Expert: Tom Smith - 2/16/2009

Question
QUESTION: Dear Tom

What verses, of what books of the bible, explains/sheds light on, the does/don’ts, for staying on the narrow path?
(I only need the locations, I can look then up then, thus saving you time.  Thank you in advance.)

Allen

ANSWER: Christians do not follow a list of "do's" or "don't" to stay on the narrow path, but rather when we are saved, we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As a result, if we submit ourselves to Jesus as Lord and Saviour, our desires will change. Our desires will be changed to things of the Lord. Our desire will be to submit to His will, to know of Him through studying His word, to worship Him and to fellowship with other fellow believers. We will also have a desire to share what we know of Him. As you continue to seek and submit to Him, He will guide you and help you in your path.

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

QUESTION: Please; What verses, of what chapters, of what books of the Bible, says that? (So I can look it up, and read it.)

ANSWER: The following is not an exhaustive list, but provides you with a starting point.

1) Those who are saved receive the indwelling and guidance of the Holy Spirit:

John 7:38-39
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
NKJV

John 14:15-18
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
NKJV

John 16:13-14
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
NKJV

2) Our desires will change when we are saved and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:

1 Cor 2:14-16
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
NKJV

Gal 5:24-26
24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
NKJV


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

QUESTION: Dear
You brought up; the Holy Spirit; the spirit of truth; Spirit of God.

John 7:38-39... the Holy Spirit...
John 14:17 the Spirit of truth...
John 16:13-14 ... the Spirit of truth...

2) ...indwelling of the Holy Spirit:
1 Cor 2:14-16 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God...

25 If we live in the Spirit...

Are all these Spirits diffirent spirits, or are they the same spirit with diffrent names?  And what are you basing your answer on?

Thank you.

Answer
When we read what scripture has to say about the Spirit of Truth and the Holy Spirit, we can clearly see that these are two terms for the same person, for example:

John 14:15-18
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
NKJV

John 15:26-27
26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
NKJV

John 7:38-39
39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
NKJV

Luke 12:11-12
11 Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
NKJV

John 14:26-27
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
NKJV

Acts 1:7-8
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
NKJV

There are far too many references to go through what scripture says regarding these terms in detail, but hopefully this will give you and indication as to how these terms are used interchangeably.