Difference between Baptized with the Holy Ghost and being FILLED with the Holy Ghost vs

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Mar 13, 2022
290
12
18
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:20-21

Praying in the Spirit whereby we build ourselves up on our most holy faith, is directly linked to keeping ourselves in the love of God.

JPT
Wow, those Verses are amazing! Keeping yourself in The Love of GOD is being in a constant Relationship with Him! It is remaining on The Narrow Path of SALVATION. It is Obeying JESUS as our LORD. It is keeping Righteous Intentions. It is correcting the corrupted image of Adam.
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
5,255
1,110
113
...
I might email you about the potential third option of not baptizing because of perceived unworthiness of the potential baptizee.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
We see this truth in John's exchange with Pharisees and Sadducees in Matt. 3:5-9. Clearly they wanted their previous sins remitted without having any intention of turning away from their current sinful lifestyle. Only those who are willing to turn away from their sin and to God should be considered as candidates for baptism. Also interesting, John makes a connection between obedience to the God-given of water baptism and being raised a child of God.
 

KelbyofGod

Senior Member
Oct 8, 2017
1,881
721
113
We see this truth in John's exchange with Pharisees and Sadducees in Matt. 3:5-9. Clearly they wanted their previous sins remitted without having any intention of turning away from their current sinful lifestyle. Only those who are willing to turn away from their sin and to God should be considered as candidates for baptism. Also interesting, John makes a connection between obedience to the God-given of water baptism and being raised a child of God.
I was thinking about that this morning in terms of Matthew 13:47-48 (and others) and didn't think it fit:

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: [48] Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away." - Matthew 13:47-48

And before you start a response, keep reading. Next I thought I should go reread the passages that you are referencing to see if there was something more substantial to support what you suggest. And I actually found the opposite.

Here are the verses you referenced:

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, [6] And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. [7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: [9] And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. - Matthew 3:5-9 KJV​

But here's the rest of what John said, where he actually clarifies what he does with "vipers" and those who are perhaps insincere (Matthew 3:10-12) :

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: [12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. - Matthew 3:10-12 KJV​

Please note that first telling them what is expected, then going ahead and baptizing them after warning them of what will happen to every tree "which bringeth not forth good fruit" works perfectly with Matthew 13:47:48.

AND it allows them (not him) to make the choice concerning themselves. That way they have no excuse on judgement day as if it were JOHN's responsibility (to make the decision) rather than their own.

The Luke 3:7-18 States it again (making two or three witnesses). Verse 7 also makes it clear that he wasn't just speaking to those you or I might consider unworthy... He said it unto the MULTITUDE. (Are you going to suggest that John refused to baptize the MULTITUDE?) The warnings are unto ALL just as the promises are unto ALL.

The choice of how we want to proceed remains with us.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
 

KelbyofGod

Senior Member
Oct 8, 2017
1,881
721
113
@Wansvic I should also give credit where credit is due. Glory goes to God for having my newly-baptized coworker ask about the passage in Luke last night, making sure I'd notice what was important for the topic today.

Which actually means it was yesterday morning when I'd started thinking about Matthew 13:47-48 because I'd already started writing the email before my coworker started asking questions.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
 

KelbyofGod

Senior Member
Oct 8, 2017
1,881
721
113
@Wansvic
Sigh... working non-standard shifts can mess with your sense of when I did what. Bible studying Luke 3 was last night. It stood out because of the "vipers" aspect I was already thinking about. But my memory of when I started the email might be skewed. (just trying to be honest about all).

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
 

KelbyofGod

Senior Member
Oct 8, 2017
1,881
721
113
i think you are saying a Child of GOD is in a constant state of prayer ...not literally. It's kind of hard to do willful repeated sin when you are in a state of prayer ...constant connection to GOD.
My very first statement is really important...that the thread would likely seem strange (be a mystery) if a person hasn't yet been baptized with the Holy Ghost.

In Acts 19:2 Paul asks a group if they have received the Holy Ghost yet, and they honestly answer that they don't really know what he is talking about. THAT is an awesome response because it allows Paul to start teaching them. It also seems very rare in terms of how church people would answer nowadays. But I'm going to ask you that same question.

I already assume you are a believer in the fact that Jesus died for your sins... BUT... "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" And do you honestly know what it is I'm asking?

