Preface

And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.

2 Timothy 2:2 (NET)

Paul’s words to Timothy still apply to us today. The church needs teachers who clearly and fearlessly teach the Word of God. With this in mind, The Bible Teacher’s Guide (BTG) series was created. This series includes both expositional and topical studies, with resources to help teachers lead small groups, pastors prepare sermons, and individuals increase their knowledge of God’s Word.

Pneumatology can be used for personal study or as a six to eight-session small group curriculum, depending on how the leader divides up the topics. For small groups, the members will read a chapter (or chapters) and discuss the reflection questions and anything else that stood out in the reading within their gathering. Or, the chapter can be read before the gathering, with the meeting focusing only on discussion.

1. The Holy Spirit’s Personhood

Related Media

Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is not a force, energy, or power, as some have wrongly believed. He is a person! Charles Ryrie describes how some have tried to deny his personhood throughout history:

Denial that the Spirit is a person often takes the form of substituting the concept that He is a personification of, say, power—much like claiming that Satan is a personification of evil. This denial of His personality has occurred throughout church history, first by the Monarchians, the Arians, the Socinians, and today by Unitarians, liberals, and some neo-orthodox theologians. But there is a great deal of evidence that He is a person. ¹

In talking about the Holy Spirit’s personhood and encouraging believers to pursue intimacy with him, R.C. Sproul said this:

Do you know who the Holy Spirit is? Do you understand the Holy Spirit in terms of a personal relationship? Or does the Spirit remain for you a vague, misty, abstract concept or an illusive, amorphous force? Forces in and of themselves are impersonal. But the Holy Spirit is not simply an abstract force. He is a person who empowers the people of God for the Christian life.2

The Holy Spirit’s personhood is especially important to note, as the concept of pantheism is widespread. Pantheistic thought teaches that God is in everything. God is part of the trees, part of the earth, and part of every human being. To pantheist, god is an energy, not a personality. Though the Bible does teach that God is omnipresent—that he is everywhere—that doesn’t mean he is everything. In fact, Scripture clearly teaches against the worship of objects, which is often seen in pantheistic thought.

How do we know that the Holy Spirit is a person? There are many evidences.

Masculine Pronouns Used for the Holy Spirit

A strong evidence for the Holy Spirit’s personhood is the Greek grammar used to refer to him. Instead of using neuter pronouns like “it,” which are used for objects, masculine pronouns are used to refer to him. Consider how Christ speaks of the Holy Spirit in John 16:13-14:

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you.

Instead of using the pronoun “it,” Christ used the pronoun “he.” Similarly, Paul uses the pronoun “who” in reference to the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 1:13-14, he says:

And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.

Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit is a person, not a “force,” as seen by the use of personal and masculine pronouns for him.

Are there other evidences of the Holy Spirit’s personhood?

The Spirit’s Association with Jesus’ Work

Certainly, there is evidence in the Holy Spirit’s association with the work of Jesus Christ. Consider what Christ said about the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the disciples. In John 14:16, Christ said, “Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever.” Christ was saying that when he left the disciples, he would send them an Advocate or Counselor just like him. This is made clear by the Greek word used for “another.” It literally means “another of the same kind.”³ Tony Evans said this about Christ’s choice of words:

Jesus' choice of words emphasizes the unique work of the Spirit in continuing what He had begun while on earth without any loss of character, quality, power, or intimacy. Jesus could promise this because the Spirit is of equal divine essence with Jesus Himself.4

The Holy Spirit would do the same ministry that Jesus did with the disciples. He would teach, convict, comfort, lead, and empower them.

In fact, Christ taught that the disciples were better off with the Holy Spirit’s continual presence than if Christ stayed on the earth with them. In John 16:7, Christ said, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.”

When Christ was on the earth, he was limited by locality because of his human body, but when the Holy Spirit came, the Spirit would uniquely be with each disciple, no matter the locality. For us, we may not have seen Christ or heard him teach in person; however, we lack nothing, because Christ has given us a Counselor just like him—someone who will be with us at all times. We can seek the Spirit’s help, ask him questions, and he will minister to us, just as Christ did with the disciples.

Again, the Holy Spirit’s personhood is, first of all, seen in the personal pronouns used of him and, secondly, in his association with Christ’s work. The Holy Spirit comes alongside us to minister to us, just as Christ did with the disciples when he was on the earth. Thank you, Lord!

The Spirit’s Association with Humanity

We also see evidence of the Holy Spirit’s personhood in the way he associates with humanity. Several passages demonstrate this. In describing how the apostles, elders, and the Jerusalem church (cf. Acts 15:22) discerned that the Gentiles should not practice the Mosaic law, Acts 15:28 says, “For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules.” They came to this conclusion through a work of the Holy Spirit in them—no doubt, as they discussed and sought God through prayer.

We also see the Holy Spirit’s association with humanity in how he ministers to unbelievers. In John 16:8, Christ said this about the Holy Spirit: “And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”

The Spirit’s Demonstration of Personality

Another evidence for the Holy Spirit’s personhood is the fact that he demonstrates aspects of personality such as will, intelligence, and emotions. He also demonstrates personality through his moral ministries. We will consider these further through various texts.

Will

The Holy Spirit’s will is demonstrated in how he directs believers in carrying out God’s plans. For example, in Acts 13:1-2, the Holy Spirit calls for the elders of the Antioch church to set apart Paul and Barnabas for missionary work. It says:

Now there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen (a close friend of Herod the tetrarch from childhood) and Saul. While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Likewise, the Holy Spirit demonstrates his “will” as he distributes spiritual gifts to each person in the body of Christ. First Corinthians 12:11 says, “It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.”

The Holy Spirit knows what gifts will serve each believer best; he knows what gifts a person will need in the future when his church needs an administrator, small group leader, or children’s pastor. We can be excited about our spiritual gifts because the Holy Spirit knows all things and distributes gifts for the glory of God. The Holy Spirit demonstrates personality as he makes decisions.

Intelligence

The Holy Spirit demonstrates intelligence as he teaches and guides believers. In John 14:26, Christ said this about him: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.” In order to teach others, one must have intelligence, including knowledge and wisdom. The Holy Spirit is our teacher and as such generously distributes knowledge to us.

Intellect is also demonstrated in how the Holy Spirit knows the mind of God. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-11, Paul said this about the Holy Spirit:

But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.” God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

Paul said the Spirit knows the “deep” things of God (v. 10). There are many things that we cannot understand about God because they are too deep. We even struggle with what is revealed: “How can God be three persons in one, the Holy Trinity?” “How can God be in control of everything and yet we make free decisions?” and “How can Jesus be fully God and yet fully man?” We can’t fully understand these mysteries, but the Holy Spirit understands, as he knows the deeps things of God.

When Paul says the Holy Spirit “searches” and “knows” the things of God (v. 10-11), this demonstrates both the Holy Spirit’s distinctness from God the Father and their unity. Paul parallels the Holy Spirit’s knowledge of God with a person’s spirit knowing that person (v. 11). Certainly, this is a mystery.

Clearly, the Holy Spirit demonstrates personality through intellect. He knows God and his will and reveals it to people.

Emotion

The Holy Spirit also demonstrates personality through his emotions. Ephesians 4:29-30 teaches that the Holy Spirit can be grieved. It says:

You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

No doubt, many things grieve the Holy Spirit, but here Paul talks about how we shouldn’t grieve him by our speech. Since the Holy Spirit indwells believers, he is with us when we curse others, complain, or speak sexual jokes. All this grieves the Holy Spirit and therefore should grieve us. Again, this demonstrates his personality.

