I Believe in the Holy Spirit

Text: Ephesians 1:9-14

Theme: God is at work in our world and in our lives through the Holy Spirit.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit.

This morning we come to the confession’s statement concerning the third person of the Trinity — I believe in the Holy Spirit. Of the three statements describing the Godhead this one is obviously the most succinct. It does not “flesh out” for us any attributes of his character, nor narrate any chronology of his ministry as do the articles on the Father and the Son. It simply acknowledges the Spirit’s existence, and his role in the conception of Jesus. It would take another two hundred years after the Apostles’ Creed for the church to give more substance to what we believe about the Holy Spirit.

The Nicene Creed, written in AD 325 states ...

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

As you can see, however, even the Nicene Creed — the most commonly used creed in Christianity — remains sparse on details concerning the Holy Spirit. Our own confession of faith is more helpful.

The Baptist Faith and Message states ...

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

Our Baptist Faith and Message reminds us that the Christian life is inexplicable and unliveable without the Holy Spirit. You cannot belong to Jesus unless you have the Holy Spirit in you. You cannot become like Christ unless you have the Holy Spirit in you.

In this message I want to explore the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life — changing you.

Most of you are familiar with the Charles Dickens' story A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge is miserly humbug of a man who does not contain a shred of compassion for the plight of others. His only concern is himself and his wealth. But his life is going to change dramatically. On Christmas Eve he is visited by three spirits who help him understand the true spirit of Christmas, and of Christ. In quick succession the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Future all call upon him. After these erstwhile visits, Scrooge is a radically changed man. At the end of the tale we’re told: “He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them ... “

As Christians we do not believe in disembodied ghosts, but we do believe that there is a Spirit Who has radically changed us, and is at work in our lives each day helping us to be more like Jesus.

He was at work in our lives before we became a Christian convicting us of sin, judgement, and righteousness.

As believers, the Holy Spirit is at work in our life this very moment securing the saving work of Christ He wrought at your conversion.

And the Holy Spirit will be at work in our future as the day of resurrection arrives and the Holy Spirit changes our mortal bodies into resurrection bodies in the twinkling of an eye.

Let's look at our text this morning to see these things.

I. THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT PAST: REVEALING GOD TO US

"And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ," (Ephesians 1:9, NIV)

1. most people like a good mystery

a. especially those where you're not really sure what the story’s outcome will be until the last few pages of the book

2. mystery is fine for novels, but not very good when it comes to our eternal life

3. the Holy Spirit will lead believers into truth — particularly truth about God

a. there are things about our faith, indeed about the world, that we cannot understand unless the Holy Spirit reveals it to us

b. Jesus told his disciples in John 16:8 that the Holy Spirit will reveal things to us ...

1) the nature of sin

2) the possibility of righteousness

3) the certainty of judgment

4. most importantly, the Spirit reveals to us God’s redemptive work in Christ

A. THE MYSTERY OF GOD'S PURPOSE HAS BEEN REVEALED IN CHRIST

1. the word mystery is one of the Apostle Paul's favorite words

a. he uses it 20 times throughout his writings

b. the word we translate mystery does not have the same idea we commonly give it in our culture

1) to our culture a mystery is something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain

2. in the New Testament, the word mystery means an "open secret" and refers to a previously hidden truth that has now been disclosed

3. the mystery Paul is referring to is none other than salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone for both the Jew and the Gentile

a. why has God revealed this mystery?

"Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—" (Romans 16:25-26, ESV)

1) God’s desire is to bring about the obedience of faith in the lives of lost sinners

b. it is the work of the Holy Spirit to help lost men understand this mystery

c. in His good pleasure God has decided not to leave man in the dark concerning His will and His plan of salvation

4. just how does the Holy Spirit reveal this mystery in our lives?

a. FIRST through revelation

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV)

"For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21, NIV)

1) the Scriptures have been provided as a record of God's activities and His truth

2) they are infallible and inerrant and will never lead us astray

3) this same Spirit that revealed the Scriptures to Prophets and Apostles, also reveals their truth to us

4) through the Word, the Spirit points us to Christ

b. SECOND through illumination

"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." (1 Corinthians 2:6-12, NIV)

1) without the Spirit of God at work in the life of the unbeliever, the Scriptures are just noble words on a page

2) without the Spirit of God illuminating them the Scriptures are only Jewish history

3) without the Spirit of God illuminating them the Scriptures are only interesting philosophy and good moral advise

4) but the Holy Spirit turns them into undeniable truth that changes our lives and our destiny

c. THIRD through conviction

"But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned." (John 16:7-11, NIV)

1) it is the Spirit the affirms in our hearts and convinces our minds that what we read in the Scriptures is true

2) and the clearest thing we are convicted of is that Jesus came to save sinners

ILLUS. Adrian Rogers tells the story of a man who came to him after a worship service and said, "Pastor, were you preaching at me?" To which Adrian responded, "Sir, I was shooting down a hole. If you were in it, there's nothing I could do about it."

