The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead and plays an important and essential part in God’s plan of redemption for mankind. Having this essential part to play in our salvation, as well as other works that the Spirit does, perhaps it is fair to say that the Spirit is the least understood of all of the Godhead. As such, the Spirit is also the most misrepresented of all the Godhead. So this evening, in looking at what the Bible has to say about the Holy Spirit, we want to see if we can clear up some of those things and maybe answer some questions that you have had.
First, we want to look at the PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit is not an “it.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the Spirit referred to as “it,” as if He were an inanimate object of some sort. The Holy Spirit is a “Person,” a “Being,” just as God is a Person and a Being, and just as Jesus Christ is a Person and a Being. We will be seeing this in our study of this subject.
Perhaps some of the mystery about the Holy Spirit (and maybe some confusion about what the Holy Spirit is) is, in part, caused by the reference to the Holy Ghost in some translations, specifically the King James’ translation. As a matter of fact, there is no difference between the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit. It is a matter of the use of the word on the part of the King James translators back in 1620. The word “ghost” at that time in the vocabulary of 17th century England had to do with the “mind,” the “center of the person.” However, in subsequent times, that word “ghost” has come to represent a “spook,” something that is not real. As a result, this may have lent itself to a misunderstanding in thinking that the Holy Spirit is, well, a being that can’t be described, and, therefore, is not a being at all and, therefore, is referred to as “it.” The thinking goes, “It’s indescribable, so we’ll call it an ‘it.’”
We see by looking at references on the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament that they are a bit scarce! We don’t see many references in the Old Testament to the Holy Spirit. Psalm 51 and verse 11 is one example of where we DO see the Holy Spirit named in the Old Testament: “Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” This would be the lament of David in the long ago. Isaiah the Prophet will mention the Holy Spirit as well, in Isaiah 63, verses 10 and 11 [“But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; So He turned Himself against them as an enemy, And He fought against them. Then He remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: ‘Where is He Who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His flock? Where is He Who put His Holy Spirit within them.’”].
In the Old Testament, there are several references made to the “Spirit of God.” Some scholars would say that this is the Holy Spirit. Others would say that this is not speaking of the Holy Spirit, but, rather, this may be a reference to God Himself. But some references do mention the “Spirit of God.” Some examples are: Genesis 41:38 [“And Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?’”], Job 27:3 [“As long as my breath is in me, And the breath of God in my nostrils…”], and Ezekiel 11:24 [“Then the Spirit took me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to those in captivity. And the vision that I had seen went up from me.”]. [See also Job 33:4: “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”]
Now, a deficiency of reference to the Holy Spirit does not mean that the Holy Spirit did not have an important role to play, and was not active during the Old Testament period. Not at all!
In the New Testament there are obviously many, many more references to and about the Holy Spirit—the Person of the Holy Spirit. He is seen in the New Testament as a Personal Being, one that is distinct from the Father, distinct from the Son, one of the three Beings in the Godhead. The New Testament ascribes personality to the Holy Spirit. It speaks of Him as an INDIVIDUAL ENTITY. For example, turn over to Matthew 3, a familiar passage to us on the baptism of Jesus. We see here in Matthew 3, beginning with verse 16, “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.’”
Also, turn over to Matthew 28 and verse 19, another familiar text. We see another reference here indicating that the Spirit is a Personal Entity. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
And then look at John 15 and verse 26. Here Jesus will say, “But when the Helper comes,” and this is, of course, a reference we understand, a reference to the Holy Spirit: “But when the Helper comes Whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” Well, again, the Holy Spirit is a Personal Entity, according to the Doctrine of the Bible.
We also see that PERSONAL PRONOUNS are used regarding the Holy Spirit. In John, chapter 16, let’s look at two verses and notice, as we read through this, the use of the personal pronouns. John 16, beginning with verse 13, “However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all Truth; for He will not speak on His Own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” Nine times in those two verses, Jesus uses the personal pronoun “He” in regard to the Holy Spirit.
Then in Acts 13 and verse 2 [“As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’”], Luke quotes the Spirit Himself as He speaks and He [the Holy Spirit] will use the personal pronouns “I” and “Me” in referring to Himself.
Well, there are also some ATTRIBUTES OF PERSONALITY which are ascribed to the Spirit in the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 2 and verse 10 says, “He searches” [“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”]. Then 1 Corinthians 12, verse 11 says that He works and divides (distributes) [“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”].
Then we see that the RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SPIRIT AND MANKIND EMPHASIZE HIS PERSONALITY.
For example, He speaks to the apostles, John 16, and verse 13. We’ve just looked at that verse.
He participates in the new birth of Christians. Look at John, chapter 3 and verse 5. Here Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus: “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’” So the Spirit speaks to the apostles and He participates in the new birth when one becomes a Christian.
He is also a Comforter or Helper, as we see in John 14, verse 16 [“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.”].
Then in 1 Peter 1 and verse 2, we see that He sanctifies. The word “sanctify” means to “set apart.” When we become Christians—when we are obedient to God in obeying the Gospel—then we are “set apart.” How is that done? Who is it that does the setting apart? In 1 Peter 1 and verse 2, Peter writes, “…elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, [for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.”].
So we see there some relations, if you will, between the Spirit and mankind. And as we see those relations, we see more emphasis on, or more revealing of, the Personality of the Spirit.
Now, not to be misunderstood or misled about the Spirit, when we speak about His personality, that, of course, ascribes to Him human characteristics and traits. But let’s not be mistaken: The SPIRIT IS DEITY. We have already referenced many Scriptures that show that the Holy Spirit is Divine and is connected with the Father and the Son. We see that there are DIVINE ATTRIBUTES that are given to Him as well, like His Omniscience, 1 Corinthians 12, verse 11 [“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”]. “Omniscience” is what God has—that is, He knows all. Paul says the Spirit knows all, as well.
The Spirit is also an Eternal Being, Hebrews 9, verse 14 [“How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”]. Like God, He has no beginning—He has no end.
And then there are also some DIVINE WORKS that are attributed to the Spirit. For example, He was involved in creation, Genesis 1, verse 2 [“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”].
And He’s involved in salvation, John 3, verses 3, 5 and 8. [“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”… “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’”… “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”]. So salvation is a Divine work, and the Spirit, Who is Divine, is involved in that work.
The Holy Spirit is the THIRD MEMBER OF THE GODHEAD, the Trinity, as it is called sometimes. As we discussed last time when looking at the Bible Doctrines concerning Jesus, the Christ, we talked about His equality with God, yet there was a subordination involved. The same is true with the Spirit. There is an equality within the Godhead, yet there is also an element of being subordinate.
We see that the Spirit is sent or dispatched, if you will, by the Father and the Son, and He does Their bidding. He does Their work, in certain areas. Christ prayed to the Father to send the Holy Spirit as a Comforter, or as a Helper, John 14, verses 16 and 26 [“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever…But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”].
And when Christ returned to Heaven, He promised His followers that He would “send the Holy Spirit,” John 16, verses 7 and 8 [“Nevertheless I tell you the Truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”], and John 15, verse 26 [“But when the Helper comes, Whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”].
When the Holy Spirit speaks, He does not speak for Himself. Rather, He speaks for the Father and the Son, John 16, verses 13 through 15 [“However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all Truth; for He will not speak on His Own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”].
And on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, Acts 2, verse 33 [“Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.”], and Acts 11, verses 15 and 17 [“And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”].
And so we see that the Spirit has personal traits and we see those exhibited by His interaction with men. At the same time, He is also Divine. He has Divine qualities, like being omniscient, and like being eternal. He also has a Divine Work in which He is involved and in which He participates. Yes, the Holy Spirit is a wonderful Being for us to consider!
Let’s look now at the WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Since the Spirit is a personality, He can best be understood by looking at the works that He has done in the past, and also by the work He continues to do today. I think maybe the most important part of this study in helping us to understand the Spirit—who He is and what He does and how He works—is to look at what He does.
First, let’s look at His PAST WORKS. These are the things which He did in the past, but which He no longer does today.
Let’s look first at His part in creation. This is mentioned in Genesis 1, verse 2, that “The Spirit of God moved across the face of the deep.” [“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”] The Spirit was there, just as the Son was there, and participated in the creation. Job 33, verse 4 says that, “The Spirit of God made me and gave me breath.” [“The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”] So He had a part, a function, something He did before that He no longer does—a part in the creation.
Also He was responsible in carrying out the instruction of the Father in revealing the Holy Scriptures that make up the Old Testament. In 2 Peter 1, beginning with verse 19, we see Peter makes this statement: “And so we have the prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” And then in 1 Peter 1, we’ll look at verses 10 and 11: “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ Who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” And so the Holy Spirit had a part in revealing the Scriptures of the Old Testament.
He also had a part in the coming of the Lord—in the coming of Jesus Christ. What part did the Holy Spirit have in the coming of our Lord? Well here it is in Luke 1, verse 35: “And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One Who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’” Then over in John 1, verse 32, it tells us that the conception was the responsibility of the Holy Spirit [“And John bore witness, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.’”].
Also, something that the Spirit had done in times past was that He was promised as a Comforter to the apostles by Christ. John 14, verses 16 through 18 [“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”]; John 15:26 [“But when the Helper comes, Whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”]; other Scriptures to reference are: John 16:7-11 [“Nevertheless I tell you the Truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”]; Mark 13:11 [“But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”]; Luke 12:11-12 [“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”]
Then, there is another work that the Holy Spirit was involved in in the past, and that was the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There was first the promise of His coming and there are several places where we can turn. In Matthew, chapter 3 and verse 11, we see a reference there to the coming of the Holy Spirit. [“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”] Other Scripture references are: Mark 1:8 [“I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”]; Luke 3:16-17 [“John answered, saying to all, ‘I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, Whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.’”];John 1:32-33 [“And John bore witness, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He Who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “Upon Whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”’”]; Acts 1:7-8 [“And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His Own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’”]; Luke 24:49 [“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”]; Mark 9:1 [“And He said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.’”]
The fulfillment of the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit, however, was seen on the Day of Pentecost. If we look at Acts, chapter 2, beginning with verse 1, we see there the fulfillment, the actuality, the realizing of this promise: “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
And so there was the promise of the Holy Spirit, there was the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, but there is another occasion when the Holy Spirit came upon some people in a powerful way. We might call this coming the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and that came upon the Gentile nation as represented by Cornelius and his household. Acts, chapter 10, beginning with verse 44: “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the Word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.” And you can continue there through verse 47. [“For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, ‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’”]
We can see the connection there, but we can look also in Acts 11, beginning with verse 13. Peter travels back to Jerusalem and recounts what transpired with the household of Cornelius. He will make a connection here between the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the apostles on the Day of Pentecost, and the Holy Spirit coming with power upon Cornelius and his household. [“And he (Cornelius) told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you Words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”]
So both Jew and Gentile—“Gentile” representing all flesh—received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on these two occasions. After the time there in Acts, chapter 10, there is no mention in the rest of the Scriptures regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit ever occurring.
Another of the works of the Holy Spirit that He did in the past and does not do any longer concerns the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Those are listed in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, verses 1 through 12. We won’t take the time to go there, but the list includes the powers that the apostles had, powers even to raise from the dead. The characteristic of those powers of the apostles was that they were transferable to others ONLY by the laying on of hands by the apostles. When the apostles died, then the power, that special Holy Spirit power, if you will, died with them. Paul had said in 1 Corinthians 13, verses 8 through 10, when he talked about these things ceasing, that they would cease “when that which is perfect will come.” That is reference, of course, to the New Testament. [“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”]
One other thing that the Holy Spirit did in the past that He is no longer doing is the revealing of the New Testament Scriptures to the apostles and the other writers by inspiration. Perhaps the best reference that we have is 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” and that inspiration of God, of course, came through the Holy Spirit. [“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”]
We want to look now at the PRESENT WORKS of the Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit doing anything today? Had He done it all in the past and has nothing left to do? Well, the answer is an obvious “No!”
First, let’s go back to the promise that Jesus made to His apostles in John 14 and verse 26. He says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” So there is the promise that Jesus made: the Helper—the Holy Spirit—would come to the apostles. At least part of the work that the Holy Spirit would do for the apostles would be to remind them of all things—remind them of the things that Jesus had said.
And then we are reminded of what Peter has to say in 2 Peter 1, verse 21, where he talks about those men who were inspired of God and how that was accomplished. “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Well, we see the work of the Spirit here regarding holy men of God. He’s speaking of the prophets of old, but this is applicable to Peter, as well as to the other apostles, and the other writers of the New Testament.
Then we might look at passages such as 1 Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 13, as we are considering the role that the Holy Spirit has, the work that He does through the Word even today. Paul writes, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” So Paul is saying here that the things he is saying, the things he is writing (and he IS writing here to communicate with the church in Corinth) are of the Holy Spirit.
