2010-11-28 (pm) Psalm 139.1-12; Acts 5.

1-11 Teaching on the Holy Spirit

o Concerning the doctrine of the Holy Spirit this is what we have to know:

 We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person. He is eternal God. Distinguished from

the Father and the Son, but not lesser, not created.

 We differ from Jews and Muslims because we believe in One God in Three

persons. The Jews and Muslims deny this teaching, emphatically.

 We believe it because in both the Old and New Testaments, there is good evidence

for the deity of the Holy Spirit.

 Reformed theology, following John Calvin’s lead, has emphasised the role the

Holy Spirit plays in bringing people to saving faith in Christ. We believe that the

Holy Spirit must first work in a person’s heart, making them alive, spiritual, so that

they may respond to God’s good news.

 The Holy Spirit is a person, personally given to Christians, so that, by true faith we

share in Christ and all his blessings. The Holy Spirit comforts us and remains with

us forever. Thus we hardly need to call for the Holy Spirit to come, rather, we

need to recognise that the Holy Spirit is already with us, and we need to be

awakened to his presence.

 The Begic Confession Art. 11 makes reference to the Holy Spirit proceeding from

both the Father and the son.

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 This is a result of the filioque controversy that happened around 1000 A.D. A

disagreement arose within the church as to the role and relationship of the Holy

Spirit within the Trinity.

 The disagreement was never resolved: it resulted in a split, the Western Roman

church on the one side, and the eastern orthodox (Greek Orthodox, Russian

Orthodox, etc.) on the other.

 The issue? Does the Holy Spirit proceed from both the father and the Son, or just

the father. The Eastern Orthodox maintains that he H.S. is sent only from the

Father. The west, said, and the son. Filique is latin for and the son. You can

recognise fili- latin for son, where we get our word filial.

 The verse in question is John 15:26. “When the Counsellor comes, whom I will

send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he

will testify about me.” The concern was that if the Spirit proceeds only from the

Father, then the Spirit is lesser a created member of the Trinity. In 1054, the

churches split.

 The impact of this debate has to do with the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

The Orthodox churches, tend toward a mystical understanding of the Spirit.

 On the other hand, the western churches have associated the work of the Holy

Spirit with the work of Christ. The Holy Spirit attests to the saving power of

Christ. The Holy Spirit not only brings people to apprehend, understand and

receive Christ’s promise, he also leads and guides them to live out that promise.
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 What’s really at issue, is whether or not the Holy Spirit is God. Our New

Testament lesson teaches us that the Holy Spirit is God.

o Then Peter said, `Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that

you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the

money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold?

And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you

think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.

o In the first verse I just read, Peter says Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit. In the

last verse he says, “you have not lied to men but to God.” Clearly, in Luke’s

mind, the Holy Spirit is God. Lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to the Father,

is lying to the Son.

 We can also see from 1 Cor. 6.19 where the apostle describes our bodies as being

temples of the Holy Spirit, we are to honour God with our bodies. What we do in

this life, in this body will either honour or dishonour God. Let us do the former!

 In certain Old Testament passages, mention is made of the Holy Spirit and the

God’s activity. In Hebrews, it is revealed that the Holy Spirit, therefore God, is the

person the Israelites responded to in the wilderness.

 The Holy Spirit is God because he possesses divine attributes: presence during

creation, Moses ascribed the Spirit’s work in the process of creation. This also

means that the Holy Spirit is eternal, an attribute of God. The Spirit was already

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 present when creation began. Arians taught that both the Son and the Spirit were

created, which is clearly contrary to scripture.

 Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is the breath by which God created all things. “By the

word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his

mouth” (Ps. 33.6).

 The Spirit is not only the breath that gave life to Adam, he is the breath that gives

new life to those who believe. He is the actor of new birth. In the conversation he

had with Nicodemus, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom

of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”

 Another divine attribute worth mentioning is the Spirit’s omniscience, and

omnipresence. The Psalmist in our Old Testament lesson at times sounds

exacerbated, where can I go? Where can I get away? If I try to get away, you’re

everywhere. Even the darkness affords no cover!

 Then again, the Spirit’s presence is a comfort for those going through difficult

times. No matter what, even if life seems to be going down the tubes, the Spirit is

there. Nothing can separate us from God’s love, nothing can separate us from the

Spirit.

 The Spirit is all powerful. The Spirit rested upon Jesus, giving him knowledge and

counsel and power. The Spirit is all-powerful because he is God.

 The Spirit carries on the work of Christ. He is the sanctifier of believers. Most

people, when you ask them about their experience of God will tell you how they’ve
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 changed. If before they were non-Christians, their change was sharp. But even

those who have grown up in the church will be able to talk about transformation,

being able to turn from sins that once entrapped them. Changing their lives,

bringing them in line with Christ’s commandments.

 In fact, some sins are specifically directed against the Holy Spirit, first, we’re

commanded not to grieve the Holy Spirit, that is, wantonly avoiding the Spirit’s

leading in our lives, choosing to sin rather than choosing righteousness. Second,

we can blaspheme the Holy Spirit by calling things of God, miracles and such, the

product of the evil one.

 The Holy Spirit permanently lives within believers, every single one of them.

Before Pentecost, the Spirit worked temporarily on certain individuals. The Spirit

powerfully anointed Christ, who also sends the Spirit to anoint us.

 The Holy Spirit works within us to bring truth and understanding to us. He gives

us perspective on all our days. He comforts us when we’re tired, despondent,

drained and weak. He gives us perspective when things are going well, making us

aware to the needs of others, moving us to serve those around us. Moving us to

receive the good gifts of those who offer the care of the Holy Spirit through cards,

help, work, etc.

o “When he comes, he will convict the world of gilt in regard to sin and

righteousness and judgement: in regard to sin, because men do not believe

in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where

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 you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of

this world now stands condemned” (John 16.8-11).

 The Holy Spirit unites believers to Christ. The Spirit encourages us to approach

God without fear. The Spirit prays for us when we are unable to express the words

we wish to say. So involved in our lives, the Spirit completes our thoughts for the

Father. The Spirit guarantees that the gifts of God are given to us as well. The

Spirit is our guarantee, we will live forever with Christ, we are followers of the

truth, we are known and loved by God.

 Why is the doctrine, the teaching concerning the Holy Spirit important? If we go

the way of the Orthodox church, we divorce the Spirit from the person and work of

Christ, we relegate him into superstitious wonder. But the Bible paints a familiar,

intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, one with the

Father and the Son, worthy of praise and worship.