In addition, Galatians 5:22 says the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, and patience, which are not only dispositions but emotions. Also, Scripture says the Holy Spirit experiences jealousy. James 4:4-5 (NKJV) says:

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

Though there is disagreement over what the word “Spirit” refers to, many see this as referring to the Holy Spirit being jealous over us. The Spirit demonstrates the same type of righteous jealousy a husband experiences when his wife cheats on him. The Holy Spirit demonstrates personality through his emotions.

The Spirit’s Moral Ministries

Finally, the Holy Spirit’s personality can be seen through his moral ministries. He teaches believers (John 14:26), prays for them (Rom 8:26), and guides them (Rom 8:14, Matt 4:1). Later, we will consider some of his other ministries such as his illuminating, sealing, dwelling, filling, and baptizing ministries.

Application

Why is the Holy Spirit’s personhood important, and how should we apply this reality? Daryl Aaron illustrates the importance of this doctrine:

This is important practically because we cannot have a personal relationship with a thing, only with another person. Being a Christian means we are in a personal relationship with the triune God—three persons in one divine essence. As is true of any relationship that matters to us, we should want to nurture our relationship with God the Father and with God the Son and with God the Spirit.5

In light of this, because the Spirit is a person, we should develop a sensitivity to him and his activity, as we do with other people. As mentioned, Scripture says we can “grieve” the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:29-30). We should learn to sense his grief when we are committing sin or in a spiritually unhealthy environment or relationship. It seems like Jeremiah was aware of God’s displeasure. In Jeremiah 6:11, he said:

I am as full of anger as you are, LORD, I am tired of trying to hold it in.” The LORD answered, “Vent it, then, on the children who play in the street and on the young men who are gathered together. Husbands and wives are to be included, as well as the old and those who are advanced in years.

Often, we should feel the Spirit’s anger or grief over our sins, the sins of our friends, church, or nation. At other times, we may sense his power or presence. In Luke 4:18, Christ, quoting Isaiah, said this about himself:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed…

Christ could discern the Holy Spirit’s presence on him to do ministry. As we cultivate our relationship with God, we should be able to discern more of the Spirit’s work as well, in our lives, churches, and communities.

Reflection

What stood out most in the reading and why?
What are evidences of the Holy Spirit being a person and not a force or energy?
Why is recognizing that the Holy Spirit is a person as opposed to a force so important?
How should we apply the fact that the Holy Spirit is a person?
What questions or applications did you take from the reading?

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

¹ Ryrie, C. C. (1999). Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (pp. 394–395). Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

² Sproul, R. C. (2012). Who Is the Holy Spirit? (Vol. 13, p. 13). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.

³ Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 352). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

⁴ Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On: Experiencing What the Bible Says About... God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Angels, Salvation... Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

⁵ Aaron, Daryl. Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day: How can I know God? Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Related Topics: Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

2. The Holy Spirit’s Deity

Related Media

The Bible also teaches that the Holy Spirit is God. He is the third person of the Trinity and, therefore, equal in every way to the Son and the Father. What are scriptural evidences for the Holy Spirit’s deity?

The Spirit Is Called God

In many Bible passages, the Holy Spirit is called “God.” For example, in Acts 5:3-4, when Peter confronted Ananias about lying to God, he called the Holy Spirit, “God.” The text says:

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God!”

By lying to the Holy Spirit, Ananias was lying to God.

The Interchangeability of the Names Holy Spirit and God

Further evidence for the Holy Spirit’s deity is seen in how Scripture often uses the names Holy Spirit and God interchangeably. For example, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 6:19 describe believers as being God’s temple and the temple of the Holy Spirit:

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, which is what you are.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

The Spirit’s Association of Equality with Jesus and God

Another evidence of the Spirit’s deity is his continual association with God the Father and God the Son on an equal basis. A great example of this is in the Great Commission. In Matthew 28:19, Christ said: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Likewise, 2 Corinthians 13:13 says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Also, in 1 Peter 1:1-2, God, Jesus, and the Spirit are put on an equal basis in the introductory blessing of the letter:

From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those temporarily residing abroad (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia) who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with Jesus Christ’s blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure!

The fact that the Holy Spirit is associated with the Father and Son on an equal basis is proof of the Spirit’s deity.

The Spirit’s Divine Attributes

Another evidence of the Spirit’s deity is the fact that the Holy Spirit has divine attributes. He is eternal. Hebrews 9:14 calls him the “eternal Spirit.” Likewise, Deuteronomy 33:27 calls God “the everlasting God.” The Holy Spirit is omnipotent. In Psalm 104:30 (ESV), the author ascribes the creation of animals to the Holy Spirit. The Psalmist said, “When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.” Even Christ said that he cast out demons through the power of the Spirit (Matt 12:28) and called for the disciples to wait to receive the Spirit’s power for ministry (Acts 1:8). Though these verses do not clearly say the Spirit is omnipotent, they demonstrate that the Spirit has the same power as God, who also is attributed with creation (Gen 1, John 1:1-3), empowering his disciples (Phil 2:11-12, 2 Cor 12:9), and other great works. In Matthew 19:26 (ESV), Christ said this about God, “…with God all things are possible.” The Holy Spirit is also omniscient—all-knowing. As considered earlier, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 says the Spirit searches the deep things of God and knows the thoughts of God. This would make the Spirit all-knowing because God is all-knowing (1 John 3:20). The Spirit is also omnipresent. In Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV), David said this:

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

As God is everywhere (1 Kgs 8:27, Jer 23:23-24), so is the Holy Spirit. The fact that the Spirit has the attributes of God is proof of his deity.

References of Relation to Jesus and God

The final evidence of the Spirit’s deity is the fact that he is often mentioned in relation to the other persons of the Godhead. Sixteen times the Spirit is related by name to the other two persons of the Trinity.¹ For example, Acts 16:7 says, “When they came to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to do this.” And, 1 Corinthians 6:11 says, “Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” The Holy Spirit is referred to both as the “Spirit of Jesus” and the “Spirit of God.” His being related to the other persons of the Trinity clearly demonstrates the Spirit’s deity.

Application

How should we apply the fact that the Holy Spirit is God? Because the Holy Spirit is God, we should worship him, pray to him, and honor him. Though there is never a clear example of praying or worshiping the Spirit in Scripture, since he is co-equally God, with the Father and the Son, we should offer him the same honors. It seems especially prudent to pray to the Spirit for the specific ministries Scripture attributes to him.² We should ask for him to illuminate God’s Word (1 Cor 2:12-13), fill us with power (Eph 5:18), and give us boldness to share God’s Word (Acts 4:31). With that said, since praying to the Holy Spirit is not a New Testament pattern, it probably should not be the primary emphasis in our prayer life.³

Reflection

What stood out most in the reading and why?
What are scriptural evidences for the Holy Spirit’s deity?
How should we apply the fact that the Holy Spirit is God?
Should we pray to the Spirit? Why or why not?
What other questions or applications did you take from the reading?

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

¹ Ryrie, C. C. (1999). Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (p. 397). Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

² Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 381). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

³ Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 381). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

Related Topics: Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

Appendix 1: Study Group Tips

Related Media

Leading a small group using the Bible Teacher’s Guide can be done in various ways. One format for leading a small group is the “study group” model, where each member prepares and shares in the teaching. This appendix will cover tips for facilitating a weekly study group.

