The following is a reply to a comment made under the original post by JesusIsFaithful. We post it here due to character limits.
You state: The Greek word that "quench" was derived from cannot mean the same thing in regard to quenching flames or fire, because the seal of adoption, the Holy Spirit, can never be put out in a saved believer.
In Reply, in this you are mistaken, to “quench” signifies to extinguish, as to extinguish a fire or a light. The Greek word from which it is translated occurs eight times in the New Testament (Matt 12:20; 25:8; Mark 9:44-48; Eph 6:16; 1 Thess 5:19; Heb 11:34), and in every other text it refers to quenching fire or light.
“Quench” Strong’s # 4570 Greek sbennumi: (sben'-noo-mee) to quench: (a) I extinguish, quench, (b) I suppress, thwart. To extinguish (literally or figuratively) -- go out, quench.
Carry the thought with you --By reason of having God's holy mind or spirit, we are called "the light of the world" (Matt. 5:14); but if we should be seduced into worldliness by the spirit of the world, our light would be quenched, or extinguished. "If the light that is in thee become darkness [be extinguished], how great is that darkness?" (Matt. 6:23.)
This last statement clearly indicates that as a light can be turned on so too it can be turned off, that which is light becomes dark.
"Grieve not the holy spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Eph. 4:30.) To seal, is to mark or to designate. The children of this world may be distinguished by certain marks, and so may the "new creatures." The mark of the one class is the spirit (or mind) of the world; in the other class the seal or mark is the spirit (or mind) of God. From the moment of true consecration to God, the evidence, or marks, or sealing, may be seen in our words, thoughts, and actions. These marks grow more and more distinct daily, if we keep growing in grace, knowledge, and love. In other words, the spirit (mind) of God becomes OUR mind or spirit, if the same mind be in us that was also in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hence, our new mind is a holy or God-directed mind.
In this text the Apostle urges that we do nothing, which will wound our conscience. "Grieve not the holy spirit [mind] of God [in you] whereby ye are sealed," etc.
Your suggestion that that the seal of adoption (which is the begetting of), the Holy Spirit, can never be put out (i.e. go out, be quenched) in a saved believer is likewise contradicted by the following scripture.
Hebrews 6:4- 6
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted of the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance ..."
This scripture emphatically shows that it is not only possible to quench the Holy Spirit, momentarily, but likewise completely.
You state: Just as it is impossible for someone born again of the Spirit, being in need to be born again of the Spirit.
In Reply, what possible purpose would there be to be begotten by the Spirit and then begotten a second time?
The thought behind being “begotten again” is that at one time we were “begotten” in the likeness of flesh, and now having received of the redemption which is in Christ Jesus and fully consecrating ourselves to the Father we have likewise received the spirit of adoption, we are now prospective members of the divine family, “new creatures in Christ Jesus”, “begotten again” but this time to a spirit nature.
However as was stated in the previous text once one has received of this adoption should they fall away it is impossible for them to be renewed (or begotten) again. Or as the Lord so states it:
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him ..." Heb 10:38
There is however, as eluded to a distinction between “smothering” the spirit and completely quenching or putting it out. Recall once again the three ways that the Spirit is quenched:
(1) Willful opposition to God and his will.
(2) Careless living, too much of world, flesh allowed to come into the heart; and light gets smoky because not trimmed.
(3) Neglect to supply the oil, neglect fellowship, study, meetings.
Number one is the worse as this most positively would lead to extinguishing of the spirit altogether. Numbers two and three however are the primary causes to smothering the spirit.
“As there are various ways by which a light may be extinguished, so there are different means by which this light of the Holy Spirit may be quenched in us. A light will go out if the supply of oil or gas which feeds it be cut off, or if the oxygen of the air be shut off from it, whether because the supply is exhausted or because something is placed over the light to extinguish it.
So it is with us. The light of the Spirit may be permitted to die out for want of replenishing, or it may be quenched by contact with some outside force.
In order to have the Holy Spirit in large measure, we must keep near to the Lord; for if we get away from Him, the light will go out. If we neglect the privilege of prayer or of study of the Scriptures or of fellowship with the Lord through failure to think of Him, the illumination of the Spirit will grow dim. On the other hand, it will become brighter in proportion to our realization of our own imperfections and to the degree of our consecration to the Lord. This we manifest by the zeal with which we study His will as expressed in His Word, and with which we practice that will in the affairs of life. These are the means by which we may supply the oil to keep our light burning brightly. But while we are endeavoring to do this, we must see to it that we do not come into contact with anything which will tend to extinguish the flame of sacred love in our hearts.
The world, the flesh and the Devil are all in opposition to the light of the Holy Spirit. To whatever extent they are brought into contact with the light, to that extent they smother it. If the spirit of worldliness comes into our hearts, it will extinguish the light of the Holy Spirit. If the spirit of selfishness or of thoughtlessness enter our hearts, it will cause the light to grow dim and finally to die out. Weariness in well-doing will produce the same result. If we indulge in pleasures of the flesh, these will tend to quench the Spirit. Sinful pleasures should, of course, be shunned by everybody. But there are pleasures which are not sinful and which are proper enough for the natural man. Yet to whatever extent the consecrated indulge in these and thus gratify the longings of the flesh, proportionately the new nature will suffer.” (R5129)
“And the foolish said to the wise, ‘give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out (Greek: sbennumi quenched).’” Matt 25:8
You state: The Greek word that "quench" was derived from cannot mean the same thing in regard to quenching flames or fire, because the seal of adoption, the Holy Spirit, can never be put out in a saved believer.
