In previous lessons, such things as the tri-unity of the Godhead and the deity of the
Holy Spirit were considered. Covered too, were the facts regarding the Holy Spirit's
personality and power being absolutely equal to the Father and the Son. The Holy
Spirit's attributes were listed and considered in part as were His divine names and
titles. This lessons looks at the work of the Holy Spirit.
I. To begin, observe the Holy Spirit's work and activity as it related to creation:
A. According to Psalms 33:6, the heavens' host was formed by Him. "By the Word of the
Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." The
word for "breath" and "Spirit" is pneuma.
B. Credit is also given to Him for the forming of man. Hear Job 33:4, "The Spirit of
God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life."
C. Also, note the important role He assumed in Genesis 1:2-3, "And the earth was
without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of
God moved upon the face of the waters." (Also see Psalms 104:29-30).
II. Secondly, His divine work as it relates to believers in Christ:
A. The very act of regeneration is accredited to Him. Consider the definition and
primary meaning of various associated doctrinal terms.
1. Genesis is the act or process of producing or originating or beginning.
2. Generate is to produce, to procreate or originate.
3. Regenerate is to produce anew. In the cells of the body it means to form new tissue
to replace and supply that which was lost. Now our God borrowed this idea for an
illustration to show exactly what the act of being born again means. It is the work of
the Holy Spirit upon and in our spirit reproducing life in that which was said to be
dead.
a. To understand what was dead, see Ephesians 2:1 and Romans 8:6-8.
b. The first of these te4xts also declares we are "quickened" which means to impart
life anew.
c. The process of regeneration is given in John 3:3-6 under the figure of a "new
birth."
d. In Titus 3:5 we are plainly taught "He saved us by the washing of regeneration and
the renewing of the Holy Spirit." Two things are essential as instruments for our
regeneration. First, there is the Word of God (called "water") and the Holy Spirit (Jn
3:5). Comparing with Ephesians 5:25-26, Titus 3:5 and Revelations 1:5, all combine to
show the "water" is the Word and the "washing" definitely is not in any sense baptism.
From I Peter 1:23, we are "born again . . . . by the word of God" which is "the word
by which the gospel is preached" (I Pet 1:25).
B. As a result of regeneration, the Holy Spirit takes up His abode within so as to
indwell the believer in Christ.
1. I Corinthians 6:15-19, "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? . .
. . What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you
. . . . and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price?"
2. In I Corinthians 3:16, it is the New Testament church that also is said to be the
"naos," sanctuary or temple of the Holy Spirit.
3. But also in Romans 8:9-11, If any man have not the Spirit . . . . he is none of
his" since "The Spirit of God" does "dwell in you" that are regenerated.
C. Third, He is the Seal all believers are preserved and/or locked up in Christ with
for the entirety of this earthly life. This sealing may be called "eternal security of
the believer in Christ" or stated simply as "once saved, always saved."
1. Ephesians 1:13-14, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word . . . .
the gospel . . . . in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy
Spirit of promise . . . . until the redemption of the purchased possession (the flesh).
2. Ephesians 4:30 repeats this truth. Think of it. "Sealed" until Christ returns!
D. Fourthly, He leads and assures the saints in Christ.
1. Romans 8:14, 16, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of
God." Imagine that. Every single one who is "led by the Spirit" is a son of God. There
are no exceptions. Many however, confuse the manipulations and maneuverings of lost
men with their being led by the Spirit. The verse cannot be produced that teaches any
lost man is "led by" the Holy Spirit.
2. Of great interest and importance also is how He leads and assures. Clearly "the
Word of God" is the "lamp" for leading as in Psalms 119:105. Wonderfully also is the
fact "these things (the Word) have I written unto you that believe . . . . that ye may
know that ye have eternal life" (I Jn 5:13).
E. Fifth, He fills and strengthens believers in Christ:
1. Ephesians 5:18-20 exhorts saints to "be not drunk with wine . . . . but filled with
the Spirit."
2. This is in order that "He would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to
be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man" (Eph 3:16).
F. He calls to special and unique forms of service (Acts 13:2-4). He then guides and
directs that service and while the nature of it will not appear to be as miraculous as
in Acts 8:27-29, it nevertheless is real and genuine.
G. He aids in our worship:
1. Jude 20 " . . . . praying in the Holy Spirit." Compare this with Romans 8:26-27.
2. Phillipians 3:3, "We are the circumcision who worship God in (or by) the Holy
Spirit."
H. Lastly, He produces fruit in and through believers.
1. Compare Galatians 5:22-23 with I Corinthians 13.
2. Remember the fruit of the Spirit is love. That is it. All the other things come out
of love. According to Romans 5:5 we received that Spirit and that love also at the
point of new birth. JM
Holy Spirit were considered. Covered too, were the facts regarding the Holy Spirit's
personality and power being absolutely equal to the Father and the Son. The Holy
Spirit's attributes were listed and considered in part as were His divine names and
titles. This lessons looks at the work of the Holy Spirit.
