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Introduction to the Holy Spirit Lesson #1 In a Series On The Holy Spirit Introduction:
Some times in our study of the Bible we study one thing and neglect another. In
earlier times a lot of emphasis was give to God, then later on Christ. One area
that we as Christians may not study much is that of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps for
this reason there is a lot of confusion on the Holy Spirit and what He does.
Faith healers claim to perform miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit; new
revelation is taught due to the influence of the Holy Spirit. This begs the
question of who is the Holy Spirit, what did He do in the first century and what
does He do today? What we know about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit is
revealed in the Bible. I)
A)
Our feelings or emotions 1.
A lot of things are done without any Bible authority because somebody had a
feeling. 2.
What others say about the Holy Spirit
a. I John 4.1 many false teachers and false doctrines are credited to the
Holy Spirit.
b. The Holy Spirit is not to be used as a wild card to circumvent the ble.
II)
Common Problems A)
Misunderstanding the nature of the Holy Spirit (What the Holy Spirit is) B)
Misunderstanding His work (What the Holy Spirit does) C)
People going beyond what is revealed about the Holy Spirit, Deut. 29.29 D)
The word “Ghost” – same as word is translated breathed, breath of air,
life, soul, and spirit. 1.
In the King James the word “Ghost” is used but it had a different
connotation then it does today. 2.
Originally it meant soul or spirit; only later did it come to mean disembodied
soul or spirit of the dead. III)
Divine Nature (Godhead or Godhood) A)
The word “hood” means the qualities. In this case the qualities that makes
one God. 1.
Romans 1.20 “Godhead” NKJV;
“divine nature” NASU; “divinity” ASV & NIV
a. All of the attributes, the whole of what God is. 2.
Acts 17.29 “divine being” NIV;
“Divine nature” NKJV; “Godhead” KJV
a. The contrast between God and that which was made by man. 3.
Colossians 2.9 – in Christ is seen
all the attributes of deity. B)
The Holy Spirit and the attributes of deity 1.
He is eternal – Hebrews 9.14; Genesis
1.1 2.
He is Omnipresence – everywhere, speaking of His influence,
Psalm 139.7-10 3.
He is Omniscience – all knowing, 1
Corinthians 2.10-11 4.
He is Omnipotent – all powerful, Psalm
104.30 IV)
The Holy Spirit is Part of the Godhead A)
God is plural in Genesis 1.1, 26 1.
When we speak of God we sometimes speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 2.
We can also speak of each individually as “God”
a. See each mentioned in Matthew
28.19.
b. Mentioned again in 2
Corinthians 13.14. 3.
Some mistakenly teach that God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit
are different terms referring to the same individual. Some times called the
“Oneness”
a. We see they are not three terms referring to the same “person” but
three persons.
b. See: Matthew 3.16-17 in which Jesus was baptized, the Spirit of God
descended in the form of a dove, and the Father spoke from
heaven. 4.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not 3 God’s. They possess the same
attributes. What can be said for one can be said for the other. B)
Chart – the Holy Spirit is not. 1.
The Father, or Son, but His own person 2.
The Holy Spirit is not the Bible, the Word, or some kind of influence, or an
“it” V)
The Holy Spirit is a Person (Personal Pronoun “He” is Used) A)
Personality – the sum of the qualities that makes a person a person. 1.
Not a mere thing but a living being. B)
John 14.26; 15.26; 16.13-14 1.
Nine times Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit with a personal pronoun, masculine in
gender, and singular in number. C)
Attributes that only a person possesses 1.
The Holy Spirit speaks intelligently to intelligent creatures, 1 Timothy 4.1 2.
The Holy Spirit bear witness, John 15.26 3.
The Holy Spirit makes intercession, Romans
8.26 4.
The Holy Spirit wills and has volition, 1
Corinthians 12.11 5.
He hears, John 16.13 6.
He acts, reproves, or convicts, John 16.
7-11 7.
Possesses emotions in being grieved,
Ephesians 4.30 8.
Can be lied to, Acts 5.3 VI)
Names of the Holy Spirit A)
Holy Spirit, Matthew 28.19 B)
The Spirit, Ephesians 6.17 C)
Spirit of God, Romans 8.14 D)
Spirit of the Lord, Acts 5.9 E)
Spirit of Truth, John 16.13 F)
My Spirit, Acts 2.17 Conclusion:
What we know about the Holy Spirit is revealed in the Bible. The Spirit came to
reveal all truth, Jude 3. He is in
unity with the Father and the Son. |