Lesson 7 The Holy Spirit 1 Fundamental Facts

Lesson 7 The Holy Spirit 1

Fundamental Facts 1 ¢ The Holy Spirit is a Person l John 16: 13 -14 (Note the number of times the personal pronoun “he” appears in the text 2

John 16: 13 -14 “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. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. ” 3

Fundamental Facts 1 ¢ The Holy Spirit is a Person l l l John 16: 13 -14 (Note the number of times the personal pronoun “he” appears in the text The Holy Spirit can be lied to (Acts 5: 4); grieved (Eph. 4: 7); resisted (Acts 7: 51) The Holy Spirit can forbid (Acts 16: 6); speak (1 Tim. 4: 1); search (1 Cor. 2: 10; and judge (Acts 15: 20) 4

Fundamental Facts 2 ¢ The Holy Spirit is God l l l When we talk about the Holy Spirit, we are talking about a Divine Being, one of three Persons that make up God. One passage sufficient to prove that the Holy Spirit is God Acts 5: 1 -4 5

Acts 5: 1 -4 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. ” 6

Fundamental Facts 3 ¢ The Bible is the Product of the Spirit’s Work l l l John 16: 12 -15 2 Peter 1: 19 -21 2 Timothy 3: 16 -17 7

John 16: 12 -15 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 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. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. ” 8

2 Peter 1: 19 -21 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; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 9

2 Timothy 3: 16 -17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 10

Fundamental Facts 4 ¢ The Holy Spirit does not Contradict Himself l l Many of the claims today of miraculous gifts, baptisms of the Spirit, tongue speaking directly contradict the testimony of the Spirit about Himself Many who claim direct knowledge from the Spirit teach doctrines that contradict the revelation of the Spirit 11

The Gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 38) 1 ¢ Grammar alone cannot settle the question, what is the Gift of the Holy Spirit l l l Is the gift a gift that is given by the Holy Spirit? (Perhaps, the gift of blessings and Salvation) Is the gift the giving of the Holy Spirit Himself? John 4: 10; Ephesians 4: 7 12

John 4: 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink, ’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. ” Construct is identical. Obviously, God Himself is not the gift. 13

Ephesians 4: 7 (KJV) But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Construct is identical. Obviously, Christ Himself is not the gift. In fact, the NKJV renders it “according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ” 14

The Gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 38) 2 Immediate and remote context indicates the reference is to the gift of blessings and Salvation l l Care needed here not to be dogmatic Quote by Foy E. Wallace, Jr. 15

The Gift of the Holy Spirit The Mission and Medium of the Holy Spirit Thus in the meaning of these passages, the dorea (gift) of God, and the dorea (gift) of Christ, and the dorea (gift) of the Holy Spirit, are all used in the special sense – specifying that God and Christ and the Holy Spirit are doing. The dorea of God in John 4: 10 was that which proceeded from God, the living water; the dorea of Christ was that which proceeded form Christ – the measure of grace to each several member in the distribution of the spiritual endowments. On precisely the same premise the dorea of the Holy Spirit was that which proceeded from the Holy Spirit – the salvation and blessing of the all-inclusive promise mentioned without even a break in the context. (Foy E. Wallace, Jr. Page 40) 16

The Gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 38) 3 Potential consequences of the position that the Holy Spirit is Himself given as a gift l l l Confusion regarding the nature of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling Confusion regarding the agency through which the Holy Spirit accomplishes His work A weakened argument when dealing with Pentecostal error (Understand that most press the above position in order to sustain their unscriptural assertions regarding the miraculous indwelling of the Spirit) 17

The Baptism of the Spirit (cf. Acts 8: 5 -16) 1 ¢ Not for the purpose of Salvation l l Individuals in the city of Samaria obeyed the gospel, and yet did not “receive the Spirit. ” He had “fallen upon none of them. ” They received a measure of the Spirit only when the Apostles (Peter and John) laid hands on them Note: This measure not the same as the “Baptism” of the Holy Spirit 18

