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Essential Christian Beliefs

28 Fundamental Beliefs-#6 The Spirit

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God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation, incarnation, and redemption. He is as much a person as are the Father and the Son. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ’s life with power. He draws and convicts human beings; and those who respond He renews and transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with His children, He extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers it to bear witness to Christ, and in harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth. (Gen. 1:1, 2; 2 Sam. 23:2; Ps. 51:11; Isa. 61:1; Luke 1:35; 4:18; John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; 5:3; 10:38; Rom. 5:5; 1 Cor. 12:7-11; 2 Cor. 3:18; 2 Peter 1:21.)

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No doubt the topic of the Spirit is a mystery and difficult to understand.  A good student of the word knows that some things have been revealed to us very clearly and others have not.

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 29:29

The Bible, particularly in the writings of Paul, talk of mysteries, but these mysteries are often revealed. Some are revealed only if we search. Other mysteries with explanations are right in front of our face, but we won’t accept them because they cut directly across preconceived ideas or cherished sins.  In addition, we know that if we are not on a spiritual plane, we will not understand.

The Spirit

Because of preconceived ideas, the Spirit is visualized by many Christians as a wispy smokey like vapor presence that is only interested in getting people excited and worked up.  How often have we translated someone who is happy or loud as “in the spirit.” But, there is much more that is revealed about the Spirit.

1.) The Spirit was present along with God the Father and the Son at creation and participated in the creation of man. We are made in their image!

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth…And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters…And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Genesis 1:1, 26

2.) The Spirit works and communicates on another dimension called inspiration.

The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

2 Samuel 23:2

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:21

3.) It was prophesied that The Spirit would anoint Jesus and direct His ministry.

The Prophecy:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

Isaiah 61: 1

Fulfillment:

 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

And he closed the book (Isaiah), and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Luke 4: 18-21

4.) The Spirit was present at Jesus’ baptism (along with the Father) and was seen in the form of a dove:

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.  And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him

Luke 3:21

5.) The Spirit provides help and comfort on a spiritual plane while Jesus is physically not present:

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter) , that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:16-18

6.)  God the Father was with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.  This is how God is with us today!

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Acts 10:38

7.) It is the work of the Spirit to direct people in the pursuit of truth.  He points people to the truth by whatever He hears from the Father and Jesus.

 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.

John 16:13

8.) The Spirit’s primary job is to bring conviction upon every person regarding sin and point the fallen to Jesus as the way to eternal life:

I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

John 16:8

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.

John 15:26

9.) The Spirit prepared the disciples for a world mission and gave them power.

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

10.) The gift of the Spirit is given to those who ask for it! We don’t receive because we don’t ask!

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!

Luke 11:13

11.) The Holy Spirit is given to those who repent and are baptized.

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38

12.) After baptism (public display of intent to walk with Jesus), the Spirit gives to the born again believer different gifts to profit all who are in the church.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues (languages), to another the interpretation of tongues (languages).  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

1 Corinthians 12: 7-11

Please notice that the gift of the Spirit is not something you work towards or train yourself to possess, it is given to you by the will of God.  It is also given to both sexes.  It is not limited to men only.

 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3: 26-28

13.)  The Spirit gives wisdom and insight that is not understood by those without this gift:

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)

14.)  It is the work of the Holy Spirit to give the repentant sinner a new heart and new life different from the carnal life.

 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3: 6-8

15.) God the Father will gladly give the Holy Spirit to those who ask:

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Luke 11:13

16.) Once you have the Spirit, you have the choice to either live by the Spirit by the carnal thinking of the world.  If you choose to live by the Spirit, you will have life and peace:

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:5-6

17.) Once the Spirit comes into a repentant sinners life, they will produce fruits of the Spirit.  These are life qualities different from the fruits produced by a carnal person:

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22

It is by these fruits that demonstrate the rebirth experience:

18.) The Spirit separates the true follower from the false:

Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Matthew 7:17-20

19.) It is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction upon the heart of the sinner regarding sin, unbelief, judgement , and draw them to Jesus for salvation from eternal death and the sins that entangle a person’s life.

 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.

John 16:8

20.) With the Spirit of God, the follower of Jesus will been born again and will receive eternal life.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God..” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

John 3: 3,5

21.) Blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

 “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

Luke 12: 10

Blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is the only unpardonable sin because it is continuous.  This ongoing persistent turning away from the prompting of the Holy Spirit leads to a scar on the heart where there are no longer any feelings or response possible. For many years, this person turns off the Spirit and turns on to the pleasures of this world.  They enjoy a short life of sin rather than eternal life offered from Jesus through the Holy Spirit.  Paul said, it this way.

“….having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…”

1 Timothy 4:2 

Today, if you feel the pull of the Spirit drawing you to make a decision, surrender to God and you will find Jesus and the Spirit in your life giving you conviction, repentance, direction, power, and peace.  Won’t you do it today?

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Conclusion on the Trinity

For the last several weeks, we have been letting God’s word tell us about the Trinity.  From the scripture, we see the Spirit as God, along with the Father and the Son.  All three participated in the creation of the universe and of all life including you and me!

All three are active in bringing back mankind from the loss of eternal life and giving them what was meant for their creation:  Life, joy, and growth instead of demise.

Wisdom and spirituality can only come as a gift from the Father who is full of grace.  But, He has also has set up laws to protect us from walking down a path that will lead to destruction. This wisdom is found in Jesus and the Spirit draws people to Jesus and gives them a new life in Him.

