JC Blog

“The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin” ( Hebrews 10:15-18 )

The Holy Spirit does so many things in our lives but one of His most important roles is to testify and confirm the New Covenant to us. It is His job to reassure and remind us of what was promised. The Covenant we enjoy is vastly superior to the old one and was extremely costly for God to bring it to pass. Therefore He has made it the job of the Holy Spirit to constantly remind believers of the amazing things that are included.

The Covenant enjoyed through Jesus was prophesied through the prophet Jeremiah hundreds of years before Christ ( Jeremiah 31:31-34 ). It includes many things and in these verses we are reminded of that to which the Holy Spirit is set to testify. First, God writes His laws in our minds and upon our hearts. God’s laws are now a part of us, not something external to accuse us, but they are written by the Spirit of God on the inside of us so fulfillment comes naturally by walking after the Spirit ( Romans 8:4, Galatians 5:16 ). Secondly, God will not only forgive our sins but He will not remember them. God completely and permanently dealt with sin once for all through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross ( Hebrews 9:28, 10:10, 10:14, 10:18, I Peter 3:18, I John 2:2 ). Because of it, by faith, we have been made holy and acceptable to God which is why God sends the Holy Spirit to confirm this to us, He doesn't want us to miss this amazing truth!

To use an old metaphor; the Holy Spirit is really the icing on the entire redemption cake! Not only are we saved, redeemed and restored through Jesus’ precious blood, but the Holy Spirit constantly speaks these things to us so that we will have confidence in our relationship with God ( Hebrews 10:22 ). Jesus foretold that this would be His function, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” ( John 14:26 ). The Amplified Bible calls Him the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Standby. All are marvelous words to describe how He relates to us.

God thought that is was imperative that we be constantly reminded of our Covenant because the reason Jesus died was to bring it to pass. This is good news for us because it means we can find peace and rest through Jesus by confirmation of the Holy Spirit speaking these things to us, “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God” ( I John 3:19-21 ).

Tonight at my small group, we were discussing the importance of hope. Several examples were use of how hope carried a person through a tough situation. The hope stemmed from believing a certain thing then that belief moved them towards that goal. In the end, we agreed that hope was the necessary vehicle to achieve desired results. Hope is a must!

Hoping in the promises of God will never disappoint us because God is faithful to deliver on the promises spoken in his word. Abraham's hope, activated his faith and became the catalyst to receive the fulfillment of the promise. In the same way, our hope can trigger our faith into action. For without faith we will never realize victory. Without hope for the victory we will never initiate our faith in the first place. The two work together hand in hand.

Hope is a crucial thing. Paul is reassuring us that we are hoping in something that won't disappoint us. He is basing this solely on God's love for us. Chapter five in the book of Romans delivers an amazing expose on God's love for us. That is evident in the first couple of verses by the fact that God has given us his Holy Spirit, deposited into our hearts testifying to this very fact. The Holy Spirit confirms with our spirit that we are his own. Knowing this should settle once for all any question about the depth of God's love for us.

Because God loves us and has demonstrated his love to us through his Son Jesus, we know that nothing stands in the way of relationship with Him. Through faith in Jesus we are completely justified by his grace. Today I praise God that he has given us this blessed hope and that hope is based on who he is. Just as the scriptures say, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." ( Romans 10:11 )

It is amazing to me that God chose us. His desire has always been to be in relationship with you. Peter said, that God is "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" ( II Peter 3:9 ). The Amplified Bible says that he is hoping that all should turn to repentance, denoting that this is a choice of free will. God does not force you to choose him. However, he has made it possible to be reconciled to him through the death and resurrection of His son Jesus. He did everything possible to restore you to the state mankind was in before the fall and then he left you with a choice. Deuteronomy 30 says, "...choose life, so that you and your children may live" ( Deuteronomy 30:19 ). He has even given us a choice, but in His mercy He has also given us the answer to the question... choose life so that you may live.

Many people get hung up on the predestination election debate, struggling to reconcile in their own minds this idea that God only chooses certain people. But the Bible clearly teaches that God's desire is for everyone to come to him and said yes to his calling. John said, speaking of Jesus, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" ( I John 2:2 ). He has offered this gift to the entire world even knowing that not everyone would choose him. However even with this knowledge, he still chose to be the propitiation for all sins, for all time, for everyone. Hebrews speaks of this when it says, "And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin" ( Hebrews 10:18 ). He took care of the sin problem for all time, so that we could be reconciled to God the Father through the gift of his grace. Understanding how this gift extends to everyone even when people do not choose him, will settle this question in your heart and mind. God's desire is for everyone to come to him, but he leaves the decision to us.