Now turn to Ephesians, chapter 3, beginning with verse 1: “For this reason I, Paul the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.”
And finally in this regard, a very familiar passage to us is 2 Timothy, chapter 3, verses 16 and 17. Here Paul, again referring to what is revealed, what he has written, and what the others have written as well, will say, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
“All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God…”And how was that done? It was done through the Holy Spirit. What has been written, what has been preserved for us here in the Bible, is a product of inspiration. That inspiration is of the Holy Spirit. God directed the Holy Spirit and He inspired these writers.
In thinking about the power, and influence, and the ability of the Word inspired of the Holy Spirit to convict, consider Acts, chapter 2, the Day of Pentecost. That promise that Christ had made for the coming of the Comforter, the coming of the Holy Spirit, in power has just come to pass. Peter and the apostles now have the full measure of the Holy Spirit. They are inspired of the Holy Spirit. What Peter speaks are not his own words, but the Words of God. So he stands there on the Day of Pentecost and he begins to preach the first Gospel sermon ever. He will quote Scripture. He will quote from the Old Testament the Prophet Joel. He will quote from the Psalms of David. He is building the case against those Jews who are present there on that occasion—that they had rejected the Messiah, that they had been party to the crucifixion of Jesus, to His death—quoting the Old Testament and those Messianic prophecies. And his words that he speaks are inspired as well. What is the result? Look at Acts 2, verse 37: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart,” the New King James’ translation says. The old King James’ translation says, “they were pricked in their heart.” “And they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what should we do?” Was the Holy Spirit at work there on this occasion? You bet He was! He used a combination of those things revealed before time, those things written by those holy men that Peter talked about in 2 Peter 1, verse 21 that we cited a moment ago, and his own inspired words. And the result was, there were at least 3,000 that were convicted on that day because of the work of the Holy Spirit, through the Words that were written and the Words that were spoken.
Does the same thing happen today? You bet! As the Holy Scripture is read, and studied, and preached, and the seed is planted (Jesus used the word “seed” to represent the Word), as that seed is scattered and as it falls into good and honest hearts, then it will take root and people will be convicted of their sins, will repent of their sins, will confess the Name of Jesus and they’ll be baptized.
Yes, the Holy Spirit of God is at work even today. This is work that the Holy Spirit continues to do. He had revealed the Word of God, the written Word, on the pages of both the Old Testament and the New Testament, but specifically on the pages of the New Testament He had revealed God’s Will, God’s commands, what one must do to be saved. And so it is His working through that written Word, that Word that was previously revealed, working through that Word to convert men and to instruct Christians in all things that pertain to life and Godliness—all things that pertain to the church, to Christian living, and so on. Thus, we have the Bible, both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the product of the Holy Spirit, to guide us today. We have the way of salvation; we have the pattern that God set up for the Church. And so in that way, the Holy Spirit is still operating—He is still functioning.
Now some would say, “Well, how is that? This document was written. It’s there. How is it that the Spirit continues to be active and working through that?” Well, in the same way, and this is a rather weak analogy when we’re talking about what the Holy Spirit was responsible for writing, but say, for example, our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, those documents not nearly as old as the Bible, but well over 200 years old, continue to guide, continue to govern us as a free people. And the words that were written by those men, well over 200 years ago, are still there and in a sense, in effect, those men are still speaking to us through those documents. We see references all the time to those who had a part in writing our Constitution—men like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, James Monroe, and so on. It is as if they are speaking to us over that space of 200—plus years. Their words come back to us. Those words are still just as alive today as they were when they were penned.
The same is true with the Word of God. It is active, it is functioning, it is sharper than any two-edged sword, the Hebrew writer says. [Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”] So, in effect, the writer of that is still involved with it.
A second area of the PRESENT WORKS that the Spirit is active in today is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Let’s first do a little background work. Let’s go to John 4, beginning with verse 13. I want us to see that this was a promise that was made by Jesus. The context here is Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman there at Jacob’s well. Verse 13, “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.’” Now you’re thinking, where’s the promise of the Holy Spirit there?
Let’s turn over to John, chapter 7, and begin looking in verse 37. Remember, Jesus was talking about that water—that water that would become an everlasting fountain. John 7, beginning with verse 37, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, Whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Well Jesus in this text promises the Holy Spirit.