B. THE MYSTERY OF GOD'S PURPOSE HAS BEEN REVEALED IN THE FULLNESS OF TIMES

"to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ." (Ephesians 1:10, NIV)

1. God's timing has always been perfect

a. He has always provided just the right amount of revelation at just the right times

1) at just the "right time" He delivered Israel from Egypt

2) at just the "right time" He raised up prophets to call the people back to God's law

3) at just the "right time" He send John the Baptist to prepare Israel to receive the Messiah

2. and now, God reveals His purpose and will about salvation in Christ

a. and he reveals Christ through the Spirit

"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me." (John 15:26, NIV)

3. The Work of the Spirit Past: Revealing the Purpose of God

a. the Third Person of the Trinity is at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the plan for our salvation

II. THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT PRESENT: KEEPING THE CHRISTIAN SECURE

"But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:11-12, ESV)

ILLUS. We are living at a moment in history were Americans are wondering about their financial security. People are seriously asking, “What’s happening with my 401k Plan?” “Are my bank accounts safe?” “Will I able to get a house loan, or a car loan?” “Will I have a job next month.” Government officers repeatedly assure us that our savings are secure, and that the economy will eventually turn around. But let’s be honest, a lot of Americans are living with some real insecurity right now.

1. God, however, does not want you to feel insecure about the transaction He has wrought in your life through the redemptive work of His Son

a. the bible tells us in Hebrews 9:12, that the atoning work of Christ on the cross has secured for us an eternal redemption

2. the work of the Holy Spirit is to guarantee that redemption

A. THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ASSURANCE IN OUR SALVATION

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit," (Ephesians 1:13, ESV)

1. after the gospel of salvation became a living reality in your life through faith in Christ, you were sealed securely by God's Holy Spirit

2. after the Holy Spirit comes into the believer's life He has a number of important tasks to accomplish

a. He becomes our teacher — leading us to truth

b. He becomes our comforter — ministering to us in joy and sorrow

c. He empowers us — giving us victory over sin and Satan and self

d. He fills us with the Fruit of the Spirit

e. He bestows to us various Spiritual Gifts of the Spirit

3. but the Spirit's most important task is sealing us and keeping us eternally secure until the day we stand before Christ

ILLUS. When you go to the Post Office and send a letter via Registered Mail, that letter or document is sealed until delivery. Only two persons have access to it: The one who mailed it and the one to whom it is addressed.

4. to draw a parallel for us as believers we must understand that God the Son is the One who sends us on our way to heaven — depositing us in His redemptive mailbox — and God the Father in heaven is the recipient who awaits our arrival in His Heaven

a. the Holy Spirit is the unbreakable seal that guarantees our deliverance to God

b. only God can break the seal

5. in other words, the Holy Spirit protects us from being lost, folded, spindled or mutilated once we are truly born again

a. the devil cannot break the seal

b. even our own sin cannot break the seal

"Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" (Romans 8:33-35, NIV)

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, NIV)

c. notice in v. 34 that the only one who can condemn us is the very one who is interceding for us before God!

B. THE DOWN PAYMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SECURES GOD’S PURCHASE OF OUR LIFE

“who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:14

1. the KJV uses the term earnest

a. it’s the idea of a down payment, or what we used to call earnest money, toward the ultimate purchase of an item

ILLUS. If you were serious about buying something, you’d give the proprietor money to show that you were earnest in wanting to purchase an item.

b. in Paul's day, the term was closely associated with Phoenician traders and referred to a down payment that binds the bargain and guarantees the full payment later

1) do you see what the Bible is trying to tell us?

2) according to the Scriptures, believers are the item that has been purchased

3) the Holy Spirit is the DOWN PAYMENT that our ultimate and complete purchase is thoroughly guaranteed

c. our eternal life has been bought at the price of the blood of Jesus Christ

2. God then validates our salvation by giving of the Holy Spirit to live in us

a. that sealing takes place the moment we plead “Lord Jesus, be merciful unto me, a sinner.”

3. The Work of the Spirit Present: Keeping the Christian Secure

III. THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT FUTURE: RAISING US IN THE RESURRECTION

1. Paul speaks of the Spirit's sealing being unto the day of redemption

"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Corinthians 1:21-22, NIV)

a. what is it that "is to come?"

b. resurrection!

2. our redemption will be made complete on the day the Holy Spirit raises us from the dead

"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." (Romans 8:11, NIV)

“Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." (Romans 8:23, NIV)

"because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." (2 Corinthians 4:14-15, NIV)

2. the Scriptures assert that death is not the end of life

a. death holds no terror for those who are in Christ, Jesus

3. the joyful message of the early church was the victory of Christ over death, and we need to return to that victorious emphasis

ILLUS. John G. Paton, was a nineteenth-century Scottish missionary who felt called to go to the South Seas, and preach the Gospel to the Islanders of the New Hebrides—many of which were cannibals. He met opposition from family and friend alike. A well-meaning church member moaned to him, “The cannibals, the cannibals! You will be eaten by the cannibals!” Without hesitation, Paton replied, “I confess to you that if I can live and die serving my Lord Jesus Christ, it makes no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals [while I live] or by worms [after I die]; for in that Great Day of Resurrection, my body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer!”

4. The Work of the Spirit Future: Raising Us in the Resurrection

Today, there is much confusion regarding the Holy Spirit. Some think of the Spirit as an it a thing, a force, and not a person. While others, when they think of the Holy Spirit, can think only of the charismatic controversy. But the Holy Spirit is the executive of the Trinity. He is a divine, active person carrying out the designs of the Father, and applying the benefits of the Son to all His people. So it's vital for us to understand His person and His work, and to understand what is entailed in saying that “we believe in the Holy Spirit.”

In Dicken’s classic story, The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future each had a work to do in Scrooge’s life. The end result was a life that was radically changed.

Like the three spirits who visited Scrooge on Christmas Eve, the Holy Spirit of God has a work to do in our life. It’s a work that involves the past, the present, and the future. Is the Spirit of God at work in your life? Has He revealed the truth of Christ’s redemptive work to you? Is He giving you confidence in your faith and walk with Christ? Do you look forward to the day when He will transform your mortal body into a resurrection body?