bible He taught us how to speak of Him, and it was in masculine relational terms. So, while the Holy Spirit is neither male nor female in His essence, He is properly referred to in the masculine by virtue of His relation to creation and biblical revelation. There is absolutely no biblical basis for viewing the Holy Spirit as the “female” member of the Trinity.>>
https://www.gotquestions.org/Holy-Spirit-gender.html
<<Is the Holy Spirit a person?
Many people find the doctrine of the Holy Spirit confusing. Is the Holy Spirit a force, a person, or something else? What does the Bible teach?
The Bible provides many ways to help us understand that the Holy Spirit is truly a person—that is, He is a personal being, rather than an impersonal thing. First, every pronoun used in reference to the Spirit is “he” not “it.” The original Greek language of the New Testament is explicit in confirming the person of the Holy Spirit. The word for “Spirit” (pneuma) is neuter and would naturally take neuter pronouns to have grammatical agreement. Yet, in many cases, masculine pronouns are found (e.g., John 15:26; 16:13-14). Grammatically, there is no other way to understand the pronouns of the New Testament related to the Holy Spirit—He is referred to as a “He,” as a person.
Matthew 28:19 teaches us to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is a collective reference to one Triune God. Also, we are not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). The Spirit can be sinned against (Isaiah 63:10) and lied to (Acts 5:3). We are to obey Him (Acts 10:19–21) and honor Him (Psalm 51:11).
The personhood of the Holy Spirit is also affirmed by His many works. He was personally involved in creation (Genesis 1:2), empowers God’s people (Zechariah 4:6), guides (Romans 8:14), comforts (John 14:26), convicts (John 16:8), teaches (John 16:13), restrains sin (Isaiah 59:19), and gives commands (Acts 8:29). Each of these works requires the involvement of a person rather than a mere force, thing, or idea.
The Holy Spirit’s attributes also point to His personality. The Holy Spirit has life (Romans 8:2), has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11), is omniscient (1 Corinthians 2:10–11), is eternal (Hebrews 9:14), and is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7). A mere force could not possess all of these attributes, but the Holy Spirit does.
And the personhood of the Holy Spirit is affirmed by His role as the third Person of the Godhead. Only a being who is equal to God (Matthew 28:19) and possesses the attributes of omniscience, omnipresence, and eternality could be defined as God.
In Acts 5:3–4, Peter referred to the Holy Spirit as God, stating, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” Paul likewise referred to the Holy Spirit as God in 2 Corinthians 3:17–18, stating, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit is a person, as Scripture makes clear. As such, He is to be revered as God and serves in perfect unity with Father and Son to lead us in our spiritual lives.>>
https://www.gotquestions.org/Holy-Spirit-person.html
@ghost-of-a-duke saidA copy is representation of the original. Sometimes the copy is flawed or not properly represented. The term 'copy and paste' however is taken from computer terminology and that represents an exact copy, which is in all respects identical.
Hush. I'm waiting for another Christian to post.
So for any Christian to claim that they have Christ copy and pasted into them, means they are lying, because nobody here especially those who just promote mouth worship and lip service can claim to have all of Christ;s attributes in them. Its just more boasting and mouthing which people do while on the road to damnation
Since we're doing computer-based analogies, take programming.
It is easy to search a site like StackOverflow for solutions to problems, and copy and paste the code into your own program. It's even desirable at times, because there is no point in re-inventing a wheel.
However, if you're trying to gain understanding and get better at programming, you must delve into the code and wrestle with every line, until you understand why it works.
It is easy to search a site like StackOverflow for solutions to problems, and copy and paste the code into your own program. It's even desirable at times, because there is no point in re-inventing a wheel.
However, if you're trying to gain understanding and get better at programming, you must delve into the code and wrestle with every line, until you understand why it works.
The analogy is even better than what we could imagine as code transferred into an already written buggy program.
Here is a better analogy. It is a program inserted into a problematic, error prone, buggy code which actually fixes, heals, rectifies totally that code within which it was pasted.
If lifeless code is objected to then consider Christ's words of the branch grafted into the true vine. The life of the true vine flows into the branch grafted into it and heals all of its death, producing fruit for God. This is in John 15.
My analogy highlighted Christ being imparted into men.
Christ's words focus on men being grafted into Christ.
Christ's words are better. Run with that if you feel to make a choice.
"I am the vine; you are the branches, He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
So for any Christian to claim that they have Christ copy and pasted into them, means they are lying, because nobody here especially those who just promote mouth worship and lip service can claim to have all of Christ;s attributes in them. Its just more boasting and mouthing which people do while on the road to damnation
The process of the perfect Christ moving out of the center of a man's being into all the parts of his soul is called sanctification.
It is also transformation - a process. And the NT exhorts us to be transformed by allowing Christ to change the way we think, first.
"And do not be fashioned according to this age, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect. (Rom. 12:2)
The living Christ is implanted - step 1.
The living Christ renews our fallen mind and by this we are "transformed" .
It is the indwelling Holy Spirit Who is the Lord Jesus in His pneumatic form which brings about the transformation.
"And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.
But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:17,18 Recovery Version)