The Doctrine of Pneumatology

Propositional Statement:

From creation to new creation we encounter the Holy Spirit as God’s active and empowering presence in the world.

“Without the Holy Spirit, God is far away, Christ belongs to the past, the Gospel is a dead letter, the Church is merely an organisation, authority is domination, mission is propaganda, worship is an evocation, and Christian active is a slave-morality.”

 John Stott, The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott, ed. Mark Meynell (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018).

Introduction:

The doctrine of pneumatology, or the study of the Holy Spirit is a subject that often creates “divides” within Protestant circles as to the influence of this doctrine within a denomination’s dogma. The value of the Holy Spirit within a denomination comes from his value among pastors, preachers, and teachers. Here is a question: Do we see the Holy Spirit as the change agent of men’s hearts? Or do we use the Holy Spirit to “induce” responses during worship settings? Just because people say the “Spirit is moving” does not mean He is moving where you are. It is important to spend time teaching about the Holy Spirit so we can gain a clear understanding of who He is and his function here in the earth.,

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity who is fully God and fully personal. He is often seen as the hidden member of the Trinity, but he is prominent and active in the biblical narrative. John 14:26

John 14:26 ESV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

The proposition that the Spirit is fully God and is truly a person derives from the witness of Scripture. We find various reference to the Spirit as God: Acts 5:3-4

Acts 5:3–4 ESV

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”

1 Corinthians 2:10 ESV

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

The Spirit reflects the fact that God is both transcendent (John 4:24; Hebrews 9:14) and immanent (Luke 12:12; Romans 8:15).

The Role of the Spirit throughout the story of Scripture

The Spirit was active in creation - Gen. 1:2

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 Spirit is the breath of life breathed into humans

The Spirit is the power by which the Son is born of the Virgin Mary, as taught by Matthew 1 and Luke 1

The Spirit is the power that fills the early church to spread the good news of Jesus in Acts 2.

The Role of the Spirit in the Old Testament

The Spirit appears throughout the the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, the Spirit seems to be more of a way to speak about God’s action rather than a person distinct from the Father. However, we see hints of personal distinction is passages like Isaiah 48:16 and 63:10-14 in which the Spirit is sent and can be “grieved.” The term ruach implies movement and action, and the people of God often know the Spirit best through his work as God’s empowering presence.

The Spirit’s primary work is to endow God’s people with gifts and leadership abilities. The Spirit fills and empowers people to achieve their divine purpose:

craftsmen - Ex. 31:1-5

judges - Jud. 3:10; 6:34; 14

kings - 1 Sam. 16:13

prophets - Num. 11:25; Deut. 34:9; Ezek. 2:2; 8:3

What Jesus said about the Holy Spirit

John 14:15–16 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

John 16:5–15 ESV

But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 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; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

The Spirit leads us to repentance

Titus 3:5–6 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, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

The Spirit gives us new life

John 3:5 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.

The Spirit empowers our witness

Acts 1:8 ESV

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

The Spirit empowers Christians to follow Jesus

Luke 12:11–12 ESV

And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

The Spirit is the change agent for the church

Acts 2:37–47 ESV

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.