10:27

We must not attempt to hide behind a Holy Spirit who does not condone willful sin.  The Spirit makes a believer aware of sin in his or her life, but the Bible explicitly shows that a believer can still choose to become hardened by sin and not heed the warning, teaching, chastisement of the Spirit.





Hebrews 3: 7
Hebrews 3: 8
Hebrews 3: 12
Hebrews 3: 13
Hebrews 3: 14

Without the prompting, teaching, and presence of the Holy Spirit, we could learn nothing, and we could not overcome in Christ.

We would be like so many others who are clinging to empty religious figures who have no power.  We need that "earnest" of the Holy Spirit.  Without the down payment of the Holy Spirit, we are no different than those who follow the empty gods in other religions:  islam, buddhism, catholicism, hinduism, voodooism, etc.  They are simply going through fleshly motions and attaching a false god to their man-made works.  Their works are filthy rags and will not withstand the Judgment.

However, the true God has given His Spirit to those who believe in Him.  Why?  We can't overcome without His Spirit!  We must be led of His Spirit in order to be free from the bondage of sin.

Glory be to God that He gives those who believe in Jesus the earnest of the Holy Spirit.  Yet, the Word of God speaks to those who have the earnest of the Holy Spirit with warning - not just a "Please don't sin warning,"  but a warning that comes with eternal consequences for those who do not abide in Christ.

Can a person who has the Holy Spirit reject the prompting of the Spirit?  Yes.
The Word shows us that this is absolutely a concern for believers.

Hebrews 6: 4
Hebrews 6: 5
Hebrews 6: 6
Hebrews 6: 7
Hebrews 6: 8

Carefully examine each of those verses.  Those verses are not pertaining to someone who has never believed, and those verses are not pertaining to someone who never had the Holy Spirit.  The Lord does not break His covenant with a believer, but believers can break their covenant with the Lord.

Hebrews 10: 26
Hebrews 10: 27
Hebrews 10: 29

These verses are without confusion.  Only those in Christ are sanctified.  Yet, verse 29 uses the past tense form of sanctified in order to illustrate the fallen state of one who does not continue in obedience to the Spirit of grace.

The Spirit speaks to churches in Revelation warning some of those believers to repent.  The Spirit never states, "I know you will repent because you are 'sealed' with my Spirit."  Instead, the Spirit of Truth is able to convey changes that must be made by these believers.  There are areas of sin that only the Spirit can reveal.  What a tremendous privilege to have the Holy Spirit of the Lord present in a person's life.  How dreadful it is not to heed that very same Spirit, however.

Revelation 2: 26
Revelation 3: 5
Revelation 3: 16
Revelation 2: 5
1 Thessalonians 5: 19

We cannot separate having the Holy Spirit from being IN Christ.  That is very dangerous.

Ephesians 2: 18
2 Corinthians 3: 17
2 Corinthians 3: 18

If we are not IN Christ, then we are lost - eternally.

John 15: 2
John 15: 5
John 15: 6

Romans 11: 22

Closely examine the verses in the attached links to better understand how important it is to remain in Christ.  

IN Christ Verses

THROUGH Christ Verses

IN the Lord Verses

THROUGH Jesus Verses


IN CHRIST, we are kept and secure.  Outside of Christ, no longer abiding in the Vine, we are eternally lost.