In today's passage Paul gives us an encouraging word, he tells us that "for those God foreknew he also predestined..." ( Romans 8:29 ). It is amazing to know that God thought about me in the beginning of all time. He knew who I would be and what it would take to bring me unto himself. This is part of the Holy Spirits function before salvation. Jesus said in John 16, "When he [Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned" ( John 16:8-11 ). This is a powerful statement. The Holy Spirit convicts and convinces the world of its guilt before God in hope that mankind will come to Jesus and receive grace and mercy. Once we have done that, he speaks righteousness to our hearts because we have an advocate with the Father through Jesus ( Hebrews 9:24 ), so we will never stand in condemnation ( Romans 8:1 ). And lastly he speaks of judgment, but this judgment is against his defeated foe, which already stands condemned. So before Salvation, the Holy Spirit was given to show the way to Jesus. He shows, convicts and drives the desire to know God. Even in children this is evident from the earliest of ages. God not only choose us but sent the Holy Spirit to show us the way, "for those God foreknew he also predestined...", what an amazing blessing this is.

He chose us to be conformed and molded into the likeness of his son Jesus. This is an amazing product of salvation. We have been given the Holy Spirit as a deposit living inside of us so that we would inwardly have his likeness. Paul said in Ephesians, "to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" ( Ephesians 4:24 ). We have been made completely righteous and holy through Jesus. Everything God is, he has placed inside of our new born again spirit so that we would experience the victory that Jesus accomplished. Not only did God choose us, not only did God bring us to the point of choosing him, but once we did, he has given us an amazing gift so that our physical present realm would be transformed in the likeness of our born again spirits, the likeness of Jesus.

Through Jesus we can be confident in all of these things. We also know that since he is the firstborn among the dead, we too will experience a bodily resurrection and this is cause to rejoice ( Romans 8:11 ). Today, I praise God the father through Jesus that we have been called, sanctified and redeemed. I am blessed to know this encouraging word and to let it penetrate deep into my heart. Today, I pray that the eyes of your spirit are opened to receive this wonderful truth. Knowing how God has called and set you apart for his precious kingdom, amen!

Do you know what God's will for your life is? The Holy Spirit does, he is the one who actively intercedes for you so that God's will may be fulfilled in your life. He searches your heart and knows every intimate detail about you. David spoke of this in Psalms 139, "O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" ( Psalm 139:1-7 ). David paints of wonderful picture of the intensity of God's love for you. He is engrossed with every detail of your life. So it is only fitting that the Holy Spirit who understands your heart and who knows the mind of God is the one to intercede for you in accordance with God's will.

God has a plan for your life. He created you for a purpose. The Holy Spirit is the one to speak to your spirit this plan. Paul advised us in today's passage that "he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." ( Romans 8:27 ). The Holy Spirit is the translation piece between our spirit and God's spirit. Being flesh and blood, the Holy Sprit helps us by interceding for us with groans and utterances that words cannot express ( Romans 8:26 ).

This is one of the amazing things that we as born again believers experience in life. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, who is fully God, to us to help us on this earth. He reminds us of everything that Jesus said and shows us the constant love of the father. He speaks these truths to our hearts so that we can experience boldness before God. This wasn't always the case, it is because of what Jesus did that we can have this kind of relationship with God. Jesus turn our connection with Him from an outside observer to intimate fellowship.

Jesus revealed an amazing truth to the women at the well, he told her, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" ( John 4:24 ). Up until this time worship was ritualistic following guidelines and rules. But Jesus expanded worship to include relationship and intimate knowledge of God. Being a spirit, we connect with God on an entirely different level than the patriarchs did. We connect with him spirit to spirit. This is why it is so important to understand office of the Holy Spirit. He helps our spirit communicate with God's Spirit in an uninhibited and unrestrained way.

The Holy Spirit knows God's will, he also knows our intent. So it is his job to take our heart and communicate that to God and take God's will and communicate that to our hearts, so that it will be fulfilled in us. The Amplified Bible puts it best, "And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will" ( Romans 8:27 ). It is amazing to know that we have intercession before the Father who makes perfect our requests before him. It is wonderful to know that he knows our heart and God's heart and helps us in our weaknesses. It is encouraging to know that our prayers are not offered in limitation but carry the full power of God. Today may you find joy in understanding this tremendous truth, Amen!

In a world that seems ever increasingly dark and hopeless, as Christians our hope is based upon the promise of God. This promise is our salvation. While we have already received the first fruits of our salvation, the promised Holy Spirit, we are still waiting for the rest of the promise to be fulfilled. Because of this, we groan inwardly and long to be reunited with the Lord in heaven, waiting for our adoption as his children to be revealed ( Romans 8:23 ). However, based on this hope we can wait with patience and with purpose until we see our final eternal redemption.

