We saw in meditations 24 and 25 that the Bible urges us to seek God in remorseful repentance from our rebellious ways. In meditation 26 we read that we can trust God for complete forgiveness on the basis of our faith in the sacrificial death of his beloved Son, Jesus Christ [the Messiah].
Jesus assures us that heaven throws a party for us when we radically surrender to God: "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." (Luke 15:7)
Jesus compares God’s love for penitent rebels with the compassionate father in the parable of the lost son: “So he (the lost son) returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began” (Luke 15:20-24).
So, how will we experience ‘ God’s loving embrace’ when we return home to our heavenly Father?
When the apostle Peter spurs his conscience-stricken listeners on to return to God, he not only speaks of their need for repentance and forgiveness, but also of God’s compassionate response: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
Already, six centuries beforehand, God had told through his prophet Ezechiel what such a ‘divine embrace’ after repentance and forgiveness would entail: “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away ...
And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you.
I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command” (Ezekiel 36:25-27).
On the evening before his death, Jesus promised his Jewish disciples that after his resurrection and return to heaven, he would send them the Holy Spirit: “I will send you the Counselor-- the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will tell you all about me” (John 15:26).
Jesus’ forerunner, John the Baptist, foresaw already that Jesus Christ [the Messiah] would be the giver of God’s Spirit. He said to his listeners: “I baptize with water those who turn from their sins and turn to God.
But someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am-- so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit...” (Matthew 3:11).
After his resurrection and before his return to heaven, Jesus met his friends regularly over meals. At one of those occasions he commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised.
Remember, I have told you about this before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5).
The apostle Peter later told his Jewish colleagues in Jerusalem about a meeting he had with people who were not Jews; yet, they were interested to hear the message of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah.
During that meeting God showed Peter that he would give his Spirit to everyone who repents and believes in his Son. Peter said: “Well, I began telling them the Good News, but just as I was getting started, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning (see Acts 2).
Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
And since God gave these Gentiles (i.e. non-Jews) the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to argue?” (Acts 11:15-17)
The apostle Paul reminds the followers of Jesus in Rome: “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ [the Messiah], he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:9).
In other words, it is completely natural that God ‘embraces me in love’ and gives me His Spirit, after I come to him in repentance and faith in his Son Jesus Christ [the Messiah].
So, why is it that so many Christians are unsure about the presence and the work of God’s Spirit in their lives?
If you struggle with the same problem, you need to talk with God about it. You should find out what God’s Word [the Bible] says about the person and the work of the Holy Spirit. You might want to seek the counsel of other Christians.
Jesus promised: “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:13).
Next time we will look into the question: Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Bible verses Luke 15:7, Acts 2:38 and Romans 8:9 are quoted from the ‘New International Version’. All other texts are quotes of the ‘New Living Translation’.
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