Question:

After one has been filled with the Holy Spirit, is he then free from human weaknesses and temptations?

Answer:

No. As long as we are in this life, there will be weaknesses and temptations of the flesh. The difference is that with the Holy Spirit, there is greater power and divine ability to overcome the temptations. The Apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 9:27: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” We must continually die out to self and keep ourselves submitted to God. If we fail to continually yield to the Lord, we can lose our very salvation. In this life, man will always have the capability to sin because of free will. Before the infilling of the Holy Spirit, one’s inclination is toward sin. Afterward, his inclination is toward holiness because of the sanctifying power of the Spirit.

With the Holy Spirit, we are equipped to continue our spiritual journey and grow in the things of God. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18a). We will always have areas of our humanity which the Holy Spirit is perfecting. Holy Ghost filled people will still have unique personalities, but the Spirit will bring them more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. There will be a sameness of purpose and desire for God’s will. The saint of God can and will live a holy life without sin.

Human mistakes will still be made in this journey of growth, but the heart can remain perfect before God. There will always be areas in which the Spirit is working to promote greater spiritual maturity.
—mws