Each week the members of the study group will read through a select chapter of the guide, answer the reflection questions (see Appendix 2), and come prepared to share in the group.
Prior to each meeting, a different member can be selected to lead the group and share Question 1 of the reflection questions, which is to give a short summary of the chapter read. This section of the gathering could last from five to fifteen minutes. This way, each member can develop their gift of teaching. It also will make them study harder during the week. Or, each week the same person could share the summary.
After the summary has been given, the leader for that week will facilitate discussions through the rest of the reflection questions and also ask select review questions from the chapter.
After discussion, the group will share prayer requests and pray for one another.

The strength of the study group is the fact that the members will be required to prepare their responses before the meeting, which will allow for easier discussion. In addition, each member will be given the opportunity to teach, which will further equip their ministry skills. The study group model has distinct advantages.

Appendix 2: Reflection Questions

Related Media

Writing is one of the best ways to learn. In class, we take notes and write papers, and these methods are used to help us learn and retain the material. The same is true with the Word of God. Obviously, all the authors of Scripture were writers. This helped them better learn the Scriptures and also enabled them to more effectively teach it. As you reflect on God’s Word, using the Bible Teacher’s Guide, take time to write so you can similarly grow both in your learning and teaching.

How would you summarize the main points of the text/chapter? Write a brief summary.
What stood out to you most in the reading? Did any of the contents trigger any memories or experiences? If so, please share them.
What follow–up questions did you have about the reading? What parts did you not fully agree with?
What applications did you take from the reading, and how do you plan to implement them into your life?
Write several commitment statements: As a result of my time studying God’s Word, I will . . .
What are some practical ways to pray as a result of studying the text? Spend some time ministering to the Lord through prayer.

Appendix 3: Walking The Romans Road

Related Media

How can a person be saved? From what is he saved? How can someone have eternal life? Scripture teaches that after death each person will spend eternity either in heaven or hell. How can a person go to heaven?

Paul said this to Timothy:

You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14-15

One of the reasons God gave us Scripture is to make us wise for salvation. This means that without it, nobody can know how to be saved.

Well then, how can a people be saved and what are they being saved from? A common method of sharing the good news of salvation is through the Romans Road. One of the great themes, not only of the Bible, but specifically of the book of Romans is salvation. In Romans, the author, Paul, clearly details the steps we must take in order to be saved.

How can we be saved? What steps must we take?

Step One: We Must Accept That We Are Sinners

Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” What does it mean to sin? The word sin means “to miss the mark.” The mark we missed is reflecting God’s image. When God created mankind in the Genesis narrative, he created man in the “image of God” (1:27). The “image of God” means many things, but probably, most importantly it means we were made to be holy just as he is holy. Man was made moral. We were meant to reflect God’s holiness in every way: the way we think, the way we talk, and the way we act. And any time we miss the mark in these areas, we commit sin.

Furthermore, we do not only sin when we commit a sinful act such as lying, stealing, or cheating. Again, we sin anytime we have a wrong heart motive. The greatest commandments in Scripture are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:36-40, paraphrase). Whenever we don’t love God supremely and love others as ourselves, we sin and fall short of the glory of God. For this reason, man is always in a state of sinning. Sadly, even if our actions are good, our heart is bad. I have never loved God with my whole heart, mind, and soul, and neither has anybody else. Therefore, we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). We have all missed the mark of God’s holiness and we must accept this.

What’s the next step?

Step Two: We Must Understand We Are Under The Judgment Of God

Why are we under the judgment of God? It is because of our sins. Scripture teaches that God is not only a loving God, but he is also a just God. And his justice requires judgment for each of our sins. Romans 6:23 says, “For the payoff of sin is death.”

A payoff or wage is something we earn. Every time we sin, we earn the wage of death. What is death? Death really means separation. In physical death, the body is separated from the spirit, but in spiritual death, man is separated from God. Man currently lives in a state of spiritual death (cf. Eph 2:1-3). We do not love God, obey him, or know him as we should. Therefore, man is in a state of death.

Moreover, one day at our physical death, if we have not been saved, we will spend eternity separated from God in a very real hell. In hell, we will pay the wage for each of our sins. Therefore, in hell people will experience various degrees of punishment (cf. Lk 12:47-48). This places man in a very dangerous predicament—unholy and therefore under the judgment of God.

How should we respond to this? This leads us to our third step.

Step Three: We Must Recognize God Has Invited All To Accept His Free Gift Of Salvation

Romans 6:23 does not stop at the wages of sin being death. It says, “For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Because God loved everybody on the earth, he offered the free gift of eternal life, which anyone can receive through Jesus Christ.

Because it is a gift, it cannot be earned. We cannot work for it. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Going to church, being baptized, giving to the poor, or doing any other righteous work does not save. Salvation is a gift that must be received from God. It is a gift that has been prepared by his effort alone.

How do we receive this free gift?

Step Four: We Must Believe Jesus Christ Died For Our Sins And Rose From The Dead

If we are going to receive this free gift, we must believe in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Because God loved us, cared for us, and didn’t want us to be separated from him eternally, he sent his Son to die for our sins. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Similarly, John 3:16 says, “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God so loved us that he gave his only Son for our sins.

Jesus Christ was a real, historical person who lived 2,000 years ago. He was born of a virgin. He lived a perfect life. He was put to death by the Romans and the Jews. And after he was buried, he rose again on the third day. In his death, he took our sins and God’s wrath for them and gave us his perfect righteousness so we could be accepted by God. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” God did all this so we could be saved from his wrath.

Christ’s death satisfied the just anger of God over our sins. When God looked at Jesus on the cross, he saw us and our sins and therefore judged Jesus. And now, when God sees those who are saved, he sees his righteous Son and accepts us. In salvation, we have become the righteousness of God.

If we are going to be saved, if we are going to receive this free gift of salvation, we must believe in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for our sins (cf. 1 Cor 15:3-5, Rom 10:9-10). Do you believe?

Step Five: We Must Confess Christ As Lord Of Our Lives

Romans 10:9-10 says,

Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.

Not only must we believe, but we must confess Christ as Lord of our lives. It is one thing to believe in Christ but another to follow Christ. Simple belief does not save. Christ must be our Lord. James said this: “…Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear” (James 2:19), but the demons are not saved—Christ is not their Lord.

Another aspect of making Christ Lord is repentance. Repentance really means a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. Before we met Christ, we were living our own life and following our own sinful desires. But when we get saved, our mind and direction change. We start to follow Christ as Lord.

How do we make this commitment to the lordship of Christ so we can be saved? Paul said we must confess with our mouth “Jesus is Lord” as we believe in him. Romans 10:13 says, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If you admit that you are a sinner and understand you are under God’s wrath because of it; if you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he died on the cross for your sins, and rose from the dead for your salvation; if you are ready to turn from your sin and cling to Christ as Lord, you can be saved.

If this is your heart, then you can pray this prayer and commit to following Christ as your Lord.

Dear heavenly Father, I confess I am a sinner and have fallen short of your glory, what you made me for. I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins and rose from the dead so I can have eternal life. I am turning away from my sin and accepting you as my Lord and Savior. Come into my life and change me. Thank you for your gift of salvation.

