It may not fit some people’s learned way of understanding, but Jesus was full of the Holy Ghost.  When He was also baptized by John, I don’t think He was baptized in His own name.   And there was a voice from heaven that said, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  I want to say this kindly, and in the right spirit; there are some things in the NT that many have thrown out, or ignored.  It’s because it does not fit in with the way they were taught; it sounds like contradiction.

Paul wrote some stuff that many just jumped over.  The way he opened some of his letters, speaks of our Fahter, and His Son Jesus Christ.  This will not be a debate over the Godhead, baptism and any other parts of what we call our doctrine.  Jesus Christ had his own doctrine, and one can be sure, most of us do not even know what that was.  The scripture says here, that if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, “he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God.” What kind of Spirit, did Christ have.  In this context, He manifested a certain kind of fruit; the true fruit of the Spirit.

To be true followers of Christ, we have to act, like Christ acted.  Yes, He did get angry a few times; in fact, very angry at one point.  With a strop in one hand, He shouted, you have made my Father’s house, a den of thieves.  He was often short-tempered with hypocrites, and yes, He did call the leaders of the church of that time, a bunch of snakes.  But, how did He act most of the time; what kind of spirit did He have, when He preached and taught to the people.  Wasn’t He loving, gentle, meek, long-suffering and full of real goodness.  Was He not forgiving, and full of mercy; even on the Cross.

I am more convinced now, than ever before, that the way we love people, is going to make the greatest impact on their lives.  I believe I have a word for all those who have been rejected, pushed aside, left wounded and lost; sheep who were unsearched for.  Love people.  Go out of your way to speak to those you can; in every aspect of your lives.  What is going to be the most important thing to them, is the spirit that you manifest.  It’s really come down to the final wire; we either love like He loved, and still loves, or we are nothing.  Many don’t want you; but millions and millions of others, do.

This context mentioned the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of Christ.  Many will say, it’s the same Spirit; and it is.  But that’s where many of us leave off.  I say this, humbly if I can; my neighbors, and those I come in contact with, could care less about my doctrine, my dress codes and what fellowship I might belong to.  Do you know what has impressed them the most? It’s the way I have treated them; the fact that they can tell I really do care about them; that I would do anything I could to help them.  If I’m doing my best to be closer to Him, seeking to follow and be led by Him more and to know Him more, they see the Spirit of Christ, in me.  Otherwise, they just see me.

~ Robert Blackburn

Robert Blackburn