❤️🔥 The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is not created but eternal. He indwells believers, convicts the world of sin, and empowers God's Church.
"16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you."
— John 14:16-17
1. Work in Salvation and Sanctification
Convicts: The Spirit convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.
"8When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment."
— John 16:8
Regenerates: He gives new life or causes us to be “born again”.
"5Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”"
— John 3:5-8
"5He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."
— Titus 3:5
Indwells: The Spirit lives within believers, making them a temple.
"19Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own."
— 1 Corinthians 6:19
Baptises/Unites: He baptises believers into the body of Jesus.
"13For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."
— 1 Corinthians 12:13
Seals: He acts as a seal or guarantee of the believer’s final redemption.
"13And you also were included in Jesus when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory."
— Ephesians 1:13-14
Sanctifies: He sets believers apart, setting them against the flesh and producing fruit.
"16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
— Galatians 5:16-18
"2Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."
— 2 Peter 1:2
2. Work in Revelation and Truth
Guides into Truth: The Spirit teaches believers and guides them into all truth.
"13But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come."
— John 16:13
Reminds of Scripture: He brings to remembrance the words of Jesus.
"26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
— John 14:26
Reveals the Deep Things: He reveals the mind and thoughts of God.
"10These are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."
— 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
Inspired Scripture: The Spirit moved holy men to write the Bible.
"20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
— 2 Peter 1:20-21
3. Work in Empowering and Leading
Gives Gifts: The Spirit distributes spiritual gifts as He wills.
"4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines."
— 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Empowers for Witness: He provides power to testify about Jesus.
"8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”"
— Acts 1:8
"26“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—He will testify about me.”"
— John 15:26
Intercedes: He helps believers in their weakness and prays for them.
"26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."
— Romans 8:26-27
Directs Mission: He directs believers where to go and what to do.
"2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”"
— Acts 13:2
"6Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to."
— Acts 16:6-7
4. Attributes and Daily Life
Assures: The Spirit bears witness that we are children of God.
"16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children."
— Romans 8:16
Transforms: He creates the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, etc.
"22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
— Galatians 5:22-23
Comforts/Helps: He is the Counselor or Paraclete, walking alongside.
"16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
— John 14:16, 26
Recreates: He brings new life, often compared to wind.
"8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”"
— John 3:8