A visitor named Yos commented on this article on June 9, 2009ne 9, 2009
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
 

WP-Bible plugin, and I’ve been taking my time in order to provide a genuine, Biblical response to the best of my ability. Here’s the question and my response follows after.

How are we to know if the Holy Spirit dwells within us and we’re not in some delusion? I re-call listening to some sermon by a preacher who said something similar to the effect of that it’s possible for someone to go to church, function within it, and believe they are saved, but find out otherwise. By what method can we be sure of of our state?

Another blogger whom I’ve asked about salvation itself told me that the metric isn’t clearly understood,thus leading me to get the idea that no one knows the right way ;we must just strive for it the best we can via what we’re given. At times, it makes me wonder if anyone has a true grounding in what they speak.

How are we to know that what ever impulse we are given that something is right or wrong is exactly so and from G-d? There’s countless people through the history of our religion that may have tarnished the name, but could probably claim some right in their actions.

My response to Yos (and all interested):

Salvation means forgiveness not only of sins, but being spared from the penalty of sin, which is death. The shedding of Jesus’ blood at Calvary serves as our propitiation; HE was our stand-in. HE took the sins of the whole world upon HIMSELF and took the penalty as well (Hebrews 2:17Hebrews 2:17
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17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.  

WP-Bible plugin, Romans 3:23-26Romans 3:23-26
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; set forth: or, foreordained remission: or, passing over ²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.  

WP-Bible plugin). Thus, Jesus is the only source of Salvation for all people. And Salvation is available to all people (Titus 2:11-14Titus 2:11-14
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11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, hath...: or, to all men, hath appeared ¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; glorious...: Gr. the appearance of the glory of the great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ ¹⁴ Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  

WP-Bible plugin), but not everyone attains Salvation. Those who are saved are considered redeemed, as opposed to those who reject Jesus the Christ — they are condemned (John 3:16-21John 3:16-21
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16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. reproved: or, discovered ²¹ But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.  

WP-Bible plugin).

None of us are perfect, but the ONE WHOM we worship IS perfect, so we are called to strive for perfection. Of course, we will never attain it until Christ completes the work in us (1 Corinthians 15:5-581 Corinthians 15:5-58
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5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: ⁶ After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. ⁷ After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. ⁸ And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. one...: or, an abortive ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. ¹¹ Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. ¹² Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: ¹⁴ And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. ¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. ¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: ¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. ¹⁸ Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. ²⁰ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. ²¹ For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³ But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. ²⁴ Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. ²⁸ And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. ²⁹ Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? ³⁰ And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? ³¹ I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. your: some read our ³² If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. after...: or, to speak after the manner of men ³³ Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. ³⁴ Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. ³⁵ But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? ³⁶ Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: ³⁷ And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: ³⁸ But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. ³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. ⁴⁰ There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. ⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³ It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. ⁴⁶ Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸ As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. ⁴⁹ And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. ⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? grave: or, hell ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.  

WP-Bible plugin). What’s the point of striving for perfection if we’ll never attain it here on earth? That is the test — how hard are we willing to try, how long will we run with Christ Jesus? So GOD is not looking to see who is perfect (no, not one), but instead HE IS looking to see who is reaching for HIS highest in faith, at all times no matter the cost. This is the part that comes after picking up our cross and following Jesus the Christ — denying ourselves daily (Luke 9:23-26Luke 9:23-26
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23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. ²⁵ For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? ²⁶ For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.  

WP-Bible plugin).

Those who have been redeemed (or restored to a right relationship with GOD, taken out of darkness and brought into the LIGHT, rescued from death, hell and Satan, etc.) experience regeneration, which can only be brought about by the intimate working of the LORD in our lives through HIS Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2).

Regeneration for the Christian could mean simply turning over a new leaf, but of course it goes much deeper than that and doesn’t have very much to do with us — that is, we can’t bring this change about by force or sheer will power (more on this later). Regeneration is simply becoming a new person through Christ Jesus. Baptism symbolizes the death of the old, sinful person, and we emerge from the water as new beings — no longer a part of this sinful world. But what is the evidence of this new birth? In Matthew 7:15-23Matthew 7:15-23
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15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. ¹⁶ Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ¹⁷ Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. ²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  

WP-Bible plugin, Jesus speaks of telling a fruit by its tree, of identifying who is of LIGHT and who is of darkness. If we are children of LIGHT, then we will produce fruits that resemble our LORD, but if we practice wickedness, then we show ourselves to be under the influence of the wicked one, Satan.