Scripture teaches that if you truly accepted Christ as your Lord, then you are a new creation. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!” God has forgiven your sins (1 John 1:9), he has given you his Holy Spirit (Rom 8:15), and he is going to disciple you and make you into the image of his Son (cf. Rom 8:29). He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5), and he will complete the work he has begun in your life (Phil 1:6). In heaven, angels and saints are rejoicing because of your commitment to Christ (Lk 15:7).

Praise God for his great salvation! May God keep you in his hand, empower you through the Holy Spirit, train you through mature believers, and use you to build his kingdom! “He who calls you is trustworthy, and he will in fact do this” (1 Thess 5:24). God bless you!

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

3. The Holy Spirit’s Ministries, Part I - Inspiration, Illumination, Conviction, Intercession

Related Media

We’ve considered the Spirit’s personhood and deity, and now, we will consider his various ministries.

Inspiration of Scripture

Though Scripture has human authors, they were all inspired by the Holy Spirit—guided by him in the exact words they used and kept from error. Consider what Peter said in Acts 1:16 about the Spirit speaking through David’s writing of a Psalm: “Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through David concerning Judas—who became the guide for those who arrested Jesus.” In addition, in 2 Peter 1:20-21, Peter said this about Scripture:

Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

The writers of Scripture were “carried along” by the Holy Spirit. In Acts 27:15, “carried along” (translated “driven along” in NET) was used of how those sailing in a ship could not control it because of strong winds, so they let go and allowed the wind to guide the ship.

Likewise, in John 16:12-13, Christ spoke of the Holy Spirit’s work in leading the apostles in their writing and teaching of the New Testament:

I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come.

The Holy Spirit inspired the writing of Scripture—guiding the authors in what was written and keeping them from error.

Illumination of Scripture

The Holy Spirit illumines Scripture, in that he enables us to understand it. In 1 Corinthians 2:12-14, Paul said this:

Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

This text describes both inspiration and illumination. As the apostles wrote, the Spirit gave them words which didn’t come from human wisdom but from the Spirit (v. 13)—words like election, justification, sanctification, and glorification. Then, it describes how the Spirit enables “spiritual people”—believers— to understand God’s Word (v. 13), which is why unbelievers (people without God’s Spirit) cannot understand them and therefore reject them (v. 14).

Tony Evans’ comments on the Holy Spirit’s illumination are challenging:

In His role as the Illuminator, the Spirit enlightens us so that we are able to grasp, experience, and apply God's Word to our lives. Anybody who can do that, we need to be close to. The Spirit can connect us to the mind of God.¹

Anointing

Another aspect of the Holy Spirit’s Illumination ministry is the believers “anointing.” Anointing is a word used primarily in the Old Testament meaning “empowerment” for something. The king was anointed with oil, symbolizing the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to lead; likewise, the priest and prophet were anointed to minister. The Holy Spirit also anoints every believer, probably in various ways, but specifically to understand Scripture and protect us from false teaching.

When talking about false teachers and their followers who had left the church of Ephesus, in 1 John 2:19-21, John said this:

They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us. Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

These people had left the church to follow cultic doctrine. However, John explained that part of the reason the remaining church members didn’t leave was because they had an “anointing from the Holy One” and knew the “truth” (v. 20). Instead of believing heretical errors about Christ, like those who left the church, the other members stayed because they were truly saved and had an anointing to understand Scripture. Now, this doesn’t mean true believers won’t have different understandings of Scripture, especially on minor doctrines. It just means that the Holy Spirit is always guiding believers to the truth and keeping them from damning errors, which would equate to denying the faith. In John 10, Jesus said his sheep hear his voice and they would not follow the voice of another (v. 3-8, 14-16). This is true because of the Holy Spirit’s ministry of leading believers into truth (John 16:12-13). True believers have an anointing—an empowerment to understand Scripture and discern error. This especially protects them from errors concerning the gospel and other foundational truths, which can affect one’s salvation.

Application

How should we respond to the Illuminating work of the Holy Spirit? Because of the Spirit’s illuminating ministry, we should constantly pray to understand God’s Word. We should pray before, while, and after we read or listen to Scripture, including the teaching of it. As David prayed in Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your law!”, we should constantly pray the same way, which demonstrates our dependence on the Spirit for illumination.

Conviction

As the Holy Spirit illuminates Scripture for us, he convicts us of sin—showing us where we are wrong and drawing us to repentance. In John 16:8, Christ said this about the Holy Spirit’s ministry to unbelievers, “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” Though this describes his work with unbelievers, it is true of believers as well. As believers study God’s Word, the Holy Spirit illuminates it, revealing ways that we have sinned against God or others. Second Timothy 3:16-17 says:

Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.

“Reproof” or “rebuke” refers to how the Word shows us what is wrong, so we can repent. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin through the Word, so we can become holy, as he is holy.

Intercession

Not only does the Holy Spirit illuminate God’s Word and convict us by it, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. Romans 8:26-27 says:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.

Though expressed in groans, the Spirit prays according to God’s will that we may, no doubt, grow in holiness, serve God and others, bear fruit for God’s kingdom, and be protected from the evil one, amongst many other wonderful things. William MacDonald’s insights on this are encouraging:

We are often perplexed in our prayer life. We do not know how to pray as we should. We pray selfishly, ignorantly, narrowly. But once again the Spirit comes alongside to assist us in our weakness, interceding for us with groanings which cannot find expression. In this verse it is the Spirit who groans and not we who groan, though that is also true.

There is mystery here. We are peering into the unseen, spiritual realm where a great Person and great forces are at work on our behalf. And although we cannot understand it all, we can take infinite encouragement from the fact that a groan may sometimes be the most spiritual prayer.²

Reflection

What stood out most in the reading and why?
What is the doctrine of inspiration, and why is it important?
What is the doctrine of illumination? How should we apply this ministry of the Spirit practically?
What is conviction? How does the Holy Spirit convict?
What other questions or applications did you take from the reading?

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

¹ Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On: Experiencing What the Bible Says About... God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Angels, Salvation... Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

² MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1712). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Related Topics: Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

4. The Holy Spirit’s Ministries, Part II - Indwelling

Related Media

Indwelling

For believers, the Holy Spirit indwells us at conversion. It is from this ministry that many of his other ministries flow. Jesus mentioned the Spirit’s indwelling to his disciples before his death and resurrection. In John 14:17, Christ said, “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.” From Christ’s words, it is clear the Spirit was already with the disciples but would be with them in a different way after his death, resurrection, and ascension. Likewise, in John 16:7, Christ said, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.”

Old Testament & New Testament

Considering that the disciples and other Old Testament saints had the Holy Spirit and experienced his ministries before Christ’s ascension into heaven (cf. Acts 1-2), what is the difference between the Holy Spirit’s ministry to believers in the OT and the NT? Because of Christ’s words that the Holy Spirit was “with” the disciples and in the future would be “in” them (John 14:17), some have said the difference is simply that in the OT the Holy Spirit was “with” or “on” believers, but in the NT, he dwells “in” them. However, further study of the OT tells us that claim is not correct. The Holy Spirit also indwelled people in the OT. Consider a few examples: Genesis 41:38 says Joseph had God’s Spirit in him. “So Pharaoh asked his officials, ‘Can we find a man like Joseph, one in whom the Spirit of God is present?’” Numbers 27:18 (ESV) says the same about Joshua. “So the LORD said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.” Likewise, Daniel 4:8 (NKJV) says the same about Daniel. “But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God).”

Then, what is the difference between the Holy Spirit’s dwelling ministry in the New Testament versus the Old Testament? Two things:

1. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit’s dwelling is universal and not selective.

