Ephesians 4:30 – causing sorrow to the holy spirit

And do not be causing sorrow to the holy spirit of God by which you are sealed for the day of deliverance.

One might wonder whether this verse should be linked to the preceding (“corrupted word”) or the following (“bitterness and anger”). But why make a choice? Everyone who believes in the Gospel of salvation (1:13 -> the Savior of all people!) is sealed with the holy spirit of GOD. That spirit is a down payment of the allotment that awaits us. It is the life of the new humanity that does belong in the new creation (“the day of deliverance”), but can already be lived by us. The spirit has been given to us as an advance. If that were only ‘dead capital’, then we would cause sorrow to GOD’s spirit. We should distinguish ourselves (> holy) by actually being led by this spirit.

The spirit, the holy spirit of GOD, is God’s own personal spirit. It is not a separate personality besides GOD, nor is my spirit a separate personality distinct from myself. My mind, that is me in my spiritual capacity. Above all, spirit is also life. And holy spirit is the new, incorruptible life of the resurrection!

Delen: