Scripture References: Romans 6:3 and 1 Corinthians 12:13
In an earlier article titled "In Christ or in Sin" I told you that there is only one of two places that a person can spiritually be in, which is to be either in Christ or to be in sin. To be in Christ is to be in a position where there is no sin, because in Christ means to be in his body, which is the one true church that he is head and builder of. We all were born into this world physically possessing a sinful nature that led us all into a life of sin and rebellion against God. Since we all were born in sin possessing this sinful nature having committed many sins against God, it is for this very reason that we must be born again to enter into Gods kingdom, or else die in our sins and be eternally lost to suffer the consequences of the second death. The apostle John tells us in I John 3:9 that whosoever is born of God they do not and further more they cannot commit sin, but multiplied millions of people today are confessing to be born again and yet they do live in and commit sin. In spite of what John tells us they will go right on their stubborn way yet confessing to be born again, but they are being deceived whether they want to believe it or not. They are still in sin and they are certainly not in Christ where there is no sin. There is only one way for any person to be in Christ where there will be no more sin in their life, but most people will not believe this simply because they do commit sin and are yet claiming to be born again. Since they are not willing to let Gods word be true as stated in I John 3:9, then God cannot help them by opening their eyes to the truth so that they could begin to recover themselves out of the snare that Satan has gotten them in, as Paul states in II Timothy 2:24-26
As I said before, there is but one way for a person to be in Christ and Paul reveals this in what he said in the above scriptures of both I Corinthians 12:13 and Romans 6:3. It's by the one Spirit of God that must baptize a believer into Christ's body, but how this is done will not be accepted but by a few today. Many may believe that we must be baptized into Christ's body as Paul tells us, but how the Spirit accomplishes this will be rejected by most in the confessing religious world today. Now by the grace of God I am going to reveal to you how this baptism into Christ is accomplished, but it's left entirely up to you whether or not you accept what is said or reject what is said. In order for the Spirit to baptize you into Christ, you must first of all receive the Spirit in your heart. In regards to this look what Paul tells us as stated in Romans 8:8-9 that says, "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."
Notice that Paul tells us that if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, then he is none of his. In other words we don't belong to God or are of God without having the Spirit of Christ in our very being. So we can see that it's very important to know how to receive the Spirit of Christ into our life is it not? Millions claim to have Christ in their heart and life, but not according to the life they continue to live, which is a sinful and rebellious life against God as they still live in direct disobedience to his word. They don't truly possess Christ in their life simply because they were told to receive Christ by merely asking or to invite him in their heart, which is totally contrary to what Gods word says about this.
If Christ is truly in them, then their hearts would be purified of all the evil and wickedness that it contains before Christ would truly come into the heart. All that I can do is to tell you what Gods word says in regards to receiving the Spirit, but it's up to the hearer of the word to become a doer of it. Keep in mind that James 1:21-22 tells us that it's not the hearers of the word that will be saved, but the doers of the word. Where in Gods word does it tell us how to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost? Let the apostle Peter show us the truth of the matter. In Acts 2:36 Peter ended up his message to those Jews on Pentecost telling them these words saying, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Then Acts 2:37 went on to say, "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? When those Jews asked Peter this question Peter said to them these words in Acts 2:38 saying, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.."
I will tell you right here and now that if we fail to do exactly what Gods word tells us to do, then we will get exactly nowhere and we will never know the truth of Gods word. But if we as a little child will repent from sin and consent to be baptized in Christ's name, then we will absolutely receive the gift of the Holy Ghost just like Gods word promises. If you will do what Gods word tells you to do, then you can count on it that God will definitely do what he said he would do, which is to impart the gift of his Spirit into your heart. Now when the Spirit comes into your heart, your heart will be miraculously purified from all the evil and wickedness it contains. Jesus tells us what all is within the heart of man before this miracle of the purifying of the heart takes place as recorded in Mark 7:21-23 that says, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
Now when this miracle of the purifying of the heart has taken place, you must now realize that this purifying of the heart absolutely did not touch or remove the sin that yet indwells both your flesh and spirit. Let the apostle Paul prove this in what he tells his Roman converts in Romans 8:12-13 that says, "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Notice how Paul now brings their attention to their flesh telling them they are not debtors to their flesh to continue to live after the flesh. To continue to live after the flesh means to continue to fulfill the lusts and desires of the flesh, which would be to continue on in sin. But Paul told them if they do, then they would die meaning they would fall back under the power of that sin in their life. Then Paul tells them if they through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the flesh, then they would live. What Paul is revealing here is that these converts were members of Christ's body possessing the power of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts. He tells them if they through the power of the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body they would live. I stated above that when the Spirit comes into the heart, which is when conversion takes place, the Spirit did not deal with the sins of the flesh and spirit at that time, but what the Spirit does it to begin to lead the converted believer into the many truths revealed in Gods word. The Spirit's leading the believer into these many truths is what the baptism of the Spirit is. The heart having been purified of all evil and wickedness, the Spirit will begin to baptize the believer into the body of Christ as he leads him in the truths of Gods word where the believer will eventually become an entirely new creature in Christ, as Paul refers to in II Corinthians 5:17.
Notice now how Paul refers to this again in what he says in Romans 12:1-2 that says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Notice how Paul is telling us that it's our reasonable service to present our body unto God as a living sacrifice, as well as to have our minds renewed. We do this by following the Spirit's leading into the truth to believe and obey what it says. This whole operation is the work of the Spirit as he first comes into our heart by obedience to Acts 2:38 and purifies our heart, and will then lead us into all revealed truth that will complete the operation of the new birth that will in time make us an entirely new creature in Christ Jesus. This is how we are baptized into the one body of Christ by the one Spirit as Paul tells us in I Corinthians 12:13. You will never know until you begin to believe and do exactly what Gods word tells us to believe and do. This is the strait and narrow way that leads to life that few will find, as Jesus said in Matthew 7:14 that says, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.." There will be few to find it because few there will be that will seek and search for the way that is revealed in Gods word. Most just take things for granted not having proved out all things as Paul tells us to do. Jesus himself summed up the whole operation of the new birth by saying, "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." This simply means to repent from sin and submit yourself to the teachings of Gods word and you will begin to see and understand things you never saw or understood before. Until a person begins to submit to Gods word and to believe and do what it says they will remain in total darkness remaining blinded from the many truths of Gods word.. Jesus said these words in John 7:17 saying, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." To do his will is simply to believe and do what his word says.. He that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches...amen