The Spirit is the Spirit of love. He is the love-gift that binds the Father and Son, and is the love of God poured into our hearts. By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, male or female. Each of us is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good, to edify the church: One is given wisdom by the Spirit, another knowledge, another faith, another healing, prophecy, tongues, distinguishing of tongues, interpretation of tongues, serving, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, showing mercy – all by the same Spirit. By the Spirit, the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control spring up from earthy men.
The Spirit is our inheritance. We are heirs of God; God is not only the one who gives an inheritance, but He is the very substance of our inheritance. We are the firstborn of the greater Elijah, Jesus, who leaves behind the double-portion of His Spirit, the inheritance of firstborn sons, to us, Elisha. The Spirit is the inheritance of the sons of God. The Spirit is the Spirit of sonship, by which we cry out that the Father is our Father, by whom we join in the Son’s eternal cry, Abba, Father!
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