The Baptism of the Spirit (Acts 2: 1 -4) 2 ¢ The Baptism of the Apostles l l Signified the establishment of the Kingdom of God (cf. Mark 9: 1; Acts 1: 8) Provided for them the truth needed to convert the world (cf. John 14: 16 -26) 19

John 14: 16 -17, 26 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17 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. ” 16 “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. ” 26 20

The Baptism of the Spirit (Acts 2: 1 -4) 2 ¢ The Baptism of the Apostles l l l Signified the establishment of the Kingdom of God (cf. Mark 9: 1; Acts 1: 8) Provided for them the truth needed to convert the world (cf. John 14: 16 -26) The product of the Apostles’ teaching continues to instruct men – the Holy Scriptures (cf. 2 Timothy 3: 16 -17) 21

The Baptism of the Spirit (Acts 10, 11) 3 ¢ Cornelius and His Household l l l Their experience was not common (cf. Acts 11: 15). It had happened only once before Jews had to be convinced that the Gentiles were to be given access to the grace extended by God. The immersion in the Spirit was proof Acts 11: 18 22

Acts 11: 18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life. ” 23

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit In the absence of the completed written revelation, the gifts of the Spirit were given to instruct Christians in the first century (1 Corinthians 14: 1 -6) These were provisional gifts, to be taken away at the completion of revelation (1 Corinthians 13: 8 -10) 24

1 Corinthians 14: 6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 25

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit In the absence of the completed written revelation, the gifts of the Spirit were given to instruct Christians in the first century (1 Corinthians 14: 1 -6) These were provisional gifts, to be taken away at the completion of revelation (1 Corinthians 13: 8 -10) 26

1 Corinthians 13: 8 -10 Love never fails. But whethere are prophecies, they will fail; whethere are tongues, they will cease; whethere is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 27

The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit ¢ The Holy Spirit works through the medium of the word. (cf. Mark 12: 36; Acts 7: 51 -53) 28

Mark 12: 36 “For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool. ”’” According to Jesus, David said by the Holy Spirit… but, the quote references the text of Scripture (Psalm 110: 1) 29

Acts 7: 51 -53 “You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it. ” Holy Spirit resisted by resisting Prophets 30

The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit ¢ ¢ The Holy Spirit works through the medium of the word. (cf. Mark 12: 36; Acts 7: 51 -53) The Bible affirms the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. But, the phrase is indicative of relationship rather than a bodily indwelling (cf. Romans 8: 9; 1 John 4: 15) 31

Romans 8: 9 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. Note: If the Spirit dwells bodily in the Christian, the same language suggests the Christian dwells bodily in the Spirit! 32

1 John 4: 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. Those who advocate a bodily indwelling of the Spirit do not claim the same for the Father, though the language is parallel. 33

The Indwelling of the Spirit The Mission and Medium of the Holy Spirit That the Spirit of God enlightens and converts sinners; comforts and strengthens saints; that love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, fidelity, self-control, are all the fruit of the Spirit, we learn not from inner consciousness, but from the Word of God. The modus operandi – the mode, the medium, the how – is the Word of God. “The Spirit of God is ever present with his truth, operating in it, and through it, and by it, ” said Alexander Campbell in the debate with Rice. This statement is incontrovertible and unassailable and covers the whole issue… (Foy E. Wallace, Jr. Page 7) 34

The Indwelling of the Spirit The Mission and Medium of the Holy Spirit (continued), …Independent of the Word we could never know “whethere be any Holy Spirit” [cf. Acts 19: 2]. All the knowledge of God, Christ, salvation and spiritual influence comes only from the Word of God. Apart from the inspiration of the apostles and prophets it is impossible for spirit to communicate with spirit except through words. God and Christ never personally occupied anyone; and for the same reason the Holy Spirit does not personally occupy anyone. (Foy E. Wallace, Jr. Page 7) 35