Who is God? Who is Man?

The Person of God The Holy Spirit

Session 5

Who is God? Who is Man? Class Schedule

• Covenant, Relationship and the Knowledge of God (Session 1)

• The Trinity Part 1: The Nature of God (Session 2)

• The Trinity Part 2: The Person of God the Father (Session 3)

• The Trinity Part 3: The Person of God the Son- Jesus Christ (Session 4)

• The Trinity Part 4: The Person of God the Holy Spirit (Session 5)

• The Nature of Man (Session 6)

Review of Last Session• The Incarnation of Christ was necessary in order for God to forgive sin in fallen

Man.• It was necessary for God to become a man in order to provide Covenantal

representation and blood atonement. • As Mankind was represented in Adam, so also were God’s elect represented in

Christ.• It was possible for Jesus to sin in His Human nature, but it was impossible for Jesus

to sin in His Divine nature.• By the Incarnation, a Divine Person took into union with Himself a Human nature,

not a Human person. Therefore, the Person of Christ is a single person with two distinct natures.

• The Incarnation made no change in the Trinity. There are still three persons in the Trinity for the Logos did not unite with a Human person, but with a Human nature.

• Only a mortal man could provide the blood atonement necessary to pay for the penalty of sin since by a mortal man, death was originally brought in.

• God was not obligated in any way nor did He owe forgiveness to any of His creatures.

• God both created and saved purely from His own free gracious choice and good pleasure.

The Deity of the Holy Spirit

Part 1

The Role of God the Holy Spirit

• Each person within the nature of the Trinity fulfills a distinctive role within the eternal purposes and plan of God.

• Even though each person is coequal in power and glory, they all work together cooperatively in different ways to accomplish the Father’s will.

• God the Holy Spirit has a role that is different from God the Father and God the Son.

• The role of God the Holy Spirit is that of the Paraclete (one called alongside of) or the Comforter.

• The Holy Spirit accompanies all Believers and applies the merits and work of Christ to them whereby they are justified and sanctified.

• The Holy Spirit is fully God.

The Holy Spirit is God

• The Scriptures refer to the Holy Spirit as God-– Matthew 28:19-20 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the

nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (the Greek is singular for the word ‘name’)

– 2 Corinthians 3:17 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

– Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God."

The Holy Spirit is Holy

• Psalm 22:3 3 Yet Thou art holy, O Thou who art enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

• Psalm 51:10-11 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Thy presence, And do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me.

• Psalm 111:9 9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name.

• Isaiah 57:15 15 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.

The Omniscience of the Holy Spirit

• The Holy Spirit is Lord and knows all things-

– 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

– 2 Corinthians 3:17 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The Omnipresence of the Holy Spirit

• God the Holy Spirit is present in every place and throughout all time-– Psalm 139:7-10 7 Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee

from Thy presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Thy hand will lead me, And Thy right hand will lay hold of me.

– Psalm 90:1-4 Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born, Or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God. 3 Thou dost turn man back into dust, And dost say, "Return, O children of men." 4 For a thousand years in Thy sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or as a watch in the night.

The Omnipotence of the Holy Spirit

• The Holy Spirit is all powerful and accomplishes God’s purposes-– Genesis 1:1-2 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2

And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

– Romans 8:11 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.

– Romans 15:18-19 18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

– Matthew 12:28 28 "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

– John 6:63 63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

• The Holy Spirit creates, raised Christ from the dead, empowers the Apostles to perform miracles, casts out demons and gives life. The Holy Spirit is Almighty God.

The Person & Work of the Holy Spirit

Part 2

Scripture Describes the Role of the Holy Spirit

• The Lord Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as a distinct person with a specific role-

– John 15:26 26 "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me,

– John 16:7 7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

The Spirit is Our Companion

• John 14:16-17 16 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.

• The Holy Spirit acts like a brother to each one of us by always being with us. He will be our companion through thick and thicker.

The Spirit Directs, Appoints and Sends Forth

• Acts 1:1-2 1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.

• Acts 13:2 2 And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

• Acts 13:4 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

The Spirit Speaks

• John 16:13 13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

• Mark 13:11 11 "And when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit Bears Witness to Truth

• John 15:26 26 "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me,

• Acts 5:32 32 "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."

• Romans 8:16 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

The Spirit Inspires Scripture

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

• 2 Peter 1:20-21 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

The Spirit Searches & Knows

• 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

The Spirit Teaches and Instructs

• Nehemiah 9:20 20 "And Thou didst give Thy good Spirit to instruct them, Thy manna Thou didst not withhold from their mouth, And Thou didst give them water for their thirst.

• 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

The Spirit Convicts People of Their Sins

• John 16:7-11 7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

The Spirit Regenerates & Renews

• John 3:5-6 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

• John 6:63 63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

• Titus 3:5 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

The Spirit of God Grants Repentance

• 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 8 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it-- for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while-- 9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

• 2 Timothy 2:24-26 24 And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

The Spirit Grants Faith That Leads to Eternal Life

• John 6:28-29 28 They said therefore to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

• John 6:37-40 37 "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

• John 6:43-47 43 Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught of God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 "Not that any man has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

• John 6:63-65 63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father."

• John 10:14-15 14 "I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

• John 10:25-29 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these bear witness of Me. 26 "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

• Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

• Titus 3:5 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

The Spirit Indwells Believers

• John 14:16-17 16 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.

• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

• Romans 8:9-11 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.

• Ephesians 2:21-22 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

The Spirit Seals Believers to Christ

• 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

• Ephesians 1:13-14 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

The Spirit Sanctifies Believers• Galatians 5:16-18 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the

desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

• Philippians 1:6 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• 2 Thessalonians 2:13 13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

• 1 Peter 1:1-3 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.

The Issue of Sanctification

• The Scriptures teach that Christians are sanctified "positionally" meaning that God views Christians as being perfectly holy because of Christ. Christians are then sanctified "progressively" meaning that God transforms a Christian's life to produce less and less of the acts of the sinful nature (Galatians 5:19-21) and more and more of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) over time throughout their lives. Christians will one day be sanctified "ultimately" meaning that Christians will one day be absolutely free from the power and presence of sin which occurs only after physical death, but some Believers embrace a modern movement labeled ‘Entire Sanctification’ which teaches that complete sanctification is attainable in this mortal lifetime.

• The Bible describes Christians being ultimately sanctified in 1 John 3:2, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." It is clear in this Scripture that we will be like Christ once we see Him. This is something that only occurs at death, or will occur at the coming of Christ in the rapture. 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 describes the bodies that Christians will receive once they are glorified and ultimately sanctified. In this passage as well, death and/or eternity are in view - not the earthly mortal life.

• The Bible also consistently teaches that no one in this world is free from sin. 1 John 1:8 declares, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." Ecclesiastes 7:20 tells us, "There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." So, it seems very clear from Scripture that sinless perfection is not possible in this life. Entire sanctification should always be our goal and desire since the Bible commands us to be holy in 1 Peter 1:16 "Be holy, because I am holy“, however, entire sanctification is not possible in this life. Until we are freed from our fallen bodies and delivered from this sinful world, we will always have to struggle against sin. But praise God for our ultimate victory, "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:56-57).

The Spirit Authors & Inspires Prayer in the Believer

• Zechariah 12:10 10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born.

• Romans 8:26-27 26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

• Ephesians 6:18 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

• Jude 1:20-21 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

The Spirit Binds All Believers Together Into the

One Body of Christ• 1 Corinthians 12:11-31 1 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to

each one individually just as He wills. 12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly members come to have more abundant seemliness, 24 whereas our seemly members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.

The Spirit of God Glorifies Christ in All Things

• John 12:28 28 "Father, glorify Thy name." There came therefore a voice out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."

• John 16:13-15 13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 "He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. 15 "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you.

• Hebrews 5:5 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, "Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee";

Summary• The Holy Spirit possesses all of the eternal attributes of God.• Jesus speaks of the Spirit as the Comforter or the Paraclete (one

called alongside of) whom He promised to send to dwell within each one of us.

• The Holy Spirit has all the characteristics of a person including-– Speaking– Instructing– Commanding– Knowing– Sending– Appointing

• The Holy Spirit indwells the hearts of all true Believers.• The Holy Spirit applies the atonement of Christ to all of God’s elect.• The Holy Spirit justifies and sanctifies all believers.• The Holy Spirit’s supreme work is to reveal and glorify the Lord

Jesus Christ.

POP-QUIZ

1. T or F: The Holy Spirit is a distinct, Divine person.2. T or F: The Holy Spirit is not Omnipresent

(everywhere at the same time).3. T or F: The Holy Spirit regenerates those destined

for salvation before they repent and believe.4. T or F: The Holy Spirit makes Believers 100% free

from sin and its effects in this mortal life.5. T or F: The Holy Spirit connects all Believers past,

present and future and unites them as the single body of Christ.

POP-QUIZ ANSWER KEY

1. TRUE

2. FALSE

3. TRUE

4. FALSE

5. TRUE

THANK YOU!

We hope that you enjoyed this presentation and learned some new

things about the Holy Spirit. Please join us next week for our last session in this

series as we complete our study by looking in depth at the nature of Man.

Who is God? Who is Man? Class Schedule

• Covenant, Relationship and the Knowledge of God (Session 1)

• The Trinity Part 1: The Nature of God (Session 2)

• The Trinity Part 2: The Person of God the Father (Session 3)

• The Trinity Part 3: The Person of God the Son- Jesus Christ (Session 4)

• The Trinity Part 4: The Person of God the Holy Spirit (Session 5)

• The Nature of Man (Session 6)