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What Is The Truth About The Holy Spirit And His Work? |
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In the second lesson What Is The Truth About God, which was about God, we learned that God is three, separate, distinct persons, the Holy Spirit being the third person of the Godhead. During the fourth century a heresy arose which denied the Holy Spirit was a distinct person of the Godhead. The purpose of this lesson is to examine what the Bible teaches us about the Holy Spirit and his work.
1. What happened on Pentecost?
Jn.15:26 “When the Helper comes, whom I (Jesus) will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, that Helper will bear witness about me; . . .
Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they (all the disciples) were all together in the same place. And suddenly a sound came out of heaven just as when a violent wind blows, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues like fire appeared, dividing between them, and they rested upon each one of them, and they all were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages just as the Spirit kept granting them to speak out in a stately manner.
The Truth Is:
On Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples and filled them with his gifts.
2. Is the Holy Spirit only an emotion or spirit of us Christians?
Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us (the apostles and elders) to lay no greater burden upon you except these necessary prohibitions . . .
Ro.8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our (the believers’) spirit that we are children of God.
The Truth Is:
The Holy Spirit is a distinct person himself, separate from the spirit of us Christians.
3. Who, then, is the Holy Spirit?
Acts 5:3,4 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit t. . . You have not lied to men but to God!”
1 Cor.12:4-6 Now there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are different kinds of ministries, and yet the same Lord; and there are different kinds of works done, but the same God, who works all things in all believers.
The Truth Is:
The Holy Spirit is Lord and God.
4. Is the Holy Spirit only another form or operative mode of the Father or the Son, and not a separate person of the Godhead?
Mt.3:16,17 Now after Jesus was baptized, he immediately went up from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming upon him. And behold, a voice came from out of heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Mt.28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, . . .
1 Pet.1:2 . . . (God’s elect) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and the sprinkling of his blood: . . .
1 Cor.2:11 . . . no one has known the things of God except the Spirit of God.
1 Cor.12:11 . . . the one and the same Spirit works all these gifts, distributing to each person individually just as he intends.
Isa.63:10 . . . but they rebelled and they grieved his Holy Spirit . . .
The Truth Is:
5. Why do we need the Holy Spirit for our salvation?
Ro.8:7 . . . the mindset of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.
1 Cor.2:9 But as it is written, “EYE HAS NOT SEEN NOR EAR HAS HEARD, NEITHER HAS ENTERED THE MIND OF MAN, THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
1 Cor.2:14 But the man without the Spirit does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand them, because they are spiritually distinguished; . .
Eph.2:1 And while you were dead in your transgressions and sins, . . .
By nature we are spiritually dead, unable to bring ourselves to faith or to co-operate in bringing ourselves to faith.
1 Cor.12:3 And no one is able to say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by means of the Holy Spirit.
Eph.2:8,9 For by this grace you have been saved through faith; and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
We need the Holy Spirit because:
1. What happened on Pentecost?
Jn.15:26 “When the Helper comes, whom I (Jesus) will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, that Helper will bear witness about me; . . .
- Jesus promised he would send the Holy Spirit to his disc
- iples.
- The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and is sent by the Son of God.
Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they (all the disciples) were all together in the same place. And suddenly a sound came out of heaven just as when a violent wind blows, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues like fire appeared, dividing between them, and they rested upon each one of them, and they all were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages just as the Spirit kept granting them to speak out in a stately manner.
- On Pentecost Jesus fulfilled his promise. The Holy Spirit came in a miraculous manner and filled the disciples.
The Truth Is:
On Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples and filled them with his gifts.
2. Is the Holy Spirit only an emotion or spirit of us Christians?
Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us (the apostles and elders) to lay no greater burden upon you except these necessary prohibitions . . .
- Since not laying a burden upon the Gentile Christians seemed good to both the Holy Spirit and to the apostles and elders, it is clear that the Holy Spirit was separate from the spirit of the apostles and elders.
