The Holy Spirit in The Holy Spirit in the New Testamentthe New Testament

THE SIGN OF THE “NEW AGE”THE SIGN OF THE “NEW AGE”

The Holy Spirit in the The Holy Spirit in the GospelsGospels

1. He “overshadows” Mary: 1. He “overshadows” Mary: TheThe “ “power of the power of the Most High” = "the Holy Spirit" (Luke 1:35; cf. Most High” = "the Holy Spirit" (Luke 1:35; cf. 9:35) and echoes the OT idea of God's spirit in the 9:35) and echoes the OT idea of God's spirit in the divine cloud which "overshadowed" the divine cloud which "overshadowed" the tabernacle so that the tent was filled with the tabernacle so that the tent was filled with the glory of the Lord (Exod. 40:35; Isa. 63:11ff."God's glory of the Lord (Exod. 40:35; Isa. 63:11ff."God's Holy Spirit").Holy Spirit").

2. He casts out demons”: 2. He casts out demons”: Jesus' power to cast Jesus' power to cast out demons "by the finger of God," is an OT out demons "by the finger of God," is an OT phrase for God's power (Luke 11:20; Exod. 8:19; phrase for God's power (Luke 11:20; Exod. 8:19; Ps. 8:3). and identified as the "Spirit of God" Ps. 8:3). and identified as the "Spirit of God" (Matt. 12:28, 32).(Matt. 12:28, 32).

3.He comes upon Jesus at baptism 3.He comes upon Jesus at baptism At At Jesus' baptism the spirit came upon him Jesus' baptism the spirit came upon him (Mark 1:10; "the spirit of God," Matt. 3:16 (Mark 1:10; "the spirit of God," Matt. 3:16 "the Holy Spirit," Luke 3:21), and he "the Holy Spirit," Luke 3:21), and he received God's confirmation of his divine received God's confirmation of his divine sonship and messianic mission (Matt. 3:13ff). sonship and messianic mission (Matt. 3:13ff).

4. He inaugurates the mission with 4. He inaugurates the mission with Jesus Jesus Jesus went up from the Jordan full of Jesus went up from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1), and after the the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1), and after the temptation began his ministry "in the power temptation began his ministry "in the power of the Spirit" (Luke 4:14). Jesus proclaimed of the Spirit" (Luke 4:14). Jesus proclaimed the coming of the kingdom of God (Matt. the coming of the kingdom of God (Matt. 4:17; cf. 3:1), a coming marked by the 4:17; cf. 3:1), a coming marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28ff.) as presence of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28ff.) as the sign of the messianic age of salvation the sign of the messianic age of salvation (Luke 4:18ff.; Acts 10:38; etc.). (Luke 4:18ff.; Acts 10:38; etc.).

5. He is a person 5. He is a person This comes out This comes out especially in John's Gospel, where the especially in John's Gospel, where the Spirit is called the "Paraclete," (Comforter, Spirit is called the "Paraclete," (Comforter, Counselor, Advocate). Jesus himself was Counselor, Advocate). Jesus himself was the first Counselor (John 14:16), and he the first Counselor (John 14:16), and he will send the disciples “another” Counselor will send the disciples “another” Counselor after he is gone, i.e., the Spirit of truth, the after he is gone, i.e., the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit (14:26; 15:26; 16:5). Holy Spirit (14:26; 15:26; 16:5).

6. He inhabits believers6. He inhabits believers (John 7:38; cf. (John 7:38; cf. 14:17), 14:17), and will guide them into all and will guide them into all truthtruth (16:13), teaching them "all things" (16:13), teaching them "all things" and bringing them "to remembrance of all and bringing them "to remembrance of all that [Jesus] said" to them (14:26).The Holy that [Jesus] said" to them (14:26).The Holy Spirit will testify about Jesus, as the Spirit will testify about Jesus, as the disciples must also testify (John 15:26-27). disciples must also testify (John 15:26-27).

The Holy Spirit in ActsThe Holy Spirit in Acts

In Acts 2:14ff. Peter interpreted what happened In Acts 2:14ff. Peter interpreted what happened at Pentecost as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy at Pentecost as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy of the outpouring of the spirit upon all flesh in of the outpouring of the spirit upon all flesh in the messianic age (Joel 2:28ff.). the messianic age (Joel 2:28ff.).

The outpouring of the spirit upon “all flesh” was The outpouring of the spirit upon “all flesh” was accomplished for the benefit of Jew and Gentile accomplished for the benefit of Jew and Gentile alike (Acts 10:45; 11:15ff.), and individual alike (Acts 10:45; 11:15ff.), and individual converts had access to this gift of the age of converts had access to this gift of the age of salvation through repentance and baptism into salvation through repentance and baptism into the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). “For to you the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). “For to you is the promise..., for all whom the Lord our God is the promise..., for all whom the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:39; Joel 2:32). will call" (Acts 2:39; Joel 2:32).

The apostles and others carried out their The apostles and others carried out their ministries "full of the Holy Spirit" (4:31; 6:5; ministries "full of the Holy Spirit" (4:31; 6:5; 7:54; etc.), and the Holy Spirit, identified in 7:54; etc.), and the Holy Spirit, identified in Acts 16:7 as the Spirit of Jesus, Acts 16:7 as the Spirit of Jesus, directed directed the missionthe mission of the young church (Acts of the young church (Acts 9:31; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6-7). 9:31; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6-7).

