As we see in these selected Scriptures, Holy Spirit was given to apostles to guide and direct them as they established church, preached gospel and wrote New Testament. Even those of us that boast of an impeccable memory can not remember everything that is said and done. Of course, fact that apostles were being taught by Christ and fact that they witnessed wonderful miracles that He performed would make events stand out in their memories much more than average event. Nonetheless, humans are not flawless when it comes to remembering events and teachings. It was therefore necessary for God to provide a means by which apostles could have 100% perfect memories when it came to remembering teachings of Christ and events that surrounded His ministry. God provided Holy Spirit to fulfill this need.

But we too have a need for Holy Spirit today. As we try to live a good faithful Christian life, it is difficult. It is difficult because of constant bombardment of temptations sent our way by Satan himself. We need constant guidance and direction to be able to withstand those temptations and "fight good fight." Again, God has provided! He has provided Holy Spirit to meet that need.

How do we know that God has given us Holy Spirit? Because Scriptures tell us so, "Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins; and you shall receive gift of Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38) For an excellent description of Holy Spirit dwelling in us as Christians read Romans chapter 8.

The Preexistence of Christ

Was Jesus just a prophet, a good man, a man of God; or was He in fact Son of God? If we are to believe in Christian concept of Holy Trinity, then we must be able to show evidence that Christ existed as part of Trinity prior to His coming to earth as Jesus.

The Old Testament is replete with prophecies concerning coming of Christ. There have been volumes written and still more shall be written in future on this aspect of Jesus Christ. The first prophecy in Bible concerning coming of Christ is found in Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between you and woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." From this verse forward we see prophecies in Deuteronomy, 1 Samuel, Job, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Over and over again these prophecies point to coming of Christ: "The Spirit of Lord shall rest upon Him." (Isaiah 11:2); "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given." (Isaiah 9:6); "Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him." (Daniel 7:14) and "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming." (Zechariah 9:9) These are but a few of many prophecies of coming of Christ.

But did Christ exist prior to His coming in form of man? Again there are many Scriptures which point to preexistence of Christ. The Gospel of John clearly indicates that Christ was at beginning of time. Here is what book of John has to say about Christ: "In beginning was Word, and Word was with God, and Word was God. He was in beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." (John 1:1-3)

Jesus also said that He was in existence prior to time of His ministry here on earth: "‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.' Then Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?' Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.'" (John 8:56-58)

There is yet another area of this discussion which I will not be able to develop to any reasonable extent. That area is fact that Old Testament has many different "types" of Christ. These are persons in Old Testament who posses certain characteristics or attributes of Christ. They were mere men, but their lives point to coming Christ. There were several of these in Old Testament. Perhaps we can develop these in future articles.

As I draw this article to a close, I feel that subject has not been given justice for there is so much more that can be said about reality of Holy Trinity. However, I sincerely hope that I have given you enough to strengthen your faith and I encourage you to study this subject further.

All Scriptures quoted are from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Stephen Kingery is an author, preacher, teacher and founder of The Home Bible Study Institute.

Visit our site at http://www.james1-22.org

However, through grace of God and sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on cross we can receive a free gift - gift of salvation. We can be saved from awful fate of second death which is hell. God has provided a way for us to escape torment of hell and to live in eternity with Him. The only way for this to happen is that we must be forgiven for our sins. Since Jesus took our sins to cross and paid price for our sins we can receive forgiveness for our sins. We can have our sins remitted or forgiven.

How are our sins forgiven? They are forgiven because Jesus took them to cross and paid penalty for us. However, we must accept free gift that God is offering to us. How? First by believing that Jesus is Christ, Son of living God. Second, by repenting of our sins and asking God's forgiveness. Third, by confessing to our fellow man that we indeed believe that Jesus is God's Son. Fourth, by submitting ourselves to watery grave of baptism. And finally by living a live which is faithful to Christ and His church.

But exactly when is our sin forgiven? "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16) "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins; and you shall receive gift of Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38) "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." (Acts 2:41) "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on name of Lord." (Acts 22:16) How could anything possibly be more clear than is this issue. Our sins are forgiven when we in faith believing submit ourselves to watery grave of baptism. There are many false teachings concerning baptism in world today. But Scriptures make it clear. Baptism is what obtains for us forgiveness of our sins. Unless we voluntarily, with a believing heart and a repentant spirit submit to baptism by immersion, our sins cannot be forgiven. Jesus said it, apostles preached and practiced it and I believe it. And that should be end of it!

There are those who may say, "How can I know that I have been forgiven of my sins?" When we come up out of baptism there are no lights that flash, no trumpets that sound, no mighty rushing wind that fills place - so how can we know? Is it not enough for us to know that Jesus promised us that our sins would be forgiven? Is it not enough for us to know that apostles preached forgiveness of sins during establishment of early church? Consider following Scriptures.

"God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of a man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19) "These things I have written to you who believe in name of Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in name of Son of God. Now this is confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:13-15) "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:17,18)

It is beyond my comprehension for a person to say that he or she believes that Jesus is Christ, Son of living God and that they believe what Bible has to say about nature of God and then to question whether or not they have received remission for their sins. If we believe what Bible has to say about God, His Son and Holy Spirit, we should rejoice when we come up out of watery grave of baptism - not begin to question our salvation. If you do what Bible says to do to receive salvation, there is not need for questions!

If you study God's Word on a regular basis (daily if possible, but at least several times each week), then you will receive strength to come to know with certainty in your heart that God has forgiven you. As our monograph series says. "Do not merely listen to word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22 NIV)

All Scriptures quoted are from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Stephen Kingery is an author, preacher, teacher and founder of The Home Bible Study Institute.

Visit our site at http://www.james1-22.org