The 3 Tiers of Christian Experience
The Holy Spirit does a lot of great jobs in our lives, but it is the Word of God that sanctifies and cleanses us. That is why Jesus says we are cleansed by the word He speaks to us, John 15: 3. In another place He prayed for the disciples; He said, Father sanctify them by your truth for your Word is truth, John 17: 17.
In another portion of the Scripture, He said flesh profits nothing, the Word He speaks to them is life and spirit, John 6: 63. The Holy Spirit as the Lord said in John; empowers, strengthens, guides, directs, leads, defends, endues, comforts, gives the increase in soul harvest and miracles and convicts, leads and judges sinners of sin and of righteousness.
But does not make us holy. It is our obedience to God’s word that cleanses, sanctifies and makes us holy. Then the Holy Ghost comes in to baptise and endue the sanctified vessel with the power of a fruitful and acceptable walk with God which is our reasonable service.
Furthermore, sanctification deals with the inner holiness of life in the heart, known as the inward salvation. Which is the uprooting of the root of sin in man, or the removal of the Adamic nature in man which is the inbreeding sin in the heart of man so that man can be holy in the inward part. This can also be called the perfection stage of christian service and walk with God. You can also call it the beauty of Christian holiness.
The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in you if you have not attained this Christian experience and height except you are operating with the gift of the spirit which is different from the fruit of the Spirit.
Hence, sanctification is the second experience of Christian salvation. While the first Christian experience which is the outer salvation comes by confessions of sins, the Lordship of Christ, His acceptance and turning away from every bad life through repentance from sins.
The third step of salvation which is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, is the last Christian experience of salvation that deals with enduing and empowering a Christian for consistent and fruitful soul winning service for God which initial evidence is speaking in other tongues.
“But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” Acts 1: 8.
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” Mark 16: 17-18.
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Apostle Ariamaseke Alphos is a Writer and an Ordained Minister of God who is very passionate about the spread of the Gospel of Christ.
