How the Holy Spirit Works in Our Lives
By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com
Every genuine child of God is a person who is led by the Holy Spirit. “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14, NASB). Indeed, if we are truly led by the Spirit, our behavior and lives as a whole will demonstrate this fact. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). Every Christian is God’s temple where the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 3:16). There is no question that the Holy Spirit works in the life of a Christian, the question is how? Rather than resort to the theories or imaginations of men, let us go to the Scriptures to find the correct answer to this important question.
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit Is One of the Three Persons of God: The Holy Spirit is not merely a force, source of energy, or divine influence and certainly is not a mystical or magical feeling. The Holy Spirit is a Person of the Godhead or Trinity that comprises who God is (Acts 5:3-4). Each Person of the Godhead has a primary and distinct role. God the Father is “the Father of our spirits” (Heb. 12:9) and God the Son is the Savior who died to redeem us (Tit. 2:13). The Holy Spirit’s primary role is revealer of the word of God. The Holy Spirit revealed the mind of God to the apostles (1 Cor. 2:7-13) who in turn revealed the word of God to us (Eph. 3:3-5).
The Word, the Holy Spirit Reveals, Is Both Readable and Understandable: Thankfully, there is no need for “divine assistance” to be able to understand God’s word today. That is because the Holy Spirit revealed it in such a way that it can be understood by all (provided the right condition of heart exists – Luke 8:15 cf. Mat. 13:14-15): “That by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit” (Eph. 3:3-5).
The Holy Spirit’s Work of “Regeneration” (Titus 3:5).
The New Birth: Jesus declared that in order to be saved, a person must be “born of the water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). The “new birth” or being “born again” (John 3:3) is spiritual, not physical. How the Holy Spirit brings about this new birth is through the word of God: “In the exercise of His will He brought us forth (“begat he us” – KJV) by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures” (James 1:18; cf. 1 Pet. 1:22-23).
Whatever the Holy Spirit Does, the Word of God Does Also (e.g., 1 Cor. 6:11 / John 17:17; Rom. 8:16 / 1 John 5:5-10, 13; Gal. 5:18 / Ps. 119:105; John 6:63 / Ps. 119:50; John 16:8 / Titus 1:9; etc.): The Holy Spirit accomplishes His work by means of the Word. The word of God is the Holy Spirit’s medium or instrument by which the will of God is communicated to mankind, equipping each person for every good work of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). To base the Spirit’s work as something done through the Word is not limiting His power, none whatsoever, for the gospel is the power of God! (Rom. 1:16; cf. Heb. 4:12).
The Work of Salvation of the Holy Spirit Is Done Through the Word of God: As described above, the work of the Spirit cannot be separated from God’s word. The Scriptures directly link the truth (God’s word – John 17:17) with the work of the Spirit: “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth” (2 Thes. 2:13). When we believe and obey the truth, we are sanctified or made holy by the Spirit by means of the word of God (John 17:17).
The Gift of the Holy Spirit: Every person who obeys the gospel to become a Christian is promised to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit: “... Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). This gift is the same gift that both the Father and the Son gives to Christians (cf. John 4:10, 14; Rom. 6:23): Eternal Life!
Notice the very next verse: “For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself” (Acts 2:39). “The promise” (Acts 2:38) is for all generations to come. Thus, the Holy Spirit’s gift cannot refer to a miraculous spiritual gift, as some contend today, for miraculous spiritual gifts ceased at the completion of God’s revelation or Word (i.e., “the perfect” – 1 Cor. 13:8-10). “The gift of the Holy Spirit” must be His “earnest” or “pledge” to us for our eternal salvation (Eph. 1:13-14; cf. 2 Cor. 1:21-22).
The Work of the Holy Spirit In the Life of a Christian.
The Holy Spirit Dwells In the Christian: After conversion to Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells or abides in the Christian (1 Cor. 3:16). The same can be said about the Father and the Son (1 John 4:12-16; Eph. 3:17). Therefore, all three persons of the Godhead dwell in the Christian!
The Holy Spirit Dwells In Us When We Abide In God’s Word: The Holy Spirit (or God) does not literally dwell in us, for God “dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Tim. 6:16; cf. Ex. 33:20). Instead, He abides with us spiritually. This is accomplished, once again, through the word of God. For the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, we must listen to God’s word and receive it into our hearts: “... did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” (Gal. 3:2; cf. Rom. 10:17). Our receiving God’s word takes place by choice and not by divine force or “irresistible grace.” God the Father and the Son dwell in the Christian in the exact same way (1 Jn. 2:24; 2 Jn. 9; Eph 3:17).