Healing and exorcismHealing and exorcism, were carried out , were carried out by the early church through the power of by the early church through the power of the Holy Spirit. the Holy Spirit. Visions and propheciesVisions and prophecies occurred (Acts 9:10; 10:3; 10:ff.; 11:27-28; occurred (Acts 9:10; 10:3; 10:ff.; 11:27-28; 13:1; 15:32) in keeping with the Acts 2 13:1; 15:32) in keeping with the Acts 2 citation of Joel 2:28ff. citation of Joel 2:28ff.

The experience of the early church The experience of the early church confirmed that the messianic age had confirmed that the messianic age had indeed come. indeed come.

The Holy Spirit in the letters of The Holy Spirit in the letters of PaulPaul

Paul taught that the Holy Spirit, poured out in the Paul taught that the Holy Spirit, poured out in the new age, is the creator of new life in the believer and new age, is the creator of new life in the believer and that unifying force by which God in Christ is "building that unifying force by which God in Christ is "building together" the Christians into the body of Christ (Rom. together" the Christians into the body of Christ (Rom. 5:5; II Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:22; cf. I Cor. 6:19). 5:5; II Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:22; cf. I Cor. 6:19).

Romans 8 shows that Paul identified the spirit, Romans 8 shows that Paul identified the spirit, the spirit of God, and the spirit of Christ with the spirit of God, and the spirit of Christ with the Holy Spiritthe Holy Spirit (cf. the spirit of Christ as the spirit (cf. the spirit of Christ as the spirit of prophecy in I Pet. 1:10ff.), and that these terms of prophecy in I Pet. 1:10ff.), and that these terms are generally interchangeable. are generally interchangeable.

If anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he does If anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ (Rom. 8:9); but those who are not belong to Christ (Rom. 8:9); but those who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God (Rom. 8:14). led by the spirit of God are sons of God (Rom. 8:14).

We all have our access to the Father We all have our access to the Father through one spirit (Eph.2:18), and there is through one spirit (Eph.2:18), and there is one body and one spirit (Eph. 4:4). one body and one spirit (Eph. 4:4).

We were all baptized by one spirit into one We were all baptized by one spirit into one body, and we were all given the one spirit body, and we were all given the one spirit to drink (I Cor.12:13). to drink (I Cor.12:13).

The believer receives the spirit of adoption The believer receives the spirit of adoption or "sonship" (Rom. 8:15), indeed, the spirit or "sonship" (Rom. 8:15), indeed, the spirit of God's own Son (Gal. 4:6), by whom we of God's own Son (Gal. 4:6), by whom we cry, "Abba, Father," that intimate address cry, "Abba, Father," that intimate address of filial relationship to God pioneered by of filial relationship to God pioneered by Jesus, the unique Son of God (Mark 14:36). Jesus, the unique Son of God (Mark 14:36).

The believers are being built together into a The believers are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the spirit (Eph. dwelling place of God in the spirit (Eph. 4:22). 4:22).

To each one was apportioned grace To each one was apportioned grace according to the measure of the gift of according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Eph. 4:7; cf. Rom. 12:3), and Christ Christ (Eph. 4:7; cf. Rom. 12:3), and Christ has given different ones to be prophets, has given different ones to be prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Eph. 4:11) for the edification of the body. (Eph. 4:11) for the edification of the body.

Similarly, the Spirit gives different Similarly, the Spirit gives different kinds of spiritual gifts for different kinds of spiritual gifts for different kinds of service (I Cor. 12:4-5;7), all for kinds of service (I Cor. 12:4-5;7), all for the common good.the common good.

The way of love is to be followed in all The way of love is to be followed in all things; indeed, the fruit of the spirit is love, things; indeed, the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, etc. (Gal. 5:22ff.). All of this is joy, peace, etc. (Gal. 5:22ff.). All of this is because God has initiated the new covenant because God has initiated the new covenant (Jer. 31:31ff.; Ezek. 36:14ff.;26) in the hearts (Jer. 31:31ff.; Ezek. 36:14ff.;26) in the hearts of men by means of his spirit (II Cor. 3:6ff.). of men by means of his spirit (II Cor. 3:6ff.).

In this new age the spirit is the “guarantee” In this new age the spirit is the “guarantee” of our inheritance (II Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. of our inheritance (II Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:14), a "firstfruits," the seal of God (II Cor. 1:14), a "firstfruits," the seal of God (II Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13; 4:30). These phrases point 1:22; Eph. 1:13; 4:30). These phrases point out the "already vs. the not yet" tension of out the "already vs. the not yet" tension of the new age: the new age has dawned, and the new age: the new age has dawned, and the spirit has been poured out, yet all of the spirit has been poured out, yet all of creation awaits the final consummation. creation awaits the final consummation.

Even though the spirit bears witness with Even though the spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are sons of God (Rom. our spirit that we are sons of God (Rom. 8:16) and we truly have the firstfruits of the 8:16) and we truly have the firstfruits of the spirit (Rom. 8:23), we await the adoption as spirit (Rom. 8:23), we await the adoption as sons (8:23) at the final consummation. sons (8:23) at the final consummation. Until that time Christians have the Until that time Christians have the Comforter, the Spirit who intercedes Comforter, the Spirit who intercedes on behalf of the saints according to on behalf of the saints according to the will of the Fatherthe will of the Father (Rom. 8:27). (Rom. 8:27).