The Spirit of Christ
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000
The Spirit of Christ
A good Scripture portion for Easter weekend:
"The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh
cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be
that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is
dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he
that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your
mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:7-11)
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had an unlimited anointing of the
Holy Spirit (See "The Anointing"). Here in Romans the Holy Spirit
is referred to as the "Spirit of Christ" as well as the "Spirit of God".
This Spirit of Christ is the same One of Whom Jesus said, "But the
Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my
name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26) and "But
when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father,
even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify
of me:" (John 15:26).
It is this same Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, with whom
we may be and should be filled (Ephesians 5:18). However, we are
only filled to our limited capacity. Yet, we still have the same HOLY
Spirit, the fruits of Whom (Galatians 5:22, 23) were seen perfectly and
abundantly in the life of Christ on earth. We, therefore, have the same
qualities, or fruits, of the Spirit, in the quantity that our capacity
allows.
God has made promises like "I will ... enlarge thy borders" (Exodus
34:24) and "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth
more and more unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4:18) etc. We may
grow in grace. We may have the fruits, or qualities, of the Spirit of
Christ to increase in quantity in our lives, if we continue to walk in, and
to be filled with, the Spirit.
Now, if we are FILLED with the Spirit, the same Spirit as Christ had
while on earth, then the Spirit of Christ is in control of our life. Then
we are likely to act as Christ would under various circumstances. Of
course, this is a spiritual thing not mental or physical. I mean that
the quality of our spirit, governed by the Holy Spirit, will be of the same
quality as that which Christ had.
Let us now apply this in just one area: the area of forgiveness for
those who would wrong us. While enduring such unspeakable
sufferings upon the cross, and while being mocked and spat upon
by those for whose sins He was dying, Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive
them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34).
In the book of Acts, Stephen, a man full of the Holy Ghost (or Holy
Spirit), was able to exhibit the same quality in his own spirit that Christ
had shown on the cross. While religious, self-righteous persecutors
"gnashed on him with their teeth", Stephen "saw Jesus standing on the
right hand of God". As the stones were beating upon him and his life
was about to slip away, he prayed "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."
(Acts 7:54-60). He most certainly had the Spirit of Christ enabling him
to forgive like Jesus forgives.
Now, I ask you, do you have such an unbridled spirit of forgiveness
for those who may do wrong to you? Do you have the Spirit of Christ
in His fullness? If you do not, I recommend that you seek God until you
know that you are not only forgiven of all your sins, but that you are also
filled with the Holy Spirit. When He comes in His fullness, He will enable
you to suffer graciously and forgivingly.
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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