What Does "Grieving the Holy Spirit" Mean?
I have heard the expression "Grieving the Holy Spirit" most of my Christian life and wonder if you could give me more detail.
The expression relates to Paul's words in
- "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Since the Holy Spirit is a holy person who dwells within the believer, He will be grieved by any sinful actions. Read also verses 29 and 31 for Paul's description of some of the words and deeds that may bring pain to God's Holy Spirit.When a person has been saved, is that person "Spirit-baptized," or "filled with the Holy Spirit," at the some moment? Is "speaking in other tongues" evidence?
Spirit-baptism, or Spirit-filling, may or may not occur at the time of salvation. The first disciples in Jerusalem had been saved (see
) for some time before they were Spirit-baptized, or filled with the Holy Spirit ( and 2:4). Years later, in Caesarea, the Holy Spirit was "poured out" (equals "baptized") on Cornelius and his household ( ) in conjunction with their coming to salvation. In both cases, in Jerusalem and Caesarea, speaking in tongues ( and ) immediately followed. Tongues were specifically said to be evidence in -46. Since then many people have spoken in tongues as confirmation of a profoundly spiritual experience.About The Author
Rodman
Williams
J. Rodman Williams (1918–2008), was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina (A.B. degree), of Union Theological Seminary in Virginia (B.D. and Th. M. degrees), and Columbia University in New York (Ph.D. degree in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics). He served as a chaplain in the U.S. Marine Corps, taught philosophy and religion at Beloit College in Wisconsin, pastored the First Presbyterian Church of Rockford, Illinois, taught theology and philosophy of religion at Austin Presbyterian Seminary in Texas, and served as president and professor of theology at Melodyland
