Expert: Ron Nichols - 3/20/2011

Question
QUESTION: Dear Pastor Ron,
Who is the Spirit of Christ? Isn't it the Holy Spirit? I read somewhere that the Spirit of Christ was not the Holy Spirit and that we are not to confuse the 2. This is really troubling me though....from the 3 Scriptures that I have read (the one in 1 Peter 1, Roman 8, and Galatians 4) it seems to me that the Spirit of Christ is also really the Holy Spirit, and is interchangeable with the Spirit of God. We obtain "sonship" (or the adoption of sons) by the Father giving us the Spirit of His Son into our hearts ---- isn't this one and the same as the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is a witness and testifies of Christ in and through the life of the believer....just like what the Scriptures says:'the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God...'And that would make sense since the Holy Spirit is to be received by the individual upon belief in Christ (or accepting salvation). Can you clarify? Are my thoughts incorrect in any way? Please I need your Biblical expertise. What does Assemblies of God detail as the Spirit of Christ? Thank you for your help!
Zhane

ANSWER: Romans 8:9 basically says He is the Holy Spirit.
Interchangeable my friend. That is why we "flip" flop on the two. You are correct in your assumptions.
I pray this  helps
blessings
Pastor Ron

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Pastor Ron,
I'm sorry to bother you this Sunday, and I had one more question ---- is God still giving man revelation today/is God giving man any new revelation today? I mean...isn't everything we need as born again believers in the Bible? What is your stance about Charismatics who claim special revelation? Doesn't the Bible proclaim judgment against that and isn't the Bible all that the born-again believer needs today? What is the Assemblies of God fellowship stance on those who claim that they have been given a revelation/special revelation/private revelation by God or Jesus Christ, and have had a personal encounter with Jesus?
I am asking this question because of this: have you ever heard of Revelation of Heaven and Hell by 7 youth? Christians are actually reading and believing this account over the Word of God, and are hailing mystical experiences over what the Holy Spirit reveals to us through God's Word...
Please let me know, as a pastor, whether Gos is indeed giving us further revelation through men IN ADDITION  to His written Word through His holy prophets and holy Apostles. Thanks a great deal; this is a serious matter.
Zhane

Answer
God is still speaking to men today. Yes, the Word is our source. I do believe that God is speaking to men for certain occasions, etc. I will not accept anything from a man unless I can back it up from the Word of God. Sometimes people get overzealous about spiritual things. Be cautious of those who claim that "God told them so"    Just place your faith in Him and Him alone. You will be alright if you do that.
Pray this helps
blessings
Pastor Ron