Replies

In an open letter to the church in Corinth, Paul wrote, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13)

Paul felt free to use the term all because he believed every believer had been indwelt or filled by the Holy Spirit. He used two figures of speech to describe the filling of the Spirit. We have all been baptized into the body by the Spirit, and we have all been made to drink of the Spirit.

In an open letter to Christians everywhere, the apostle John wrote, "By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit" (1 John 4:13).

Like Paul, John believed that believers everywhere were filled with the Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit is a source of assurance. We know we belong to Christ because His Spirit dwells in us. Without Him, there is no assurance.

Excellent verse. I look forward to discussing it with you further. Unfortunately I am leaving on vacation tomorrow and will be gone for a few weeks (unfortunate for our discussion that is - very fortunate for me). If this topic hasn't been discussed into the ground by then, I would very much like to continue. In Him