FORGIVENESS AND THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT

Frederick E Raven

That is what the commission of the apostle was, "to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God". What comes afterwards is what I should call supplementary, "that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me".

Forgiveness even is not known except by the Spirit. You do not believe that you are forgiven. You are never taught to do so and whatever people may think they do not believe it. What they believe is what is set forth in the testimony, viz., that there is forgiveness of sins in Christ's name and that is universal - it is God's mind in regard of any man. When forgiveness in Christ's name was preached and believed people got the Spirit and that brought them into the enjoyment of it. The great end and object in Christ is that you may get living water. The point all through the Acts of the Apostles was that people should get the gift of the Holy Spirit. A person comes to Christ as needy with a request in his heart on account of his need and God knows what will suit him exactly and he gets the Spirit. The Spirit brings you into a world of reality. Cornelius by the Holy Spirit got the knowledge or witness of forgiveness. We too receive forgiveness in the witness of the Spirit.

volume 1 page 79 and volume 13 page 14