The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit By Larry G. Hess

The Doctrine of the Holy SpiritBy Larry G. Hess

Introduction

• The doctrine of the Holy Spirit is vital to the faith of every Christian.

• The New Testament is full of references to

the work of the Holy Spirit and each Gospel begins with a promise of the Spirit’s outpouring.

• The Holy Spirit is a co-equal member of the divine, eternal, infinite, and Trinitarian godhead.

Introduction

• Pentecost marked the beginning of a new period in the Holy Spirit’s relationship to humanity, when He came to inhabit the Church.

• Just as Jesus came to earth to reveal the Father, so the Holy Spirit came to reveal the glorified Son of God.

• The Holy Spirit is the successor to the work

of Jesus Christ.

Introduction

• John 15:26-27 (NKJV)

– “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

Introduction

• John 16:7-11 (NKJV)

– “Nevertheless 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 depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

Introduction

• John 16:13-14 (NKJV)

– “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

I. Deity of the Holy Spirit

• The deity of the Holy Spirit means that He is one with God and one in the Godhead: co-equal, co-eternal, and co-substantial with the Father and the Son.


A. Divine Names Given to the Holy Spirit1. He is called God (Acts 5:3-4)2. He is called Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18)

B. Divine Attributes Ascribed to the Holy Spirit1. Eternity (Hebrews 9:14)2. Omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-10)3. Omnipotence (Luke 1:35)4. Omniscience (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)


C. Divine works are performed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the author of both physical and spiritual life. – Job 33:4– Romans 8:11

D. The Holy Spirit is the author of divine prophecy. – 2 Peter 1:21

II. The Names of the Holy Spirit

A. The Spirit of God – The Spirit is the Executor of the will of God,

working in every sphere, both physical and spiritual.


B. The Spirit of Christ – Why is the Spirit called the Spirit of

Christ? 1.Because He is sent in the name of

Christ. 2.Because He is the Spirit sent by

Christ.


B. The Spirit of Christ3. The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ

because His special mission in this age is to glorify Christ (John 16:14).

– His special work is connected with Him who lived, died, rose, and ascended. He makes real in believers what Christ has done for them.


C. The Comforter – John tells us that He still fulfills that office

(1 John 2:1). Christ, whose sphere of work is in heaven, defends the disciples against the charges of the “accuser of the brethren”; at the same time the Spirit, whose sphere of work is on earth, “silences the earthly adversaries of the Church through the victory of faith which overcomes the world.”


D. The Holy Spirit– The Spirit is called Holy because He is the

Spirit of the Holy One and because of the work he does.


D. The Holy Spirit– The Holy Spirit is referred to as:

1. The Spirit of Promise (Luke 24:49)2. The Spirit of Truth (John 14:17)3. The Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10:29)4. The Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2)5. The Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8:15)


D. The Holy Spirit– The Holy Spirit is referred to as:

6. The Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 3:16)7. The Spirit of Jehovah (Isaiah 11:2)8. The Spirit of the Living God (2

Corinthians 3:3)9. The Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9)10. The Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10:29)11. The Spirit of Glory (1 Peter 4:13-14)12. The Spirit of Burning (Isaiah 4:4)

III.The Work of the Holy Spirit

A. In Relation to Unregenerate Man

– The principle work of the Holy Spirit in relation to the unsaved is that of conviction.

1. He Strives. 2. He Witnesses. 3. He Convicts and Convinces.

III.The Work of the Holy SpiritB. In Relation to Believers

1. He regenerates.

2. He baptizes into the body of Christ.

3. He indwells.

4. He liberates.

5. He directs.

III.The Work of the Holy SpiritB. In Relation to Believers

6. He equips for service.

7. He produces the fruit of Christ-like graces.

8. He makes possible all forms of communion with God.

9. He shall quicken the believer’s body


C. In Relation to Jesus Christ

– Jesus Christ’s body was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:4, 5).

– Christ was anointed with the Holy Spirit, led by the Holy Spirit, and filled with the Holy Spirit in order to accomplish His work and ministry.

– Jesus sacrificially offered Himself through the Spirit.