Since we are of the flesh and born in sin, there is no way we could strive for perfection (abstain from sin) by our own physical, fleshly means. This work of “turning over a new leaf,” if you will, belongs to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8). Even when we walk in the Spirit, the flesh is still striving to be dominant and fulfill its desires — to sin (Galatians 5). But greater is HE WHO is in us that he who is in the world (1 John 4:1-61 John 4:1-6
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4 ¹ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³ And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. ⁴ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. ⁵ They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. ⁶ We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.  

WP-Bible plugin). That is, the Holy Spirit ultimately has the upper hand, if we allow HIM to do this work in our lives. But because of our poor nature, we are bound to “mess up” daily (and so we must repent daily).

But some folks like to use this — our sinful nature — as an excuse to sit in sin (Romans 5-7). That is, not turning away fully from our sins when we know what we are doing is wrong. I believe some folks call this being a “carnal Christian,” which is an oxymoron, mind you (excellent source here). This term insinuates that one calling him/herself a Christian actually walks in the flesh, as opposed to the Spirit, which means no real regeneration has occurred. Some folks still like to believe they are “saved” although they habitually do sinful things — things the Holy Bible tells us GOD is not pleased with.

They go to church, give tithes and offering, raise their hands and shout Hallelujah, sing the hymns the loudest and can even recite some Scripture (some even go so far as to “speak” in tongues and “prophesy”)… but when it comes down to it, the true evidence of their Salvation — these people have not changed one bit. Yes, they may have picked up mannerisms and know how to “play” a Christian, but in their heart of hearts, they still cling to the same sinful habits and wicked attitudes. Jesus compared those faking a righteous life to white-washed tombs — they look like and even sound like a Christian in all appearance — but on the inside are dead men’s bones (Matthew 23:27-28Matthew 23:27-28
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27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. ²⁸ Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.  

WP-Bible plugin).

So how can we tell when we’re dealing with a genuine Christian or a faker? Thank the LORD for HIS Holy Word! This, too, HE explains.

Jesus said those who truly belong to HIM, not only hear HIS words, but also do them (Luke 8:21, 11:28Luke 8:21, 11:28
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21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. ¹¹ Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  

WP-Bible plugin; John 14:15John 14:15
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15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.  

WP-Bible plugin). How do we reap the benefit of GOD’s instruction if we don’t obey HIM (James 1:21-25James 1:21-25
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21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. ²² But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. ²³ For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: ²⁴ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ²⁵ But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. deed: or, doing  

WP-Bible plugin)? Those who belong to Christ Jesus show evidence of this in their obedience to HIM (John 15) — living how HE requires HIS people to live — sanctified (see Exodus 19:1-6Exodus 19:1-6
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19 ¹ In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. ² For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. ³ And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; ⁴ Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. ⁵ Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: ⁶ And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.  

WP-Bible plugin for an example). That is, we don’t do as the world does nor take pleasure in the things the world calls pleasurable (1 Peter 1:13-161 Peter 1:13-16
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13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; to the end: Gr. perfectly ¹⁴ As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: ¹⁵ But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; ¹⁶ Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  

WP-Bible plugin). Christians are called to live daily in a way that pleases GOD, and we know that much of what this world calls good surely is an abhorrence to GOD.

This all goes back to the Holy Spirit. It is only by HIS working in our lives that can we really be born again and live as sanctified people, striving to please GOD daily. We know HE is at work in our lives and in other Christians’ lives by the fruit HE produces. HE is the Holy Spirit of the LIVING GOD and in HIM there is no error. Jesus Christ calls HIM the Spirit of Truth (John 14:16-31John 14:16-31
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16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. comfortless: or, orphans ¹⁹ Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. ²⁰ At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. ²¹ He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. ²² Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? ²³ Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. ²⁴ He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. ²⁵ These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. ²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ²⁸ Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. ²⁹ And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. ³⁰ Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. ³¹ But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.  

WP-Bible plugin)). HE doesn’t lead GOD’s people astray nor influences us to do things that would cause hurt or harm or to displease the FATHER (John 4:23-24John 4:23-24
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23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. ²⁴ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.  

WP-Bible plugin).

The only way we can know how HE works and the kind of things HE brings about in our lives is by reading GOD’s Word, the Holy Scriptures. If you want to know if someone is a child of GOD, watch them carefully and see how their behavior and attitudes line up with the Holy Bible (Ephesians 4-5, if not the whole book; 1 Peter 1:13-251 Peter 1:13-25
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13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; to the end: Gr. perfectly ¹⁴ As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: ¹⁵ But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; ¹⁶ Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. ¹⁷ And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: ¹⁸ Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; ¹⁹ But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: ²⁰ Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, ²¹ Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. ²² Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: ²³ Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. ²⁴ For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: For: or, For that ²⁵ But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.  

