A Summary of the Holy Spirit Then and Now Pt 2

1. A Summary of the Holy Spirit Then and Now Pt 2 Great Assistance from Mark Copeland’s Executable Outline “The Holy Spirit of god Summary: The Holy Spirit Then and Now

2. Introduction • Last week we took a summary look at what the temporary work of the Holy Spirit was • This week we will take a look at the continuous work of the Spirit in our lives today until Christ takes us home

3. The Promise of the Holy Spirit • As promised by Jesus (Jn 7:37-39) • To all who believe in Him • A special dispensation of the Spirit, unlike any before; therefore it was to be different from; • The miraculous workings of the Spirit • The normal influences through the Word

4. The Promise of the Holy Spirit • As promised by Peter (Acts 2:38-39; 5:32) • To all those who repent and are baptized • To all those who obey God • This promise of the Spirit relates to his indwelling and the accompanying blessings • “And ye shall receive ... - The gift of the Holy Spirit here does not mean his extraordinary gifts, or the power of working miracles, but it simply means, you shall partake of the influences of the Holy Spirit "as far as they may be adapted to your case" - as far as may be needful for your comfort, peace, and sanctification. There is no evidence that they were all endowed with the power of working miracles, nor does the connection of the passage require us thus to understand it…There is peace, calmness, joy; there is evidence of piety, and that evidence is the product of the influences of the Spirit. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace," etc., Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:24. (Barnes’ Notes) • “5:32 Given to them that obey Him. The Holy Spirit is given only to those who have submitted to the Lord (Ac 2:28 Joh 7:38,39). It dwells only in the obedient heart.” (People’s New Testament)

5. The Work of the Spirit • To convict the world through the gospel • Of sin, righteousness and judgment (Jn 16:7-11) • Done through the gospel • The instrument designed to produce faith (Rom 10:17; Col 1:5-6) • “And bringeth forth fruit - Wherever the pure Gospel of Christ is preached, it is the seed of the kingdom, and must be fruitful in all those who receive it by faith, in simplicity of heart.” (Clarke) • “Bringeth forth fruit. It always bears fruit in holy lives wherever received. (People’s New testament)

6. The Work of the Spirit • God’s power to save (Rom 1:16-17; Heb 4:12) • “And powerful - Mighty. Its power is seen in awakening the conscience; alarming the fears; laying bare the secret feelings of the heart, and causing the sinner to tremble with the apprehension of the coming judgment. All the great changes in the moral world for the better, have been caused by the power of truth.” (Barnes’ Notes) • “quick—Greek, "living"; having living power, as "the rod of the mouth and the breath of the lips" of "the living God…"powerful—Greek, "energetic"; not only living, but energetically efficacious.” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)

7. The Work of the Spirit • To regenerate those who respond • Saving them through the washing of regeneration (baptism) (Tit 3:4-6; Jn 3:3-6) • “The word in itself would naturally be understood as referring to baptism (compare notes at Acts 22:16), which was regarded as the emblem of washing away sins, or of cleansing from them. I say it was the emblem, not the means of purifying the soul from sin. If this be the allusion, and it seems probable, then the phrase "washing of regeneration" would mean "that outward washing or baptism which is the emblem of regeneration," and which is appointed as one of the ordinances connected with salvation; see the notes at Mark 16:16, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Barnes’) • “By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Two elements enter into the saving; these are referred to in John as the birth of water and of the Spirit (Joh 3:5). God's spirit effects the renewal of the spirit of man by bringing him to faith and repentance through the preaching of the gospel; thus the renewal of the Holy Spirit is begun, and the gift of the Holy Spirit is promised as a sequence of baptism (Ro 6:1-8) shows that the sinner dies to sin, is buried by baptism, rises to a new life, and is a new creature. Washing to regeneration is literally, bath of regeneration. All commentators of reputation refer this to baptism, such as Meyer, Olshausen, Lange, Plumptree, Schaff, Canon Cook, Wesley, etc. Regeneration is due to the Holy Spirit, but baptism is an outward act that God requires to complete the fact. The term regeneration only occurs here and Mt 19:28.” (People’s New Testament)

8. The Work of the Spirit • Causing them to be reborn, in conjunction with the Word of God (1 Pet 1:22-23) • To sanctify those who are saved • A process started when washed and justified (1 Cor 6:11) • But ye are justified - Your sins are pardoned, and you are accepted as righteous, and will be treated as such on account of the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ; see the note at Romans 1:17; note at Romans 3:25-26; note at Romans 4:3. The apostle does not say that this was last in the order of time, but simply says that this was done to them. People are justified when they believe, and when the work of sanctification commences in the soul.” (Barnes’ Notes) • “Ye are justified - Εδικαιωθητε· Ye have been brought into a state of favor with God; your sins having been blotted out through Christ Jesus, the Spirit of God witnessing the same to your conscience, and carrying on by his energy the great work of regeneration in your hearts.” (Clarke)

