Spirit of sweet love, joy, and peace

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." (1Jn.4:7).

The Spirit was the new addition to Paul's divinely powered obedience. Until of late, I haven't automatically equated the Spirit to the power of love, big redeeming love from a God sized heart. But Ellen White called It "sweet love, joy, and peace." Early Writings, p. 56. When Jesus breathed on His people His Spirit, she said It also had light and power.

This new gift of God was all Paul could talk about. His thanksgiving for his Romans 7 deliverance went to the Father. And not to the Father alone, but also to His Son Jesus Christ who, prior to this, Paul had brought into the process of his redemption from the law of sin. 

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Rom. 7:4).

(Note: I find many today using Christ's raising from the dead as proof of the gospel record. Is that what the apostolic church was doing with the Lord's resurrection? Is that why the early church exalted "Him who is raised from the dead"? No, I don't believe so. They were exalting Christ's resurrection because His empty body, like a lifeless innocent lamb, changed their rebellious pride to mud. A vibrant Son of God willingly became emptied of all Spirit, tortured to death and leaving a hollow body of what once was the Prince of life.

And the only way to know that God accepted His sacrifice would be for the Father to take His Son back to Himself in order to show humanity that His Son accomplished His mission.

Thus, when Jesus resurrected then the church had assurance that God had accepted His Son on our world's behalf. Their repentance would be heard; their sins would be forgiven. Their evil conscience would be comforted and God's condemnation would be resolved. The Spirit of promise could be had, redemption would be a reality, and the power to obey forthcoming.

Christ's resurrection was the sole source of confirmation that His Edenic promise of reconciliation was ratified. Jesus' resurrection and entrance through the veil of the heavenly sanctuary was the Almighty's surety to us that He was now ready and willing to reconcile with all of Adam's race. And His Spirit's promised impartation to all who repented and trusted in His Son was that surety in operation.)

The love of God formed the basis of Paul's and the church's new identity. Not arrogance that "we are great, the only ones protected by God". Rather, access to the God of their life, new wisdom for representing the King, new freedom of mind, body, and soul, the possession of love sure and guaranteed that was reaffirmed by God's palpable presence in them. God had made a home in them and His Spirit brought new energy to live like Jesus. They had new health and happiness from the calm that remained in the wake of the demons' departure.

Daily Christ's intercession was fulfilled, 

"I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me. Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:23,24).

Satan was consigned to the bottomless pit. Their new conduct and natural righteousness was the cause of astonishment in many and hatred in others. God was vindicated and pleased, and His children very happy.

"Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit." (1Jn. 4:13).

His church thrilled to have some of God's Spirit that their Mediator had without measure. As He had prayed,

"And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was." (John 17:5).

This was Christ's promise to His disciples.

"I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.... At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you." (John 14:16-18,20).