Paradise Found: “So in Christ, the Gentiles Might Receive the Promised Spirit by Faith” (Galatians 3:14)

What is God Like? – How Can We Know for Sure? – Part 15

By Richard Allen – November 2, 2026

As we conclude this series on “What is God Like? – How Can We Know for Sure?” – Let me observe that in many ways this Blog Series has been: ‘Paradise Lost, Paradise Found.’ We observed Man’s Fall and Alienation from being in a ‘Relationship with God,’ until God eventually revealed Himself in ‘A Son’ (Hebrews 1:2). And while Man’s relationship in the Garden prior to the Fall was pronounced as ‘being good,’ our relationship with God was one of innocence. Our first parents did not have a ‘positive righteousness’ as Believers ‘now have under the New Covenant, by Faith!’  As we worked our way from the Fall of Adam and Eve through Enoch, Noah and Abraham – it should be clear that God had a clear purpose and plan to ‘Redeem Mankind,’ restoring us to a ‘filial relationship’ to Himself through His Son!

Let me point out the two roadmaps I followed through the Old Testament story of ‘Paradise Lost, Paradise Found.’ They were Stephen’s address to the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:1-60, and the [RA1] conclusion of the ‘Faith Chapter in Hebrews 11:1-40.  Both passages are recitations of Israel’s history from two perspectives. Stephen takes a ‘harsh tone’ with the very Jewish council that Crucified Jesus:

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51).

And then, the ‘writer to the Hebrews, ‘taking the perspective how fallen men became conquerors by Faith:’

^“And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40).

While both of these two assessments by Stephen and Barnabas are different, they are still pointing at the same phenomenon: “With the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, the Age of the Spirit is now upon us, and Faith is now complete!” But there is another question that begs the asking: ‘If Old Testament Saints’ displayed their Faith as the Book of Hebrews chronicled, what other thing did they lack in order to have a ‘Complete Salvation?’ ” It’s ironic, but I believe that Stephen gave us the answer in his address to the Sanhedrin in Acts 7. Here’s how a more modern translation translates the problem from Stephen’s perspective:

“You stubborn, stiff-necked people! Sure, you are physically Jews, but you are no different from outsiders in your hearts and ears! You are just like your ancestors, constantly fighting against the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51 - The Voice).

As Christians – we believe that God the Holy Spirit was attending and working in and with Old Testament Saints – specifically, the ‘faithful’ described in Hebrews Chapter 11. So, how was it possible that the Old Testament saints to whom this wonderful chapter in Hebrews 11 clearly refers, ‘had Faith,’ yet still needed something more to be complete?  Without getting too deep in the weeds, the New Testament answer is: ‘While God the Holy Spirit was influencing and spurring them on to trust and follow, THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PERSONAL INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PRIOR TO CHRIST’S ATONEMENT!  Other writers have explained this more fully than I am capable of doing. But here’s my short answer: ‘Under the days prior to the Advent of Christ and His atonement at Calvary, the Holy Spirit was’ with, but not in, believers! Jesus said so himself in John chapter 14:

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).

This one verse sheds much light on the work of the Holy Spirit under the Old Testament. The Spirit was certainly ‘present, attending, influencing and moving God’s people to accomplish His Will as a member of the Holy Trinity!’  And the Spirit did make His personal presence known in the lives of both sinners and saints prior to Pentecost. The Spirit ‘rushed’ upon several individuals, including Samson, Gideon,  Othniel, David and Saul. Both Samson and Saul had serious character flaws – having ‘sinned against God and His Covenant,’ and yet at times they were both consumed and controlled by the Spirit. This should give us insight into Jesus’ words. Having the Spirit ‘with’ you, is not the same as the permanent indwelling of the Spirit residing ‘in’ you!

• Judges 14:6, 14:19, 15:14 – The Spirit of God rushed or ‘seized’ Samson, the flawed judge who had problems with lust, and often failed to live up to his Nazarite vows regarding ‘wine and women!’

  
  

• 1 Samuel 10:10; 11:6 – The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul as he met a group of prophets at Gibeah, and prophesied among them. The Spirit also rushed upon him when his anger was kindled hearing a threat against Jabesh-gilead.

