THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. Probably no other Bible subject is so misunderstood. That misunderstanding leads to some of the greatest confusion about the Bible and causes more religious division than possibly any other Bible theme.

1) Some believe that the Holy Spirit is active today; others do not.

2) Some believe the Holy Spirit speaks to them directly; others deny.

3) Some think miraculous healings continue today; others repudiate such. Some believe the Holy Spirit dwells in them literally, personally; while others deny the literal indwelling, believing He dwells in us representatively, that is, through some agency such as God's Word. Some believe that the Holy Spirit must operate directly upon the mind of a sinner in order to make (enable) him to believe the Bible; others disclaim the need of such an influence.

6) Some claim that the Christian is miraculously endowed with the Spirit after becoming a Christian and that the Spirit leads them supernaturally in their lives, including leading them into an inspired understanding of the Scriptures. Other religious groups deny the Spirit does this.

2. How we are to determine who is right.

1) Since all of the above cannot be right, there must be a way to determine who is.

2) All that we know about the Holy Spirit comes from the Bible. Therefore, it must be our guide and “Supreme Court” of appeal in determining the truth on these matters.

(1) The following Scriptures, which were given by the Holy Spirit, affirm the all-sufficiency of God's Word.

a) Furnished completely/all things (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Ptr. 1:3)

b) We must speak as it speaks (Isa. 8:30; 1 Ptr.4:11; 2 Jn. 9)

c) All things revealed, once for all (Jn. 16:13; Jude 3) What does “once” mean? We know in Heb. 9:27. Why not here?

(2) Subjective (personal thoughts of your own mind) opinions, feelings, hunches, intuitions, etc. are not the standard of authority in these matters of the Holy Spirit.

(3) The objective (the Bible) absolute standard authority in these matters is the revealed mind of God in His Word!

3. What we hope to do in this study.

1)We want to discuss the personality and nature of the Holy Spirit.

2) We want to determine what the work of the Holy Spirit is and how He accomplishes that work.

4.Two basic propositions stated and supported.

1)'The Scriptures teach that in convicting men of their sins and guiding them to obtain remission of their sins, and in leading Christians in their daily lives, the Holy Spirit operates upon these individuals and exercises His influence upon the human heart/mind only through the written Word of God in this present Christian Age.

2)It is denied that the Holy Spirit ever operates directly upon the heart/mind of anyone for his particular and peculiar benefit in order to change one’s nature, or to force one’s involuntary obedience to obey the gospel or lead a Christian life.

This study is not intended to question what the Holy Spirit has power to do and can do; nor do we intend to deny what the Spirit has done in the past. What we are concerned with is what the Spirit wills to do now. A proper understanding of the Bible reveals this to us.

I. THE NATURE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1.The Godhead is the combined essence of the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Acts 17:29; Col. 2:9).

2.The three persons, members of the Godhead (Matt. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. 13:14; Rom. 15:30).

1)God, the Father (Gen. 1:1; Matt. 6:9).

2)God, the Son (Jn. 1:1-3; 3:16).

3)God, the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2; Acts 5:3, 4; 1 Cor. 2:10,11).

3.The Holy Spirit is co-eternal with God and aided in Creation.

1) Father - Gen. 1:1; Psa. 19:1; 33:6

2) Son - Jn. 1:1-3; Heb. 1:2; Col. 1:16

3) Spirit - Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; Psa. 104:30

4.The personality of the Spirit.

1)He is not an element like water or vapor. He is Spirit, not physical.

2)He is not an “incomprehensible influence” or a glorified “it”.

3)He is not the Word of God, the Bible.

(1) 2 Ptr. 1:21 says men spoke from God having been moved by the Holy Spirit.

(2) The Holy Spirit was the mover of men to speak. The result was the Bible. Although they are inseparably connected, they are different.

5. The Holy Spirit is referred to by personal pronouns in the masculine gender, singular number such as “he, him” etc. (Jn. 14:16,17; 16:13-15, fifteen times). The American Standard Version also replaces the “it” of the King James Version of 1611. The New King James also uses the personal pronouns.