In the OT, God’s Spirit came upon select people such as the king, the priest, and the prophet, but in the NT, the Spirit indwells all believers. Consider John 7:37-39:

On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’” (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)

The Spirit would be given to all those who believe in Christ. Likewise, Peter said this in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” In fact, to not have the Holy Spirit means that one is not born again. Romans 8:9 says, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him.” Also, Jude 19 describes false teachers this way: “These people are divisive, worldly, devoid of the Spirit.” If we do not have the Spirit of God, then we are not saved.

Are there any other differences between the Spirit’s indwelling in the OT and the NT?

2. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit’s dwelling is eternal and not temporary.

Consider these descriptions of the Holy Spirit in the OT: In 1 Samuel 16:14, it says this about King Saul, “Now the Spirit of the LORD had turned away from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.” Also, in Psalm 51:11, David prayed, “Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me!” Clearly, the Holy Spirit came upon believers in the OT and dwelled within them, but at times departed. With Saul, the Spirit left him because of his rebellion against God. The Spirit’s leaving him represented a lack of empowerment to lead Israel as God’s representative.

What about the Spirit’s ministry in the New Testament? Will the Spirit ever leave a believer? In John 14:16, Christ said this about the Spirit’s new ministry, “Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever.” When describing the Spirit’s ministry to the disciples, Jesus described a change that was significantly different from the Spirit’s Old Covenant ministry: God’s Spirit would dwell with his disciples forever.

The difference between the Holy Spirit’s indwelling ministry in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is that in the New Covenant, the Spirit indwells all believers and indwells them permanently.

Why is the Spirit’s ministry of “indwelling” so important? As mentioned, the Holy Spirit’s indwelling is essential to his other ministries. Because the Spirit indwells believers, he also convicts, enlightens, seals, empowers, and gifts, among other things.

Application

How should this Spirit’s indwelling ministry affect us?

1. The Holy Spirit’s indwelling reminds us of God’s great love for us.

One of the greatest symbols in our societies of love is living together. Families live together. Two singles meet, fall in love, get married, and move in together for the rest of their lives. Likewise, God loved us so much, he moved in with us permanently. In fact, since Scripture teaches that in heaven, we are no longer married nor given in human marriage (Matt 22:30), the Holy Spirit’s indwelling ministry is an even greater residency than we ever experience on earth. It’s eternal! Again, this reminds us of how much God loves us. This is especially important when tempted by the devil to doubt God’s love or his plan for our lives. Christ died for us, married us, and indwells us forever, through his Spirit.

2. The Holy Spirit’s indwelling reminds us to be good hosts.

Ephesians 4:30 says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” We should give careful attention to our words, thoughts, actions, relationships, entertainment, etc., in order to not grieve God’s Spirit who indwells us. In fact, we must go above simply not sinning but also seek to live God-honoring, righteous lives that please God. In this way, God’s Spirit can be at home within us, instead of being treated as a neglected (or abused) visitor.

3. The Holy Spirit’s indwelling reminds us of our eternal security.

If the Holy Spirit indwells us forever (John 14:16) and has sealed us until the day of our redemption (Eph 4:30), then this means that true believers will never lose their salvation. God will never leave us as orphans; we shall be part of his family and dwell with him forever.

Reflection

What stood out most in the reading and why?
What is the doctrine of the Spirit’s indwelling, and why is it so important?
What is the difference between the Spirit’s ministry to believers in the Old Testament and the New?
What are some applications we can take from the Spirit’s indwelling of believers?
What other questions or applications did you take from the reading?

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

Related Topics: Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

5. The Holy Spirit’s Ministries, Part III - Sealing, Deposit, Restraining

Related Media

Sealing

Another ministry of the Holy Spirit is his being the seal of our salvation. In Ephesians 1:13, it says, “And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.” Likewise, 2 Corinthians 1:22 (NIV) says God “set his seal of ownership on us.”

What does the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit refer to?

1. As a seal, the Holy Spirit represents authenticity—he proves that a believer’s salvation is genuine.

John MacArthur said this:

The sealing of which Paul speaks here refers to an official mark of identification that was placed on a letter, contract, or other important document. The seal usually was made from hot wax, which was placed on the document and then impressed with a signet ring. The document was thereby officially identified with and under the authority of the person to whom the signet belonged.¹

Today, official brands will often have a logo—a mark of authentication (cf. Coke vs. cola), which proves it is genuine and not a fake. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is God’s official seal on a believer—proving his or her authenticity. Romans 8:9 says, “…Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him.” The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Rom 8:16). He authenticates us by changing us and making us more into Christ’s image (cf. 2 Pet 1:5-10). He gives us new desires—desires to pray, serve, love God and others, and to read his Word (cf. Matt 5:6). If professing believers don’t have these types of holy affections, then they are not truly saved—they are missing the seal of the Holy Spirit.

2. As a seal, the Holy Spirit represents God’s ownership.

In those days, slaves and cattle would bear the seal of the owner. The Holy Spirit not only authenticates us but demonstrates God’s ownership of believers.

As a seal, the Holy Spirit represents the security of a believer.

Seals were also used as a form of security. Often kings or those in authority would seal something to say that it should not be touched or tampered with. John MacArthur’s comments are helpful here as well:

In ancient times the seal of a king, prince, or noble represented security and inviolability. When Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, King Darius, along with his nobles, placed their seals on the stone placed over the entrance to the den, “so that nothing might be changed in regard to Daniel” (Dan. 6:17). Any person but the king who broke or disturbed that seal would likely have forfeited his life. In a similar way the tomb where Jesus was buried was sealed. Fearing that Jesus’ disciples might steal His body and falsely claim His resurrection, the Jewish leaders obtained Pilate’s permission to place a seal on the stone and to guard it with soldiers (Matt. 27:62–66).²

This is one of the reasons we know that a true believer’s salvation is secure. The Holy Spirit seals him. Consider what Paul said in Ephesians 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Even though we were redeemed from slavery to sin at salvation, our ultimate redemption awaits our resurrected bodies. The Holy Spirit seals us until that final work happens, and so does Jesus and the Father. Jesus said this in John 10:27-30:

My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit work to secure and protect a believer’s salvation.

4. As a seal, the Holy Spirit represents authority.

To have a king’s signet ring or seal meant to hold his power and authority (cf. Esther 8:8-12). For example, when Joseph was promoted to second in command over Egypt, he was given Pharaoh’s signet ring (Gen 41:41-42), which enabled him to make decisions with Pharaoh’s full power and authority. In the same way, God’s seal on believers represents their authority to teach the Word of God, defend it, use their spiritual gifts to build God’s kingdom, and conquer Satan, among other things. Christ said this when he ascended to heaven:

Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

Because we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit, we have the authority of the King to do his ministry.

Deposit

The Holy Spirit is also called the believer’s deposit, earnest, or down payment. In Ephesians 1:14 (NIV), Paul says the Holy Spirit is our “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” Second Corinthians 1:22 (NIV) says God “put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

What does the Holy Spirit being a believer’s “deposit” refer to?

1. As a deposit, the Holy Spirit guarantees our future inheritance.

The word deposit can be translated earnest or even engagement ring.³ An engagement ring is a promise for future marriage. An earnest is “the down payment to guarantee the final purchase of some commodity or piece of property.”⁴ When people bought a piece of property in those times, they put down earnest money. This money guaranteed that the rest of the money was coming. If one failed to pay, they would lose their earnest. It is often similar in purchasing property today. A person will put down 10%, 20%, or more, as a guarantee that the remaining balance will be paid.