WP-Bible plugin).

The Holy Spirit is not a difficult PERSON to know and every Christian must know HIM if we are to make it into GOD’s Kingdom (Ephesians 1:13-14Ephesians 1:13-14
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13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.  

WP-Bible plugin). Jesus says in Luke 11:13Luke 11:13
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13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?  

WP-Bible plugin that the Holy Spirit is ours for the asking. If we are truly saved and it pleases the FATHER, HE will send HIS Holy Spirit to dwell with us and within us. In John 14, Christ Jesus tells HIS disciples: 16 “… I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,17 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.”

But, the temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells must be clean (which is why repentance must be made daily) for our GOD is a HOLY GOD (1 Corinthians 6:15-201 Corinthians 6:15-20
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15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. ¹⁶ What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. ¹⁷ But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. ¹⁸ Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. ¹⁹ What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? ²⁰ For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.  

WP-Bible plugin). And we are called to be holy as HE IS HOLY — GOD does not expect us to be perfect (for that is impossible), but HE does expect us to live as near-perfect spiritual lives as we can. A tall order? — That is why HIS grace is sufficient for us. HE wouldn’t call us into sanctification if HE wasn’t going to help us — through HIS Holy Spirit.

How do we know we are saved and are walking in the Spirit? Well, first off, we have to be honest with ourselves and acknowledge whether or not we are truly disciples of Christ Jesus — living as HE has called us to live, a sanctified life, a loving life (1 John 4; Romans 1). Second, and most importantly, we have to read GOD’s Word daily — it is the measuring rod (2 Timothy 2:152 Timothy 2:15
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15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  

WP-Bible plugin). As it is written, the Word is like a mirror showing us our faults (1 James 19-27). If we read the Word often, we will be reminded of how to live. If we neglect the Word, we are likely to get lax. As it reads in Hebrews 4:12Hebrews 4:12
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12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  

WP-Bible plugin, the Word is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even the very soul. The Word will convict us. The LORD’s Words are very plain in many parts, especially when it comes to outlining sin.

How are we to know that whatever impulse we are given that something is right or wrong is exactly so and from GOD?

The first and last answer to that question is that we can know what is right and what is wrong by examining GOD’s Word. If we attempt to discern by “impulses” and the way we “feel,” we are going to fail and end up deceived. If it was all about our perception, we wouldn’t need GOD’s Holy Word. But since the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9-10Jeremiah 17:9-10
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9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? ¹⁰ I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.  

WP-Bible plugin), everything must be held up to the Light of the Word, for GOD’s Word is TRUTH.

There are countless false Christians in the world — folks claiming to know Jesus the Christ and at the same time denying HIS sufficiency for Salvation (inter-faith, ecumenical, etc.). There are folks who kill in the name of the LORD (some call them “Muslim extremists”) and steal in the name of the LORD (some call them “prosperity preachers”). There are folks who call themselves ministers of GOD yet worship mammon. There are folks who want to make themselves leaders of the sheep but have no interest in actually serving.

As they were in the early days of the Church’s beginning, so they are still and will remain until Christ Jesus comes and restores all things (2 Timothy 3; Revelation 22:11Revelation 22:11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.  

WP-Bible plugin). That is what the Word of the LIVING GOD says (and the wicked will grow even worse as time goes on). There is nothing any of us can do to change that — this is the world. However, we can contend with the false gospels, false pr/teachers and fake Christians by spreading the true GOSPEL, supporting GODLY pre/teachers and by exposing fake Christians (and even this must be done with care oftentimes, for there is a difference between a fraud and a brother/sister who is just weak or unknowingly deceived).

We can’t get hung up on these fraudsters, however, we can’t make them the focus of our lives or our day’s work — or let their apparent unpunished ways impede us from running our race. They look like they may be getting away with it today, but tomorrow GOD will judge them.

In the meantime, each one of us must work out our own Salvation and see how we can draw closer to the LORD. And let us pray for one another as we see the Day approaching.

I know this doesn’t answer all of the questions Yos may have asked, but it’s the best I could do with the knowledge the LORD has given me in HIS Word.

I pray it blesses someone in Jesus’ name.