9. The Work of the Spirit • A process that continues with the aid of the Word (Acts 20:32) • “And to the word of his grace - That is, to his gracious word; to his merciful promise. Paul refers, doubtless, to the gospel, including its promises of support, its consoling truths, and its directions to seek all needful help and comfort in God.” (Barnes” Notes) • “And to the word of his grace. The word will be a guide in all their difficulties and is able to build them up and give them an inheritance among the sanctified. If it is followed, they cannot stray.” (People’s New Testament) • This work of the Spirit is age-lasting, accomplished with the aid of the blessings involving the Spirit

10. The Blessings of the Spirit • The gift of the Spirit • As mentioned earlier in Acts 2:38-39; 5:32 • Indwelling the Christian (Rom 8:9-11; 1 Cor 6:19) • “which is in you, which ye have of God; meaning the Holy Spirit which was in them, as in his temple; which dwelt in their hearts, and influenced their bodies, lives, and conversations; and which they received of God as a wonderful instance of his grace and love to them; that he should be bestowed upon them, to regenerate, renew, and sanctify them, to implant every grace, to make them a fit habitation for God, and meet for the inheritance of the saints in light:” (Gill) • “Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost - What an astonishing saying is this! As truly as the living God dwelt in the Mosaic tabernacle, and in the temple of Solomon, so truly does the Holy Ghost dwell in the souls of genuine Christians; and as the temple and all its utensils were holy, separated from all common and profane uses, and dedicated alone to the service of God, so the bodies of genuine Christians are holy, and all their members should be employed in the service of God alone.” (Clarke)

11. The Blessings of the Spirit • Enabling the us to overcome the flesh (Rom 8:12-13) • “Through the Spirit - By the aid of the Spirit; by cherishing and cultivating his influences. What is here required can be accomplished only by the aid of the Holy Spirit.” (Barnes’ Notes) • “Note, (1) "There can be no safety, no holiness, no happiness, to those who are out of Christ: No "safety," because all such are under the condemnation of the law (Ro 8:1); no holiness, because such only as are united to Christ have the spirit of Christ (Ro 8:9); no happiness, because to be "carnally minded is death" (Ro 8:6)" [Hodge]. (2) The sanctification of believers, as it has its whole foundation in the atoning death, so it has its living spring in the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ (Ro 8:2-4).” (Jamieson-Fausset Brown)

12. The Blessings of the Spirit • Strengthening us in the inner man (Eph 3:16, 20) • “To be strengthened with might - To be powerfully strengthened. That is, to give you abundant strength to bear trials; to perform your duties; to glorify his name” (Barnes’ Notes) • “By his Spirit - By the sovereign energy of the Holy Ghost. This fountain of spiritual energy can alone supply the spiritual strength which is necessary for this spiritual work and conflict.” (Clarke) • “In the inner man - In the soul. Every man is a compound being; he has a body and a soul. The outward man is that alone which is seen and considered by men; the inward man is that which stands particularly in reference to God and eternity. The outward man is strengthened by earthly food, etc.; the inward man, by spiritual and heavenly influences. Knowledge, love, peace, and holiness, are the food of the inward man;” (Clarke)

13. The Blessings of the Spirit • Interceding on our behalf (Rom 8:26-27) • “8:26-27 Though the infirmities of Christians are many and great, so that they would be overpowered if left to themselves, yet the Holy Spirit supports them. The Spirit, as an enlightening Spirit, teaches us what to pray for; as a sanctifying Spirit, works and stirs up praying graces; as a comforting Spirit, silences our fears, and helps us over all discouragements. The Holy Spirit is the spring of all desires toward God, which are often more than words can utter. The Spirit who searches the hearts, can perceive the mind and will of the spirit, the renewed mind, and advocates his cause. The Spirit makes intercession to God, and the enemy prevails not.” (Matthew Henry) • “But the Spirit itself - The Holy Spirit; Romans 8:9-11. Maketh intercession - The word used here ὑπερεντυνγχάνειhuperentungchanei, occurs no where else in the New Testament. The word ἐντυνγχάνωentungchanō, however, is used several times. It means properly to be present with anyone for the purpose of aiding, as an advocate does in a court of justice; hence, to intercede for anyone, or to aid or assist in any manner. In this place it simply means that the Holy Spirit greatly assists or aids us; not by praying for us, but in our prayers and infirmities.” (Barnes’)

14. The Blessings of the Spirit • Serving as a seal and earnest • Marking us as belonging to God (Eph 1:13, 4:30) • “sealed—as God's confirmed children, by the Holy Spirit as the seal (Ac 19:1-6; Ro 8:16, 23; 1Jo 3:24; see on [2360] 2Co 1:22). A seal impressed on a document gives undoubted validity to the contract in it (Joh 3:33; 6:27; compare 2Co 3:3).” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) • “In a similar manner Christians are said to be sealed; to be sealed by the Holy Spirit Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30; that is, the Holy Spirit is given to them to confirm them as belonging to God. He grants them His Spirit. He renews and sanctifies them. He produces in their hearts those feelings, hopes, and desires which are an evidence that they are approved by God; that they are regarded as his adopted children; that their hope is genuine, and that their redemption and salvation are sure - in the same way as a seal makes a will or an agreement sure. (Barnes’ Notes)