The Lord gave us the Holy Spirit as our earnest. He is our guarantee that we will fully receive every spiritual blessing in Christ, including eternal life.

2. As a deposit, the Holy Spirit is a foretaste of our inheritance in heaven.

An earnest is part of a future payment. In the same way, the Holy Spirit is a foretaste of our future heavenly inheritance. In Romans 14:17, Paul said, “For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Heaven will be full of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. These are all things that the Holy Spirit wants to give us now. He wants to fill us with righteousness and get rid of sin in our lives. He wants to give us peace and joy—no matter the trials we encounter. Our experience now in the Holy Spirit is a taste of our heavenly future.

Restraining

Another ministry of the Holy Spirit is that of restraining sin and evil on the earth. Tony Evans said this about the Spirit’s restraining ministry:

The Holy Spirit's restraint of sin is like the atmosphere around us. It's helping to sustain this world as we know and experience it. The only reason sin isn't as bad as it could be worldwide is because of the Spirit's restraint.5

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7, Paul seems to be referring to this ministry as he talks about the end times. He says:

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God. Surely you recall that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you. And so you know what holds him back, so that he will be revealed in his own time. For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way

In the end-times, the Antichrist will launch the greatest onslaught of evil and destruction the world has ever seen, but currently, Satan’s work through him is being held back by a person (v. 7). It is evident that no human can hold back Satan’s work and that only God can do it. For this reason, many believe that Paul is referring to the person of the Holy Spirit. Currently, the Holy Spirit is restraining Satan’s full, destructive plan for the earth, but one day the Spirit will be taken out of the way to allow Satan’s evil plan to happen.

When and how will the Holy Spirit be taken out of the way? Some believe this refers to a time right before Christ returns during the end times. In John 16:7, Christ said this about the Holy Spirit’s coming to indwell the disciples in a new way: “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.” Since the Spirit couldn’t come unless Christ left, it makes sense that right before Christ returns to the earth, the Spirit will again leave. He will be present in the same way he was in the Old Testament. No doubt, he will still be restraining sin in some manner, but not in the same manner that he is currently doing it through Christ’s disciples, the church. It is for this reason that some believe this refers to the rapture of the church happening sometime before Christ returns. When Christ ascended to heaven, the Spirit began to indwell the church in a special way—empowering them to be salt and light to the world (Matt 5:13-14), aiding in restraining sin and promoting righteousness. Before Christ returns, the Holy Spirit will return to the Father with believers (yet still be present and ministering, but in an Old Covenant way). After a period of Satan’s wrath on the earth through the Antichrist, Christ will return with his saints to judge the earth.

Is there any other evidence of God’s restraining ministry through the Holy Spirit? It appears that the Spirit was performing some type of restraining ministry right before God judged the earth by the world-wide flood. Because of the world’s great sins, in Genesis 6:3 (NIV), God said: “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” The word for “contend” in the Hebrew also means to “shield” or “protect.”6 Essentially, God had for years been protecting humanity from sin and its consequences through the Spirit. But, because of their continual rebellion, God handed them over to their sin and rebellion—allowing them to reap the consequences of their defiance by unleashing the flood.

In Romans 1:28-32, Paul describes something similar in the ancient Roman world. He says:

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice. They are rife with envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, contrivers of all sorts of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless. Although they fully know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them.

Essentially, because of the world’s continual rebellion, God hands them over to depraved thinking (v. 28), leading to worse sin and its consequences. This introduces another way the Holy Spirit restrains sin: he restrains it through humanity’s God-given conscience (Rom 2:14). The conscience is meant to be a moral guide in humanity which affirms us when we do right and condemns us when we do wrong. When God hands us over to our evil desires, our mind and conscience cease to work properly, and we start to approve even great evils. People start to declare that right is wrong and wrong is right, as their hearts become hardened. As in Genesis 6:3, God’s Spirit will not contend with people forever; eventually he allows them to have what their evil hearts want, including reaping the consequences of those evil desires. Likewise, God’s Spirit will do the same during the end-times.

What are some other ways the Holy Spirit restrains sin? (1) Other than the conscience, (2) the Holy Spirit restrains sin through the teaching, studying, and practicing of God’s Word, as he convicts believers and unbelievers of sin (2 Tim 3:16-17). (3) He restrains sin through government authorities, as they discipline wrongdoers and reward the righteous (Rom 13:1-7). (4) The Spirit restrains sin through families, as they discipline and raise children according to godly guidelines (Eph 6:4). (5) The Spirit restrains sin through direct intervention, as the Spirit simply sets boundaries on Satan’s work, as in the story of Job (Job 1:12, 2:6). (6) Finally, as mentioned previously, the Spirit restrains sin through the godly witness of the church (Matt 5:13-16). In the end times, all of these areas will be less effective, as the Spirit’s ministry is removed to some extent (2 Thess 2:3-7).

Application

How should we respond to the reality of the Holy Spirit’s restraining ministry?

1. The Holy Spirit’s restraining ministry reminds us to not resist the Spirit when he convicts us of sin, because there are drastic consequences for resisting his warnings.

To resist the Spirit’s ministry leads to God handing us over to our evil desires and reaping the consequences of those desires. Again Romans 1:28-29 says:

Certainly, this is being experienced in many societies around us, as people continually reject God’s Word and embrace evil.

2. The Holy Spirit’s restraining ministry reminds us that God wants to use us, as believers, to restrain sin amongst our friends, family, church, and society.

When we compromise or remain silent when evil is practiced, we hinder the Holy Spirit’s work through us, which negatively affects those whom we are meant to bless. We are called to be salt and light to the earth (Matt 5:13-15)—restraining sin, promoting righteousness, and glorifying God through our lives.

Reflection

What stood out most in the reading and why?
In what ways is the Holy Spirit the believers’ seal?
In what ways is the Holy Spirit the believers’ deposit?
What is the Holy Spirit’s restraining ministry, and how should this ministry challenge us?
What other questions or applications did you take from the reading?

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

¹ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (p. 34). Chicago: Moody Press.

² MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (pp. 34–35). Chicago: Moody Press.

³ MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (p. 36). Chicago: Moody Press.

⁴ Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 13). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

5 Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On: Experiencing What the Bible Says About... God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Angels, Salvation... Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

6 See NET Footnotes on Genesis 6:3

Related Topics: Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

6. The Holy Spirit’s Ministries, Part IV - Baptism In The Spirit

Related Media

Baptism in the Spirit

Another ministry of the Holy Spirit is the baptism “in” or “with” the Spirit. The baptism in the Spirit is a very important and controversial doctrine in the church. Historically, Spirit baptism refers to Christ, through the agency of God’s Spirit, placing believers into the body of Christ. In it, we become part of the body of believers, and Christ becomes our head. Tony Evans described the baptism this way:

Jesus is the One doing the baptizing. He is the baptizer, not the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the means by which this baptism takes place, the means by which believers enter into this new realm or environment called the body of Christ or the family of God.¹

However, in some denominations such as Pentecostalism, it refers to a second experience of the Holy Spirit after salvation where believers experience power for the Christian life, and it is often accompanied by tongues. Charles Ryrie describes this view, which has changed at times throughout history:

Whereas old Pentecostalism uniformly taught that the baptism of the Spirit was an endowment for power, tongues being the evidence of the experience, newer Pentecostalism sees two baptisms. One is that of [1 Corinthians 12] verse 13, which all believers experience and which is accomplished by the Spirit and places people in the body of Christ. The other is the baptism seen in the book of Acts and is accomplished by Christ to place people in the Spirit for experiences of power. The first happens at conversion and results in a position; the second occurs later and can be repeated and is for power. The first does not require speaking in tongues; the second ideally does.²

John the Baptist initially predicted the baptism into the Spirit. In Mark 1:8, he said, “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Also, Christ predicted it before he ascended into heaven in Acts 1:4-5:

While he was with them, he declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

This happened in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit fell on the waiting disciples. They experienced fire above their heads, as symbols of the Spirit’s empowerment, and speaking in tongues, which allowed them to proclaim God’s goodness in different languages. Those visiting Jerusalem during Pentecost stood in awe of them (Acts 2:6-11). Peter confirmed that their experience at Pentecost was in fact the baptism of the Spirit, as predicted by Christ. In Acts 11:15-16, he said:

Then as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he did on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, as he used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

In addition, other believers throughout the book of Acts, who were not in Jerusalem at Pentecost, had similar experiences at later dates when the Spirit fell upon them and enabled them to speak in tongues, symbolizing their baptism in the Spirit (Acts 8:14-17, 19:1-6).

The concept of baptism means to identify or associate with something or someone.³ As believers, we are baptized with the Spirit into Christ’s body at salvation. In 1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV), Paul said this, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” “All” believers are baptized and not “some.” It is not a secondary work that some experience; it is a primary work that all believers experience when they are saved.

Results of the Baptism

What are the results of being baptized in the Spirit?

2. The baptism in the Spirit provides believers with a new identity and position in Christ.

Because of this baptism, Paul constantly refers to the new identity of believers as “in Christ.” In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul said, “So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!” Because we are in Christ, we are new creations. Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Because we are in Christ, we will not be condemned by God for our sins. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” Because we are in Christ, we now are the righteousness of God. Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.” Because we are “in Christ,” we have every blessing in heavenly places. Ephesians 2:6 says, “and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Our being raised and seated in Christ in the heavenlies seems to not only refer to our new position but our new authority in Christ, as we are above all rule, authority, and power in this age and the age to come (cf. Eph 1:20-22). Likewise, in Romans 6:3-4, Paul says our baptism into Christ associates us with his death, burial, and resurrection, therefore setting us free from the power of sin to live a new life in Christ. He says,

Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.

Our identity in Christ radically changes everything about us including how God sees us and how we should see ourselves and other believers. This new identity happens as we are baptized in the Spirit into the body of Christ.

2. The baptism in the Spirit provides believers with a new union with the church.

In Ephesians 2:14-15, Paul describes how God unified Jews and Gentiles in Christ:

For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this ‘to create in himself one new man out of two,’ thus making peace

In Spirit baptism, Christ took two hostile people groups—believing Jews and Gentiles, which encompasses all nationalities—and made them one in Christ. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” The reality is that being from different cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds makes the church prone to discord. However, because God has made us one in Christ, through God’s Spirit, we must labor to live out this unity. In Ephesians 4:3-5, Paul said, “making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” The “one baptism” probably refers to Spirit baptism, of which water baptism, ultimately, symbolizes.

3. The baptism in the Spirit provides believers with spiritual gifts.

Since it’s through Spirit baptism that believers become part of the body, Paul associates it with the distribution of spiritual gifts. Consider 1 Corinthians 12:10-13 (ESV):

to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

It is as we become a member of the body that we are assigned a specific gift or role in the body. One person is the arm, another the foot, another the eye, and so on. In Spirit baptism, we are not only unified into the body but also empowered to serve the body with a gift.

Two Views

Why are there two views—the traditional view and the Pentecostal view? The Pentecostal view, which sees Spirit baptism as a second experience after salvation, is derived explicitly from the Acts narrative when the Spirit fell on believers and they spoke in tongues both at Pentecost and at later dates (cf. Acts 1:4, 2:4, 11:15-18, etc.). If our understanding of Spirit baptism is derived from the Acts narrative alone, Spirit baptism being a work following salvation seems to be the best conclusion.

However, there are many problems with the Pentecostal view:

1. From a hermeneutical standpoint, narratives are not meant to be prescriptive but descriptive. They are meant to tell us what happened, not tell us how things should be or what they mean. When doctrines are made out of narratives, it’s a dangerous way to study the Bible. Professing Christians who believe in polygamy—a husband having multiple wives—take their proof from historical narratives, like the stories of Abraham, Jacob, and David. However, the authors of those narratives meant for them to be descriptive of what happened, not of what should have happened or what should be modeled. This is especially dangerous in the book of Acts because it is a transitional book. It is transitioning from Israel to the church, from Jews being God’s primary conduit of redemption to it being Jew and Gentile, from Old Covenant regulations to New Covenant regulations, and so on.

2. Again, from a hermeneutical standpoint, doctrinal books like the Epistles are meant for forming doctrines. In 1 Corinthians 12:13, Paul explains what happened at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell on believers. God, through the Holy Spirit, was forming the body of Christ. Paul said to the Corinthians that “all” of them had been baptized in the Spirit (12:13), and he also shared that not all of them spoke in tongues, which many believe is an enduring sign of the baptism (12:30). The experience in Acts was not meant to be the continual experience of believers. When those who were not at Pentecost (such as Cornelius in Acts 10) experienced the baptism in the Spirit, it was very similar to the Numbers 11 narrative where Moses brought seventy elders to a mountain to receive a portion of his anointing so they could lead Israel. When the Spirit fell, they prophesied as a sign of experiencing the Spirit. Later on, the Spirit of God caught up to two who were not on the mountain, and they also prophesied. The same happened at Pentecost. The believers who were there experienced the baptism and those who were not, received it later, often after being prayed over. Again, the experience was not meant to be normative, as 1 Corinthians 12:13 explains. Believers are now baptized in the Spirit at salvation, when they become part of Christ’s body.

3. The Pentecostal view actually teaches the opposite of what happens in the baptism in the Spirit. The baptism unifies all believers into one body. That is why Paul teaches that we “all” have been baptized in one Spirit into one body (1 Cor 12:13). The Pentecostal view divides the body into baptized and non-baptized believers (or “filled” and “unfilled” believers, as some call them). In some churches, the baptized believers are considered the spiritually mature, with tongues being their proof of maturity.

4. As mentioned, some have tried to distinguish between the baptism John and Christ predicted (Mk 1:8, Acts 1:4-5) and the baptism Paul described in 1 Corinthians 12:13. They would say John and Christ predicted the baptism in the Spirit, which happened at Pentecost and throughout the book of Acts, and Paul described the baptism into Christ’s body, which happens at salvation. In the first, Christ is the baptizer and the Spirit the sphere. In the second, the Spirit is the baptizer and Christ is the sphere.⁴ However, the baptisms John, Christ, and Paul described have an almost identical construction in the Greek.⁵ The only difference is Paul said, “one Spirit” instead of “the Holy Spirit.” Otherwise, all the other words are exactly the same.⁶ There is no need to create two baptisms—in the Spirit and in Christ. Some English Bible versions have translated 1 Corinthians 12:13 to say, “baptized by one Spirit” (e.g. NIV), which is often cited to create a second baptism for believers; however, it is best to translate it “with” or “in one Spirit.” Christ is the baptizer and the Spirit is the medium of the baptism. Paul is simply explaining the baptism that John and Christ predicted (Mk 1:8, Acts 1:4-5) happened in Acts 2, as God formed his church through the baptism in the Spirit.

