The purpose for believing in Jesus is to “belong to Christ.†“[Y]ou are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s†(1 Cor 3:23). “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward†(Mk 9:41). These verses show the importance of belonging to Christ. “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His†(Rom 8:9). To have the Holy Spirit is to be “sealed for the day of redemption†(Eph 4:30). The seal of the Holy Spirit means the Lord knows those who are his (2 Tim 2:19). Without the Holy Spirit’s seal, we are like the foolish virgins in Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins who carried lamps without oil. Without oil (symbolic of the Holy Spirit), we cannot shine (manifest God’s glory). In the last days, the Lord will tell those of us without oil (the Holy Spirit), “I do not know you†(Mt 25:12). So we must receive the Holy Spirit after we believe in Jesus.
|
| |