Ro.8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our (the believers’) spirit that we are children of God.
- Since the Holy Spirit testifies together with the spirit of believers, the Holy Spirit is certainly separate from the spirit of Christian believers.
The Truth Is:
The Holy Spirit is a distinct person himself, separate from the spirit of us Christians.
3. Who, then, is the Holy Spirit?
Acts 5:3,4 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit t. . . You have not lied to men but to God!”
- When Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, he lied to God. The Holy Spirit, then, is God.
1 Cor.12:4-6 Now there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are different kinds of ministries, and yet the same Lord; and there are different kinds of works done, but the same God, who works all things in all believers.
- In the above verses the Holy Spirit is called Lord and God.
The Truth Is:
The Holy Spirit is Lord and God.
4. Is the Holy Spirit only another form or operative mode of the Father or the Son, and not a separate person of the Godhead?
Mt.3:16,17 Now after Jesus was baptized, he immediately went up from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming upon him. And behold, a voice came from out of heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
- The Holy Spirit was neither the Father who spoke from heaven, nor the Son of God who was baptized. God the Holy Spirit, then, is a separate person of the Godhead, distinct from the Father and from the Son.
Mt.28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, . . .
- The Holy Spirit is named as a separate person from the Father and from the Son.
1 Pet.1:2 . . . (God’s elect) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and the sprinkling of his blood: . . .
- The Holy Spirit is a separate person from the Father and from the Son, whose work is called sanctification.
1 Cor.2:11 . . . no one has known the things of God except the Spirit of God.
- The Holy Spirit is an intelligent being possessing knowledge.
1 Cor.12:11 . . . the one and the same Spirit works all these gifts, distributing to each person individually just as he intends.
- The Holy Spirit has a will and self-determination of his own.
Isa.63:10 . . . but they rebelled and they grieved his Holy Spirit . . .
- The Holy Spirit is an emotional being capable of feeling emotions.
- Note: The Holy Spirit is an active, working person. He comes, testifies (Jn.15:26; Ro.8:16), teaches (Jn.14:26; 1 Cor.2:13), convicts the world of sin (Jn.16:8), guides men to the truth, speaks, prophesies, and glorifies (Jn.16:13,14) leads (Ro.8:14), helps the weak, prays, and intercedes (Ro.8:26), lives in believers (Ro.8:9), conceived Jesus (Mt.1:18; Lk.1:35), reveals, searches (1 Cor.2:10), gives spiritual gifts (1 Cor.12:7-11), works faith (1 Cor.12:3), works miracles (Acts 2:4), calls men into the ministry (Acts 13:2), makes men pastors of churches (Acts 20:29), directs mission work and the preaching of the gospel (Acts 8:29-40; 16:6-10). He was active in creating the world (Gen.1:2) and creates the world’s creatures (Ps.104:30).
The Truth Is:
- The Holy Spirit is a separate person of the Godhead, not to be confused with the Father or the Son.
- The Holy Spirit is an individual person of the Godhead, who possesses an intellect, will, and emotions of his own.
- The Holy Spirit is an active, working person of the Godhead.
5. Why do we need the Holy Spirit for our salvation?
Ro.8:7 . . . the mindset of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.
- By nature we are hostile to God and opposed to him.
1 Cor.2:9 But as it is written, “EYE HAS NOT SEEN NOR EAR HAS HEARD, NEITHER HAS ENTERED THE MIND OF MAN, THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
- By nature we are ignorant of the salvation God has prepared for us through Jesus Christ.
1 Cor.2:14 But the man without the Spirit does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand them, because they are spiritually distinguished; . .
- By nature we cannot accept the spiritual truths of the gospel, for we are spiritually blind, and lacking understanding. We think these spiritual truths are only foolishness.
Eph.2:1 And while you were dead in your transgressions and sins, . . .
By nature we are spiritually dead, unable to bring ourselves to faith or to co-operate in bringing ourselves to faith.
