2 Corinthians 5:5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
How do we know that we can have life after death? And how can we be sustained in this lifetime through the groaning from vv. 3-4? It is through the Holy Spirit. God has give us the Holy Spirit to help us in this life. The challenge for many people is how to know of the presence of the Holy Spirit. There are those who claim one will receive some manifestation such as speaking in tongues. I cannot deny that this may happen for some, but Paul carefully laid out his case in 1 Corinthians 14 that there are better ways, primarily being filled with unconditional love. The primary proof of the Spirit is the love that grows within us. We can also have assurance within of the Holy Spirit who bears witness with our spirits that we are indeed the children of God (Romans 8:16). This witness will be peace and a clear conscience. If we feel conviction, guilt, or shame, we can seek the peace of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
As a result of the peace we have through God in this life, we have hope for the life to come. The Holy Spirit gives us hope (Romans 5:5). The life we experience now is a foretaste and guarantee of what is to come. If we have peace with God now and there is nothing within to condemn us, then our hope is sure. If we feel conviction, then we must confess our sins and be made right through repentance. The Holy Spirit guides us each step of the way. The choice is always up to us.
Our experience of dependence upon God leading to worship in this life is the preparation and molding period for eternity. Through the trials and suffering we all face, the “groaning” of v. 4, the Holy Spirit gives us assurance of salvation. We come to realize that what happens to us in this world is not the final outcome. There is something greater that draws us forward and upward, helping us rise above the problems of this world. Hope is a powerful force. The Spirit of hope sustains us through whatever we are facing.
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