"THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD"

Summary: The Holy Spirit, Then And Now

INTRODUCTION
  1. In this study we have discussed various aspects of the Holy Spirit...
    1. Why such a study is important g. The gift of the Spirit
    2. The personality of the Spirit h. The indwelling of the Spirit
    3. The deity of the Spirit i. The leading of the Spirit
    4. The work of the Spirit j. The fruit of the Spirit
    5. The promise of the Spirit k. The gifts of the Spirit
    6. The baptism of the Spirit l. The sins against the Spirit
  2. The Holy Spirit is certainly a challenging subject of study...
    1. Which may explain the diversity of views that people have
    2. Which ought to encourage a sense of caution and humility
  3. Yet it is a much needed study, for many people...
    1. Claim the Holy Spirit leads them in this way or that way
    2. Base their faith upon what they believe the Spirit tells them
    -- But when such people come up with contradictory beliefs, something is wrong!
  4. Part of the difficulty may be a failure to distinguish between the work of the Spirit...
    1. His work that was temporary, unique to the beginning of the church
    2. His work that is age-lasting, continuing until Christ comes again

[In this final lesson, I wish to offer a summary with a focus on illustrating this distinction....]

  1. THE HOLY SPIRIT THEN
    1. THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT...
      1. Promised by God (via Joel) - Joel 2:28-29
      2. Promised by John the Baptist - Mt 3:11; Mk 1:8; Lk 3:16
      3. Promised by Jesus Himself - Ac 1:4-5
      -- The fulfillment of the promise occurs on Pentecost - Ac 2:1-22, 32-33
    2. THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT...
      1. As defined by John the Baptist - Mt 3:11-12
        1. To serve as a winnowing fan in the hand of the Lord
        2. Separating the wheat from the chaff, gathering the wheat into the barn
      2. As defined by Jesus to His apostles
        1. To guide them into all the truth - Jn 16:12-13
          1. By teaching them all things - Jn 14:26a
          2. By reminding them what Jesus told them - Jn 14:26b
          3. By bearing witness together with the apostles - Jn 15:26-27
          -- This the Spirit did through signs and wonders, confirming the Word - Mk 16:17-20; He 2:3-4
        2. To convict the world - Jn 16:7-11
          1. Of sin - Jn 16:9
          2. Of righteousness - Jn 16:10
          3. Of judgment - Jn 16:11
          -- This the Spirit did through the preaching of the gospel - e.g., Ac 24:24-25
    3. THE BLESSINGS OF THE SPIRIT...
      1. The gift of the Spirit
        1. Promised to all who obey - Ac 2:38; 5:32
        2. More on this and related blessings in the next section
      2. The gifts of the Spirit
        1. Miraculous manifestations of the Spirit - 1Co 12:1,4-11
        2. Imparted by the laying on of the apostles' hands - e.g., Ac 8:14-18; 19:1-7; Ro 1:11; 2Ti 1:6
        3. Enjoyed by some, but not all
          1. Not all could heal, speak in tongues - cf. 1Co 12:29-30
          2. Some were "ungifted" (NASB) - cf. 1Co 14:16,23
        4. For the benefit of all, not just the possessors of the gifts
          1. To reveal the truth - cf. 1Co 14:6
          2. To confirm the truth - cf. 1Co 14:22
        5. Temporary in their duration
          1. To cease when knowledge is complete - 1Co 13:8-12
          2. While faith, hope and love will remain - 1Co 13:13
      3. The anointing of the Spirit
        1. Spoken of by Paul in 2Co 1:21
        2. Also by John in 1Jn 2:20,27
          1. Enabling one to know all things
          2. Not needing to be taught by anyone
        3. Likely referring to those who possessed the gifts of the Spirit
        -- Many of these blessings were related to the process of revealing God's Word

      [The promise, work, and blessings of the Holy Spirit had an amazing and miraculous beginning. While some of this proved temporary, much appears to be age-lasting, continuing until Christ returns. Our focus now turns toward that which should be of special interest to us today...]

