By: Undre Griggs, Jr Giving your life to Jesus Christ through baptism is necessary to receive the blessing of eternal life. Only after baptism for the remission of sin will you receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (ESV): And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. While we understand the blessing of eternal life, we sometimes overlook the blessings of the Holy Spirit here on earth. Besides assisting us with our prayers to Father God, the Holy Spirit produces blessing we would spend an inheritance to secure. Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Love: John 13:34-35 (ESV): A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Joy and Peace: Romans 15:13 (ESV): May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Gentleness and Self Control: Titus 1:8 (ESV): But hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. Kindness and Patience: 2 Timothy 2:24 (ESV): And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, Goodness and Faithfulness: Proverbs 3:3 (ESV): Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. You will notice obedience to God is the manner in which the Holy Spirit provides the gifts. You cannot be baptized, do nothing to grow your faith, and expect the Holy Spirit to miraculously provide these blessing to you. You have to be diligent in your faith and work to grow it (Revelations 2:10). After baptism; stay in constant prayer, meditating on what is good and pure, reading your Bible daily, and the fruits of the Spirit will be yours.
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Dean Road
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