The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure" ( Romans 8:25 Amp ). Patience is not an inactive thing. Many misconstrue the meaning of patience to denote that we passively endure everything thrown our way as we wait to go to heaven. But this is not the picture painted for us in the Bible of how we are to wait. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" ( John 14:12 ). Jesus didn't sit back and go through life passively or aimlessly, he broke the power of darkness everywhere he went. Then he commissioned us to do the very same things and gave us the Holy Spirit to enable us to do it.

Waiting patiently with composure separates us from the world. Having this hope inside of us brings us peace in a world where trouble and heartache abound. Jesus reminded us in John that the Holy Spirit whom he's given us is the first fruits of our redemption and part of his job is to keep us in a state of peace. "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" ( John 14:26-27 ). Knowing this, we can be encouraged that we can live separately from the world waiting in patience and in hope for the Lord's return.

Paul instructs us in this very truth to encourage us to remain hopeful with an eternal perspective in mind. Paul himself longed to be reunited with Christ Jesus, but knew that remaining in the world was more beneficial for everyone around him. "I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body" ( Philippians 1:23-24 ). He could speak this because he knew that waiting patiently did not mean waiting passively. He knew that by remaining in this world meant salvation for those he came in contact with. He was so convinced of this that he exclaimed, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" ( Philippians 1:20 ), in other words, for me to go on living in this body means that people would see Christ and be forever changed.

While we wait in patience, it is important to understand the reason behind it so we don't lose hope. Peter explained these things to his brethren who were looking for the Lord's return, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" ( II Peter 3:9 ). He went on to say, "Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation... ( II Peter 3:15 ). And so it is necessary for us to keep this in remembrance while we wait for Jesus to return. He is not willing that any should perish and so in His grace he waits for others to come to him. Since he has commissioned us for this specific purpose, he is waiting on us to fulfill this great commission, in order that he might come back and redeem a full and powerful church.

So hope is necessary for life, hope with patience will keep us focused on the task at hand. A few of Paul's concluding thoughts in the book of Romans seem very fitting for today's thoughts, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" ( Romans 15:13 ). Today it is my prayer that you rejoice in the hope to which you were called. May you experience the peace that only God can bring and may you abound in the power of the Holy Spirit to be Christ in this world, amen!

Isn't is amazing that part of our redemption was the total restoration of all things. Jesus came to get everything back that was sold into slavery at the fall. Adam plunged everything lock, stock and barrel into death and decay, this included creation. But since that time, creation is waiting expectantly for the sons of God to be revealed ( Romans 8:19 ) so that it will be liberated from bondage along with mankind ( Romans 8:21 ).

Through faith in Jesus, we have been redeemed. Which means Jesus purchased us with his precious blood and brought us restoration with God. The idea of redemption was not a new thing, in the Old Testament a person could redeem a slave, in which they were enabled to repurchase or buy them back to exist once again in their household. In the New Testament, our redemption is synonymous with both deliverance from sin and freedom from sin's captivity. Jesus purchased our freedom through his sacrifice upon the cross and because of it we are completely free from everything that held us in chains before this time. This redemption by Jesus was foretold back in the garden and since then mankind and creation looked forward to fulfillment of this promise. Through acceptance of this gift, by faith we have been restored to God's household. We are now called his children and we are blameless before him just as if the garden and Adam's trespass had never existed. Galatians tells us that through Jesus we now belong to the promise given to Abraham. "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" ( Galatians 3:26-29 ).

Just like creation we long to be restored in bodily form to our original state. However, on this earth we are waiting for full redemption. Right now we have receive a part of it. We have been given a new born again spirit as a down payment to our physical redemption that is coming very soon. "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory" ( Ephesians 1:13-14 ).The Holy Spirit was given to us as our guarantee that we would see full redemption. Our new spirit is the part of us that testifies that we are God's children ( Romans 8:16 ). And if we are his children then we are his heirs ( Romans 8:17 ). The Holy Spirit operating in the sons and daughters of God on this earth, testifies to the rest of creation that it will see fulfillment of God's promise as well. Currently we have only received the first fruits of this redemption, but as the old saying goes, 'the best is yet to come!'

Paul goes onto say in Romans 8, "For in this hope we were saved..." ( Romans 8:24 ). Today, I am thankful to have received a down payment of my coming bodily redemption. Peter tells us "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect" ( I Peter 1:18-19 ). In the cleansing act of this blood you have been justified and redeemed. Through the Holy Spirit you have been given everything needed to navigate this world. Creation is rejoicing in the fact that you are a child of God. Today, my this revelation of your precious redemption change your life, Amen!

