STUDY No. 9 - THE HOLY SPIRIT

A well-known hymn highlights the roles of the Holy Spirit in a Christian's life - as guide, comforter and source of victory:
Our blest Redeemer, ere He breathed His tender last farewell,
A Guide, a Comforter bequeathed. With us to dwell.

And every virtue we possess, And every victory won,
And every thought of holiness, Are His alone!

The Holy Spirit is called by various names in the Scriptures:
The Spirit, The Spirit of God, The Holy Ghost, My Spirit, The Comforter.

We see His work everywhere in the Scriptures. See Genesis 1:1,2. He is mentioned over 300 times in the New Testament.

1. THE NAMES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Names reveal character, purpose, authority.

Isaiah 61:1
What name is given Him here? What character does it imply? What purposes does it indicate?

Romans 8:9
What names are given here? What character is implied? [Notice how one name brings out the relationship of the believer to Christ. See also Acts 232,33] What purpose does it indicate?
 

John 14:16 
Spirit of TRUTH
Romans 8:12 
Spirit of LIFE 
Hebrews 10:29
Spirit of GRACE
1 Peter 4:14 
Spirit of GLORY

2. THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

It is important to grasp the fact that He is a person. not an influence.
 
  • John 14:26

    •         "One called alongside" -
            A very tender description of Him Who knows, Who cares, Who helps.
     
  • John 16:7, 8, 13, 14

    •        Notice the personal pronouns in these verses: "He", "Him", "Himself". He comes to men.
           Yet the Holy Spirit in Greek is "pneuma", a neuter noun.
           This is why it is correctly translated "it" in Romans 8:16.
     
  • Acts 10:19, 20

    •        Notice He speaks to men. See also Acts 13:2. He speaks, He thinks!
     
  • 1 Cor. 12:8, 9

    •        He designs, He wills and He distributes His gifts to men.

    3. THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

    If He is God, we should expect the attributes of God to be similar!:

    Heb. 9:14 -          Eternal.
                                He was moving in the very beginning. Genesis 1:2.

    1 Cor. 2:10, 11 - Omniscient.
                                He has exact knowledge of all things. Who can search out God's ways, but God?

    Luke 1:35 -         Omnipotent.
                                This is the very creative One of the universe!

    Psalm 139:7 -     Omnipresent.
                                It is impossible to escape His divine presence!

    The Holy Spirit is One with the Father and Son. He is associated with Them in the formulas of Baptism and Benediction. The Church has always regarded Him as divine.

    4. THE DIVINE WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

    Being the Person He is, He does the works that are attributed to Him:
     
    John 3:8
    		  He effects the work of regeneration.
    2 Thess. 2:13
    		  He effects the work of sanctification.
    2 Peter 1:21
    		  He effected the work of inspiration.
    Matt 24:35
    		  He effects the work of preservation.
    Rom. 8:11-17
    		  He will effect the work of our glorification.

    It is very sad that He Who is the Spirit of truth, life, grace and glory should so often have become the occasion of so much confusion and so many divisions in the history of the Christian Church.

    The sad truth is that denominations, local churches, Christian societies, missionary societies, Bible and theological colleges and families have all been influenced by extremism - whether "charismatic" or "non-charismatic".

    It is not our intention to "take sides" on these issues, but we believe we are pursuing a better way as we encourage all Christians to read the BIBLE every day and study it personally once a week.

    Someone has wisely observed:

    "If we have the Spirit only we could blow up.
    If we have the Word only we could dry up.
    But if we have both the Spirit and the Word, we will grow up in Christ."

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