Basic TrainingBible MinistriesGene CunninghamBasic Training Bible Ministries KBKnowledge Base

What does the Bible teach about spirituality?

A person is spiritual when—and only when—he is filled by means of the Holy Spirit. Spirituality is an absolute—at any moment of time we are either one hundred percent filled by the Spirit and therefore spiritual, or we are not filled by the Spirit at all and are therefore carnal (1 Cor. 3:1–4; Gal. 5:16–17; 6:1). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a once-for-all thing that cannot be changed or lost, but with this indwelling comes an inner conflict between the Holy Spirit and our old sin nature, and our volition—our freedom to choose—is the arbiter in this conflict. We decide moment-by-moment who will be in control of our soul. The filling of the Spirit is a matter of choice, as we are commanded to be filled (Eph. 5:18), and we can receive or reject it by grace through faith. We lose the filling of the Spirit by choosing to grieve or quench the Spirit through sin or apathy, but we regain it by confessing our sins and being cleansed from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9; Prov. 1:23). Being filled by the Spirit is not an end in itself, but rather the means to an end—the life that is produced by the consistent filling of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in us.

Also asked: what is the relationship between the holy spirit and human spirit according to the bible?
Also asked, more loosely
how does the holy spirit indwelling change our behavior and choices as christians? · can a christian lose the holy spirit and how can it be regained?

Source: The Basics The Basics — Volition (canonical doctrine) · Read this lesson in the book →

What this answer is about

The subjects this answer names in its own words. Where the record names that subject itself, it is shown in bold.

Related questions

See also

Scripture this answer rests on

Scripture the book prints on the pages this answer was drawn from. The passages printed closest to it are shown, in Bible order.

Also printed on these pages

Where this is taught in the book

Closest first: the pages where the book treats this subject most directly.

Scripture is not BTBM’s to license: the references above link to Blue Letter Bible (NASB95), and the verse text shown on this page is served by BLB under their own license and terms.