God The Holy Spirit, The Revealer of and Restorer to the Plan

1. God The Holy Spirit,The Revealer of and Restorer to the Plan His Advent

2. The Holy Spirit’s Advent In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit was in the world as the omnipresent God; yet He is said to come into the world on the day of Pentecost. During the present age He is said to remain in the world but will depart out of the world – in the same sense as He came on the day of Pentecost – when the rapture of the church occurs.

3. The Holy Spirit’s Advent The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament • Throughout the extended period before the first coming of Christ, the Spirit was present in the world in the same sense in which He is present everywhere, and He worked in and through the people of God according to His divine will. Exodus 31:3 Genesis 41: 38 Exodus 35:31 Job 33:4 Numbers 27:18 Psalm 139:7 Haggai 2:4-5 Zechariah 4:6

4. The Holy Spirit’s Advent The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament • In the Old Testament the Spirit of God is seen to have a relationship to the creation of the world. • He had a part in the revelation of divine truth to the saints and prophets. • He inspired the Scriptures which were written, and had a ministry to the world in general in restraining sin, in enabling believers for service, and in performing miracles.

5. The Holy Spirit’s Advent The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament • All these activities indicate that the Spirit was very active in the Old Testament. • There is no evidence in the Old Testament that the Holy Spirit indwelt every believer. John 14:17 • Likewise there is no mention of the sealing work of the Spirit or of the baptism of the Holy Spirit prior to the day of Pentecost.

6. The Holy Spirit’s Advent The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament The Holy Spirit During the Life of Christ on Earth

7. The Holy Spirit’s Advent The Holy Spirit During the Life of Christ on Earth • In relation to Christ, • The Spirit was the generating power by which the God-man was formed in the virgin’s womb. • The Spirit is also seen descending, in the form of a dove, upon Christ as the time of His baptism. • It is revealed that it was only through the eternal Spirit that Christ offered Himself to God. Hebrews 9:14

8. The Holy Spirit’s Advent The Holy Spirit During the Life of Christ on Earth • In relation to Christ, • The relation of the Spirit to men during the earthly ministry of Christ was progressive. • Christ first gave assurance to His disciples that they might receive the Spirit by asking. Luke 11:13 • At the close of His ministry and just before His death, Christ said in John 14:16-17

9. The Holy Spirit’s Advent The Holy Spirit During the Life of Christ on Earth • In relation to Christ, • The relation of the Spirit to men during the earthly ministry of Christ was progressive. • Likewise, after His resurrection the Lord breathed on them and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” John 20:22

10. The Holy Spirit’s Advent The Holy Spirit During the Life of Christ on Earth • In relation to Christ, • The relation of the Spirit to men during the earthly ministry of Christ was progressive. • However, in spite of this temporary gift of the Spirit they were to tarry in Jerusalem until they should be indwelt with power permanently from on high. Luke 24:49 Acts 1:4

11. The Holy Spirit’s Advent The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament The Holy Spirit During the Life of Christ on Earth The Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

12. The Holy Spirit’s Advent The Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost • As promised by the Father, and by the Son • The force of this seeming repetition of ideas is seen when it is understood that His coming on the day of Pentecost was that He might make His abode in the world. John 14:16-17 John 14:26 John 16:7

13. The Holy Spirit’s Advent The Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost • God the Father, though omnipresent, as to His abode resides in heaven Ephesians 4:6 Matthew 6:9 • Likewise God the Son, though omnipresent, Matthew 18:20 Colossians 1:27 • as to His abode now, is seated at the right hand of God Hebrews 1:3 Hebrews 10:12

14. The Holy Spirit’s Advent The Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost • In like manner the Spirit, though omnipresent, is now, as to His abode, tabernacling (dwelling) here on the earth. • His dwelling place was changed from heaven to earth. • It was for this coming of the Spirit into the world that the disciples were told to wait. • The new ministry of this age of grace could not begin apart from the coming of the Spirit.

15. The Holy Spirit’s Advent • The Spirit of God first of all has a ministry to the world as indicated in John 16:7-11 • Here He is revealed as convicting the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. • This work which prepares an individual to accept Christ intelligently is a special work of the Spirit, a work of grace, which enlightens the Satan-blinded mind of unbelieving men, in respect to three great doctrines.

16. The Holy Spirit’s Advent 1. The unbeliever is made to understand that the sin of unbelief in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior is the one sin that stands between him and salvation. • It is not a question of his worthiness, his feelings, or any other factor. • The sin of unbelief is the sin which prevents his salvation John 3:18

17. The Holy Spirit’s Advent 2. The unbeliever is informed concerning the righteousness of God. • While on earth Christ was the living illustration of the righteousness of God; upon His departure the Spirit is sent to reveal the righteousness of God to the world. • This includes the fact that God is a righteous God who demands much more than any man can do himself. This eliminates any possibility of human works being the basis for salvation.

18. The Holy Spirit’s Advent 2. The unbeliever is informed concerning the righteousness of God. • The Spirit of God reveals that there is a righteousness available by faith in Christ and that when one believes in Jesus Christ he can be declared righteous, justified by faith, and accepted by his faith in Christ, who is righteous both in His person and in His work on the cross. Romans 4:5 Romans 1:16-17 Romans 3:22

19. The Holy Spirit’s Advent 3. The fact is revealed that the prince of this world, that is, Satan himself, has been judged at the cross and is doomed to eternal punishment. • This reveals the fact that the work on the cross is finished, • that judgment has taken place, • that Satan has been defeated, • and that salvation is available to those who put their trust in Christ.