  
  

• 1 Samuel 16:13 – The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from the day Samuel anointed him. Afterward Saul was tormented by an ‘evil spirit’ and hired David to play his harp to sooth Saul’s torment.

The point I’m making is that God brought Salvation to a fullness and completeness after the Death and Burial of Jesus Christ – BECAUSE OF THE SPIRIT’S INDWELLING PRESENCE IN BELIEVERS! This was a condition that no one under the Old Covenant had experienced, because ‘Redemption from Sin, and Forgiveness for Sin had not been accomplished until A.D. 33 at Calvary!’ Jesus’ death reconciled God and Man, and a Holy God could once again have ‘intimate fellowship’ with Fallen Men! This state of actual intimacy had not been possible since Adam and Eve walked with God ‘in the cool of the day’ (Genesis 3:8). It's easy to understand Stephen’s rebuke of the Jewish people through their leaders – ‘they always resisted the Holy Spirit.’ No different than the Fallen Men and Women mentioned in Romans Chapter 1, Israel after the Flesh had a compulsion to ‘resist God.’ The Spirit strove with them for centuries under the Old Covenant – to no avail. God continually knocked at the door, for four Millennia after the Fall. The carnal and fleshly hearts of the Jewish people were no different than those of Gentile Unbelievers. Stephen implies that if Man’s situation was to improve, God would have to change men from being ‘Stiff-necked and Hard-hearted.’ God would have to Spiritually ‘Circumcise the hearts, minds, eyes and ears’ of unbelievers – both Jew and Gentile – to give them the ‘Gift of Faith!’

The writer to the Hebrews is saying much the same thing, but approaching man’s dilemma from a different direction. Throughout the Book of Hebrews, the writer makes it clear that it’s the Spirit alone that can move us to ‘Completeness’ (i.e. perfection). There are in fact seven references to the work of God the Holy Spirit in Hebrews. 1.) In Hebrews 2:4, the writer makes it clear that it’s the Spirit who confirms the gospel message spoken by the Apostles with various miracles and gifts – according to His Sovereign Will. 2.) In Hebrews 3:7, the writer gives a warning much like Stephen’s, pleading with Hebrew Christians that if ‘today you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts as apostate Jews did under the Old Covenant.’  3.) In Hebrews 6:4, the writer describes those who have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, enjoying a real relationship and experience in Life through the Spirit – in the community of believers. 4.) Then in Hebrews 9:8, the writer indicates that the ‘way into the holy places is not yet open as long as the first section is still standing,’ an obvious reference to the ‘then standing temple.‘ The clear reference was that the Holy Spirit was a guide through the Levitical system, pointing to a better covenant that was arising. 5.) Then in Hebrews 9:14, the writer states that Christ offered Himself ‘through the Eternal Spirit as the Mediator of a New Covenant.’ 6.) In Hebrews 10:16-17, the writer uses the most powerful reference to the Spirit’s work in Salvation, when he quotes Jeremiah 31:33, making it clear that it was the Holy Spirit who would change God’s Covenant Grace forever – Writing His Law upon ‘fleshy tables of the heart.’ 7.) And lastly, the writer to the Hebrews speaks a final warning in Hebrews 10:29, telling these Hebrew Christians:

“How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29).

It should be obvious, what the writer to the Hebrews spoke of was not just Faith – like the Old Testament saints possessed – but a faith born from, and sustained by, THE SPIRIT OF GOD!  In Acts, Stephen made it clear that the problem of ‘Unbelieving Israel’ was ‘Resisting the Spirit!’  Something more that New Covenant Believers possessed – and Old Covenant Believers lacked – was the Personal Indwelling of God the Holy Spirit. Here’s what Paul told Gentile Believers in Galatia:

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—  so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14).

When God promised Abraham that “through his offspring – all the nations of the world would be blessed,” God was actually promising that both Jews and Gentiles would receive the Holy Spirit in all His Saving Power – BY FAITH! This was the only remedy to ‘The Fall’ and ‘Man’s flight from God.’ I know I’ve said this in previous Blogs, the only way for us to be restored and ‘Fully Know God,’ is by God’s Spirit!

Soli Deo Gloria!