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
 
Jan 31, 2021
8,658
1,064
113
This may sound strange to those who have not yet received the Holy Ghost.

Being BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit means a person has received the Holy Ghost/Spirit permanently.
And this baptism occurs when a person puts their trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Gal 3-
2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

Being FILLED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit means it has pushed everything else out until there is no room left for anything else (like SIN).
Please quote any verse that teaches this.

Instead, being filled with the Holy SPIRIT means being under the influence of the Spirit. This is where the fruit of the Spirit comes from.

Throughout Acts, we find believers doing great things when filled with the Spirit. It's the difference between accomplishing things in your own power (will power of the flesh) and the power of the Spirit.

A common mistake among those who have been BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost is to claim they are FILLED with the Holy Ghost.
Agreed. Unless a believer is keeping "short accounts" by confessing their sins per 1 John 1:9, they are out of fellowship with the Lord and cannot be filled with the Spirit. Once cleansed and purified (1 Jn 1:9) by through confession, the believer must submit or yield to the Spirit in order to be filled. It is a command to be filled; Eph 5:18 - Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

So you see, the comparison is between what the believer is being influenced by; alcohol or the Spirit.

So, how does one submit or yield to the Spirit? First, the believer have confessed all known sins up to that moment. Then, since being filled is a command (imperative mood), which is God's will for every believer, we must ASK to be filled. 1 John 5-
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
15 And if we know that he hears uswhatever we askwe know that we have what we asked of him.

iow, God hears those believers who are in fellowship with Him, which is through confession of sin which cleanses and purifies. Then, by asking for the filling of the Spirit, the believer is yielding or submitting to the Spirit and "we know that we HAVE what we asked".

Psa 66:18 - If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

This is why the believer must confess their sins; so that the Lord will hear.

Yet a person who is FILLED with the Holy Ghost will not be sinning... because there is no room in them for sin. (People claim this more often than it is true.)
To clarify, when one is under the influence of the Spirit, they WILL NOT sin. However, Paul also commands that believers will NOT grieve (Eph 4:30) or quench (1 Thess 5:19) the Spirit.

So unless the believer is filled with the Spirit, everything the believer does is by the power of their own sinful nature (willpower). It may look good to others (morality) but it stinks to God.

Isa 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

hint: "filthy rags" is literally "used menstral rags". That's how stinky our human good produced from our own sin nature smells to God.

Being BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost is a singular event that you keep forever.
Being FILLED with the Holy Ghost is currently only temporary because we can (and soon do) allow other things (like the desire for old habits) to enter in.
Correct.

Ephesians 5:18 hints at the relationship between what we fill ourselves with, and what results will be. We need to realize that whatever we fill ourselves with is going to yield a corresponding change in our actions/behavior.
True. And, we can just as quickly lose the filling by shifting our focus on "things below" rather than "things above".

So... how can we be FILLED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit?

First, if you haven't been BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit, you need to seek Jesus until that happens.
To be specific, a person needs to recognize that Jesus is fully human and also the Son of God, Deity. They need to believe that His death on the cross was for them and that He promises eternal salvation to all who believe in Him for it. John 3:15,16, 6:40, 20:31.

Then, once you have been BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit you need to USE IT. We need to pray in the Spirit once we have received it. Jude 21 commands us to build ourselves up in faith and keep ourselves in the love of God by praying in the Holy Ghost.
We can only "pray in the Spirit" when we are in fellowship through confession of sin.

Those who have been BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit will likely understand what that means.
Not necessarily. Everyone needs to be taught these spiritual truths. It doesn't come naturally.

Those who have not been BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit probably don't know what praying in the Holy Ghost really is. (I also make allowance that some simply have not been taught to use what they have been given.)
Exactly.

Lastly, there is another meaning of filled/full that also needs to be recognized. That is the idea of being full/filled to capacity. This acknowledges that every vessel has a capacity limit based on its "size". When God gave Solomon the vast amount of wisdom, it is also stated that God gave him "largeness of heart" so he could retain it.
 
Oct 31, 2015
2,290
588
113
Wow, those Verses are amazing! Keeping yourself in The Love of GOD is being in a constant Relationship with Him! It is remaining on The Narrow Path of SALVATION. It is Obeying JESUS as our LORD. It is keeping Righteous Intentions. It is correcting the corrupted image of Adam.
Amen.



