USING BIBLE TENSES BIBLE WAY (PART 1)

This is one salient rule of Bible interpretation that cannot be overemphasized, not just for accuracy in understanding but also as an aid to leading the absolute Christian life God in all of His graciousness has blessed us with.

A tense is simply any form of a verb that distinguishes the time of occurrence of an action or of the existence of a being. Time has to do with the question, when? Was it in the past? Is it in the present? Or will it be in the future?

Now the focus of this post is to biblically distinguish between what God HAS DONE already (past tense), what HE DOES presently (present tense), and what He WILL DO (future tense). This will help us:

• to stop expecting God to do today what He has already done in the past once and for all,

• to stop expecting Him to give what He has already given,

• to stop calling ourselves what we no longer are, and

• to stop hoping to become what we already are.

For example, when it comes to receiving the Holy Spirit into our hearts, the Bible confirms to us that every believer in Christ Jesus has the Holy Spirit in him already. This is not something to happen in the future but something that happened the moment we believed the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:13(NKJV)

In Him 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 (were, sealed: past tense).

2 Corinthians 1:21–22(NKJV)

21. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,

22. who also HAS SEALED us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Galatians 4:6(NKJV)

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

1 John 3:22–24(NKJV)

22. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

23. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

24. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

1 John 4:13(NKJV)

By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

We find this reality consistent in the Bible that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in every Christian is not something that will happen in the future but something that has happened already. Hence, this is a present reality of every child of God.

But what if the Holy Spirit leaves?

Truth is, that stance is not biblical at all. When Jesus promised the giving of the Holy Spirit, he made it clear that the Holy Spirit cannot leave a child of God.

John 14:16–17(NKJV)

16. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--

17. the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Jesus described the Holy Spirit as a Helper. The King James Version renders this word as “Comforter”. Many feel that the Holy Spirit leaves whenever a child of God messes up. Jesus’ words here shatter that idea in two ways: He said the Holy Spirit will be with us FOREVER, meaning He will never leave. Also, Jesus’ description of the Holy Spirit as a Helper shows that He won't leave at any time. In a practical natural scenario, when do you need a helper? When things are going fine or when you are down? Definitely when you are down. So if that is when the Holy Spirit decides to leave, does He fit into the description of a Helper?

Furthermore, Paul explained that we have been SEALED with the Holy Spirit. It is such an immutable relationship.

Ephesians 1:13–14(7NKJV)

13. In Him 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,

14. who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

The Holy Spirit has come to stay.

What then happens when a believer goes wrong?

It is in fact the presence of the Holy Spirit that is responsible for them being convicted of their error. Even while Paul admonished the church not to grieve the Holy Spirit, he didn't say the Holy Spirit would leave. No. On the contrary, he in fact reemphasized that we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:30(NKJV)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

The truth that the Holy Spirit cannot leave us is not an assumption; it is grounded on the very words of our Lord Jesus. Do you believe the words of Jesus?

Confession: The Holy Spirit dwells inside of me today, and just as Jesus promised, He will never leave me at any time. I believe the words of Jesus with the whole of my heart and I rejoice because I am never without comfort. Hallelujah!

I implore you to follow carefully as we go through this series, pay maximum attention to details by the help of the Holy Spirit, and be blessed.

Victor Ibosiola © 2022