Holy Spirit

Question 1

Who and what is the Holy Spirit? Where does the Bible teach that the Holy Spirit is God?

Answer 1

Third person of the trinity understood by the personal pronouns used to describe him (John 14:16 - he the Helper will be with you forever) and personality (grieving the Holy Spirit Eph 4:30).
His Deity is seen in Acts 5:3-4 (lying to the HS is lying to God) and in Matt. 28:19 (Father, Son and HS)

Question 2

Explain Conviction

Answer 2

John 16:8-11 - HS brings awareness of sin, righteousness, and judgment to the world (unbelievers). John 16:13 - always guides believers into truth
- Ongoing act before salvation

Question 3

Explain Regeneration

Answer 3

Titus 3:5, John 3:5-8 - spiritual rebirth and new life (death to life)
- moment of salvation, one time act

Question 4

Explain Indwelling

Answer 4

Rom 8:9-11, 1 Cor 6:19 - HS lives in us and always with us
- moment of salvation, permanent, one-time act

Question 5

Explain Sealing

Answer 5

Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30 - a guarentee and deposit of our future inheritance
- moment of salvation, permanent, one-time act

Question 6

Explain Illumination

Answer 6

1 Cor. 2:7-12 - The HS gives us understanding of divine truth and discernment between spiritual truth and error (1 John 4:1-6)

Question 7

Explain Filling

Answer 7

Eph 5:18 - Not getting more of him, but yielding/submitting to more of his influence in your life.
- Ongoing as you yield to him after salvation
- The result is wisdom (5:15-17), worship (5:19-20) and submission (21), and Fruit of Spirit (Gal. 5:22-25)
- Baptism is immediate, filling is on going
- Baptism is done by God, we have a part in filling (commanded)

Question 8

Explain Spiritual Gifts

Answer 8

1 Cor. 12:7 - super-natural god given abilities given to each member of Body for the purpose of edification of the church and common good. To glorify JESUS!
- 1 Cor. 12:11 - not earned, but given by the HS for his purposes
- 1 Cor. 13 - driven by love

Question 9

How does the HS empower us for Christian life and service?

Answer 9

• Eph 3:16 - strengthens our inner being
• Acts 1:8 - power to witness about Christ
• Romans 8:
• 5- mind set on him
• 6 - life and peace
• 9 - controlled by the Spirit
• 11 - gives life
• 15-16 - testifies that we are God’s children
• 26-27 - intercedes us
  Gal. 5:22-25 - makes us like Christ by his fruit

Question 10

Describe work of HS in OT compared to work in NT

Answer 10

• Genesis 1:2 - creation (gives life) in old and new (2 Cor. 5:17)
• 2 Sam. 23:2 - divine inspiration
• In OT cam upon certain people for certain ministries: Exod. 31:3 (skill and craftmanship); judges 14:6 (samson’s strength); 1 Sam 16:13-14 (Davids anointing)
• In NT he comes on all people of God to indwell them permanently (Joel 2:28-29, Ezek. 36:25-28)

Question 11

What is the HS role in salvation?

Answer 11

John 16:8-11 - convicting
Titus 3:4-7 - regeneration
Eph. 1:13-14 - sealing

Question 12

What are your thoughts on sign gifts (miracles, healing, tongues)?

Answer 12

Throughout Bible they were used as a confirmation of God’s message and messenger so others would believe. Once the message was confirmed, the signs were not needed. (John 20:30-31) - signs were recorded so we would believe
1 Cor. 1:21-23 - the focus is on Christ
1 John 4:1-3 - HS testifies about Christ
1 Cor. 14:22 - signs are for unbelievers, means to end not ends in themselves
- In places where word of God and message aren’t accessible, we must follow instruction of scripture (1 Cor. 14)

Question 13

What about Acts 19:2 and 1 Cor. 12:13

Answer 13

Acts is descriptive not prescriptive. Special circumstance where poeple were familari with John’s baptism of repentance but not heard full gospel about Jesus and had been incorporated into Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13)