For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3
 

Agape49

New member
Jul 28, 2024
9
0
1
As stated we have the presence of God ( Father,Jesus,and Holy Ghost ) at our new birth.
The true full use in the life of a believer is to be FILLED with the Holy Ghost,as in Acts after Jesus breathed on them and tongued of fire were above each and each SPOKE with new tongues.
THERE IS ...ONLY..ONE FILLING OF THE JOLY GHOST!

I don't understand. Are you saying that because I don't speak in tongues and have never been able to I have not received salvation? That when I die I will go to hell and not heaven. I thought tongues are a gift of the spirit and that not everyone receives that gift. Some get faith and others serve or teach and the like.
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,896
3,636
113
As stated we have the presence of God ( Father,Jesus,and Holy Ghost ) at our new birth.
The true full use in the life of a believer is to be FILLED with the Holy Ghost,as in Acts after Jesus breathed on them and tongued of fire were above each and each SPOKE with new tongues.
THERE IS ...ONLY..ONE FILLING OF THE JOLY GHOST!

I don't understand. Are you saying that because I don't speak in tongues and have never been able to I have not received salvation? That when I die I will go to hell and not heaven. I thought tongues are a gift of the spirit and that not everyone receives that gift. Some get faith and others serve or teach and the like.
Hi Agape49,

No, no, no… please don’t think anyone is saying you’re not saved if you don’t speak in tongues!

I will explain…

A new believer is saved because when the Holy Spirit opens their understanding to the Truth of Salvation in Jesus Christ alone they know it is true and they realize their need for Jesus Christ to save them… they believe, know and love the Truth.

They repent by confessing and turning away from their sins and receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

At the moment of receiving Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit SEALS the Believer- they are marked as belonging to Jesus Christ.

Next, the believer needs to receive power to be a witness of Jesus Christ… this is when the baptism with the Holy Spirit happens. It’s much like activating a cellphone AFTER you buy it. The cellphone won’t operate without power.

Likewise, we need Jesus Christ to empower us with the Holy Spirit. With our FIRST activation, we are FILLED with the Holy Spirit. However, like a cellphone, we lose power with use and need to be recharged or “refilled” with the Holy Spirit by stirring up the gift of the Holy Spirit inside us.

Yes, all receive gifts from the Holy Spirit but, not all have the same gifts but ALL have the SAME Holy Spirit inside them.


 

Agape49

New member
Jul 28, 2024
9
0
1
Likewise, we need Jesus Christ to empower us with the Holy Spirit. With our FIRST activation, we are FILLED with the Holy Spirit. However, like a cellphone, we lose power with use and need to be recharged or “refilled” with the Holy Spirit by stirring up the gift of the Holy Spirit inside us.
Hi Agape49,

How do we stir up the Spirit? What does the bible say to do?
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,896
3,636
113
This is how the the Bible tells us to be filled with the Holy Spirit:

Wherefore, I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee, by the putting on of mine hands.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Tim.1.6&version=GNV

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph.5.18,Eph.5.19,Eph.5.20,Eph.5.21&version=KJV


Humble ourself, repent, greatly desire God, thank Him, praise Him, worship Him… think about all the things God has done for you… it leads us to rejoicing… hearts rejoicing in Jesus Christ stirs up the Holy Spirit…. be in AWE of His Love for you… :love:(y)
 

Agape49

New member
Jul 28, 2024
9
0
1
This is how the the Bible tells us to be filled with the Holy Spirit:

Wherefore, I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee, by the putting on of mine hands.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Tim.1.6&version=GNV

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph.5.18,Eph.5.19,Eph.5.20,Eph.5.21&version=KJV


Humble ourself, repent, greatly desire God, thank Him, praise Him, worship Him… think about all the things God has done for you… it leads us to rejoicing… hearts rejoicing in Jesus Christ stirs up the Holy Spirit…. be in AWE of His Love for you… :love:(y)
Thank you so much. That answers my question well. May God bless you for your help.
 