Then over in Acts, chapter 2, verse 38, a passage we’re all familiar with, is the response that Peter gave when those who were convicted by the Words of the Holy Spirit asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” [verse 37]. His responses was, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission,” (or “forgiveness”) “of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
This promise is also stated in Acts, chapter 5, verse 32. “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit Whom God has given those who obey Him.”
Also, let’s go to Acts 19, and begin looking at verse 1. Paul at Ephesus: “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him Who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.”
Here are twelve men who had apparently been baptized by followers of John. We don’t know exactly when this was. Did this go all the way back to the time when John the Baptist was preparing the way for the Lord? Were these some disciples of his [John’s] whom had been recently baptized, who didn’t know about the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord? Well, we don’t know. But, what we do know is that these had not yet received the Holy Spirit—the gift of the Holy Spirit—which was promised by Peter in Acts 2, verse 38. And so Paul baptized these ones into the Name of the Lord Jesus. Now, the logical conclusion here is: now that they have been, if you will, “properly baptized,” or that they had been baptized with the right understanding, with the right knowledge, then they received the Holy Spirit.
As an addendum here, outside of the purview of our discussion of the Holy Spirit, but nonetheless one that I think is worthy of consideration, let’s ask the question: Does the nature of one’s baptism really matter? Does it really count what one knows or what one understands when they are baptized? Well, this text certainly says it really does matter, doesn’t it? The nature of one’s baptism is absolutely important! Just ask these twelve men at Ephesus who were baptized, but the result was that they had perhaps “only gotten wet,” and not much else. Yes, it does make a difference!
Also worth noting here is that the receipt of the Holy Spirit upon those who repent and confess and are baptized is different from the miraculous receipt of the Holy Spirit. We see here in this text that those were two different, separate actions. Some people want to run that together in this passage and say, “Well, look, once these were baptized, then they received the gift of the Holy Spirit and they began speaking in tongues!” No, that’s not what this text says at all. They were baptized, and the conclusion is that they did receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as those on the Day of Pentecost did, and just as those who, every time thereafter, were baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. But separate from that, the apostle Paul laid hands on these ones, and it was then that they received the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues. This particular point is illustrated not only here, but also in Acts, chapter 8, when Philip had gone to Samaria and had preached there. The text tells us that men and women were baptized. But it took a visit from two of the apostles, Peter and John, to come to Samaria and during their visit, they would lay hands on some that they selected there in Samaria. [Acts 8:14-17: “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”]
Continuing with our discussion of the Holy Spirit, we’ll look at a few more instances where it speaks about the Holy Spirit and His relationship with those who are believers. Romans, chapter 8, verse 9 says, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” Well, Paul is speaking here about the Holy Spirit dwelling in, and remember that he’s writing here to Christians in Rome.
Then in 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” And in 1 Corinthians, chapter 6, verse 19, Paul again writing to the Christians in Corinth says, “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?”
Well, YES, the Holy Scriptures clearly teach that not only was the Spirit promised by the Lord, not only was it promised again on the Day of Pentecost by Peter, but it is specifically spoken of in the Scriptures, in a very clear way, that the Spirit dwells in the Christian. I don’t think there is any denying that fact. It’s as plain as can be. There are many other passages that we can look at to verify that point. So that’s that! That clears it up! Everybody now knows that the Spirit dwells in you and there’s nothing else to learn on that subject!
Well, there are a few other things we can say. Does anyone want to discuss how the Spirit dwells in you? Does anyone have a good answer on that? It’s in the Scripture! Well, there is a lingering question, and that is how does the Spirit dwell in us? Is His indwelling a literal indwelling? Is it a personal indwelling? Is it a direct indwelling?
The Scriptures say clearly and distinctly that He does dwell, but the Scriptures are a little vague on exactly how that is done. And, thus, it is a subject that has been studied and debated for generations. I do not propose to have all of the answers, nor could we in this hour or the hours that remain in this day and tomorrow and probably into next week adequately cover and discuss every facet of this question.