6. The Spirit has all of the divine attributes of Godhead.

1)Omniscient (all-knowing). 1 Cor. 2:10-14

2)Omnipotent (all-powerful). Micah 3:8; Matt. 12:28

3)Omnipresent (all-present). Psa. 139:7-10

4)Eternal. Heb. 9:1

5)Good. Neh. 9:?0

6)Can be blasphemed. Matt. 12:31,32; Mk. 3:28-30

7)Teaches. Jn. 14:?5; 1 Cor. 2:13

8)Testifies. Jn. 15:26

9)Guides. Jn. 16:12,13

10)Can be lied to. Acts 5:3,4

11)Can be resisted. Acts 7:51

12)Leads. Rom. 8:14

13)Forbids. Acts 16:7

14)Has a mind. Rom. 8:5,6

15)Loves. Rom. 15:30

16)Searches. 1 Cor. 2:10

17)Power to will. 1 Cor. 12:11

18)Can be grieved. Eph. 4:30 (comp. with Gen 6; Matt. 23:37)

19)Speaks.1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:7

20)Can be despised. Heb. 10:29

21)Intercedes Rom. 8:26 (Some question whether our spirit or the

Holy Spirit is the subject here.)

22)Hears. Jn. 16:13

7.We conclude, with these attributes and others which might be mentioned, that the Holy Spirit is a divine personality, a member of the Godhead.

II. INTRODUCTION TO THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1.The Godhead has always worked together as far as the Word reveals.

1)God, the planner. Gen. 1:1; Eph. 3:11; 2 Tim..1:9

2)Christ, the executor. Heb.1:2;

1 Tim. 1:15

3)Holy Spirit, the organizer. Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; Acts 1:5,8; 2:lff

CREATION OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT

God - Gen. 1:1; God - Gen. 6:5 God - in. 16:15

Psa.19:1; 33:6

Christ - Jn. 1:1-3; Christ - 1 Ptr. 3:18-21 Christ - Jn. 16:14

Heb. 1:2 1 Cor. 10:1-11

Spirit - Gen. 1:2; Spirit - Gen. 6:3; Spirit - Jn. 16:13

Job 26:13 1 Ptr. 3:19

Word - Psa. 33:6; Word - 2 Ptr. 2:5 Word - Jn. 16:13; 17:20;

2 Ptr. 3:5-7 (Through Noah) 2 Cor. 5:18-20

(Through Apostles)

2.The material creation was accomplished by the Godhead through the Word.

1)God said - Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26; Psa. 33:6-9

2)A miraculous beginning by the power of God's Word.

3)The same word which miraculously brought all things into being then set in force natural laws to rule things.

(1)Gen. 1:11 - all things were to bear after their kind according to their seed

(2)With God's law still governing, although now through natural law, the miracles of the material creation ceased and the laws of God's nature took over.

3. The spiritual creation of redemption through Christ is also accomplished by the Word of the Godhead.

1) Miracles accompanied the beginning of the “gospel age” (Acts 2: 1-4, 43).

(1)Miracles themselves were useless without the words Peter and the others preached on Pentecost (Acts 2:6, 8, 11, 14, 29, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41).

(2)Notice it was the gospel message and their belief and obedience regarding it that saved their souls.

(3)Miracles continued by the power of the Holy Spirit as long as there was need for them.

-1- That need was to reveal and confirm the Word of God.

-2- Jn. 14:26; 16:13; Mk. 16:17-20; Heb. 2:3, 4 and other

passages show that need. When the need ceased the miracles would also.

(4)The need ceased when revelation was completed and confirmed (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Ptr. 1:3; Jude 3; 1 Cor. 13:8-13; Eph. 4: 8-16; Gal. 3:15).

2)Now, the seed, the Word of God (Lk. 8:11) has life in itself and is able to produce after its own kind (1 Ptr. 1:22-25).

(1) Spiritual law now governs those who want to become Christians and those who are Christians.

(2)It is a law of faith (Rom. 3:27); a law of the Spirit of life in Christ (Rom. 8:2); it is according to Christ's will (Heb. 9:16, 17).

(3)God's law of faith, once given by miracle, is now received naturally through the revealed and confirmed word, the Bible.

4.No fruit comes in either the physical world or the spiritual without planting the seed (Gen. 1:11; Lk. 8:11).

1)We will reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7).

(1)If we don't sow corn we won't reap corn. If we don't sow God's Word we will not reap Christians.

(2)We have to preach as Acts 2 to get the same results today.

2)There is a process involved in a person becoming a Christian that has never been miraculous in its nature.

(1) It took God's miraculous power to create and make the seed from which plants and animals grow. From that point on natural law took over.

(2) It took a miracle for God to reveal His plan in the gospel (the seed) to save mankind. But once we have the seed we no longer need the miraculous. We have the seed, the Word of God

-1- From the seed (in which the Spirit has placed potential life, the power of

life),

-2- It must be planted in good soil, honest hearts.

-3- Then, it must germinate, that is, produce belief.

-4- Belief must then lead to obedience, bringing life.

-5- From the first sprig of life must come growth.

-6- Growth must continue until the seed bears fruit.