The Saviour said, “Except a man be born from above,” unless he shall receive a new heart, new desires, purposes, and motives, leading to a new life, “he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3, margin. The idea that it is necessary only to develop the good that exists in man by nature, is a fatal deception. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 3:7. Of Christ it is written, “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men”–the only “name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” John 1:4; Acts 4:12.

Steps To Christ, page 18, 19

Essential Christian Beliefs

28 Fundamental Beliefs-#3 The Trinity

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The Trinity

There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. God, who is love, is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation.

(Click on the Bible verses below to quickly access the verse in New King James Version.)

(Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 6:8; Matt. 28:19; John 3:16 2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2.)

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The Trinity is one God existing in three Persons. This does not mean there are three Gods. The word “Trinity” is not found in Scripture. It  is a term used to describe the triune God—three coexistent, co-eternal Persons who make up God. In this study, we will see that the concept of the Trinity is found throughout Scripture.

Each participated in Creation

 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…”

Genesis 1:26

From the start of God’s word, we see a coeternal Godhead made up of three distinct persons yet one.  They interact with each other and perform specific roles in the universe and on earth….They all work to save mankind  from eternal destruction that is sure to come.

The use of the word “Our” indicates there is more than one person, otherwise it would be read as,

“Let (me) make man in (my) image according to (my) likeness”

Present on that week of creation were the Spirit, God the Father, and the Son-Jesus

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

John 1: 1-3

Notice that the “Word” become a personal pronoun “He.”  Who is this?  Let’s let the Bible speak for itself a little further down in John 1

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth

John 1:14

Who became flesh and was with us?  Who is described as the only begotten of the Father?  Is it not clear that it is none other than Jesus?  From this passage, we can clearly see that Jesus was with God (Father) in the beginning along with the Spirit.

Let’s look at another few verses that make this passage even more clear.  Notice in Colossians that through Jesus “all things were created” and they are “for Him.”

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Colossians 1: 15-18

Further God (Father) calls His Son God!

But to the Son He says:

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;

Hebrews 1:8

So, we see God the Father, Jesus in his pre-human form participating in the creation of all life and all the universe.  Further, The Spirit of God as the third member of the Godhead is vital in the creation of man and giving him life.

The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Job 33:4

The Father, The Son, and the Spirit are the  “Our” found in Genesis 1: 3. In a future post, we will examine all Three in separate studies.

The Lord is One

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!

Deuteronomy 6:4

As we will study in a future post, the plan of salvation began before the foundation of the world.  The Trinity would participate in different roles but with the same purpose and forthrightness.  They are one in purpose, but separate in their roles.  Isaiah pulls back the curtain on the mystery of God dwelling among us in order to save us.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8

Jesus was sent to us to save a planet in rebellion.  We were on the path to eternal death and annihilation, but God intervened and sent forth His only begotten son to die for us that we might have a way of escape.

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Here we see two members of the Godhead at work.  God the Father sending His Son.  The motivation?  Love for us, His creation.

This was foretold in the Tanakh (Old Testament)

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (God with Us)

Isaiah 7:14

The gospel writer Matthew recognized Jesus as Immanuel.  He wrote:

 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Matthew 1: 22, 23

While upon the earth, Jesus recognized his role and referred to himself in his pre-incarnate existence when he said to His accusers,

Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

John 8:57, 58

Jesus was referring them to the Torah and the story of Moses and the burning bush, when God stated,

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’

Exodus 3:14

This statement infuriated the Jews.  they took stones and attempted to stone Him as blasphemous (claiming to be God) as the Torah allowed.

Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 8:59

So Jesus was claiming to be God to the Jews!  He is part of the Trinity with one specific purpose…the salvation of man. He demonstrated there was another member of the Trinity when he prayed to the Father and asked that His people (including you and me) would be one as they are one:

 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours….

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You”

John 17:9, 20

In this prayer, Jesus also refers back to his pre-existence when he prayed,

 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

John 17: 24

Paul tells us that the eternal Three are seen in Christ,

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily

Colossians 2:9

Jesus confirmed this when he told His disciples that seeing Him is the same as seeing the Father.  Keep in mind, this is not a reference to his physical being, but His character, purpose, and will

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

John 14:9

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The Mystery and the Work of The Spirit

 The Trinity is a mystery to most for a couple of reasons:

1.)  To understand spiritual teachings, one must be spiritual. Too many today operate on a purely day-to-day human level way of thinking. But, once they have been influenced by the Spirit, a whole new world opens to them

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:4

It is the work of the third member of the Godhead to help us all move from our carnal way of thinking to a spiritual level:

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth

John 16:13 

Did you notice that the Spirit is given the designation of a personal pronoun, He?

At the baptism of Jesus, all three are present. Can you see them in this verse?

 “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He[c] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3: 16,17

2,) Understanding the truth comes from a desire (will) to do God’s will and to act on the truth given you.

If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

John 7:17

When Jesus left this earth, he made a promise to his disciples and to us.  It was a promise of the work being passed on to the omnipresent Spirit.

“But now I go away to Him who sent Me…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:

John 16: 5,  7, 8

Again, these verses designate the Spirit as “He” and the work “He” will do until Jesus returns.

So through out Scripture it is easy to see the working of the eternal Three and their roles in the great plan of salvation.

Next time, we will begin our study of each one separately. Until then, this is my prayer,

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13:14

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