The Creed: What We Believe - 6

July 18, 2021 Preacher: Series: The Creed: What We Believe

Scripture: John 14:15–26, John 5:5–15, Acts 1:9

John 14:15-26; John 16:5-15; Acts 1:8

Introduction

“I Believe in the Holy Spirit…”

“The Christian life, true spirituality, can never have a mechanical solution. The real solution is being cast up into moment-by-moment communion, personal communion, with God himself, and letting Christ’s truth flow through me through the agency of the Holy Spirit.” Francis A. Schaeffer

The Holy Spirit empowers us to experience God’s presence and walk in freedom

I. The Promise of the Holy Spirit
God’s Word is his revelation to us, but only through the ministry of the Spirit can we ever understand and obey it.

“But the Spirit and the Word work inseparably. One without the other leads to a dysfunctional Christianity. Just as a toaster without a plug is useless, biblical knowledge apart from the Spirit is impotent.” JD Greear

But Jesus now promises the Holy Spirit to his disciples. Jesus asks His Father for another Helper who is called the Spirit of truth.

“He is another Helper, not a different Helper.” W. Hendrickson

Another means “one like myself” who will take my place, do my work. The Holy Spirit is called “another Helper” or “another Paraclete.” This word paraclete means that he is a person “called to the side” in order to help.

The Son is parakletos, the Spirit is allos parakletos.

“But Paul’s view of the relationship between Christ and the Spirit has clear parallels with the idea present in the Johannine witness: the Son and the Spirit share an identity of ministry. The Son is parakletos, the Spirit is allos parakletos. Both function as paracletes and do so successively in the earthly realm, the Spirit being another of the same kind as the Son…Thus to have the Spirit is to have Christ; to have Christ is to have the Spirit. Not to have the Spirit of Christ is to lack Christ. To have the Spirit of Christ is to be indwelt by Christ…Thus, to have the Spirit is to have Christ; to have Christ is to have the Spirit. Not to have the Spirit of Christ is to lack Christ. To have the Spirit of Christ is to be indwelt by Christ (Romans 8:9-11).” S. Ferguson


“So complete is the union between Jesus and the Paraclete that the coming of the latter is the coming of Jesus himself in the Spirit.” S. Ferguson

II. The Mystery of the Holy Spirit
“The mystery of the Trinity is that only one God exists in three Persons. Each person is distinct from the other two, but in experiencing one, you experience the one God who is them all.” JD Greear

1) The Holy Spirit is God
The Holy Spirit is recognized as God (Acts 5:3,4; Acts 21:11) Jesus refers to the HS as God (Matt.12:28).

The Holy Spirit has divine attributes. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent (Psalm 139, John 14:16,17). He is also omniscient (Isa. 40:13; 1 Cor. 2:10). He is also omnipotent. He is identical with Almighty God (Job 33:4; 1 Cor. 12:11).

2) The Holy Spirit is a Person
He is not a power, thing or it! When referring to the HS personal pronouns such as He and Him are used (John 16:13 – “…he will guide you into all truth). Also, Acts 13:2 say “Set apart from me…)

3) The Holy Spirit has Personal Characteristics
He has intelligence (Acts 13, “Holy Spirit said…). He has a will (Acts 16:6, “forbidden by the HS to speak the word in Asia), and the HS has feelings or emotions (Eph. 4:30).

4) The Holy Spirit Dwells Within You and Me!
This is just a few things he does for us:
a) He counsels us
b) He comforts us
c) He helps us speak boldly
d) He empowers us to overcome sin
e) He convicts us and the world
f) He brings life and freedom
g) He gives gifts
h) He produces fruit in us
i) He assures us we have been adopted
j) He reveals Scripture to us

III. Conclusion
“The truth of the matter is this. The distinctive, constant, basic ministry of the Holy Spirit under the new covenant is so to mediate Christ’s presence to believers – that is, to give them such knowledge of his presence with them as their Savior, Lord, and God – that three things happen…personal fellowship with Jesus…personal transformation of character into Jesus’ likeness…the Spirit-given certainty of being loved, redeemed and adopted through Christ.” J.I. Packer
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