FredVB

Active member
Feb 26, 2022
139
38
28
It should be seen by all believers that every believer, being in Christ, is baptized with the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Holy Spirit would be submitting fully to God and not making exception to any of it. This is what having the fruits of Spirit involves. We should grow with those. With being filled with the Spirit there would not be limit to any of the fruits. I actually do not believe that happens with believers now though originally it did, any now with that happening are some very great exception.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,111
4,374
113
It should be seen by all believers that every believer, being in Christ, is baptized with the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Holy Spirit would be submitting fully to God and not making exception to any of it. This is what having the fruits of Spirit involves. We should grow with those. With being filled with the Spirit there would not be limit to any of the fruits. I actually do not believe that happens with believers now though originally it did, any now with that happening are some very great exception.
I disagree the Holy Spirit in the Believer will produce the Fruits of the Spirit or what is HIS Nature of Characteristics. The believer is to live their life and these characteristics must be seen in the Believer by those in the world and in the church. One who is obedient and faithful to GOD will have these things seen in their life.


  • Love
  • Joy
  • Peace
  • Patience
  • Kindness
  • Goodness
    • Faithfulness
    • Gentleness
    • Self-control
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the power to be a witness. Acts 1:8, as Jesus said you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you to be my witnesses. This work of the Holy Spirit is in addition to the work of satisfaction in the believer, and the Holy Spirit's empowerment is done to testify that Jesus has risen from the Dead and is alive. That is what the power is to be a witness. We are witnessing the Lord Jesus, who is alive and Lord.
 

DJT_47

Well-known member
Oct 20, 2022
1,073
190
63
First of all, you must study the scriptures carefully to understand the nature of the falling of the Holy Ghost and who it fell on, how and when.

It was promised as the power from on high to the 11 apostles in Luke 24:49 as well as mentioned earlier by John the Baptist in Luke 3:16 and Matt 3:11, and also in Acts 1:5. The power from on high was then in fact given to the 11 as recorded in Acts 2 when it fell on them and they spoke in other tongues. The falling of the Holy Ghost was then only enabled by the laying on of the apostle's hands after which those persons upon whom their hands were laid upon also spoke in tongues as well as were able to exhibit other miraculous manifestations of the Spirit, those listed in 1 Cor 12:8-10. The only other occasion where the Spirit fell without the laying on of the apostle's hands was recorded in Acts 10 when the Holy Ghost fell on Cornelius and his household which was a sign from God that the Gentiles were to also be included in the body of Christ.

So today, there are no apostles by which the Holy Ghost can miraculously fall on anyone through the laying on of hands since they are all dead. What the baptised believer receives today is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, no different than that which was promised to the Jews on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:38. There is no baptism of the Holy Ghost today.
 

FredVB

Active member
Feb 26, 2022
139
38
28
I disagree the Holy Spirit in the Believer will produce the Fruits of the Spirit or what is HIS Nature of Characteristics. The believer is to live their life and these characteristics must be seen in the Believer by those in the world and in the church. One who is obedient and faithful to GOD will have these things seen in their life.


  • Love
  • Joy
  • Peace
  • Patience
  • Kindness
  • Goodness
    • Faithfulness
    • Gentleness
    • Self-control
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the power to be a witness. Acts 1:8, as Jesus said you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you to be my witnesses. This work of the Holy Spirit is in addition to the work of satisfaction in the believer, and the Holy Spirit's empowerment is done to testify that Jesus has risen from the Dead and is alive. That is what the power is to be a witness. We are witnessing the Lord Jesus, who is alive and Lord.
It seems disagreement is not from being pentecostal, or charismatic. But no, with being saved there is not automatic production of the spiritual fruit, that is obvious to me from seeing others. Spiritual fruit, which should come as this is the main evidence of being sealed in our salvation, comes with more submission to God with the will of God revealed to us. You have yet to show you have more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control for evidence to any other of having more submission to God with the will of God revealed. I am not perfect in that. But relative to where I was starting from these fruits are greatly produced in me, which I can give thanks to God for, as I grow to submit further to God's will that I am shown.

Baptism in the Spirit is applied to all believers, with God's Spirit then continually dwelling with them. This happens to start with, and all the growth remains to happen, after that, most probably for life while here.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,738
441
83
This may sound strange to those who have not yet received the Holy Ghost.

Being BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit means a person has received the Holy Ghost/Spirit permanently.
Being FILLED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit means it has pushed everything else out until there is no room left for anything else (like SIN).

