Jesus Came to Make Us Fit for the Holy Spirit (Advent 18, 2024)

Hebrews 9:8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning.

The first tabernacle with its laws was still functioning throughout Jesus’ life and ministry. He fell under the system of laws just like the rest of his peers. “[Because] while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

For the human heart to be clean enough for God’s Holy Spirit to dwell forever, Jesus had to be born sinless, live a sinless life, die an innocent death, rise from the grave, and ascend to offer the perfect sacrifice to the Father as our Great High Priest. The whole thing is why Jesus came to make us fit as a dwelling place for His Holy Spirit. This is how God’s laws are written in our minds and on our hearts.

Only after the birth, life/ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension
could Jesus’ sacrifice be acknowledged by the Father
to allow Him to trade His righteousness for our sin nature
by faith in Him.

Questions for further thought:

Where was the Holy Spirit before Jesus ascended? What is the distinction between “came upon” and indwelling? What was happening in Ezekiel 2:2 and Ezekiel 3:12-14? Did the Holy Spirit indwell Ezekiel or visit upon him/empower him?

Why did the law mean the Holy Spirit could only come upon and not dwell as God’s eternal presence in our hearts? (1 Chronicles 12:18)

What’s happening in Acts 10:44, 11:15, and 19:6? What does Ephesians 1:13-14 say about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we praise You and thank You that Your sacrifice was perfect and acceptable to the Father. Thank You for asking Him to send the Holy Spirit as a Counselor to be with us forever. We love You! Amen.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:

“From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
“Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.