Consider what punishment a sinner was, by the violated law of works and nature, liable to in this world or in the world to come. And what of this [punishment] is remitted in virtue of the Redeemer’s sacrifice and covenant. He was liable to whatsoever miseries in this life God should please to inflict, to temporal death, and to a state of misery hereafter. [But] Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, that blessing might come upon us… that we might receive the promise of the Spirit (Gal. 3:13, 14).
“Repent, be baptized, for the remission of sins, and receive the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). The great promise of the gospel covenant is that of the gift of the Holy Ghost. It does not promise you wealth, or ease or riches, or honours. But it promises you that God will no longer be a stranger to you, refuse your converse, withhold the Spirit from you. Your souls shall no longer lie waste and desolate… By the remission of sin the bar is removed, and nothing can hinder the Holy Ghost from entering to take possession of your souls, as his own temple and dwelling place.
—John Howe, “The Living Temple”