20. The Holy Spirit’s Advent • The Holy Spirit is said to regenerate every believer • The Holy Spirit indwells every believer John 3:3-7 John 3:35-36 John 7:37-39 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Romans 5:5 Romans 8:9-11 Acts 11:15-17

21. The Holy Spirit’s Advent • The Holy Spirit is our seal unto the day of redemption Ephesians 4:30 • Further, every child of God is baptized into the body of Christ by the Spirit 1 Corinthians 12:13

22. The Holy Spirit’s Advent • In addition to these works that are related to the salvation of the believer, there is the possibility • of the filling by means of the Spirit • and of walking by the Spirit which opens the door to all the ministry of the Spirit to the believer in the present age. • These great works of the Spirit are the key not only to salvation but to effective Christian living in the present age.

23. The Holy Spirit’s Advent • When the purpose of God in this age is brought to completion by the rapture of the church, the Holy Spirit will have accomplished the purpose of His special advent into the world and will depart from the world in the same sense that He came on the day of Pentecost. • Unlike Christ, however, the Holy Spirit will continue to be omnipresent and will continue a work after the rapture similar to that which was true before the day of Pentecost.

24. The Holy Spirit’s Advent • The present age is, accordingly, in many respects, the age of the Spirit, an age in which the Spirit of God is working in a special way to call out a company of believers from both Jew and Gentile to form the body of Christ. • The Holy Spirit will continue to work after the rapture, as He also will in the kingdom age - which will have its own special characteristics and probably will include all the ministries of the Holy Spirit in the present age except that of the baptism of the Spirit.

25. 1. In what sense was the Holy Spirit in the world before Pentecost? In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit was in the world as the omnipresent God; yet He is said to come into the world on the day of Pentecost. 2. What important works of the Holy Spirit are found in the Old Testament? In the Old Testament the Spirit of God is seen to have a relationship to the creation of the world. He had a part in the revelation of divine truth to the saints and prophets. He inspired the Scriptures which were written, and had a ministry to the world in general in restraining sin, in enabling believers for service, and in performing miracles.

26. 3. Distinguish the meaning of the Holy Spirit being “with” the Old Testament saints in contrast to the present age, when the Holy Spirit is “in” them. The Holy Spirit being “with” the Old Testament and Gospel saints refers to them being near someone whom the Holy Spirit had empowered. When Christ spoke in John 14:7 that they knew the Holy Spirit because he abides with them, He meant that since Christ was indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit, they experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit when they were with Christ. However, as he told them, one day the Holy Spirit would be in them. Of course, that day came on Pentecost 30 A.D., and continues till today.

27. 4. How is the Holy Spirit related to the conception and birth of Christ? The Spirit was the generating power by which the God-man was formed in the virgin’s womb. 5. What ministry did the Holy Spirit have in the period of the gospels? The Holy Spirit primary ministry during the time of Christ was the minister in and through Christ. Though the Spirit had previously come upon men according to the sovereign will of God, His presence in the human heart had never before been conditioned upon asking, and this new privilege was never claimed at that time by any one, as far as the record goes.

28. 6. Why did the disciples have to wait until Pentecost for the coming of the Spirit even though the Lord had breathed on them (John 20:22)? The Father could not send the Holy Spirit until Jesus Christ retuned to heaven as John states in John 7:39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet {given}, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (NASB) Christ also told them that the Holy Spirit could not come until after He departed from them. John 16:7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. (NASB)

29. 7. In what sense did the promise of Christ of giving another Comforter who would abide with the disciples forever promise a new ministry of the Spirit? The Holy Spirit would comfort them, He would help them, He would teach them, He would seal them, He would lead and guide them. 8. In what sense did the Holy Spirit come on the day of Pentecost, and how does this relate to His omnipresence? As the Omnipresent One, had always been in the world, but He came into the world on the day of Pentecost. His coming on the day of Pentecost was that He might make His abode in the world.

30. 9. What three doctrines are taught by the Spirit in convicting the world? 1. The unbeliever is made to understand that the sin of unbelief in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior is the one sin that stands between him and salvation. 2. The unbeliever is informed concerning the righteousness of God. 3. The fact is revealed that the prince of this world, that is, Satan himself, has been judged at the cross and is doomed to eternal punishment.

31. 10. In coming on the day of Pentecost, what important works of the Spirit are contemplated? • The Holy Spirit is said to regenerate every believer • The Holy Spirit indwells every believer • the Holy Spirit is our seal unto the day of redemption • every child of God is baptized into the body of Christ by the Spirit 11. Where is the home of the Father and the Son during the present age? God the Father resides in heaven “Our Father which art in heaven” God the Son is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

32. 12. Where is the home of the Holy Spirit during the present age? God the Holy Spirit now dwells in the human spirit of every born-again, Church Age believer. 13. What change in the ministry of the Spirit will take place at the time of the rapture? the Holy Spirit will have accomplished the purpose of His special advent into the world and will depart from the world in the same sense that He came on the day of Pentecost.

33. 14. Will the Holy Spirit continue to work in the earth after the rapture? Yes, the Holy Spirit will continue to be omnipresent and will continue a work after the rapture similar to that which was true before the day of Pentecost. 15. What may be expected of the ministry of the Spirit in the millennial kingdom? He also will in the kingdom age – which will have its own special characteristics and probably will include all the ministries of the Holy Spirit in the present age except that of the baptism of the Spirit.

34. 16. How important is the ministry of the Spirit to the present purpose of God? The coming of the Spirit should be regarded as an important event, essential to the work of God in the present age, even as the coming of Christ is essential to salvation and God’s ultimate purpose to provide salvation for the whole world and especially for those who will believe.