Today’s Food for the Soul: John Chapters 20-21
Holy Spirit, the Seal of Your Salvation
“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit”.” (John 20:22, NKJV)
The first few verses of John chapter 20 conveyed the apprehension and heightened sentiments of Jesus’ disciples. Amid their grieving, after the death of their Master, on the third day, they found that the tomb was open, they saw the linen cloths and the handkerchief lying, but the body was nowhere to be found. The authorities paid people to lie and testify that someone stole Jesus’ body! DO YOU KNOW the wicked have robbed many people of this truth through the years, even at this time?
Put yourself in the situation of the disciples – what would you feel?
Moment of truth – test of faith – their hope and confidence in the Savior against the lies and deceit! But praises be to our God – the truth prevails, prophecies were fulfilled, and God’s promise came to pass!
Do not doubt – only BELIEVE!
Believe and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior – Believe as the Scripture said, He has risen and is alive. As Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Believe in the Holy Spirit; He is the SEAL of your SALVATION (2Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30). John 20:21-23 says Jesus breathed on the disciples, and they received the Holy Spirit, who then quickened their spirit and empowered them to do what they were sent to do.
As God breathed on the man He created, and the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7), Jesus Christ gave the Holy Spirit that quickens our spirit being – through whom we were born again! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2Corinthians 5:17, NKJV).
– Contributed by Ptr Erline Crisostomo