1 Cor.12:3 And no one is able to say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by means of the Holy Spirit.
- By our own thinking and self-determination we cannot believe and confess that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior. Only the Holy Spirit can work such faith and understanding in us.
Eph.2:8,9 For by this grace you have been saved through faith; and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
- Faith and salvation are gracious gifts of God. We do not accomplish these ourselves.
We need the Holy Spirit because:
- By nature we are enemies of God who cannot accept the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ, for we are spiritually ignorant, blind, and dead.
- Only he can awaken the faith in our hearts by which we are saved.
6. How does the Holy Spirit awaken us from our spiritual ignorance, blindness, and death?
Jn.16:8 And when that Helper has come, he will convict the world concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment; . . .
Ro.3:20 . . . by means of law comes a consciousness of sin.
Mt.18:3 “Truly I (Jesus) say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
2 Thess.2:14 . . . for which (salvation through the Holy Spirit’s work) he (God) called you through our gospel for obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jn.3:3,5,6; Tit.3:5 Jesus replied and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born anew, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.”, . . unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. . . he (God our Savior) saved us, by means of the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, . . .
2 Cor.4:6 For God, who once said, “OUT OF DARKNESS LIGHT SHALL SHINE,” is he who has shone forth in our hearts for enlightening us with the knowledge of the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
Eph.2:5; Col.3:1 . . . and while we were dead in transgressions (God) made us alive together with Christ. . . Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God . . .
The Truth Is:
The Holy Spirit awakens us from our spiritual ignorance, blindness, and death by:
7. What does the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification to save us include?
2 Thess.2:13 . . . because God chose you from the beginning for salvation by the sanctifying work of the Spirit and faith in the truth.
1 Cor.12:3 And no one is able to say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by means of the Holy Spirit.
Phil.1:6 I am convinced of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus;
1 Thess.4:3,7,8 For this is the will of God, your sanctification – that you continue to abstain from illicit sexual intercourse, . . . For God did not call us for impurity but in sanctification. For that very reason the one who rejects this does not reject man but the God who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Phil.2:13 For God is the one who is working in you believers both to be willing and to be working in behalf of his good pleasure.
Ro.8:13,14 . . . but if by the spirit you put to death the evil deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are being led by the Spirit of God – these are the sons of God!
Gal.5:22,23 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The Truth Is:
The Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification includes:
8. How does the Holy Spirit accomplish his work of sanctification?
2 Thess.2:13,14 . . . because God chose you from the beginning for salvation by the sanctifying work of the Spirit and faith in the truth, for which he called you through our gospel, for obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jn.17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
The Truth Is:
Jn.16:8 And when that Helper has come, he will convict the world concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment; . . .
- The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and guilt and coming judgment, so we despair of thinking we can save ourselves by our efforts and works, and so we fear God’s wrath.
Ro.3:20 . . . by means of law comes a consciousness of sin.
- The Holy Spirit uses the law to convict us of our sins, so we fear God’s punishment.
Mt.18:3 “Truly I (Jesus) say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
- To be saved we must be converted from unbelief to faith in Jesus.
- We cannot convert ourselves because we are spiritually dead, blind, and ignorant, and we oppose God and his plan for saving us through Jesus. Only the Holy Spirit can convert us, or turn us, from unbelief to faith in Jesus. He changes the spiritual condition of our hearts, so we desire to be saved in the way God has saved us--through Jesus Christ.
- The Bible uses various word pictures to portray the Holy Spirit’s converting us, as will be seen in the following verses.
2 Thess.2:14 . . . for which (salvation through the Holy Spirit’s work) he (God) called you through our gospel for obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- The Holy Spirit converts us by calling us through the gospel to faith in Jesus for salvation.
Jn.3:3,5,6; Tit.3:5 Jesus replied and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born anew, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.”, . . unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. . . he (God our Savior) saved us, by means of the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, . . .
- The Holy Spirit converts us by awakening in us a new spiritual life, so we are able to believe God has saved us through Jesus. This is known as being born again, or a rebirth.
