Where is the Holy Spirit When We Sin?
We often pray, fill me with your holy spirit, but there is no good in us. So even if we’re baptized and “good,” do we not have the spirit? Where is it when we sin?
Thank you for this question.
When we pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us, we must believe that God answers our prayers, and that the Holy Spirit does dwell in us. Let us not label ourselves as good or bad when we see ourselves as baptized Christians who are struggling in the battle between good and evil.
First, let us look at the fruits of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23. We see that the fruits of God's Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Verse 24 says that those who belong to Christ Jesus will have crucified the passions of the flesh and no longer be controlled by the flesh.
In contrast to the Spirit of Christ, versus 19-21 describes the spirit of the flesh, living under the passions of the world. This means that when we allow our thoughts and actions to be ruled by our fleshly passions, then the Spirit of Christ cannot take action in our lives. There is no room for jealousy and envy in a Christ filled life. There is no place for hatred or gossip in a Spirit filled life. Here is the great controversy over the souls of humanity and the devil is doing everything he can to draw people away from God.
When we get baptized what happens? Do we suddenly become SuperChristian? Do we never sin again after baptism? Many new converts become discouraged when they fall back into old sins. Why does this happen to so many people? The answer is in a daily growing relationship with Jesus Christ. That daily relationship with Jesus requires just a few things to grow: daily Bible study and prayer. Just as a newly married couple must develop and grow their relationship with each other, the newly baptized convert must develop and grow his/her relationship with Christ. Once we start growing in Christ, we begin to serve and lead others to Christ.
We can become a SuperChristian, only if we make it happen. God will supply the strength. God will send us faith and courage. But we must choose to spend time with Christ each day and each Sabbath. Watch and see, our old habits will leave us if we ask God for the strength to overcome temptations.
If we sin, confess our fault to the Lord. 1 John 2:1 says that we have an advocate standing in our behalf. Confess our sins to the Lord and He will forgive us.