What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? Campus Crusade for Christ has tracts devoted to answering this question. Billy Graham has a tract on the Holy Spirit. Dr. Andreas Köstenberger, a well-respected NT Scholar, has written a great article on this issue in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 40/2 (1997): 229-40, and he raises some great points. Here is the first paragraph of his article:
“A popular pamphlet challenges ‘carnal Christians’ to embark on the ‘Spirit-filled life’ by confessing their sins and presenting every area of their lives to God (referencing the Campus Crusade for Christ tract entitled “Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-Filled Life?”). Thus they will experience the ‘abundant life’ Jesus promised (John 10:10) and be ‘filled with the Spirit’ (Eph. 5:18). While the intention behind the teaching is doubtless commendable—who would disagree that many fall short of the Biblical ideal for the Christian and desperately need to renew their commitment to their Lord?—the theology and terminology upon which this approach is based need to be reexamined to see whether they in fact reflect Biblical categories.”
Read this article as an aid to help re-think the issue of being filled with the Spirit. I would love any comments or thoughts concerning this question or article.
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1 comment:
Marty, what is the name of the new Holy Spirit tract? Is there a place that we can go and read it? Thanks man.
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