Who is the Holy Spirit?   

What does the Bible say about the Holy Spirit?

Some have called the Holy Spirit the “forgotten Person” in the Trinity.  In the past, that might have been true, but certainly not today. In fact, in some denominations, the Holy Spirit and His work is studied more than the mission of Jesus Christ.  The Lutheran Church has always striven to present the truth of God’s Word, neither de-emphasizing nor over-emphasizing the work of the Holy Spirit.

1. Who is the Holy Spirit?

a)  Matthew 28:19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

b)  Acts 5:3-4  Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?   You have not lied to men but to God.”

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person in the Holy Trinity, true God with the Father and Son.

2. What does the Holy Spirit create in us that is so necessary?

a)  Acts 16:31  They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

b)  I Corinthians 12:3  Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit’s main work is creating faith in us so that we will inherit eternal life.

3. Why do we need this gift of faith?

a)  1 Corinthians 2:14  The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

b)  Ephesians 2:1  As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.

c)  Romans 8:7  The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

d)  Ephesians 2:8-9  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

The Bible teaches us that:

We are by nature spiritually a) blind, b) dead, and c) enemies of God, and therefore we d) can’t bring ourselves to faith in Christ, or even help the Lord save us.

This Biblical teaching of being enemies of God without the Holy Spirit in our hearts is not one followed by all Christian churches. I’m sure you’ve heard of people “inviting Christ into their hearts.” No one can do so unless the Lord is already there! For without faith, you don’t believe. If you have faith, you already have the Triune God living within you. Decision theology – making a decision for Christ – is based upon a inadequate understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work.

If we do participate in coming to faith, then God doesn’t get all the credit, does He?  Read Ephesians 2:8-9 again.

4. How does the Holy Spirit bring people to faith?

a)  2 Thessalonians 2:14  He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

b)  Romans 10:17  Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.                Romans 1:16  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

The Holy Spirit a) calls and invites people to believe through the Gospel message, and b) creates faith through the power of that Gospel.            The Bible isn’t just words.  It is God’s life-giving Word!

5. What is the work of the Holy Spirit called?

a)  2 Corinthians 4:6  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

b)  John 3:7  You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.”

c)  Matthew 18:3  And he said: ”I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The Bible teaches us that:

The work of the Holy Spirit is called

a)  Enlightenment, since the Holy Spirit brings to a heart darkened by sin the light of the Gospel, which shows us the way to heaven.

b)  Regeneration (born again), since the Holy Spirit gives to a person, who is dead in sin, spiritual life.

c)  Conversion (turning about), since the Holy Spirit turns people from sin and destruction to God and grace.

6. How do you know whether you are a Christian?

Acts 16:29-31  The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.”

If a person is sorry for their sins and believes and trusts in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of those sins, you are saved.

Note: There are times when we know in our heads that we are saved.  The Bible tells us so, and we know that God doesn’t lie.  However, there are times when we don’t “feel” that we are saved.  What do you do then?  We must then on what our Lord tells us in His Word.       And, as we are reassured time and time again by God’s Word and promises, then our hearts and emotions will warm up and reassure us of our eternal life.   What is important is our Lord’s words of assurance, not what we feel, or our response to it.

7. What else does the Holy Spirit work in us by the Gospel?

a)  I Thessalonians 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.

b)  2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!   Ps. 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

c)  Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The Bible teaches us that:

The Holy Spirit a) sanctifies us, that is,    b) He renews our hearts by faith, so that we can now c) do good works.

8. What is a good work?

a)  John 15:5  I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

b)  John 14:15  If you love me, you will obey what I command.

c)  1 Corinthians 10:31  So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

d)  Galatians 5:13  Serve one another in love.

The Bible teaches us that:

A good work is everything a believer does a) that agrees with the Lord’s will and is done b) to the glory of God or c) the benefit of his/her neighbor.

Note: Good works (deeds) that are done by unbelievers mean nothing to the Lord. Everything that we do is tainted by sin, and therefore is unacceptable to the Lord. The only way that we can do good work is if the blood of Jesus cleanses us and our works from sin. Then, and only then, does the Lord take delight in our deeds.

a)  1 Peter 1:5  Who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

b)  1 Thessalonians 2:13  The Word of God . is at work in you who believe. The Holy Spirit, by the Gospel, keeps us in the true faith.

10. Is the Holy Spirit willing to work faith in all people?

a)  Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.  Turn!  Turn from your evil ways!  Why will you die, O house of Israel?”

b)  1 Tim. 2:4  ”Who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  YES!

11. Why, then, are not all people saved?

a) Matthew 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

b)  Acts 7:51  You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers. You always resist the Holy Spirit!

c) Romans 1:18-20  The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

All people stubbornly resist the Word and Spirit of God. Those who are lost are lost by their own fault.  (People are saved solely by the grace of God; people are lost solely by their own fault.)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Agree/Disagree – When a person is saved, it’s because God knew they would be a better Christian than the next person.

2. People who don’t ever hear the Word of God aren’t at fault for their unbelief.

3. Why do we need to continually study the Word of God?