2 Cor.4:6 For God, who once said, “OUT OF DARKNESS LIGHT SHALL SHINE,” is he who has shone forth in our hearts for enlightening us with the knowledge of the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
- The Holy Spirit converts us by enlightening us in the glorious gospel of God’s salvation in the person of Jesus Christ. Then we are able to see and understand this gospel, which we could not understand in our spiritual blindness and ignorance. This is known as enlightenment.
Eph.2:5; Col.3:1 . . . and while we were dead in transgressions (God) made us alive together with Christ. . . Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God . . .
- The Holy Spirit converts us by resurrecting us from our spiritual state of deadness to a new spiritual life. This is known as a resurrection, regeneration, and quickening.
The Truth Is:
The Holy Spirit awakens us from our spiritual ignorance, blindness, and death by:
- Convicting us through the law of our sins and coming judgment, so we fear God’s punishment. This is known as contrition, and repentance in its narrow sense, which occur when we are crushed by the guilt of our sins and despair of being able to save ourselves.
- Converting us through the gospel from unbelief to faith in Jesus Christ. Other terms for conversion are: a calling, a rebirth or being born again, an enlightenment, a resurrection.
7. What does the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification to save us include?
2 Thess.2:13 . . . because God chose you from the beginning for salvation by the sanctifying work of the Spirit and faith in the truth.
- The Holy Spirit’s work is called sanctification, which includes everything he does to save us, beginning with our conversion to our entrance into heaven. This is sanctification in its wide sense of the term.
1 Cor.12:3 And no one is able to say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by means of the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification includes his bringing us to faith. This is known as conversion.
Phil.1:6 I am convinced of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus;
- The Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification includes his keeping us in the faith until we enter heaven. This is known as preservation.
1 Thess.4:3,7,8 For this is the will of God, your sanctification – that you continue to abstain from illicit sexual intercourse, . . . For God did not call us for impurity but in sanctification. For that very reason the one who rejects this does not reject man but the God who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
- The Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification includes his bringing forth our fruits of faith, the good works we do and the God-pleasing Christian life we live by faith according to his commandments. This is sanctification in its narrow sense of the word.
Phil.2:13 For God is the one who is working in you believers both to be willing and to be working in behalf of his good pleasure.
- God the Holy Spirit works in us to will and to do what is in behalf of his good will.
Ro.8:13,14 . . . but if by the spirit you put to death the evil deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are being led by the Spirit of God – these are the sons of God!
- God the Holy Spirit enables us to stop the sinful things we had been doing to do what is right and good according to the commandments.
Gal.5:22,23 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
- God the Holy Spirit brings forth these fruits of faith and virtues in our Christian life.
The Truth Is:
The Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification includes:
- Bringing us to faith. (Conversion)
- Keeping us in the faith. (Preservation)
- Bringing forth our fruits of faith. (Our Christian life of good works)
8. How does the Holy Spirit accomplish his work of sanctification?
2 Thess.2:13,14 . . . because God chose you from the beginning for salvation by the sanctifying work of the Spirit and faith in the truth, for which he called you through our gospel, for obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Since God called us to salvation through the gospel and saved us through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, it is clear that the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work is done through the gospel.
Jn.17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
- God the Holy Spirit sanctifies Christians like us in his Word of truth, which is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Truth Is:
- The Holy Spirit accomplishes his work of sanctification through the gospel.
9. What does the Bible teach us about the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Eph.2:8,9 For by this grace you have been saved through faith; and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
1 Cor.13:13 But now remain faith, hope, love – these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Cor.14:1,3 Keep striving for love, and always eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit, but preferably that you prophesy.. . . but the one who prophesies speaks to people for their edification and encouragement and comfort.
1 Cor.12:8-10 For to one the teaching of wisdom is given by means of the Spirit, to another the teaching of knowledge by virtue of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the one Spirit, and to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues;.
