Holy Spirit vs. Religious Spirit

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I AM the Holy Spirit. I am the Helper whom Jesus sent to you from the Father. I am the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father. I testify of Jesus. (John 15:26.) Since I testify of Jesus, I serve as evidence or proof of Jesus' existence. I point people to Jesus.

The religious spirit does the opposite. The religious spirit will steer a person away from the freedom they can have in Christ Jesus. The religious spirit will oppose the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The religious spirit will push a person from grace, and try to bind them under religious law.

The religious spirit rose up against the early church and the apostolic leaders. The Bible records saying, "Certain men... taught..., 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.'” (Acts 15:1.) This caused a dissension between those bound by a religious spirit and the apostles. The result was Peter arising and saying, “Why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” (Acts 15:2-11.) Do not be bound by a religious spirit, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.


Acts 15:1
1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Acts 15:2-11
2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.  4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.  5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.  7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 

8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,  9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”