Let me share with you what I think is a rather compelling set of facts from the Scriptures in favor of the Spirit’s indwelling being through the Word and the Word alone. Look in Galatians, chapter 3, verse 2. We see here that Paul is going to ask a rhetorical question of these Galatians, the members of the churches of Christ in the region of Galatia, as he writes to them. He says, “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” It’s apparent that Paul is asking a rhetorical question and is not expecting an answer. He knows the answer to the question. He’s asking it in this way to get them to think about the answer. The implication of this verse is this: He’s saying, in effect, that they did not receive the Holy Spirit by works of the law; rather they received the Holy Spirit by the hearing of faith. Now that phrase, “hearing of faith” literally means “by the message of faith.” In fact, there are several translations that translate it in that way—the message of faith. And in his writing, Paul frequently uses faith as a figure of speech referring to the Gospel. In the book of Galatians, Galatians 2:16 [“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”], Galatians 3:23 [“But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.”], and others Scriptures, he uses this term “faith” to represent the Gospel. Our understanding of that is that it involves the entire system of salvation. Thus, through the Christian system, and forgive me for using technical terminology like that, but through the Christian system, meaning the Gospel or the faith, the Spirit came to the Galatians. That’s how they received the Spirit, according to what Paul is inferring here in Galatians 3, verse 2.
But how was this system—the Gospel, the faith—made available to the Galatians? It was made available to them in the same way that it was made available to the Ephesians, and to the Romans, and to all the others to whom Paul wrote, to all the others to whom the Gospel was preached in the First Century, and as it’s available to us in the same way today. It is through preaching and studying of the Word! That is how the faith is made available. That’s what Paul says in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
So how is the faith received? It is received through the preaching, the presentation, the studying, and the deliberating upon the Word of God. It follows, therefore, that as the Galatians received the Word of Christ into their hearts, they were influenced by that Word, and they were thus led and influenced by the Holy Spirit Who gave them that Word. Remember, we said “the Word of God” and the Spirit guided those who spoke and wrote “the Word of God.” So in effect, it IS the Word of the Spirit.
Well, this is precisely the way Christ dwells in Christians today. In Ephesians 3, verse 17, Paul says, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” [verses 17-19: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”] As His Word enters the heart and influences the life of the Christian, Christ dwells there. Not “bodily,” not in a literal way, but in a representative way. In the same way, when the Holy Spirit is allowed to control the thoughts, to direct the life of a person who has been influenced by the Word of God, by the Word revealed by the Spirit, then the Spirit dwells there by means of the Word which motivates the life.
So, I am saying that, based upon what we have seen in this very brief exploration, the Holy Spirit dwells in Christians today through the Word He inspired. We can’t feel the Spirit; we can’t touch the Spirit. As a matter of fact, I read of one who made the observation, which I thought was quite good, that since we can’t feel the Spirit, and since we can’t see the Spirit or make a visual acquiring of the Spirit, and since we can’t touch the Spirit, how do we know about the Holy Spirit and His dwelling in us? Right here—in the Word of God! This is how we know Who He is, how we know about Him, how we know His work, how we KNOW that he dwells in us.
Let me make one more point, as we’re thinking about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to give us at least one reason why He indwells in the Christian. In Romans, chapter 8, beginning with verse 8, Paul says, “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.” Let me read it from another translation that I like. This is Dr. Hugo McCord’s translation beginning with verse 8: “Those who live according to the flesh cannot please God. You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed God’s Spirit is living in you. If anyone does not have Christ’s Spirit, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, the body is indeed dead to sin, and the Spirit is alive to righteousness. If the Spirit of the One Who raised Christ from the dead is living in you, then He Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who lives in you.”
Well, the Spirit is doing a lot of things as He indwells the Christian. But one of the things He does is to give life to our mortal bodies. This is not in this life, but in the life hereafter. How do we receive that glorified body? Where does that come from? Paul says it comes from the Spirit, because He dwells in you and me as Christians.
There is a third category of the PRESENT WORKS of the Spirit. Let’s look at four additional areas.
The love of God is poured out into our hearts through the Spirit, Romans 5, verse 5 [“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.”].
The Spirit assists us with our prayers, Romans 8, verse 26 and following [“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He Who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the Will of God.”].
The Spirit helps us keep what has been committed to us, 2 Timothy 1, verse 14 [“That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us.”].
And, we are to pray in the Spirit, Jude 1, verse 20 [“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”]
Well, that is our lesson on The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. We have not answered every question, nor covered every aspect, but I trust that you have seen what the Bible has to say about the Holy Spirit and you can use this information to study further on your own.