The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is Eternal: Paul tells us in Romans that the love of God is “poured into our hearts” by the Holy Ghost (5:5) and little bit later he assures us of the eternal presence of that love—death cannot interrupt it (8:39). These two verses—both in the context of present suffering—tell us that the attribute of divine love is communicated to us as a present comfort and evidence of salvation. Second, we learn that this love is a work of the Holy Spirit (fruit; Galatians 5:22). Third, we learn that this love is an eternal possession of the Christian (1 Corinthians 13:8). We can conclude therefore that the Holy Spirit’s ministry in the soul is an eternal reality.
The Fullness of Sanctification: The present work of sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2). The goal of sanctification is to make us like Christ but this will not be accomplished until our glorification, which is called in Ephesians 4:13; 3:16-19 “the fullness of Christ.” Christ who dwells in us now in measure as the “hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) will be in us then as the fullness of glory (1 John 2:28-3:2). Glorification is the goal and the final stage of sanctification. Then, at glorification the Godhead will take full possession of our being and redemption will be complete (Romans 8:23).
If the Holy Spirit brings us to the fullness of the grace of Christ, we can conclude that there are no means of grace in heaven, but an immediate (a direct and present) enjoyment of God—the fullness of God. Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 15:28 that when all things are subdued God will be “all in all”—He will be all things to all the saints.
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Aaron Dunlop, who is originally from Northern Ireland, graduated from the Geneva Reformed Seminary, SC. He pastored for ten years in Victoria, British Columbia and is currently preparing to move to Kenya with his family to work with the FAME Reformed Theological College.
