Question from a WordTruth.Com friend:
>>> I was wondering if you had any scriptures on the spirit in which we are born. My husband has become involved in a group that claims an unrightous spirit is Satan's and we are all born with his spirit, and we must cast it out in order to recieve the Holy Spirit. Now while we know we (Christians) have the nature to sin we surely do not belong in full to satan. So are there in fact three spirits or two?WordTruth.Com Response:
Your question is an interesting one. I would like to know the group your husband is involved in that teaches such a doctrine. What you have described is at least partially in conflict with the clear teaching of the Bible. Consider:
- We are all born with a sin nature and we choose to sin (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:9-19,23).
- Sin separates us from the love of God (Genesis 2:16-17; Romans 6:23).
- Without Christ, we do not have the power to overcome sin. As a result, we go along with Satan's desires whether we realize we are following his course or not:
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (Ephesians 2:1-3, NKJV)
Prior to trusting in the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are physically alive but spiritually dead:But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-6, NKJV)
So when you trust in the LORD Jesus Christ, He makes you alive spiritually, even giving you eternal life (John 3:16). You receive the Holy Spirit the moment you believe the gospel and trust in Christ. Anyone who has believed the gospel and trusted in Christ has the Holy Spirit as a permanent possession:In Him [Christ] you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)Anyone who has turned to Christ by faith is declared righteous before God for all time:But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. (Romans 3:21-22, NKJV; see also 2 Corinthians 5:21)Anyone who has turned to Christ by faith is made a new creation:Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV)The Bible does not command us to cast out an unrighteous spirit in ourselves that belongs to Satan. Satan is a created being -- he does not own any person, though he would like to make you believe that he can. God is the Creator and owns everything (Genesis 1:1). You are either in the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light. Once you place your trust in the LORD Jesus Christ as Savior, He places you into His kingdom:...giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:12-14, NKJV)No one can snatch you out of God's hand. You do not bounce back and forth between the two kingdoms. Once you commit yourself to the LORD Jesus Christ, you belong to Him. Jesus said:My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one. (John 10:27-30, NKJV)Hope this is helpful to you in understanding this issue. I encourage you and your husband to prayerfully study these Scriptures and what they mean. Our God is a mighty God! When you belong to Him, you need not fear Satan any longer.
May God bless you with His wisdom and the courage to follow Jesus!
Randy Lariscy :-)
Director - WordTruth Ministries
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