3/3 Christian Foundations and who is the Holy Spirit?
Welcome back to our Christian Foundations blog! So far we have set out the importance of knowing not only what we believe but also why we believe as we do to share with others. Being Jesus Followers isn’t all glory and light but I’m sure you’ve notice that already. Sometimes it is resting and walking the path He calls you to …rough or smooth.
So far we have laid out why the Bible is our foundation and what the Bible teaches about the Trinity. Then, in our last post ‘Who is the Trinity’, we explained the Father, Son, Holy Spirit teaching that has been the basis for the Christian faith since the time of Jesus.
Now we continue on with more in-depth teaching on the big term ‘Pneumatology’ – or as we would say the topic is ‘Who is the Holy Spirit?’ May the Great Teacher add more information to your mind and heart as you follow us through this study on the Holy Spirit.
We have covered some of this material before in a previous series. If you have time, go back and review those posts.
G. ‘PNEUMATOLOGY’ – WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
1. The Holy Spirit’s Relationship to God
a) He is the third Person in the Trinity, co-equal with the Father and Son.
b) He was active as Co-Creator of the Earth and all living creatures, Genesis 1:2, 1:26, Psalms 104:30, Job 33:4, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Acts 5:3-4, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Tim. 3:16.
c) The Holy Spirit has all the attributes of God, such as: His is Eternal, Hebrews 9:14; Omnipresent (in all places at one time), Psalms 139, 7-10; Omnipotent (all-powerful), Luke 1:35; Omniscient (all knowing), 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; He is called God, Acts 5:3-4, 1 Corinthians 3:16.
d) He is a Person, not an impersonal influence. He has a personality and is a being without a body form. He has a mind, Acts 13:2, 1 Timothy 4:1; a will, 1 Corinthians 12:11; and feelings, Romans 15:30. Although the term ‘spirit’ is the neuter gender, writers, and even Jesus, used words to show personality, mostly expressed in the male gender.
2. The Holy Spirit’s Work in the Old and New Testament
In the Old Testament, only certain people were given the Holy Spirit, such as priests, kings and prophets, Genesis 41:38, Exodus 28:3, 31:1-6, Numbers 11:16-29, 27:18, Deut. 34:9. However in the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit is for all believers, John 3:5-6, 1 Corinthians 2:12.
3. The work of the Holy Spirit in the Church age
a) He is involved in the earthly ministry of Jesus, Luke 4:14, 4:18-20, Acts 10:38. The HS was involved in His virgin birth, Matthew 1:18, 20-23, Luke 1:35. He was at Jesus’ baptism, Matthew 3:16, John 1:33, 3:34. Jesus was led and empowered by the HS, Luke 4:1, 4:11, 4:18, Acts 10:38. Jesus dealt with the demonic through the activity of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 12:28. Jesus was resurrected by the Spirit, 1 Peter 3:18, Romans 1:4.
b) The Holy Spirit draws humanity into repentance, Gen. 6:3, John 3:5-6, 16-18. He is the Revealer of truth, the Convictor of righteousness and the Witness that judgement is to come, John 14:17, 15:16, 16:8-11.
c) He confirms the believer’s relationship with the Father, Romans 8:16, Galatians 4:6; and Glorifies the Son, John 16:14-15.
d) The Holy Spirit is involved in the overcoming walk of believers, Acts 1:8, Romans 8:13, Galatians 5:16. It is the life of the Holy Spirit in the believer that gives us power, 1 Corinthians 12:13-14. He helps develop the fruits of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22, John 15:16. The Holy Spirit helps with the sanctification process of believers, 2 Timothy 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2.
e) He is responsible for the equipping and empowering of the saints, Acts 1:18, 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, Luke 24:49, Galatians 5:22-23. He calls them into ministry, Acts 8:29, 10:19, 16:6-7, 13:2, 20:28. The Holy Spirit also imparts the spiritual gifts as needed, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.
f) The Holy Spirit also teaches, guides, comforts and reveals that which is given, John 15:26-27, 16:13, Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 2:12. He witnesses God’s will through Peace, Matthew 11:28, John 14:27, Collisions 3:15, 1 Corinthians 7:15, Hebrews 7:2, Philippians 4:7, Psalms 119:165.
The present work of the Spirit includes all that He did in the O.T. plus more for believers in the N.T. He not only “…falls upon…” as in Acts 8:16, 10:44, is “…poured out…” as in Acts 10:45, but now He ‘indwells’, remains and abides forever within the heart of the redeemed. He is the promise of the Father to the Son, and from the Son to the Believer. He brings all the promises of God to the Body of Christ, and fulfils them.
H. IN CONCLUSION
Much has been written about the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. He has the job of bringing people to the Lord Jesus with conviction and grace. He is the great Teacher as well.
If you find you are still ‘going round that mountain’ again, then begin to listen more carefully to the lessons from the Holy Spirit in your life today. He not only has the Answer but He is also the Answer.
Susanne Fengler, Blog Author
www.christianfoundations.jesus-treeoflife.info
Tags: The Holy Spirit
Filed under: Challenges to the Christian Faith
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