15. The Blessings of the Spirit • An earnest or guarantee as a promise of our inheritance (Eph 1:14) • “the Spirit of God certifies the right to the heavenly inheritance, as well as gives a meetness for it; he is the firstfruits of eternal glory and happiness, and of the same kind with it; and as he is enjoyed in measure by the saints now, is lesser than the communion which they shall have with him, and with the Father, and the Son, hereafter, for the best things are reserved till last; and being once given into the heart as an earnest, he always continues, he never removes more, or is ever taken away” (Gill) • “Which is the earnest of our inheritance - This Holy Spirit, sealing the soul with truth and righteousness, is the earnest, foretaste, and pledge of the heavenly inheritance. And he who can produce this earnest - this witness of the Spirit, in the day of judgment, shall have an abundant entrance into the holiest.” (Clarke) • “1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance. The earnest money was a small part of the purchase money given in hand to bind the bargain. Paul says that the Holy Spirit given to God's children is such earnest of the inheritance that he will bestow, a small part given now as a proof to his adopted children.” (People’s New Testament)

16. The Blessings of the Spirit • The fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Gal 5:16-18) • Leading those who walk in the Spirit • “But if ye be led by the Spirit,.... That is, of God, who is the guide and leader of his people. It is a metaphor taken from the leading of persons that are blind; as such are before conversion, and whom the Spirit of God leads in ways they knew not, and in paths they had not known: or from the leading of children, and teaching them to go; so the Spirit leads regenerate persons, and teaches them to walk by faith in Christ. (Gill) • “But, if ye be led of the Spirit - If ye receive again the Gospel and the grace of Christ, and permit yourselves to be influenced by the Holy Spirit whom you are now grieving, ye are not under the law - ye will not feel those evil propensities which now disgrace and torment you; but they must prevail while you are not under the influence of the grace and Spirit of Christ.” (Clarke)

17. The Blessings of the Spirit • Producing the graces of Christ-like conduct (Gal 5:22-26) • “(l) If we are indeed endued with the quickening Spirit, who causes us to die to sin, and live to God, let us show it in our deeds, that is, by holiness of life.” (Geneva Study Bible) • “5:25 If we live by the Spirit - If we are indeed raised from the dead, and are alive to God, by the operation of his Spirit. Let us walk by the Spirit - Let us follow his guidance, in all our tempers, thoughts, words, and actions. (Wesley’s Notes)

18. The Blessings of the Spirit • Creating a deepening love for God as our Father (Rom 8:15-16) • “we cry, Abba, Father—The word "cry" is emphatic, expressing the spontaneousness, the strength, and the exuberance of the final emotions. In Ga 4:6 this cry is said to proceed from the Spirit in us, drawing forth the filial exclamation in our hearts. Here, it is said to proceed from our own hearts under the vitalizing energy of the Spirit, as the very element of the new life in believers (compare Mt 10:19, 20; and see on [2227] Ro 8:4).” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) • “Some have supposed that the apostle, by using the Syriac and Greek words which express Father, shows the union of Jewish and Gentile believers in those devotions which were dictated by a filial spirit. Others have thought that these were the first words which those generally uttered who were made partakers of the Holy Spirit. It is enough to know that it was the language of their sonship, and that it expressed the clear assurance they had of being received into the Divine favor, the affection and gratitude they felt for this extraordinary blessing, and their complete readiness to come under the laws and regulations of the family, and to live in the spirit of obedience.” (Clarke)

19. The Blessings of the Spirit • Filling us with hope (Rom 15:13) • “Through the power ... - By means of the powerful operation of the Holy Spirit. It is by his power alone that the Christian has the hope of eternal life; see Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:24.” (Barnes’ Notes) • “"through the power of the Holy Ghost"; not by might or power of man, but by that same divine power which first began the good work, and must fulfill it; which at first implanted the grace of hope, and must perform the work of that, as of faith. The same power is requisite to cause grace to abound, or saints to abound in the exercise of it, as was to the first production of it. The Vulgate Latin reads, "that ye may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost";” (Gill)

20. Conclusion • The Spirit’s promise, work, and blessings at the beginning of the Christian age… • Included the process of revealing and confirming God’s Word • Was completed by special offices (apostles, prophets) and gifts (Signs, wonders) • Once the Word was fully revealed, the miraculous manifestations came to an end

21. Conclusion • The Spirit’s promise, work, and blessings throughout the Christian age… • Includes the important process of convicting, regenerating, and sanctifying souls • Is accomplished by preaching the gospel, and the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey • While this is not a miraculous manifestation, it is a divine operation

22. Conclusion • When reacting to many false claims about the Holy Spirit, we must be careful not to… • Quench the Spirit by denying His work in our salvation • Grieve the Spirit by failing to seek His aid in living holy lives