  2. THE HOLY SPIRIT NOW
    1. THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT...
      1. Promised by Jesus - Jn 7:37-39
        1. To all who believe in Him
        2. A special dispensation of the Spirit, unlike any before; therefore different from...
          1. The miraculous workings of the Spirit
          2. The normal influences through the Word
      2. Promised by Peter - Ac 2:38-39; 5:32
        1. To all who repent and are baptized
        2. To those who obey God
        -- This promise of the Spirit relates to His indwelling and the accompanying blessings (see below)
    2. THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT...
      1. To convict the world through the gospel
        1. To convict them of sin, righteousness and judgment - Jn 16:7-11
        2. Done through the gospel
          1. The instrument designed to produce faith - Ro 10:17; Co 1:5-6
          2. God's power to save - Ro 1:16-17; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 2:13; He 4:12; Jm 1:21
      2. To regenerate those who respond
        1. Saving them through the washing of regeneration (baptism) - Tit 3:4-6; Ac 22:16
        2. Causing them to be reborn, in conjunction with the Word - 1Pe 1:22-23
      3. To sanctify those who are saved
        1. A process begun when washed and justified - 1Co 6:11
        2. A process that continues with the aid of the Word - cf. Jn 17:17; Ac 20:32; 1Th 5:23; 2Ti 2:21
        -- This work of the Spirit is age-lasting, accomplished with the aid of blessings involving the Spirit (see next)
    3. THE BLESSINGS OF THE SPIRIT...
      1. The gift of the Spirit - Ac 2:38-39; 5:32
        1. Indwelling the Christian - Ro 8:9-11; 1Co 6:19
          1. Enabling us to overcome the flesh - Ro 8:12-13
          2. Strengthening us in the inner man - Ep 3:16,20; Php 2:12-13; 4:13
          3. Interceding in our behalf - Ro 8:26-27
        2. Serving as a seal and an earnest
          1. A seal marking us as belonging to God - Ep 1:13; 4:30; 2Co 1:22
          2. An earnest or guarantee as a promise of our inheritance - Ep 1:14; 2Co 1:22
      2. The fruit of the Spirit in our lives
        1. Leading those who walk in the Spirit - Ga 5:16-18; Ro 8:5-6
        2. Producing the graces of Christ-like conduct - Ga 5:22-26
        3. Engendering a deepening love for God as our Father- Ga 4:6; Ro 8:15-16
        4. Filling us with hope - Ro 15:13
        -- These blessings the Spirit provides both internally (via His indwelling) and externally (via the Word of God)
CONCLUSION
  1. The Spirit's promise, work, and blessings at the beginning of the Christian age...
    1. Included the necessary process of revealing and confirming God's Word
    2. Was accomplished by special offices (apostles, prophets) and gifts (signs, wonders)
    -- Once the Word was fully revealed, the miraculous manifestations came to an end
  2. Yet the Spirit's promise, work, and blessings throughout the Christian age...
    1. Includes the important process of convicting, regenerating, and sanctifying souls
    2. Is accomplished by preaching the gospel, and the gift of the Spirit given to those who obey
    -- While not a miraculous manifestation, it is a Divine operation nonetheless
  3. Many challenge the notion that miraculous manifestations of the Spirit ceased when the Word was completely revealed and confirmed...
    1. But the burden of proof rests upon those who affirm that such gifts continue
    2. All they need to do is to demonstrate that they do indeed possess the gifts
    3. For such was the purpose of the gifts, to convince unbelievers! - cf. 1Co 14:22
    -- When many Bible-believing disciples are not convinced such claims are real, what does that say about the validity of such "signs"?
  4. But in reacting to many false claims about the Holy Spirit, we must be careful not to...
    1. Quench the Spirit by denying His work in our salvation
    2. Grieve the Spirit by failing to seek His aid in living holy lives
    -- If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit! - cf. Ga 5:25

We close our study with these two benedictions by the apostle Paul:

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Ro 15:13
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit [be] with you all. Amen." - 2Co 13:14