3)Such is God's unchangeable law through the Spirit and His Word. He will not change it, man cannot! (Isa. 40:8; 1 Ptr. 1:23; Matt. 24:36). THE SPIRIT WORKS TODAY THROUGH GOD'S WORD!

III.THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVERSION

1.The Holy Spirit has the responsibility of convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8-15).

1)Does He perform this work by directly operating on the heart (mind) of each person needing conviction and conversion?

2)Does He work by revealing and confirming the Word through specially chosen men (2 Corinthians 4:7)?

3)In other words, does the Spirit accomplish His activity in convicting of sins in a direct and immediate manner, or does He perform this work in an indirect and mediate fashion through some agency?

4)A survey of the book of Acts (the book of conversions) will demonstrate the manner in which the Spirit accomplishes His vital role.

2.The Holy Spirit at work in Acts with emphasis on those being convicted and converted. (Verses are indicated in parentheses.)

1))Acts 2 [Jews) - they heard the wonderful works of God (6,8,11)-----Peter said, “heed my words” (l4,22)-----when they heard they were cut to their hearts (37)-----asked what to do (37)-----commanded by Peter (38)-----heard many other words [40)-----those who received the word obeyed (41)-----the Lord added to the church the saved (47).

2)Acts 3 & 4 [Jews] - Peter preached (3:11-4:l)-----taught and preached (4:2)-----many who heard, believed (4:2).

3)Acts 5 [Jews) - Apostles told to “speak words of life” (20)----- rulers heard and cut to heart (furious) (33)-----warned Apostles not to speak in Jesus’ name (40)-----still they preached and taught daily publicly and privately (42).

4)Acts 6 [Jews) - disciples were multiplying (l) [SEE ACTS 5:42 FOR THE WHY AND HOW!!!] -----the Word of God spread (7)-----disciples multiplied and a great many priests were obedient (7).

5)Acts 7 [Jews) - Stephen said, “listen...” (2)-----preached the Word (3-50)-----Jews resisted the Spirit by rejecting God's spokesmen and law - His Word (51-53)-----they were cut to their hearts when they heard these things (54,57).

6)Acts 8 [Samaritans] - scattered Christians preached the Word (4)----- Philip preached (5)-----they heard (6,12)-----believed and were baptized (12)-----said to have received the Word before they had the Holy Spirit (14)-----Peter and John preached to many villages (25).

7)Acts 8 [Eunuch] - Philip preached Jesus (35)-----Eunuch heard and believed (37)-----was baptized (38)-----left rejoicing (39).

8)Acts 9 [Saul/Paul] - heard Christ (4)-----only partially told what to do (6) -----put in touch with God’s agent to be taught “what you must do”(10-17) -----listened to and obeyed instructions of Ananias (17; see also Acts 22:16)-----was baptized (18).

9) Acts 10 & 11 [Gentiles - Cornelius, family and friends] - told to send for Peter (6) -----Peter would speak words necessary (22,32,33; 11:14]-----Peter preaches, calls attention to the Word (36,37) -----they heard, believed and were baptized (44,48). See Acts 15:7-11.

10)Acts 15 [Gentiles] - Peter’s mouth shows agency of man required (7) ----Gentiles to hear (7)-----believe (7)-----hearts purified by faith (9; Romans 10:17)-----all men, Jews and Gentiles saved alike (11).

11)Acts 16 [Lydia] - Word spoken to women (13)-----Lydia heard (14) -----heart was opened by Lord (14)-----she heeded things spoken (14)-----was baptized (15).

12)Acts 16 [Jailor] - Paul and Silas told jailor to believe (31)----- taught him what to believe (32) -----he believed (34) -----believing included baptism (33)-----he rejoiced afterward (34).

13)Acts 17 [Bereans] - received the Word (11)-----examined the Word (11) -----”therefore many of them believed” (12).

14)Acts 18 [Corinthians] - Paul reasoned and persuaded them (4)----some opposed teaching (6)-----Crispus believed (8)-----many hearing, believed and were baptized (8) -----Paul taught there 18 months (11).

15)Acts 19 [Ephesians] - heard Paul’s correct teaching on baptism (5) -----obeyed and were immediately baptized (5)-----Paul spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading about the kingdom of God (8)-----Some were hardened and opposed (9)-----Paul preached for two years so that all in Asia heard the Word (101).

3.Nowhere in any of these cases of conversion is it stated or implied that the Holy Spirit operated directly upon the mind (heart) of the person(s) needing conviction. THE CLEAR TEACHING IN ALL CASES IS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DID HIS CONVICTING WORK THROUGH THE WORD SPOKEN.