In Reply, in this you are mistaken, to “quench” signifies to extinguish, as to extinguish a fire or a light. The Greek word from which it is translated occurs eight times in the New Testament (Matt 12:20; 25:8; Mark 9:44-48; Eph 6:16; 1 Thess 5:19; Heb 11:34), and in every other text it refers to quenching fire or light.
“Quench” Strong’s # 4570 Greek sbennumi: (sben'-noo-mee) to quench: (a) I extinguish, quench, (b) I suppress, thwart. To extinguish (literally or figuratively) -- go out, quench.
Carry the thought with you --By reason of having God's holy mind or spirit, we are called "the light of the world" (Matt. 5:14); but if we should be seduced into worldliness by the spirit of the world, our light would be quenched, or extinguished. "If the light that is in thee become darkness [be extinguished], how great is that darkness?" (Matt. 6:23.)
This last statement clearly indicates that as a light can be turned on so too it can be turned off, that which is light becomes dark.
"Grieve not the holy spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Eph. 4:30.) To seal, is to mark or to designate. The children of this world may be distinguished by certain marks, and so may the "new creatures." The mark of the one class is the spirit (or mind) of the world; in the other class the seal or mark is the spirit (or mind) of God. From the moment of true consecration to God, the evidence, or marks, or sealing, may be seen in our words, thoughts, and actions. These marks grow more and more distinct daily, if we keep growing in grace, knowledge, and love. In other words, the spirit (mind) of God becomes OUR mind or spirit, if the same mind be in us that was also in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hence, our new mind is a holy or God-directed mind.
In this text the Apostle urges that we do nothing, which will wound our conscience. "Grieve not the holy spirit [mind] of God [in you] whereby ye are sealed," etc.
Your suggestion that that the seal of adoption (which is the begetting of), the Holy Spirit, can never be put out (i.e. go out, be quenched) in a saved believer is likewise contradicted by the following scripture.
Hebrews 6:4- 6
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted of the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance ..."
This scripture emphatically shows that it is not only possible to quench the Holy Spirit, momentarily, but likewise completely.
You state: Just as it is impossible for someone born again of the Spirit, being in need to be born again of the Spirit.
In Reply, what possible purpose would there be to be begotten by the Spirit and then begotten a second time?
The thought behind being “begotten again” is that at one time we were “begotten” in the likeness of flesh, and now having received of the redemption which is in Christ Jesus and fully consecrating ourselves to the Father we have likewise received the spirit of adoption, we are now prospective members of the divine family, “new creatures in Christ Jesus”, “begotten again” but this time to a spirit nature.
However as was stated in the previous text once one has received of this adoption should they fall away it is impossible for them to be renewed (or begotten) again. Or as the Lord so states it:
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him ..." Heb 10:38
There is however, as eluded to a distinction between “smothering” the spirit and completely quenching or putting it out. Recall once again the three ways that the Spirit is quenched:
(1) Willful opposition to God and his will.
(2) Careless living, too much of world, flesh allowed to come into the heart; and light gets smoky because not trimmed.
(3) Neglect to supply the oil, neglect fellowship, study, meetings.
Number one is the worse as this most positively would lead to extinguishing of the spirit altogether. Numbers two and three however are the primary causes to smothering the spirit.
“As there are various ways by which a light may be extinguished, so there are different means by which this light of the Holy Spirit may be quenched in us. A light will go out if the supply of oil or gas which feeds it be cut off, or if the oxygen of the air be shut off from it, whether because the supply is exhausted or because something is placed over the light to extinguish it.
So it is with us. The light of the Spirit may be permitted to die out for want of replenishing, or it may be quenched by contact with some outside force.
In order to have the Holy Spirit in large measure, we must keep near to the Lord; for if we get away from Him, the light will go out. If we neglect the privilege of prayer or of study of the Scriptures or of fellowship with the Lord through failure to think of Him, the illumination of the Spirit will grow dim. On the other hand, it will become brighter in proportion to our realization of our own imperfections and to the degree of our consecration to the Lord. This we manifest by the zeal with which we study His will as expressed in His Word, and with which we practice that will in the affairs of life. These are the means by which we may supply the oil to keep our light burning brightly. But while we are endeavoring to do this, we must see to it that we do not come into contact with anything which will tend to extinguish the flame of sacred love in our hearts.
The world, the flesh and the Devil are all in opposition to the light of the Holy Spirit. To whatever extent they are brought into contact with the light, to that extent they smother it. If the spirit of worldliness comes into our hearts, it will extinguish the light of the Holy Spirit. If the spirit of selfishness or of thoughtlessness enter our hearts, it will cause the light to grow dim and finally to die out. Weariness in well-doing will produce the same result. If we indulge in pleasures of the flesh, these will tend to quench the Spirit. Sinful pleasures should, of course, be shunned by everybody. But there are pleasures which are not sinful and which are proper enough for the natural man. Yet to whatever extent the consecrated indulge in these and thus gratify the longings of the flesh, proportionately the new nature will suffer.” (R5129)
“And the foolish said to the wise, ‘give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out (Greek: sbennumi quenched).’” Matt 25:8