1 Cor.12:11 . . . the one and the same Spirit works all these gifts, distributing to each person individually just as he intends.
1 Cor.12:13,29-30 For by one Spirit we all also were baptized into one body, . . . All are not apostles, are they? All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not miracle workers, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak in tongues, do they? All do not interpret tongues, do they?
1 Cor.12:7 Now to each one is given the disclosure of the Spirit for that which profits the church of believers.
Isa.8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
The Truth Is:
10. Does God the Holy Spirit sincerely wish everyone would be saved?
Ez.33:11 “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why will you die, O house of Israel?’ ”
1 Tim.2:4 . . . God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a correct knowledge of the truth.
The Truth Is:
11. Why, then, are some saved but others are lost?
Eph.2:8 For by this grace you have been saved through faith; . . .
Acts 7:51 (Stephen told the religious leaders of the Jews,) “O stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit! Indeed you are like your fathers!
2 Pet.2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you – such ones as will craftily bring in destructive heresies, even denying their Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
The Truth Is:
12. What added comfort does the Holy Spirit give us believers in Jesus?
Eph.1:4 . . . he (God our heavenly Father) chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before him.
2 Thess.2:13 . . . because God chose you from the beginning for salvation by the sanctifying work of the Spirit and faith in the truth, . . .
The Truth Is:
The Holy Spirit comforts us with the knowledge that God elected us before creation to be brought to faith in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, so we would be saved.
For your personal study before the next lesson:
A. Read:
Deuteronomy, chapter 34, Joshua, chapters 1-6, a chapter a day
Romans, chapters 6-12, a chapter a day
B. Complete the following review questions. Write out your answers in the spaces provided.
1. Check which of the following statements are correct.
a. The Holy Spirit is God.
b. The Holy Spirit is another name and form of the Father.
c. The Holy Spirit is the holy spirit of the believers.
d. The Holy Spirit is a separate, distinct person of the Godhead, who is neither the Father nor the Son.
e. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and is sent by the Son.
f. The Holy Spirit conceived the man Jesus Christ.
g. The Holy Spirit conceived the Son of God, who became the man Jesus Christ.
2. List some of the activities of the Holy Spirit.
3. Which of the following statements is correct?
a. We believe because we brought ourselves to faith.
b. We believe because we decided to believe and co-operated in bringing ourselves to faith.
c. We believe because the Holy Spirit awakened faith in us through the gospel.
4. Does the Holy Spirit work in us through the law? If so, how?
5. Does the Holy Spirit work in us through the gospel? If so, how?
6. What is the work of the Holy Spirit called?
7. Define sanctification in its widest sense.
8. Define sanctification in its narrow sense.
9. What are the other names for conversion?
10. Through what means does the Holy Spirit accomplish his work of sanctification in us? Does he work in us without using that means?
11. What are the greatest gifts of the Holy Spirit?
12. Fill in the blank. The gifts of the Spirit are distributed as he ____________.
13. Indicate which of the following statements are true and which are false.
a. Some are not saved because God did not really want them to be saved.
b. Some are not saved because they resisted the Holy Spirit.
c. Some are saved because they were willing to believe and co-operated with the Holy Spirit’s bringing them to faith.
d. All who are saved are saved solely by the grace of God.
e. Some are lost because God elected them before creation to be damned.
f. Some are saved because God elected them before creation for salvation.
g. God’s election for salvation was an election to faith in Jesus Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit in the gospel.
h. Everyone who has been elected will come to believe in Jesus Christ.
i. The elect are those whom God selected to be saved, and they will be saved whether they believe in Jesus or not.
j. If we desire to know whether we are one of the elect, we should ask ourselves if we are one of the elect.
Eph.2:8,9 For by this grace you have been saved through faith; and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
- Faith is the first, essential gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor.13:13 But now remain faith, hope, love – these three; but the greatest of these is love.
- Faith, hope, and love are the greatest of the Holy Spirit’s gifts, and of them love is the greatest, for it fulfills God’s law.