1) Acts 16:14 and the case of Lydia is no exception. The fact that the Lord is said to have "opened her heart" does not mean He did it directly.

(1) The spoken Word is a sufficient cause to produce the effect of her heart being opened (Hebrews 4:12).

(2) Since that cause was present (“we spoke.. .Lydia heard us” Acts 16:13,14) there is no need to assume any other cause necessary.

2) Even in cases where supernatural things sometimes happened these miraculous events were not to reveal to people what they had to do to be saved.

(1) Even though an angel and the Spirit were involved in bringing Philip and the Eunuch together (Acts 8:26,29), it was the preaching about Jesus that convicted him and brought about his conversion (Acts 8;35-39).

(2) The Lord spoke to Saul (Acts 9:4-6) but only told him to go to Damascus and there he would be told what he must do. The Lord then told Ananias to go tell Saul what to do (Acts 9:10-19). It was the teaching of Ananias which Saul obeyed that resulted in his conversion, the washing away of his sins (Acts 22:16).

(3)An angel, the Lord and the Spirit were involved in bringing Peter and Cornelius together (Acts 10:3,13-15,19). But it was through the preaching of Peter that Cornelius was to learn "words by which you and all your household will be saved" (Acts 11:14).

(4) The miraculous details in these events are all different and deemed necessary by the Lord for the early spread of the gospel. However, note that these things only happened to bring the person needing conviction and conversion face to face with someone ready to preach the Word. NEVER DID AN ANGEL, THE HOLY SPIRIT NOR THE LORD DIRECTLY TELL ANYONE SPECIFICALLY WHAT THEY HAD TO DO TO BE SAVED!!!

3) Since God is no respecter of persons(Acts 10:34,35) NO ONE HAS A RIGHT TO TEACH THAT THE SPIRIT WILL OPERATE IN ANY OTHER WAY THAN SHOWN IN THE BOOK OF ACTS TO BRING A PERSON TO CONVICTION.

IV. C0MPARING THE WORK AND INFLUENCE OF THE SPIRIT AND THE WORD

1.Remember, it is freely admitted that the Holy Spirit is active and produces an influence in converting sinners to become Christians and in helping the Christian to lead the Christ-like life.

l)The question is not “if the Holy Spirit influences”, but, HOW THE SPIRIT INFLUENCES!

2)A comparison in the chart below will help us determine the how.

2.Comparing the work and influence of the Spirit and Word.

HOLY SPIRIT THEIR WORK WORD OF GOD

Neh. 9:30 INSTRUCTS 2Tim. 3:16,17

John 3:5 BEGETS 1 Cor. 4:15

John 3:5 BIRTH 1 Ptr. 1:23

John 6:63 QUICKENS (gives life) Psa. 119:50

John 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:13 TEACHES John 6:45

John 16:8 CONVICTS Titus 1:9

Acts 9:31 COMFORTS 1 Thess. 4:18

Rom. 5:5 GIVES LOVE 1 John 2:5

1 Cor. 6:11 SAVES (justifies) Acts 11:14

1 Cor. 6:11 WASHES Eph. 5:26

1 Ptr. 1:2 SANCTIFlES John 17:17

Rom. 8:2 MAKES FREE John 8:32

John 16:7,8 CONVERTS Psa. 19:7

Eph. 3:16 STRENGTHENS Deut. 11:8; Psa. 119:28

Eph. 5:19 DWELLS Col. 3:16

Rom. 8:14 LEADS Psa. 119:105

1 John 5:6-8 WITNESSES Heb. 10:15; Jer. 31:31-34

3.Other notable accomplishments ascribed to the Word.

1)Psa. 119:105, 130 - gives light.

2)Psa. 119:104, 130 - provides understanding.

3)John 15:3 - cleanses.

4)1 Ptr. 1 :22 - purifies.

5)2 Ptr. 3:5-7 - can preserve or destroy.

6)John 5:29 - raises the dead.

7)1 Cor. 15:1,2 - saves (Rom. 1 :16).

8)2 Cor. 5:18-20 - reconciles to God.

4.We can easily see that the Spirit works in converting men and leading them after conversion, but that He does it through the Word of God.

1)That does not mean that the Spirit and the Word are the same. It does mean that the Word is the instrument that the Spirit uses in accomplishing His work.

2)We cannot belittle the Word of God without belittling the Spirit who uses it as His sword (Eph. 6:17). The Word is not weak, but powerful; it is not dead, but alive (Heb. 4:12).

V.THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHRISTIAN

1.What some are teaching

1)One must evidence Holy Spirit baptism by speaking in tongues or one is not experiencing the fulness of gospel blessings.

