Thoughts on Christian Living Book #2 by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

PROVING HOLY SPIRIT PRESENCE

In some religious circles, much is made of the Holy Spirit. According to scripture, that in itself is evidence of its absence. John 16:13 references the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth, and unmistakably states that he will not speak of himself, which also means he will not lead others to speak of himself. So, what is one to make of the question, “How may we know that the Holy Spirit is with us today as he was in early church days?” This is a fair question that deserves an answer.

Jesus promised His church that if He went away, the Holy Spirit would come to abide with it. The Holy Spirit’s purpose is to provide knowledgeable comfort, guide into the ways of all truth, promote the teachings of Jesus, and show the church things that are to come. He has done it well, and continues to do it well, in spite of satanic attempts to the contrary.

In these latter times of multiple brands of “Christianity,” designed to destroy the uniqueness of the local church, it would appear it should have little chance to remain separated and intact as Jesus launched it. But, it remains! Identifying the legitimate successors of the first church necessitates identifying the peculiarities of the false churches seeking its demise through ecumenical amalgamation.

From the shores of Galilee to the shores of America, and through all time between, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ alone has been marked by core doctrinal purity. True Baptist churches have been known for some diverse viewpoints down through the ages, but always present in their constitution were the core doctrines of 1) hereditary depravity of the total man, 2) spiritual salvation by grace through faith, 3) eternal security of the believer in Christ, and 4) baptism by immersion only of a professed believer only by the authority of a New Testament church only.

On the other hand, there are great similarities of another nature in the sibling churches of Protestantism, and they with their mother, the Roman Catholic Church. Moreover, there also exists kindred doctrines and protocol in churches of American origin, but none dare adopt the core doctrines that make a Baptist church tick. Yet, Baptists carry on in sweet peace and harmony, advancing the Great Commission to the dismay, and often disdain of what is called the “Christian” world. The world’s religions will not have these doctrines, because they do not understand them. The reason for that is simply that those doctrines are spiritually discerned, thus hidden from practitioners of religions not subject to the constraints of the Bible.

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