I. To begin, observe the Holy Spirit's work and activity as it related to creation:
A. According to Psalms 33:6, the heavens' host was formed by Him. "By the Word of the
Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." The
word for "breath" and "Spirit" is pneuma.
B. Credit is also given to Him for the forming of man. Hear Job 33:4, "The Spirit of
God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life."
C. Also, note the important role He assumed in Genesis 1:2-3, "And the earth was
without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of
God moved upon the face of the waters." (Also see Psalms 104:29-30).
II. Secondly, His divine work as it relates to believers in Christ:
A. The very act of regeneration is accredited to Him. Consider the definition and
primary meaning of various associated doctrinal terms.
1. Genesis is the act or process of producing or originating or beginning.
2. Generate is to produce, to procreate or originate.
3. Regenerate is to produce anew. In the cells of the body it means to form new tissue
to replace and supply that which was lost. Now our God borrowed this idea for an
illustration to show exactly what the act of being born again means. It is the work of
the Holy Spirit upon and in our spirit reproducing life in that which was said to be
dead.
a. To understand what was dead, see Ephesians 2:1 and Romans 8:6-8.
b. The first of these te4xts also declares we are "quickened" which means to impart
life anew.
c. The process of regeneration is given in John 3:3-6 under the figure of a "new
birth."
d. In Titus 3:5 we are plainly taught "He saved us by the washing of regeneration and
the renewing of the Holy Spirit." Two things are essential as instruments for our
regeneration. First, there is the Word of God (called "water") and the Holy Spirit (Jn
3:5). Comparing with Ephesians 5:25-26, Titus 3:5 and Revelations 1:5, all combine to
show the "water" is the Word and the "washing" definitely is not in any sense baptism.
From I Peter 1:23, we are "born again . . . . by the word of God" which is "the word
by which the gospel is preached" (I Pet 1:25).
B. As a result of regeneration, the Holy Spirit takes up His abode within so as to
indwell the believer in Christ.
1. I Corinthians 6:15-19, "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? . .
. . What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you
. . . . and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price?"
2. In I Corinthians 3:16, it is the New Testament church that also is said to be the
"naos," sanctuary or temple of the Holy Spirit.
3. But also in Romans 8:9-11, If any man have not the Spirit . . . . he is none of
his" since "The Spirit of God" does "dwell in you" that are regenerated.
C. Third, He is the Seal all believers are preserved and/or locked up in Christ with
for the entirety of this earthly life. This sealing may be called "eternal security of
the believer in Christ" or stated simply as "once saved, always saved."
1. Ephesians 1:13-14, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word . . . .
the gospel . . . . in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy
Spirit of promise . . . . until the redemption of the purchased possession (the flesh).
2. Ephesians 4:30 repeats this truth. Think of it. "Sealed" until Christ returns!
D. Fourthly, He leads and assures the saints in Christ.
1. Romans 8:14, 16, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of
God." Imagine that. Every single one who is "led by the Spirit" is a son of God. There
are no exceptions. Many however, confuse the manipulations and maneuverings of lost
men with their being led by the Spirit. The verse cannot be produced that teaches any
lost man is "led by" the Holy Spirit.
2. Of great interest and importance also is how He leads and assures. Clearly "the
Word of God" is the "lamp" for leading as in Psalms 119:105. Wonderfully also is the
fact "these things (the Word) have I written unto you that believe . . . . that ye may
know that ye have eternal life" (I Jn 5:13).
E. Fifth, He fills and strengthens believers in Christ:
1. Ephesians 5:18-20 exhorts saints to "be not drunk with wine . . . . but filled with
the Spirit."
2. This is in order that "He would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to
be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man" (Eph 3:16).
F. He calls to special and unique forms of service (Acts 13:2-4). He then guides and
directs that service and while the nature of it will not appear to be as miraculous as
in Acts 8:27-29, it nevertheless is real and genuine.
G. He aids in our worship:
1. Jude 20 " . . . . praying in the Holy Spirit." Compare this with Romans 8:26-27.
2. Phillipians 3:3, "We are the circumcision who worship God in (or by) the Holy
Spirit."
H. Lastly, He produces fruit in and through believers.
1. Compare Galatians 5:22-23 with I Corinthians 13.
2. Remember the fruit of the Spirit is love. That is it. All the other things come out
of love. According to Romans 5:5 we received that Spirit and that love also at the
point of new birth. JM
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| Pneumatology -- The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit "His Work in the Original Creation and the New Creations in Christ" CHAPTER 9 By John C. Morgan |