…there are three reasons why we can affirm the Spirit’s indwelling of OT saints: regeneration, sanctification, and empowerment.
via OT Saints: Indwelt by the Spirit?.
I was actually just thinking about this the other night, while reading through Ezekiel 2-3. I’d heard the argument before that Old Testament saints were NOT indwelt by the Spirit ever, that that Spirit merely “came upon” them.
The text, however, shows otherwise:
Ezekiel 2:22 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. (ESV)
Ezekiel 3:2424 But the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and he spoke with me and said to me, “Go, shut yourself within your house. (ESV)
Funny you should bring this up…
In light of some people I know being, uh, creative in their explanation of grace, and the usefulness (or lack thereof) of the Old Testament, it has occurred to me that I cannot articulate the differences between OT believer’s realities and NT believer’s realities as glibly as I had previously thought. This is precisely one of the examples that came to mind.
Some things are obvious – Will give a heart of flesh for instance, but I bet it would make a great study, and such an understanding may help the body recover the understanding doctrine of regeneration from its current dismal state.
Thanks James.
Wes wrote on September 28th, 2009 at 3:29 am