A common mistake among those who have been BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost is to claim they are FILLED with the Holy Ghost.
Yet a person who is FILLED with the Holy Ghost will not be sinning... because there is no room in them for sin. (People claim this more often than it is true.)

Being BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost is a singular event that you keep forever.
Being FILLED with the Holy Ghost is currently only temporary because we can (and soon do) allow other things (like the desire for old habits) to enter in.

Ephesians 5:18 hints at the relationship between what we fill ourselves with, and what results will be. We need to realize that whatever we fill ourselves with is going to yield a corresponding change in our actions/behavior.

So... how can we be FILLED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit?

First, if you haven't been BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit, you need to seek Jesus until that happens. Acts 2:39 promises it to ALL that the Lord calls....just like he promised it to the apostles (see Acts 1). But also just like the apostles, you may need to tarry (wait, pray, seek, ask) until you receive... just like others did.

Then, once you have been BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit you need to USE IT. We need to pray in the Spirit once we have received it. Jude 21 commands us to build ourselves up in faith and keep ourselves in the love of God by praying in the Holy Ghost.

Those who have been BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit will likely understand what that means.
Those who have not been BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit probably don't know what praying in the Holy Ghost really is. (I also make allowance that some simply have not been taught to use what they have been given.)


Lastly, there is another meaning of filled/full that also needs to be recognized. That is the idea of being full/filled to capacity. This acknowledges that every vessel has a capacity limit based on its "size". When God gave Solomon the vast amount of wisdom, it is also stated that God gave him "largeness of heart" so he could retain it.

When a person has not eaten (or has eaten too little) for a significant amount of time, their stomach shrinks, and their capacity is diminished. The same seems to be true in the spirit. As we eat of his flesh and drink of his blood more and more, our capacity increases.

If you have been BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit, USE IT and get and stay FILLED with the Holy Ghost/Spirit (as often and as long as you can). BTW, reading and doing the word = eating his flesh. Prayer in the Spirit = drinking his blood (partaking of his life).

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
At the moment of repentance/acceptance, God’s Holy Spirit enters their spiritual hearts (RV 3:20), uniting them with God as heavenly Father (RM 8:9) and identifying them with Christ’s worldwide/catholic body or church (CL 1:18). This manifold event is called spiritual birth or baptism (1CR 12:13). We can infer that this dynamic occurs also for pre-NT believers, because there is no salvation outside of Christ’s ekklesia or church (ACTS 4:12)
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,738
441
83
At the moment of repentance/acceptance, God’s Holy Spirit enters their spiritual hearts (RV 3:20), uniting them with God as heavenly Father (RM 8:9) and identifying them with Christ’s worldwide/catholic body or church (CL 1:18). This manifold event is called spiritual birth or baptism (1CR 12:13). We can infer that this dynamic occurs also for pre-NT believers, because there is no salvation outside of Christ’s ekklesia or church (ACTS 4:12)

Because a person’s commitment to Christ is in accordance with God’s perfect will and the response of yielding to His calling (1TM 2:3-4), the moment of spiritual baptism fulfills the command of Ephesians 5:18 to be filled (cooperate fully) with the Spirit.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,738
441
83
[/Although a new Spirit-filled convert has access to all of the power he/she needs for loving like Christ (EPH 3:16-19), no one attains immediate “perfection” by remaining filled with the Holy Spirit forever (PHP 3:12). Instead, the combination of temptations, ignorance and the old selfish nature results in immature saints committing their first post-conversion sin(s). Then he/she no longer is spiritual or filled with the Holy Spirit but rather is acting like unsaved unbelievers (1CR 3:1). This “venial” type of error differs from the “mortal” or damning sin of unbelief or apostasy (rejecting God’s Lordship, cf. JM 1:15).

As soon as a new Christian realizes a sin was committed, he/she should confess it (1JN 1:9) rather than compound it by trying to hide it or cover it up like Adam and Eve did (GN 3:7-8). Then God will forgive, and the saint will again be in a Spirit-filled or spiritual condition. This spiritual flip-flopping might happen once a day, or it could occur several times in an hour. While this instability may be bad, failure to confess promptly is much worse, because it results in chain-sinning or back-sliding. This condition is also referred to as being carnal/worldly (1CR 3:1) or prodigal (LK 15:13) if it continues for weeks or years.