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Holy Spirit – Power Source for the Christian Life!

The Holy Spirit is a very important yet controversial topic. Opinions vary widely about the role of the Spirit, from various forms of traditional orthodox and different levels of charismatic beliefs. However, Christians often lack knowledge of what scripture teaches about the Holy Spirit.

Let’s look at what the Bible itself says about the Spirit to better shape our thinking, based on the true word of God. The general structure of scripture’s teaching about the Spirit for the New Testament church, into three basic areas:

  • The Spirit’s role in salvation
  • The Spirit’s role in our Christian walk
  • The Christian’s duties to the Spirit

Spirit’s role in salvation

Indeed, the Spirit in salvation is key. He performs the following vital functions:

  • Convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8) – This role is vital because left to our own resources, as fallen man both physically and mentally, we would not come to faith and salvation by our own efforts (Romans 3:10-12). Therefore, the Spirit helps unbelievers recognize their faults, the coming judgment and God’s demand for righteousness.
  • Baptizes (Romans 6:2-9; Ephesians 2:4-7; Colossians 2:12-13) – In the epistles the word ‘baptism’ signifies spiritual baptism which occurs at our salvation by the Spirit. The actual meaning of the Greek word for baptism (βαπτιζω, baptizoo) is ‘to identify with’. Therefore, the Spirit baptizes us by identifying us with Christ’s death and resurrection. The Spirit accomplishes this by putting to death our old person and resurrecting us to a new living person. ‘Regeneration’ and ‘born again’ are other concepts in Scripture signifying this important event (Titus 3:5; John 3:9). These wonderful verses demonstrate to us the profound importance of the resurrection because there is no eternal life without the resurrection and regeneration (1 Corinthians 15:13-19).The incredible fact of spiritual baptism (which water baptism may symbolize) gives us surety for our great salvation. As a new creature we cannot be slain and re-created into our old dead self.
  • Seals to redemption (2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14) – This great promise indicates that each believer has the Holy Spirit from time of belief in Christ’s death and resurrection until death and going to be with God. Indeed, one of the definitions of a Christian is one who has the Holy Spirit for if it, a person is not yet a believer (Romans 8: 9).
  • Places believers into the church (1 Corinthians 12:13) – The Spirit graciously places believers, at salvation, into the universal church (body) of Christ of which Christ is the head (1 Corinthians 12:13).

As you can see, the Spirit is integral in bringing believers to salvation, completing salvation and beyond to eternal life. What a fantastic blessing that believers have such a gift from God as the Holy Spirit!

The Spirit’s vital role in the believer’s life

Scripture stated that the Spirit plays a vital and active role in believers’ lives is roughly divided into two basic types: constant and and variable roles.

Constant roles – The Spirit has several continual roles not dependent on believers:

  • Indwells – As mentioned above, the Spirit lives in believers always until the day of redemption (Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14). Therefore, believers have full access to His power and help.
  • Prays for believers (Romans 8:26) – This great truth indicates the Spirit prays on behalf of believers to God. What better source of prayer could one have?

Therefore, like in salvation when the Holy Spirit convicted us to come to faith , regenerated us, placed us in the church and sealed us to the day of our redemption (please review our prior blog), now in our Christian life the He has several key unwavering roles that He graciously provides us no matter what – they do not depend on our conduct or merit.

These constant provisions by the Spirit are important to remember.  Some people might tell us that we receive the God’s Spirit, or have a heightened power of the Spirit, after our salvation by receiving a “second filling.”  Further some may teach that as Christians we could lose the Spirit.

There is no solid scriptural basis for these believers. The Bible is clear we have the Spirit at salvation until we are with God forever. Nothing can diminish or remove His presence from our life. Further we have full access to the Spirit’s power from salvation and only we can diminish it (Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:19).

We have a great God with wonderful promises and abundant provisions to help us live our lives in a fruitful manner, not only in service to Him but providing joy and peace in our own lives.

Believer dependent roles Importantly there are roles for which the Spirit assists believers which are variable and depend upon obedience (Romans 8:1-8). Two passages are critical to understand the Spirit’s help, Romans 8:13-16, 26 and Ephesians 6:10-17:

Romans 8:13-16

  • Stops sin (V.13) – As believers are obedient the Spirit helps put to death the deeds of the flesh.
  • Leads us (V.14) – Many Christians believe this biblical concept but may not understand how He leads. In short, the Spirit uses a believer’s knowledge of God’s word to them (please see below passage in Ephesians 6). Indeed, the Bible often tells believers to be people of knowledge and understanding, for example in Paul’s prayers for others (Ephesians 1:17, Colossians 1:9). Please see the chapter over God’s leading.
  • Comforts believers that they are God’s children (V.16) – The Spirit encourages Christians that they belong to God and should not be anxious about eternal security.