The Holy Spirit Dwells In Us to the Extent That God’s Word Dwells in Our Lives: Don’t wait for the Holy Spirit to dwell in you. To be a “Spirit led” Christian, you must choose to obey the word of God (e.g., Gal. 5:16, 22-25). Genuine children of God, who are led by the Spirit, are obedient to His word and thus truly spiritual in the sight of God.
www.cvillechurch.com
Every genuine child of God is a person who is led by the Holy Spirit. “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14, NASB). Indeed, if we are truly led by the Spirit, our behavior and lives as a whole will demonstrate this fact. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). Every Christian is God’s temple where the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 3:16). There is no question that the Holy Spirit works in the life of a Christian, the question is how? Rather than resort to the theories or imaginations of men, let us go to the Scriptures to find the correct answer to this important question.
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit Is One of the Three Persons of God: The Holy Spirit is not merely a force, source of energy, or divine influence and certainly is not a mystical or magical feeling. The Holy Spirit is a Person of the Godhead or Trinity that comprises who God is (Acts 5:3-4). Each Person of the Godhead has a primary and distinct role. God the Father is “the Father of our spirits” (Heb. 12:9) and God the Son is the Savior who died to redeem us (Tit. 2:13). The Holy Spirit’s primary role is revealer of the word of God. The Holy Spirit revealed the mind of God to the apostles (1 Cor. 2:7-13) who in turn revealed the word of God to us (Eph. 3:3-5).
The Word, the Holy Spirit Reveals, Is Both Readable and Understandable: Thankfully, there is no need for “divine assistance” to be able to understand God’s word today. That is because the Holy Spirit revealed it in such a way that it can be understood by all (provided the right condition of heart exists – Luke 8:15 cf. Mat. 13:14-15): “That by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit” (Eph. 3:3-5).
The Holy Spirit’s Work of “Regeneration” (Titus 3:5).
The New Birth: Jesus declared that in order to be saved, a person must be “born of the water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). The “new birth” or being “born again” (John 3:3) is spiritual, not physical. How the Holy Spirit brings about this new birth is through the word of God: “In the exercise of His will He brought us forth (“begat he us” – KJV) by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures” (James 1:18; cf. 1 Pet. 1:22-23).
Whatever the Holy Spirit Does, the Word of God Does Also (e.g., 1 Cor. 6:11 / John 17:17; Rom. 8:16 / 1 John 5:5-10, 13; Gal. 5:18 / Ps. 119:105; John 6:63 / Ps. 119:50; John 16:8 / Titus 1:9; etc.): The Holy Spirit accomplishes His work by means of the Word. The word of God is the Holy Spirit’s medium or instrument by which the will of God is communicated to mankind, equipping each person for every good work of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). To base the Spirit’s work as something done through the Word is not limiting His power, none whatsoever, for the gospel is the power of God! (Rom. 1:16; cf. Heb. 4:12).
The Work of Salvation of the Holy Spirit Is Done Through the Word of God: As described above, the work of the Spirit cannot be separated from God’s word. The Scriptures directly link the truth (God’s word – John 17:17) with the work of the Spirit: “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth” (2 Thes. 2:13). When we believe and obey the truth, we are sanctified or made holy by the Spirit by means of the word of God (John 17:17).
The Gift of the Holy Spirit: Every person who obeys the gospel to become a Christian is promised to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit: “... Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). This gift is the same gift that both the Father and the Son gives to Christians (cf. John 4:10, 14; Rom. 6:23): Eternal Life!
Notice the very next verse: “For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself” (Acts 2:39). “The promise” (Acts 2:38) is for all generations to come. Thus, the Holy Spirit’s gift cannot refer to a miraculous spiritual gift, as some contend today, for miraculous spiritual gifts ceased at the completion of God’s revelation or Word (i.e., “the perfect” – 1 Cor. 13:8-10). “The gift of the Holy Spirit” must be His “earnest” or “pledge” to us for our eternal salvation (Eph. 1:13-14; cf. 2 Cor. 1:21-22).
The Work of the Holy Spirit In the Life of a Christian.
The Holy Spirit Dwells In the Christian: After conversion to Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells or abides in the Christian (1 Cor. 3:16). The same can be said about the Father and the Son (1 John 4:12-16; Eph. 3:17). Therefore, all three persons of the Godhead dwell in the Christian!
The Holy Spirit Dwells In Us When We Abide In God’s Word: The Holy Spirit (or God) does not literally dwell in us, for God “dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Tim. 6:16; cf. Ex. 33:20). Instead, He abides with us spiritually. This is accomplished, once again, through the word of God. For the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, we must listen to God’s word and receive it into our hearts: “... did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” (Gal. 3:2; cf. Rom. 10:17). Our receiving God’s word takes place by choice and not by divine force or “irresistible grace.” God the Father and the Son dwell in the Christian in the exact same way (1 Jn. 2:24; 2 Jn. 9; Eph 3:17).
The Holy Spirit Dwells In Us to the Extent That God’s Word Dwells in Our Lives: Don’t wait for the Holy Spirit to dwell in you. To be a “Spirit led” Christian, you must choose to obey the word of God (e.g., Gal. 5:16, 22-25). Genuine children of God, who are led by the Spirit, are obedient to His word and thus truly spiritual in the sight of God.
posted by Mark E Larson | 10:02 AM
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