Bible Holy spirit in English

Doctrinal Seminars-2020 1 ‘The Holy Spirit’ by Sam K John

The Holy Spirit

Who is He?

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity who comes from the Father and the Son, and

is equal with them.

▪ The concept of Trinity in OT: Gen 1:26

▪ The concept of Trinity in NT: Matt. 28:19, 2 Cor. 13:14

God exists as a Triune God although there are three distinct personalities.

Personality of the Holy Spirit

As Divine Being

Called as God Possesses characteristics of God Does the works of God

Heb. 3:7-9

Acts 5:3-5

1 Cor 3:16

Omnipresence (Psa. 139:7-10)

Omniscience (1 Cor. 2:10, 11)

Omnipotence (Zech 4:6)

Eternal (Heb. 9:14)

Creating (Gen 1:2),

Inspiring (2 Pet. 1:21),

Regenerating (Jn 3:5,6),

Giving life (Rom. 8:11)

As Personal Being

Greek word ‘pneuma’ is used in NT to refer to the Holy Spirit. Whenever it is used as a

pronoun, masculine (He) is used highlighting the Spirit’s personality. For instance, in John

14-16, the Holy Spirit is introduced as a person more than 19 times.

He possesses the

characteristics of a person

He does the work of a

person

He can be treated as a person

Intelligence (1 Cor. 2:10)

Will (Acts 16:7)

Feelings (Eph. 4:30)

Teaches (Jn 14:26)

Guidese (Rom. 8:14)

Intercedes (Rom. 8:26)

Lied to (Acts 5:3)

Blasphemed (Matt. 12:31, 32)

Grieved (Eph. 4:30)

The Holy Spirit is a person and therefore He can’t come into a person in parts or portions.

Description of the Holy Spirit

Names or Titles of the Holy Spirit

The Spirit of …

God (1 Cor 3:16), Christ (Rom. 8:9), Truth (Jn 16:3), Grace (Heb. 10:29), Glory (1 Pet. 4:14),

Life (Rom. 8:12)

The Good Spirit (Psa. 143:10); The Comforter/Counsellor (Jn 14:26; 15:26)

The Emblems or Images of the Holy Spirit

Image Reference Key Idea

Wind Eze. 37:1-14, Jn 3:8 Mystery, Sovereignty and energy

Water Jn 7:37-39 Life giving activity

Fire Mal. 3:1-3, Matt. 3:10-12 Refining/purging activity

Oil Exo. 30:30, Acts 10:37,38 Consecration, dedication

Dove Mk 1:9-11, Jn 1:32, 33 Gentleness

Note: These images should not become objects of worship. Be careful not to press these

images into being anything more than helpful pictures.

Doctrinal Seminars-2020 2 ‘The Holy Spirit’ by Sam K John

Works of the Holy Spirit:

In OT

• Creation – Gen. 1:2, Job 26:13-14, Job 33:4

• Revelation – 2 Sam. 23:1,2; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21

• Empowerment – Num. 27:18-20; Jud. 15:14,15

In NT

➢ Birth of Jesus – Lk 1:35

➢ Baptism of Jesus – Lk 4:18

➢ Trials of Jesus – Matt. 4:1

➢ Crucifixion of Jesus – Heb. 9:14

➢ Resurrection of Jesus – Rom. 1:4, 8:11

➢ Birth and Growth of the Church – Acts

Today in the world – Jn 16:8-11 (convinces of sin, righteousness & judgement)

Today in the life of a believer

 Conviction – Jn 16:8

 Regeneration – Tit. 3:5-7, Eph. 2:1,5

 Indwelling – 1 Cor. 6:19-20, Jn 14:16,17

 Sealing – Eph. 1:13,14

Assurance, preservation for future glory, sanctification, fellowship, power, abiding, power to

obey God are also the works of the Holy Spirit. However, these are just indicative and not

exhaustive.

Pre-Pentecostal Prophecies about the Holy Spirit

A promise to fill all, sons and daughters, young and old, servants and maids – Joel 2:28

The descend of the Holy Spirit from above – Isa. 32:15, Jn. 16:7

A promise to put His Spirit to dwell in us – Eze. 37:14

A promise of Spirit’s permanent dwelling – Jn 14:1

The Pentecost

❖ The 50th day from the Harvest Day is called the Pentecost or the Bread feast day.

