The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

The Nature of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Eternal Spirit

Hebrews 9:14 ESV

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

The Holy Spirit is Creator

Genesis 1:2 ESV

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The Holy Spirit was the divine agent of the writing of the Scriptures

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity

Matthew 3:16–17 ESV

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

The Necessity of the Holy Spirit

Galatians 3:1–3 ESV

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Paul accuses the Galatians of being bewitched because of the doctrine they were giving their consideration. They were fascinated or charmed by what the false teachers were teaching regarding salvation.

The truth was that the Christians in the Galatian churches were saved through placing their faith in Jesus Christ who was crucified in their place for their sin. Placing their faith in the redemptive work of Christ as the only way of salvation displayed the work of the Holy Spirit that convinced them of the fact that Jesus is the only Savior and their need for Him.

The Galatians began to believe that they were to continue in their salvation through their works. Being circumcized and obeying some of the Mosaic law were both taught by the false teachers as necessities to have peace with God. Paul points out the error and absurdity of this teaching by making clear that not only do we begin in our salvation by the Spirit, we continue in our salvation by the power of the Spirit.

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the agent of salvation

Convicts the world

John 16:7–10 ESV

Nevertheless, 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 go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;

Of sin: unbelief and rejection of Christ

Of righteousness: blindness to Christ’s identity

of judgement: sin has been and will be finally condemned

The church must proclaim the Word of God in these categories

1 Thessalonians 1:5 ESV

because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

Produces repentance

This occurs through the ministry of the Word of God.

Acts 11:1 ESV

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

The Holy Spirit grants belief in Christ through the proclamation of the Word of God.

Acts 11:13–17 ESV

And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

The Holy Spirit’s work through the Word yields repentance which leads to life.

Acts 11:18 ESV

When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Energizes the Gospel

1 Peter 1:12 ESV

It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

The reason transforming power accompanies the proclamation of the Word of God is because the Holy Spirit energizes the gospel through preaching.

Regenerates

John 3:5–6 ESV

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Titus 3:5 ESV

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,