Holy Spirit Notes 12.12.08
Holy Spirit Notes
ESV Study Bible 2008
How the Holy Spirit Glorifies Christ
| The Spirit illumines the Bible (the centrality of Christ) | Luke 24:27, 44–48 |
| The Spirit empowers gospel preaching (proclamation of Christ) | Acts 1:8 |
| The Spirit brings regeneration (new life in Christ) | John 3:5–8 |
| The Spirit sanctifies the believer (transformation into the image of Christ) | Rom. 8:29; 1 John 3:2 |
Divine Attributes of the Holy Spirit
| The Holy Spirit is eternal | Heb. 9:14 |
| The Holy Spirit is omnipresent | Ps. 139:7–10 |
| The Holy Spirit is omniscient | 1 Cor. 2:10–11 |
| The Holy Spirit is omnipotent | Luke 1:35–37 |
| The Holy Spirit is holy | Rom. 1:4 |
Personal Actions of the Holy Spirit
| The Spirit comforts | John 12:26; 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7 |
| The Spirit teaches | John 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:13 |
| The Spirit speaks | Acts 8:29; 13:2 |
| The Spirit makes decisions | Acts 15:28 |
| The Spirit grieves over sin | Eph. 4:30 |
| The Spirit overrules human actions | Acts 16:6–7 |
| The Spirit searches the deep things of God and knows the thoughts of God | 1 Cor. 2:10–11 |
| The Spirit determines the distribution of spiritual gifts | 1 Cor. 12:11 |
| The Spirit interprets and brings human prayer before the throne of the Father | Rom. 8:26–27 |
| The Spirit assures believers of their adoption | Rom. 8:16 |
| The Spirit bears witness to and glorifies Christ |
Implications of the Spirit's Work
The ultimate goal of all of life is to know and love God, make him known, and thereby glorify him. This goal is accomplished primarily through the work of the Holy Spirit. Reading the Bible, going to church, Christian fellowship, spiritual disciplines, service, and worship are merely playing at religion if all of these activities are not empowered, guided, and filled by the Spirit. If he is not present, even these good things are fleshly, empty, and repugnant to God: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom. 8:13). A life pleasing to God involves daily dependence on the precious Holy Spirit. He is to be known, sought, and loved. His awakening and empowering have always been the essential ingredients of true and lasting works of God in the lives of his people. His work in the transformed lives of believers is the key to a Christian life that experiences God's blessing and becomes an effective witness to a cynical, skeptical world. Because of the Spirit's presence, true Christians are no longer slaves to sin: “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Rom. 8:9).
It is often too quickly assumed that Jesus' holiness and power in ministry were because of his divine nature rather than the work of the Holy Spirit in his human life. As a result, believers may discount Jesus as their true example. In his holy living and powerful ministry, Jesus often drew on the same resources as are available to all believers, especially the leading and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
The three persons of the Trinity have now been fully revealed in redemptive history, and the Holy Spirit is bringing their work to a magnificent consummation. Many believers expect a world revival in the last days that will include all peoples. Even if such a revival does not come in the generation that is now alive, God's people should be giving glimpses of that coming revival in the character of their lives even today. Such glimpses contribute to fulfilling the Great Commission. Jesus sent his followers even as the Father sent him (John 20:21), and living under and in that authority they are able to say with Jesus, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives” (Luke 4:18). When the Spirit works, the gospel will be boldly proclaimed and God's kingdom will advance.