With that said, even if the original authors meant to distinguish between Christ baptizing and the Spirit baptizing, it doesn’t necessarily mean they refer to a different baptism. It’s common in the New Testament for the persons of the Godhead to be described as doing the same work, since they are one. We are God’s temple, but we are also the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19). Likewise, Christ also dwells in us (Eph 3:17, Rev 3:20). God holds us in his hand to keep our salvation, and Christ does the same (John 10:28-29). Also, the Holy Spirit seals us, again keeping our salvation (Eph 4:30). God created the earth, but Christ did as well; and the Spirit was involved (Gen 1:1-2, John 1:3, Ps 104:30). They are all involved in the same work. Therefore, even if the original authors meant to distinguish between baptizers and the medium of the baptism (Christ and the Holy Spirit), it does not necessarily mean it refers to a different work. Most likely, they are the same, especially since they essentially have the same grammatical construction and describe identical or very similar activities.

5. If the Pentecostal view is correct—that believers need to seek a second baptism—wouldn’t there be one command in Scripture to seek the baptism of the Spirit? But there isn’t. Believers are called to be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18). However, the verb for “filled” is present tense. It’s a continual experience we must pursue of being empowered and controlled by God. It is compared to being drunk with wine because it is similar in that it is a temporary experience that must be attained and maintained. It is dissimilar in that drunkenness leads to sin but being filled with the Spirit leads to righteousness.

6. Finally, the fact that John the Baptist introduced Spirit baptism as representing salvation confirms it is not a secondary experience that only some believers achieve. In Matthew 3:11-12, after challenging the Pharisees and Sadducees to produce fruit worthy of repentance, John said:

I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am—I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.

John said Christ would baptize people with the “Holy Spirit and fire” (v. 12). Some say that “Holy Spirit” and “fire” both refer to the baptism in the Spirit. In support, they point to the initial Spirit baptism at Pentecost and how “tongues of fire” appeared above the disciples’ heads (Acts 2:3). However, John doesn’t seem to be referring to that, since the previous mention of “fire” in verse 10 referred to eternal judgment. He says, “Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” “Fire” also refers to eternal judgment in verse 13. In context, John is referring to two distinct baptisms. In verse 13, John explains both: the baptism with the Spirit represents salvation, as the wheat is gathered into the storehouse, and the baptism with fire represents eternal judgment, as the chaff is burned (cf. Matt 13:36-43). Essentially, as John called people to true repentance, he said, “The Messiah is coming! Are you ready? When he comes, you will either be baptized in the Spirit and thus saved, or you will be baptized in fire and thus judged!” This equates with how Paul handled the baptism in the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:13. After the baptism in the Spirit at Pentecost and the initial forming of the church, the baptism happens at salvation to all believers. It is when believers become part of the body of Christ, and Christ becomes their head.

Proper Terminology

For those who claim to have experienced a second work of the Spirit—resulting in transformation and power—it would be more biblical to use the term “filling of the Spirit” instead of “baptism in the Spirit.” Being filled with the Spirit refers to daily being empowered and controlled by the Spirit. It may, at times, result in special power and unique phenomena, especially in crisis situations. For instance, when the Spirit came upon Saul, he prophesied (1 Sam 10:10). When the Spirit came upon Samson, he struck down 1000 Philistines (Judg 15:14-16). In Acts 4:31, after corporate prayer, the disciples were “filled with the Spirit” and spoke “the word of God courageously.” In Acts 19:6, when the Spirit came upon John the Baptist’s disciples, after being prayed for by Paul, they spoke in tongues and prophesied. For those who have experienced a transforming, charismatic experience (or experiences) after salvation, it would be more biblical to use the term “filled with the Spirit” rather than “baptized in the Spirit.”

Reflection

What stood out most in the reading and why?
What is the baptism in the Spirit and the results of it for believers?
What is the difference between the two views of the baptism in the Spirit—the traditional and Pentecostal view?
Which view (traditional or Pentecostal) do you think is most biblical and why?
Have you ever experienced being “filled with the Spirit,” which resulted in greater power or some type of charismatic phenomena? If so, how did it happen, and what led to the experience?
What other questions or applications did you take from the reading?

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

¹ Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On: Experiencing What the Bible Says About... God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Angels, Salvation... . Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

² Ryrie, C. C. (1999). Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (pp. 419–420). Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

³ Aaron, Daryl. Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day: How can I know God? (Location 2271-2278). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

⁴ Ryrie, C. C. (1999). Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (p. 420). Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

⁵ Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 766). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

⁶ Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 767). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

Related Topics: Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

You are here

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

Preface

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

1. The Holy Spirit’s Personhood

Masculine Pronouns Used for the Holy Spirit

The Spirit’s Association with Jesus’ Work

The Spirit’s Association with Humanity

The Spirit’s Demonstration of Personality

Will

Intelligence

Emotion

The Spirit’s Moral Ministries

Application

Reflection

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

2. The Holy Spirit’s Deity

The Spirit Is Called God

The Interchangeability of the Names Holy Spirit and God

The Spirit’s Association of Equality with Jesus and God

The Spirit’s Divine Attributes

References of Relation to Jesus and God

Application

Reflection

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

Appendix 1: Study Group Tips

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

Appendix 2: Reflection Questions

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE

Appendix 3: Walking The Romans Road

Step One: We Must Accept That We Are Sinners

Step Two: We Must Understand We Are Under The Judgment Of God

Step Three: We Must Recognize God Has Invited All To Accept His Free Gift Of Salvation

Step Four: We Must Believe Jesus Christ Died For Our Sins And Rose From The Dead

Step Five: We Must Confess Christ As Lord Of Our Lives

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

3. The Holy Spirit’s Ministries, Part I - Inspiration, Illumination, Conviction, Intercession

Inspiration of Scripture

Illumination of Scripture

Anointing

Application

Conviction

Intercession

Reflection

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

4. The Holy Spirit’s Ministries, Part II - Indwelling

Indwelling

Old Testament & New Testament

1. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit’s dwelling is universal and not selective.

2. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit’s dwelling is eternal and not temporary.

Application

1. The Holy Spirit’s indwelling reminds us of God’s great love for us.

2. The Holy Spirit’s indwelling reminds us to be good hosts.

3. The Holy Spirit’s indwelling reminds us of our eternal security.

Reflection

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

5. The Holy Spirit’s Ministries, Part III - Sealing, Deposit, Restraining

Sealing

1. As a seal, the Holy Spirit represents authenticity—he proves that a believer’s salvation is genuine.

2. As a seal, the Holy Spirit represents God’s ownership.

As a seal, the Holy Spirit represents the security of a believer.

4. As a seal, the Holy Spirit represents authority.

Deposit

1. As a deposit, the Holy Spirit guarantees our future inheritance.

2. As a deposit, the Holy Spirit is a foretaste of our inheritance in heaven.

Restraining

Application

1. The Holy Spirit’s restraining ministry reminds us to not resist the Spirit when he convicts us of sin, because there are drastic consequences for resisting his warnings.

2. The Holy Spirit’s restraining ministry reminds us that God wants to use us, as believers, to restrain sin amongst our friends, family, church, and society.

Reflection

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE

From the series: The Bible Teacher’s Guide, Pneumatology: Knowing The Holy Spirit PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE