Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Blog
→
In You Forever — John 14:16-17

In You Forever — John 14:16-17

December 28, 2017 by Shawn Lazar in Blog

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).

Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would be with them “forever.”

I take that as an eternal security verse.

How long will the Holy Spirit be in the disciples? A day? A month? A year? Just so long as they are good and faithful?

Jesus said, “Forever.”

Every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the moment of faith. And the Holy Spirit remains there forever.

The relationship is permanent.

But what about the fellowship?

We all have relationships to members of our family: our mother, father, grandparents, siblings, and cousins. Those relationships are biological and objective. But they do not indicate how you get along with your family. Do you have good fellowship? Are you close to your brother? Are you best friends with your sister? Do you have a warm or cold fellowship with your mother?

There’s a difference between having an objective relationship with the Spirit, and a subjective fellowship with Him.

The Holy Spirit indwells believers forever, but you can “quench the Spirit’ (1 Thess 5:9); “grieve the Spirit” (Eph 4:30); and even ignore the Spirit by living according to the flesh, instead of according to the Spirit (Rom 8:4-6).

In other words, your fellowship with the Spirit is conditional. It depends on where you have set your mind: on fleshly things or spiritual things?

Even though your relationship with the Spirit is a given, don’t take your fellowship with the Spirit for granted.

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
Shawn_L

by Shawn Lazar

Shawn Lazar (BTh, McGill; MA, VU Amsterdam) was the Editor of Grace in Focus magazine and Director of Publications for Grace Evangelical Society from May 2012 through June 2022. He and his wife Abby have three children. He has written several books including: Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation and Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Cart

Recently Added

February 6, 2023

Saving the Lost (Luke 19:9) 

In Luke 19:1-9, we find the well-known story of a short, but rich, man named Zacchaeus. We are all familiar with the story, and with...
February 3, 2023

Romans–Part 05–The Solution

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Kathryn Wright and Ken Yates conclude this short series as they get to the good part of the...
February 3, 2023

Here’s Why Your February Partner’s Letter Will Be Late

We send a letter each month to those who financially support the ministry of GES. We call the newsletter Partners in Grace. We try to...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • The Journey of Faith $15.00 $9.00
  • Confident in Christ, 2nd Edition $22.00 $5.00
  • Grace in Eclipse: A Study in Eternal Rewards (Second Edition) $15.00 $8.00
  • Inerrancy for Dummies $7.95 $5.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube