In our last Teaching Notes, we shared a brief presentation about the Holy Spirit. We now look at the Spirit of God in more depth.
[These notes are from a message preached 40 years ago. The notes are in outline form.]
I. The Spirit of God: In Person
A. The Spirit is a Person
- He does those things which are possible only for a person to do (John 14:26)
- He is affected as a person by other beings (Ephesians 4:30)
- All Bible terms related to the Spirit imply His personality
B. The Spirit is God
- He is called God (Acts 5:3-4)
- He has the attributes of God (Hebrews 9:14)
- He performs the works of God (1 Corinthians 6:11)
- He is presented in Scripture as a personal object of faith (Matthew 28:19)
II. The Spirit of God: In the Beginning
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2
“Spirit” – ruwach .. wind or breath … pneuma .. wind or breath
“hovering over – rachaph … to brood over, to hover over with a gentle wavering or fluttering motions, as of a bird over her young
III. The Spirit of God: In History
As one studies the Old Testament, the Spirit of God is mentioned dozens of times as being very much involved in the life of the nation Israel and the history of other ancient civilizations .. (also involved in Jesus’ birth and ministry)
IV. The Spirit of God: In the World
A. John 14:16-17
1. Counselor (NIV) Comforter (KJV) Helper (NASB)
parakletos – “called to one’s side”
It was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defense, an advocate, one who pleads another’s cause. The word suggests the capability and adaptability of the person to give aid. It has a meaning of strength.
2. Spirit of truth
aletheia
A few verses earlier (14:6), Jesus said that He was the aletheia.
3. to be with you forever
aion – “age”
4. The world cannot accept this Counselor
lambano (active verb) – “to take, to get hold of”
5. because it neither sees him nor knows him
theoreo – “to be discerning and perceptive spectator”
ginosko – “to recognize, to understand”
The things of the Spirit are spiritually discerned. “Jesus said, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
eido – “to be aware of, to perceive, to understand”
6. But you know him
eido – “to be aware of, to perceive, to understand”
7. for he lives with you and will be in you
meno – “to stay, remain”
sun – a primary preposition denoting union
en – a primary preposition denoting fixed position
B. John 15:26-27
The Spirit will testify about Christ
martureo – “to bear witness, record”
C. John 16:5-11
1. When he comes, he will prove the world wrong
elegcho – “tell a fault, rebuke, admonish, convict, convince”
The word can be used in the sense of showing or exposing someone his wrong or sin with a view to repentance. It can also be used in the sense of convicting with a view of condemnation and judgment; to bring in guilty without any confession or feeling of guilt by the guilty one.
2. about sin and righteousness and judgment
hamartia – “a missing of the mark, an offense”
dikaiosune – “the character or quality of being right or just”
krisis – “a separating, condemnation, accusation
a. about sin, because men do not believe in me
pisteuo – “to have faith, to trust”
b. about righteousness, because I am going to the Father
hupago – “to depart, lead oneself”
c. about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned
krino – “tried and punished”
V. The Spirit of God: In the Apostles
A. John 14:26
1. “will teach you all things”
didasko – “to instruct”
panta – “everything”
2. “will remind you of everything”
hupomimnesko – “to remind quietly, to suggest to the memory”
panta – “all things”
B. John 16:12-16
1. He will guide them into all truth
hodegeo – “to show the way”
pas – “the whole, every”
aletheia – “truth, true”
2. He will not speak on His own, He will only speak what He hears
laleo – “say, tell, utter, talk”
akouo – “to come to the ears
(Parallel with John 15:15)
3. He will tell you what is yet to come
anaggello – “to report, declare”
Literal – “for not will he speak from himself, but what things he hears, he will speak, and the coming things he will announce to you.”
What did the Spirit of God announce in detail to the apostles? (1 Corinthians 2:1-16)
(Note: “revealed” is apokalupto – “to take off the cover”)
4. He will bring glory to Christ
“He” is literally “That One”
doxazo – “to magnify, to render glorious”
5. by taking from what is mine and making it known to you
lambano – “to take, to get hold of”
anaggello – “to announce in detail”
6. All that belongs to the Father is mine
echo – to hold
7. The Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you
lambano – “to take, to get hold of”
anaggello – “to announce in detail”
VI. The Spirit of God: In Us
A. He is in us (1 Corinthians 3:16)
1. “you yourselves are God’s temple”
naos – a shrine (dwelling place of divinity)
2. “God’s Spirit lives in you”
oikeo – to occupy a house
en – a primary preposition denoting a fixed position
B. He is our seal and deposit (Ephesians 1:13-14)
1. “you were marked with a seal”
spragizo – to stamp (with a signet or private mark for security or preservation)
In the first century this Greek word was used for placing special marks on shipments and letters. The sealing was the last thing done prior to delivering to prove who it belonged to and to ensure the arrival of its contents in tact. It demonstrated safety.
In the symbolism of Scripture a seal signified basically three things:
- a finished transaction
- ownership
- security
2. “who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance”
arrahabon – a pledge (part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest). Modern Greek uses the word for an engagement ring.
kleronomia – hairship, a possession, an inherited property
C. He made us sons and heirs of God (Romans 8:14-17)
1. “you received the Spirit who makes you sons”
huiothesia – placing as sons, adoption
In Greek grammar the construction is subjective genitive in which the noun of action (adoption) becomes the verb of the subject (Spirit). The Holy Spirit performs the acts of adopting. It is a term of relation, expressing our sonship in respect of standing. It is the acceptance into a family of those who do not by nature belong to it, and the placing of those who are not sons originally and by right in the relation proper to those who are sons by birth.
2. “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ”
kleronomos – denotes one who obtains a lot or portion, especially of an inheritance
sugkleronomos – co-inheritor, participant in common, heir together, heir with, joint-heir
D. He sanctifies us positionally (1 Peter 1:2)
“by the sanctifying work of the Spirit”
hagiasmos – to set apart for purification
The construction is subjective genitive again and sanctification becomes the verb of the subject Spirit. The Spirit does the sanctifying. The elect are –
- chosen according to foreknowledge
- set apart for purification
- for obedience to Christ and sprinkling of His blood
E. He baptized us into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13)
“for we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body”
baptizo – to place into
“by” is a primary preposition which is locative of sphere
The word “Spirit” is in the instrumental case in the Greek. The verb “baptized” is in the passive or middle voice. The personal agent who does the placing into is the Holy Spirit. We could translate: “by means of the personal agency of one Spirit, we all were placed into one body.”
“into” is a primary preposition indicating the point reached or entered
That point is the “body” or soma which means the body as a whole.
Up to this point we have mentioned those things that the Spirit has done for every Christian. Now let’s look at what He desires to do for every believer.
F. He desires to sanctify us progressively (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
“sanctify you through and through”
hagiazo – to make holy
holoteles – complete to the end
G. He desires to fill us (Ephesians 5:18)
“be filled with the Spirit”
pleroo – to make replete, filled up full
(with should be translated by)
Thayer’s Lexicon states – “What wholly takes possession of the mind, is said to fill it.”
It implied control.
H. He desires to produce His fruit within us (Galatians 5:22)
“the fruit of the Spirit”
karpos – fruit
In view of all that the Spirit of God does for us, what can we do for Him?
Seven Responses to the Spirit of God
- Love Him
- Worship Him
- Submit to Him
- Cooperate with Him
- Obey Him
- Don’t grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30) lupeo – to distress, to cause pain or sorrow
- Don’t quench Him (1 Thessalonians 5:19) sbennumi – to extinguish a fire
[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from 40 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you and your ministry.]