It is amazing to have such a partner in life. Throughout the entire chapter of Romans 8, Paul is teaching us about the marvelous companionship we have with the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16 that it was expedient for him to return to the Father in order to send to us the Holy Spirit ( John 16:7 ). He went on to explain how important He would be to us. "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come" ( John 16:13 ). The Holy Spirit was given to guide us into all truth and to be a helpmate for us while we navigate this life.

Paul has revealed to us several things in Romans 8 concerning the Holy Spirit. First, that those who are in Christ Jesus and walk according to the Spirit will face no condemnation in life ( Romans 8:1 ). Second, those who are controlled by the Spirit will experience life and soul peace in the midst of trouble (Romans 8:6). Third, the Spirit living inside of us will give life to our mortal bodies and we will live forever ( Romans 8:11 ). Fourth, those who live by the Spirit are children of God ( Romans 8:14 ) and He testifies and confirms with our spirit this very truth ( Romans 8:16 ). And today he reveals that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we pray ( Romans 8:26 ). He turns our prayers into acceptable, powerful utterances before the Lord. All of these things are wonderful alone, but we have received the entire package through faith Jesus.

Prayer is a powerful tool. Prayer releases the power of God upon the earth. John talks about praying in faith according to the will of God. "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him" ( I John 5:14-15 ). If we pray in faith and pray according to Gods will, then know and have confidence that God will answer us. The problem with this is a lot of times we don't understand God's will or we don't ask in faith. Paul concurred with this when he said "...the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for..." ( Romans 8:26 ). The amazing thing about this is that we have the Holy Spirit to help us in our weaknesses when we pray. Paul said the Holy Spirit takes the words we speak and translates them into powerful supplication before the Lord on our behalf. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance" ( Romans 8:26 Amp ).The Holy Spirit is our prayer partner, helping us to release the power of God to act in our behalf.

James said, "...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" ( James 5:16b ). Through faith in Jesus we have been made righteous in his sight ( Romans 3:22 ). So we know our prayers yield tremendous power. To release this power, we must pray and allow the Holy Spirit to join with us and help us on our behalf.

Today, I am so blessed to know all the ways that the Holy Spirits helps us. What a great reminder to know that we are not alone but that we have this amazing gift living on the inside of us to show us and remind us the truth. Today, may you take this word and join with the Holy Spirit in release the power of prayer in your life, Amen.

Can you imagine reading these words from the Apostle Paul knowing he was planning to come visit your town? Would you be excited to hear him preach and see the demonstration of power by the Holy Spirit as miracles were performed? Reading these words that Paul wrote to this church, "I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ", must have created anticipation that was unmatched by any other event for these believers.

Paul was confident and bold in what he wrote. But just as Paul wrote many times, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord" ( I Corinthians 1:31, II Corinthians 10:17 ), Paul's confidence stemmed out of relationship to the Lord Jesus, knowing that what was accomplished was done by God. He wrote with power and authority because he knew who he was in Christ Jesus. He knew the full gospel and how he had been set apart and redeemed to share it with the world ( Romans 1:1 ). He knew that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now dwelled on the inside of him ( Romans 8:11, Ephesians 1:19-20 ). So it was a natural statement to make to this church that he expected to come in the abundant blessing of the Gospel of Christ.

In the book of Acts we have the record of what happened while Paul was in Rome. Even though he was under house arrest at this time he was able to teach the gospel freely among the Romans. "For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ" ( Acts 28:30-31 ). Paul shared with these believers the full measure of the blessing of Christ which comes through the gospel, which is the power of God ( Romans 1:16 ). Paul was able to walk in this blessing because he chose to do so. He did not allow others to dictate whether or not he operated in the Holy Spirit. Even in chains he was able to teach about the Kingdom of God and his word was confirmed by signs and wonders the entire time he was in Rome.

As believers this full measure of the blessing of Christ is also available to us all the time. It is not something God gives occasionally; he has already given it to us when we put our faith in Him to save us.  He has given us the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us into the entire truth of Christ and to confirm the Word in our lives. The blessing of Christ is now our birthright as his children and recipients of the gospel. Like Paul we can choose to walk in this abundance at all times. Knowing God and understanding what he has provided and accomplished for us will enable us to dwell in His power continually. Imagine what our lives would be like if we fully operated in the grace we were called to. Just as Paul exclaimed, I" know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ", we too would be confident in our words and deeds, knowing that we bring the kingdom of God with us where ever we go.

What an amazing truth to renew our minds with. As born again believers, our confidence is in the Lord Jesus. Knowing him enables us to operate in the same boldness that the Apostle Paul operated in as he anticipated his trip to Rome. My prayer today is that you remember that the Kingdom of God lives inside you and the abundant blessing of Christ is available for you to live and operate within all the time. May you change the world around you by the power of the Holy Spirit inside you; May God's love and truth be evident in everything you do! Amen.