Churches are failing as we all know.

[Aunty Jane]

Thanks for that information. I appreciate it. I guess one documented statement may shed another light.
Eph 4:30 grieve the Holy Spirit
lupeō

loo-peh'-o

From G3077; to distress; reflexively or passively to be sad: - cause grief, grieve, be in heaviness, (be) sorrow (-ful), be (make) sorry.

A person has emotions.

It is again “personification”…..other things in the Bible are personified to help us understand the meaning of these words as God intended them.

When we speak of things that the Holy Spirit accomplished in Bible times, the account Ananias and Sapphira, e.g. tells us that the Holy Spirit is what allowed Peter to detect the lie that they told about selling a field and only giving a portion of the money over to the apostles…when they said it was the full amount……as if God wouldn’t know….?

Acts 5:3-4….
”But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (NASB)

God’s spirit is said to be his, (God’s spirit) not some part of him, but power that emanates from him and which he can give in due measure to his servants as required. (As he did with Moses…it was the same amount of spirit that was given to Moses, but now distributed between 70 men, not just one.) So how can God’s spirit be a person? It “fills” people not in a ‘ghostly’ way like demonic possession, but in an empowering way, to accomplish God’s will.

The Bible uses personification when it speaks of something inanimate as if it were alive.
For example, the Bible tells us, “Death ruled as king from Adam down to Moses”; “grief and sighing must flee away”; “true wisdom itself keeps crying aloud in the very street.” (Rom 5:14; Isa 35:10; Prov 1:20)
Death, grief, sighing and wisdom cannot really rule, flee or cry out. But speaking as if they did, the Bible paints vivid mental pictures, easily visualized and remembered.

So, yes, other Scripture helps to clear up the question of whether something is literal or symbolic….

 

[One 2 question]

A

It is again “personification”…..other things in the Bible are personified to help us understand the meaning of these words as God intended them.

When we speak of things that the Holy Spirit accomplished in Bible times, the account Ananias and Sapphira, e.g. tells us that the Holy Spirit is what allowed Peter to detect the lie that they told about selling a field and only giving a portion of the money over to the apostles…when they said it was the full amount……as if God wouldn’t know….?

Acts 5:3-4….
”But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (NASB)

God’s spirit is said to be his, (God’s spirit) not some part of him, but power that emanates from him and which he can give in due measure to his servants as required. (As he did with Moses…it was the same amount of spirit that was given to Moses, but now distributed between 70 men, not just one.) So how can God’s spirit be a person? It “fills” people not in a ‘ghostly’ way like demonic possession, but in an empowering way, to accomplish God’s will.

The Bible uses personification when it speaks of something inanimate as if it were alive.
For example, the Bible tells us, “Death ruled as king from Adam down to Moses”; “grief and sighing must flee away”; “true wisdom itself keeps crying aloud in the very street.” (Rom 5:14; Isa 35:10; Prov 1:20)
Death, grief, sighing and wisdom cannot really rule, flee or cry out. But speaking as if they did, the Bible paints vivid mental pictures, easily visualized and remembered.

So, yes, other Scripture helps to clear up the question of whether something is literal or symbolic….

Again, thanks for your gentle response. Personally I have been asking Father to reveal Who the Holy Spirit is. I'm hoping to be open to His communication. I have many preconceived ideas of Who He is but like many beliefs I've taken on board they have been dispelled and some replaced with truth. Taught by Holy Spirit. Those who are led by Holy Spirit are children of God. The Holy Spirit leading into all truth. He has a vital role within the church. Possibly the life blood of the body of Christ without Whom there would be no life, no power, unable to function as Jesus the Head intends.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Again, thanks for your gentle response. Personally I have been asking Father to reveal Who the Holy Spirit is. I'm hoping to be open to His communication. I have many preconceived ideas of Who He is but like many beliefs I've taken on board they have been dispelled and some replaced with truth. Taught by Holy Spirit. Those who are led by Holy Spirit are children of God. The Holy Spirit leading into all truth. He has a vital role within the church. Possibly the life blood of the body of Christ without Whom there would be no life, no power, unable to function as Jesus the Head intends.

We have that assurance that no one can come to the son, without an invitation from his Father…..(John 6:44; 65)

 

[One 2 question]

We have that assurance that no one can come to the son, without an invitation from his Father…..(John 6:44; 65)

That is awesome hey. Well, for those of us who have responded by faith in Christ's completed work on the cross.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

We have that assurance that no one can come to the son, without an invitation from his Father…..(John 6:44; 65)

Did you ever see, read, and believe all these related scriptures???

John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Romans 8:29,30
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Titus 2:11,12
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance.

1 Timothy 2:1-4
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;
Who will have ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth ALL men every where to repent:

Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for EVERY man.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.