Ephesians 6:10-17 – The magnificent armor of God passage is critical to understanding the Christian lifestyle. It describes our access to God’s power by arming ourselves as a Greek hoplite soldier and his armament. Often Christians wonder how they can know the power of God. These great verses describe it! However, it is also important in showing the role of the Spirit because His mighty actions are linked to each piece of armor in other scripture.

  • Truth (our belt to prepare us v.14) – Living in truth is a fruit of the Spirit (Ephesians 5:9) and provides mental preparation for making proper decisions and actions.
  • Righteousness (our breastplate v.14) – A fruit of the Spirit is a holy heart that is set apart to serve God and perceive and reject sin (Ephesians 5:9).
  • Share the gospel (the shoes to carry us to battle v.15) – By telling others the message of salvation Christians see the power of God to change others and positively affect society, which is assisted by the Spirit (Romans 1:16-17; 2 Timothy 1:7; John 16:8-11).
  • Faith (our shield v.16) – Another result of the Spirit is faith in which we should make all decisions and God desires (Galatians 5:22,23; Romans 14:23).
  • Eternal security (our helmet v.17) – The sound knowledge of security of salvation protects our mind in the face of trouble in this world; its function is from the Spirit (Romans 15:13).
  • The Bible (our sword v.17) – The power of God in the Christian walk is through the action of the Spirit in accordance to the Bible.

Wow what great truths! These passages tell us how the Spirit acts in believers lives to cause them to please God and experience His power.

Therefore, in our Christian walk the Spirit has several vital roles that He graciously provides to produce results, lead and help us live by His power.  However, as His children we need to be obedient to His word to allow the Spirit to work and to attain full access to the Spirit in our lives. God wants us to know Him and be holy like Him. He graciously provides us every avenue to help us accomplish His great goal.

Believer’s responsibilities to the Spirit

Christian’s actions towards the Spirit are nicely divided into two subcategories, what to do and what not to do. According to scripture, the Spirit dwells in believers permanently from the time of belief unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14); the full use of the Spirit’s power is available throughout life.

These verses do not explain how to avoid grieving or suppressing the Spirit. However, we suspect it’s sin that would make the Spirit sad, or suppress His actions in a person’s life because they are seeking their own desires.

  • What to do!
    • Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16,25) – The word ‘walk’ (peripateoo, περιπατεω) indicates our manner of life, or lifestyle, especially in the moral realm. Otherwise we walk in the spirit when we were obedient to what the Bible says.
    • Be mature in the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) – The illustration in this great verse is not to be drunk. Alcohol literally can control brain cells by its chemical effect. In contrast, Christians are to be filled with the spirit! The Greek word for ‘fill’ is πληρόω (Pleroo), which has an abstract meaning to be mature or complete. For born again Christians, their old actions are no longer possible as we have been changed by the Spirit by our regeneration (Titus 3:5; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Corinthians 3:28). Further, as we allow the Spirit to work in our lives through our obedience to the Bible, He uses it to mature us in our Christian walk. Therefore, in contrast with being drunk when actions are controlled by alcohol, a mature believer acts according to the Spirit (i.e., the Bible; John 14:26; John 16:13-14; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Ephesians 6:17).
    • Be zealous towards the Spirit (Romans 12:11) – We should have an attitude of actively seeking the things of the Spirit, which are found in the Bible.
    • Put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13) – The Spirit helps a believer defeat sin, but this verse indicates it is by obedience that a person facilitates the Spirit’s gracious help.

So to help you remember, we act like a ‘cat’ to the Spirit, remember the mnemonic: MEWS (m=mature; e=end sin; w=walk; s=seek the things of the Spirit).

How does a Christian accomplish the four actions above? Scripture is not specific, but based on the New Testament epistles, these commands seem to indicate it is by actively seeking and knowing God’s word and being obedient to it.

By this process the Spirit can change a believer’s mindset as they see God’s working, the truth of His word, answered prayer, and power to change lives to a mature person (2 Corinthians 3:18).

We have a great God who has given us wonderful promises and abundant provisions to help us live our lives in a fruitful manner, not only in service to Him but providing joy and peace in our own lives.

unforgivable sinSpecial bonus: Unforgivable sin

Christ mentions not commit the unforgivable sin by blaspheming the Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32). How does it apply to Christians?

Importantly, this verse often is taken out of context. In this passage Christ is directing His wrath towards the Jewish Pharisees. At Christ’s baptism, at the initiation of his ministry, the Pharisees had rejected the witness given by the Holy Spirit when He came down from heaven on our Savior.

Therefore, to blaspheme the physical manifestation of Christ on earth is forgivable but to reject God’s approval (signified by the Spirit) of his spiritual mission to bring salvation to man is unforgivable, in other words by rejecting the salvation message.

Importantly, Christians are not in view in this passage as they have the Spirit’s sealing until the day of redemption, having accepted Christ as Savior (Ephesians 1:13-14 and 4:30).

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