Obtaining Victory Over Sin - NetBibleStudy.com

Victory Over Sin 44This passage says, “In the last day – [the 8 th day] – that great day of the feast – [Feastof Tabernacle] – Jesus stood and cried, saying, ` If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, anddrink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly – [inner most being] –shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Himshould receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified’”(John 7:37-39).Jesus predicts the coming of this Church age when the Holy Spirit would bepoured out upon all believers.Notice that the basis of the gift of the Holy Spirit is the glorification of JesusChrist. The Spirit, Jesus said, could not be given to believers until He was “glorified.”Believers receive the Holy Spirit because Jesus has been glorified ---that is, He hasascended into Heaven. In the Old Testament era, the Spirit’s work was limited; afterChrist’s ascension, the Spirit was given to every believer!Jesus said to His followers, “I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away:for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him untoyou” (John 16:7). Christ could not give the Spirit to the church until He left this earthphysically. He had to be glorified before the Spirit could descend upon His people.Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the basis for our forgiveness. Because Hetook our penalty, we can receive forgiveness for sins without strings attached; the onlyrequirement is trust --- a transfer of our faith from our self to Christ alone. Similarly,the basis on which the Holy Spirit is given is Christ’s ascension and glorification. Wedon’t have to beg for forgiveness, nor do we need to agonize for the Spirit; the water oflife is also free, and is received by faith.Ever since Christ was glorified, and the Spirit was given on the Day ofPentecost, every believer may receive the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9 & 1 Corinthians6:19). There is no need for striving, anxiety, or a feeling that we are unworthy to receiveHim. He is waiting to quench our thirst, but His control in our lives is never automatic.God gave the Holy Spirit to His Church to be its permanent possession duringthis present age; and He waits to give each individual member of that Church his orher share of Pentecost --- on the one condition of applying for it by faith. As we takeforgiveness from the hand of our dying Lord, we take our share of this Pentecostal giftfrom the hand of our living Lord, Jesus Christ.Nowhere in the Acts is prolonged tarrying for the Holy Spirit taught. It is notGod’s will for us to think we must tarry for a prolonged period time to receive the HolySpirit. In the sense that there was one Calvary, so there was one day of Pentecost. AtCalvary the provision was made for people of all ages to be saved, so, on the Day ofPentecost, with the coming of the Holy Spirit, the provision was made for people ofthis entire dispensation to receive the Holy Spirit.