Symbolic ref. Passover feast – Crucifixion, Harvest Day – Resurrection, Bread feast day –

the birth of the church (1 Cor. 10:17)

❖ The Pentecost is a Historical event like the birth of Jesus Christ; a fulfillment of OT

prophecy and the promise of Jesus.

❖ The Pentecost marks the birth of the Christian Church, by the coming of the Holy Spirit,

to dwell on this earth till the Lord comes for His Church.

❖ The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples not because they tarried and prayed but God

decided to send His Spirit on account of Jesus’ prayer and they received Him because

they obeyed the words of Jesus.

Doctrinal Seminars-2020 3 ‘The Holy Spirit’ by Sam K John

❖ The Pentecost was marked by a few miraculous signs – Sound of wind, flame like

tongues, speaking in Tongues. This probably happened to signify the occasion and to

confirm the Spirit’s coming to the disciples.

The work of the Holy Spirit in the Early Church

 Authority of the Church was in the hands of the Apostles.

 Christ promised them the help of the Holy Spirit in leading them. (Jn 16:13)

 Jerusalem was the early church and all the Apostles remained in Jerusalem.

 Church mainly consisted of Jewish Christians only.

 God intervened twice (Acts 18:1; 10:13-15) to make the church universal. Open to all.

Portion Acts 8:4-5, 12-17 Acts 10:5,19, 34, 44-

46; 11:15

Acts 19:1-6; Eph.

1:13-14

Place Samaria Caesarea Ephesus

Apostles Peter, John Peter Paul

People Samaritan believers Cornelius & his

household

The followers of

John the Baptist

Mode Prayed, laying hands While preaching Laying hands

Signs Unspecified visible

signs

Tongues, Praising Tongues, Prophecy

Contextual reasons

for the manifestation

of the Holy Spirit

with signs

To make the

Apostles realize that

Samaritans could

also be accepted into

the Church.

To show that Christ

accepted the gentiles

too into the Church.

They were not

believers in Christ.

They were not aware

of the fulfillment of

John’s prophecy. To

include them into the

Church.

Note:

 In all the three occasions, the Apostles were the people of authority and the Holy

Spirit came upon all who were gathered.

 Neither tarrying nor praying from the side of people who received.

 The modes used by the Apostles were different.

 The spirituality of the people who received the Spirit to be noted.

 Apart from these four incidents nowhere in the Scriptures do we find any event of

receiving of the Holy Spirit with similar signs however the work of the Holy Spirit in

the Church continued and still continues.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Gospel References: Matt. 3:11, Mk 1:8, Lk 3:16, Jn 1:33 – Prophecy

Acts Reference:

Acts 1:4,5 – Christ repeats what John taught, still pointing to be in future.

Acts 11:116 – Peter points it as a past event.

Epistle Reference:

1 Cor. 12:13 – Baptism of the Holy Spirit makes all who believe ‘one in Christ’s body’ and

the body of Christ is the Church.

When a person receives Jesus Christ, naturally the Holy Spirit baptizes the person into the

body of Christ.

Doctrinal Seminars-2020 4 ‘The Holy Spirit’ by Sam K John

(Baptism by fire is not the same as Baptism by the Holy Spirit – Matt. 3:11,12; Lk. 3:16,17)

Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9, Eph. 1:13, Gal. 3:14, Jm 7:39)

1. The Anointing

 In OT: Kings, Prophets, Priests 1 Sam. 16: 12,13

 In NT: 1 Pet. 2:9, 1 Jn 2:20,27

 The Anointed Christ: Acts 4:28

 The Anointment with us. 1 Jn 2:27

2. The sealing – Eph. 1:13

3. The Earnest (deposit) – Eph. 1:14

4. The Witness – Rom. 8:16

5. The Sanctification – 2 Thess. 2:13

6. The Guidance – Rom. 8:14

7. The Help – Rom. 8:26,27

8. The Teeaching – Jn 14:26

9. Producing fruit – Gal. 5:22,23

10. Resurrection – Rom. 8:11

11. Giving gifts – Rom. 12:6

The Filling of the Holy Spirit

▪ The command – Eph. 5:18

▪ The Continuance – Acts 2:4, 4:31

▪ The Characteristics – Acts 13:52, Lk. 4:1, Acts 4:31; 6:3

Our Responsibility

❖ Do not grieve Him – Eph. 5:18

❖ Do not quench Him – 1 Thess. 5:19

❖ Have a communion with Him – 2 Cor. 13:14