D. In Relation to the Scriptures

– The Scriptures were given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and their true interpretation is only possible through His illumination.

IV.The Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts

• The book of Acts begins by showing that the work of Jesus was continued by the Spirit.

• In Acts, Luke describes the historical fulfillment of the promised outpouring and infilling of the Holy Spirit.


• In response to the outpouring of the Spirit, Peter said, “He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). Literally, Peter was saying, “All that you see flows from Him [Jesus].”

• The whole fountain of the Spirit is Jesus’, that He might pour it forth upon His followers.


• He is the funnel through which the Spirit becomes available to believers.

• He is the Holy Ghost baptizer.

• One cannot receive the Spirit except through Him.

• The outpouring of the Spirit was direct evidence that Jesus was with the Father.


A. The Feast of Pentecost (Weeks)

– The Feast of Pentecost was a spring harvest festival.

– The Day of Pentecost was celebrated on the fiftieth day after the presentation of the first harvested sheaf of the barley harvest, the fiftieth day from the first Sunday after Passover (Leviticus 23:15).


A. The Feast of Pentecost (Weeks)

– Pentecost in Acts 2 is considered to be the founding of the Christian church.

– This began what has been called the dispensation of the Spirit.


B. Speaking in Tongues – the Initial Evidence of the Spirit Baptism

– On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit.

– In the Old Testament a normal consequence of a man’s being possessed by the Spirit of God was that he prophesied (spoke the words of God aloud).



– The descent of the Spirit on the disciples at Pentecost was manifested by prophetic speech of a peculiar kind.

– They “began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”



– Tongues or prophecies are not a guarantee of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

– The believer must not “believe every spirit,” but “prove the spirits, whether they be of God” (1 John 4:1).



– Peter spoke with the divine inspiration and anointing of the Holy Spirit.

– This first apostolic sermon declared the Lordship of Jesus Christ, called for repentance, and announced the birth of the church, which became the basis of the kerygma, the apostle’s doctrine.



– Peter preached that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God (Acts 5:32).

– Baptism in the Holy Spirit requires a yielding of the believer to the control of the Spirit.

– Speaking in tongues did not cease when the disciples left the upper room.

IV.The Holy Spirit in the Book of ActsB. Speaking in Tongues – the Initial

Evidence of the Spirit Baptism

– It has occurred throughout every age from the early church until the present.

– Speaking in tongues was so common in the early church that, when Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthian church, he spent a lot of time teaching them not to abuse this gift.

– He stressed a true sensitivity to the Spirit.



– Pentecostals have always believed that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

– Speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance is the announcement that the Helper has come to enable us to fulfill God's will and to praise God in the freedom of the Spirit.

V. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

• The gift of the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit Himself.

• The Holy Spirit makes available to the body of Christ divine endowments or enablements, which are referred to as special graces, skills, abilities, or gifts.

• These gifts are to empower the church to serve as Christ’s representatives in bringing the Gospel to the world.


• The gift of the Holy Spirit is for all believers.

• The gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to the body of Christ as God chooses to endow obedient, spirit-filled believers.

V. The Gifts of the Holy SpiritA. What are Spiritual Gifts?

– Spiritual gifts are not the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.

– Spiritual gifts are not natural talents.

– Spiritual gifts are divine enablements or endowments.

– There is a definite purpose in the gifts (Ephesians 4:12).

V. The Gifts of the Holy SpiritB. Charismata through the Ages

– Spiritual gifts did not cease during the ages of the Christian church.

– There have been evidences from many sources of the charismata through the ages since the apostles.

– The Didache – Clement of Rome – Ignatius of Antioch – Montanism / Tertullian– Justin Martyr - Dialogue With Trypho – Novatian


1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28 Gifts of the Holy Spirit

1. Word of Wisdom 2. Word of Knowledge 3. Faith 4. Gifts of Healing 5. Working of Miracles 6. Prophecy 7. Discerning of Spirits 8. Different Kinds of Tongues 9. Interpretation of Tongues

Conclusion

Documents

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit By Larry G. Hess