2)Others say that the Spirit is present in the Christian's life to guide, direct, protect and to give an understanding of the Bible.

3)Is there evidence that the Spirit guides the Christian in some direct manner; that He helps us understand the Bible by directly speaking to our minds its meaning?

2.The Spirit and the Corinthians.

l)Do miraculous gifts (direct leading by the Spirit) make one more spiritual?

(1) Corinth had an abundance of gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14).

(2) They also had a problem needing correction in nearly every chapter of First Corinthians.

2)How did Paul seek to correct these problems?

(1) Did he return to them and give them more miraculous powers?

(2) NO! He wrote them an inspired epistle (letter) and told them to read it and heed it! (1 Corinthians 14:37).

3)These Corinthians were not "super-Christians" because they had gifts of the Spirit's power. Furthermore, Paul showed in chapter 13 that these powers were temporary.

3.The Holy Spirit and direct guidance.

1)Has God provided the Christian with all that is needed to live the victorious life without direct guidance from the Holy Spirit?

(l) The God-breathed Word is profitable and adequate to bring to maturity and fully equip God's servant (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

(2) We have “all things pertaining to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him (Christ) who has called us...” (2 Peter 1:3). That knowledge comes through God's Word.

(3)WHAT HAS THE SPIRIT TOLD ANYONE REGARDING SALVATION AND LIVING IN CHRIST THAT ISN’T ALREADY IN THE REVEALED WORD??? NOTHING!

2)The Spirit does not directly teach Christians the meaning of the Bible.

(1) Some things are hard to understand, but not impossible (2 Peter 3:15,16). Why would anything be hard to understand if the Spirit directly spoke the meaning to all Christians?

(2) We are to search, examine and determine truth from the scriptures (Acts 17:11).

(3) We must give diligence (study) and work at handling aright God's Word (2 Timothy 2:15).

(4) We are to exercise our senses to determine good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). Exercise = training as a gymnast.

(5) Paul said that he wrote what the Spirit revealed to him, we can read what he wrote, understand it and know what he knew (Ephesians 3:3,4).

(6) Paul placed the burden upon us to understand the will of the Lord (Ephesians 5:17).

(7) Why do we think we need the Holy Spirit to illuminate our minds as to what the Word means? Can we understand words that men, uninspired men, write but not that which the Holy Spirit causes to be written?

4.The Spirit and the Word.

1)The Word of God is Spirit-filled (2 Samuel 23:2; John 6:63; Acts 1:16; Hebrews 3:7ff; Revelation 2:1,7).

2)The Word of God is the instrument (agency) which the Spirit uses to accomplish His influence upon Christians. It is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17).

3)What influence is the Spirit said to exercise upon the Christian which He does not work through the Word? (See page 8).

4)Notice the parallel:

Ephesians 5:18,19 Colossians 3:16

Be filled with the Spirit, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,

speaking to one another in psalms, teaching and admonishing one another in

hymns, and spiritual songs, psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody in your singing with grace in your heart to the

heart to the Lord. Lord.

(1) If these passages are parallel, then, to “be filled with the Spirit” is equal to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.”

(2) Thus, the manner of the Spirit's indwelling and influencing is through the Word.

(3) The more the Word of God dwells in us richly in all wisdom and guides our lives the more the Spirit dwells in us.

5.Consequences of teaching a direct operation of the Spirit upon Christians.

l)This so-called illumination would be equivalent to inspiration? Why record the Word in the first place if each man needed the Holy Spirit to tell him what the Word means? Also, would we need the Holy Spirit to explain the meaning given by these who claim illumination? If not, why?

2)How would one know it was the Holy Spirit providing the understanding and not one's own mind? Would God give a sign to confirm the teaching as correct? [cf. Peepstone Joseph Smith] If there is no sign could not one's own mind lead him and others astray?

3)What proof would one give to others to demonstrate that this illumination was what the Holy Spirit meant and taught in the original revelation? Would or could they perform a miracle to prove it?

4)Do not many who claim this special insight contradict others who make the same claim. Why do these different ones teach conflicting ideas if they are led by the same Spirit? Who is right? What proof do they offer? What can anyone of these do more than any others?

NOTE: Romans 8:26 is often given as an example of the Spirit working in us and upon us separate from the Word. True, the Holy Spirit helps us but He doesn't do it all. Notice He does not inspire us. Rather, He takes our inadequate words and groanings to God, not God's Word directly to us. This is a work of the Spirit not exercised through the Word of God, but it is something He does before God, NOT AN INFLUENCE EXERCISED UPON US! Also, there are some who feel the "spirit" here is man’s own, not God’s.