1 Cor.14:1,3 Keep striving for love, and always eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit, but preferably that you prophesy.. . . but the one who prophesies speaks to people for their edification and encouragement and comfort.
- Preaching God’s Word, which is called prophesying in this verse, for the benefit of others is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor.12:8-10 For to one the teaching of wisdom is given by means of the Spirit, to another the teaching of knowledge by virtue of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the one Spirit, and to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues;.
- The Holy Spirit gives a variety of gifts to his Christian people.
1 Cor.12:11 . . . the one and the same Spirit works all these gifts, distributing to each person individually just as he intends.
- The Holy Spirit determines which gifts he will give to which Christians, as the previous verses said, “to one, . . . to another.” He does not give every Christian the same gifts, nor does he necessarily give one particular gift, or even all of the gifts, to every Christian.
1 Cor.12:13,29-30 For by one Spirit we all also were baptized into one body, . . . All are not apostles, are they? All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not miracle workers, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak in tongues, do they? All do not interpret tongues, do they?
- All believers in Jesus have been baptized by the Holy Spirit and have received him. Yet not all believers have the same spiritual gifts of the Spirit.
- The charismatics’ teaching, therefore, that all who have been baptized by the Holy Spirit will have, and even must have, the gifts of speaking in tongues or healing is a heresy, as is their waterless baptism of the Spirit. The Nicene Creed of the Christian Church confesses, “We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.”
1 Cor.12:7 Now to each one is given the disclosure of the Spirit for that which profits the church of believers.
- The Holy Spirit gives his gifts for the common good of the whole church.
- The Holy Spirit’s gifts were not given to prove and to testify to his presence, as the charismatics teach, for according to Christ the Holy Spirit comes to give testimony to him, Christ. See John 14:26; 15:26. If the Holy Spirit were giving these gifts to testify to himself, he would not be doing what Christ said he would do. The Spirit and Christ, both the one God, could not so disagree.
Isa.8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
- To determine whether those who perform feats defying human explanation are from God and have gifts of the Spirit, we must compare what they teach and preach to the Word of God. If their teachings disagree with God’s Word, they are not from God, their miraculous works are not done by God, and they lack the true spiritual enlightenment of the Spirit.
- Satan is responsible for the miraculous things done by the false prophets and teachers. See 2 Thessalonians 2:9, where his miracles are called lying wonders. Christ foretold false teachers would perform great signs and wonders to deceive us believers in him. See Matthew 24:24. Satan masquerades and disguises himself as an angel of light, a messenger from God holding out the truth. See 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. When he performs miraculous wonders through false teachers whose heresies lead people from the truth of God’s Word, he is the white devil, as Luther called him. Witch doctors and idolatrous priests, who certainly did not have gifts of the Spirit, also performed magical healings and spoke in tongues.
- The charismatics uphold unscriptural teachings, such as the ordination of women, religious unionism, and faith is a personal decision. Except for an emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit, especially speaking in tongues, they have shown an indifference to doctrine. We should not, therefore, conclude the Holy Spirit is working their “gifts”.
The Truth Is:
- Faith, hope, and love are the greatest gifts of the Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit gives a variety of gifts to his Christian people.
- The Holy Spirit determines which gifts he will give to which Christians.
- The Holy Spirit gives his gifts for the common good of the whole church.
- To determine if a “gift” is really from the Holy Spirit, we must compare what is being taught in connection with the “gift” to what the Word of God says. If the doctrine disagrees with God’s Word, the “gift” is not from God but the devil.
10. Does God the Holy Spirit sincerely wish everyone would be saved?
Ez.33:11 “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why will you die, O house of Israel?’ ”
- The Lord God swears by himself in this verse that he is not pleased with the death and perishing of the wicked. Rather he wants them to repent and be saved.
1 Tim.2:4 . . . God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a correct knowledge of the truth.
- This verse clearly teaches that God wants all people to be saved.
The Truth Is:
- God the Holy Spirit does wish everyone would be saved.
11. Why, then, are some saved but others are lost?
Eph.2:8 For by this grace you have been saved through faith; . . .
- Some are saved solely by the grace of God.
- Those who are lost are lost because they opposed the Lord’s gospel, which he had proclaimed to them, and they were unwilling to believe it.
Acts 7:51 (Stephen told the religious leaders of the Jews,) “O stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit! Indeed you are like your fathers!
- Some are lost because they are stubborn and resist the Holy Spirit’s working faith in them.
2 Pet.2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you – such ones as will craftily bring in destructive heresies, even denying their Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
- Some are lost because they denied their Lord Jesus, who had saved them, and brought eternal destruction on themselves.
The Truth Is:
- Some are saved solely by the grace of God.
- The others are lost because they opposed the gospel and the Holy Spirit, denied Jesus Christ who had saved them, and brought destruction on themselves.
12. What added comfort does the Holy Spirit give us believers in Jesus?
Eph.1:4 . . . he (God our heavenly Father) chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before him.
- Before creation God picked us out to be saved in the righteousness of Christ.
2 Thess.2:13 . . . because God chose you from the beginning for salvation by the sanctifying work of the Spirit and faith in the truth, . . .
- Long before we were alive God chose us to be brought to salvation through the Holy Spirit’s working faith in Jesus Christ in our hearts.
The Truth Is:
The Holy Spirit comforts us with the knowledge that God elected us before creation to be brought to faith in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, so we would be saved.
- Note: To know whether you are one of God’s elect, ask yourself if you believe Jesus Christ is your Savior. If you do believe this, you are one of the elect, for Acts 13:48 says, “All who were appointed for eternal life believed.”
For your personal study before the next lesson:
A. Read:
Deuteronomy, chapter 34, Joshua, chapters 1-6, a chapter a day
Romans, chapters 6-12, a chapter a day
B. Complete the following review questions. Write out your answers in the spaces provided.
1. Check which of the following statements are correct.
a. The Holy Spirit is God.
b. The Holy Spirit is another name and form of the Father.
c. The Holy Spirit is the holy spirit of the believers.
d. The Holy Spirit is a separate, distinct person of the Godhead, who is neither the Father nor the Son.
e. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and is sent by the Son.
f. The Holy Spirit conceived the man Jesus Christ.
g. The Holy Spirit conceived the Son of God, who became the man Jesus Christ.
2. List some of the activities of the Holy Spirit.
3. Which of the following statements is correct?
a. We believe because we brought ourselves to faith.
b. We believe because we decided to believe and co-operated in bringing ourselves to faith.
c. We believe because the Holy Spirit awakened faith in us through the gospel.
4. Does the Holy Spirit work in us through the law? If so, how?
5. Does the Holy Spirit work in us through the gospel? If so, how?
6. What is the work of the Holy Spirit called?
7. Define sanctification in its widest sense.
8. Define sanctification in its narrow sense.
9. What are the other names for conversion?
10. Through what means does the Holy Spirit accomplish his work of sanctification in us? Does he work in us without using that means?
11. What are the greatest gifts of the Holy Spirit?
12. Fill in the blank. The gifts of the Spirit are distributed as he ____________.
13. Indicate which of the following statements are true and which are false.
a. Some are not saved because God did not really want them to be saved.
b. Some are not saved because they resisted the Holy Spirit.
c. Some are saved because they were willing to believe and co-operated with the Holy Spirit’s bringing them to faith.
d. All who are saved are saved solely by the grace of God.
e. Some are lost because God elected them before creation to be damned.
f. Some are saved because God elected them before creation for salvation.
g. God’s election for salvation was an election to faith in Jesus Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit in the gospel.
h. Everyone who has been elected will come to believe in Jesus Christ.
i. The elect are those whom God selected to be saved, and they will be saved whether they believe in Jesus or not.
j. If we desire to know whether we are one of the elect, we should ask ourselves if we are one of the elect.
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