143 – The Holy Spirit – His Works

SEMESTER 3

143 – The Holy Spirit – His Works

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: THEOLOGY III LESSON # 43
THE HOLY SPIRIT (HIS WORKS)

INTRODUCTION:

There are many misunderstandings today as to the work of the Holy Spirit.

1. Some ignorantly credit Him with:

i. Giving ecstatic feelings to “seek saints.”
ii. Bestowing upon that group the “gift of tongues.”
iii. Empowering “positive thinkers” to perform their chosen work for God.

2. Others credit Him with so indwelling the believer, that He may ef­fortlessly know and do all that God ordains.
3. Both of these categories of thinkers are mistaken in that:

i. They credit Him with things He does not do.
ii. They fail to see either the scope or direction of His work.

I. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN GENERAL

1. He is the agent of God in creation. (Gen. 1:2)
2. He inspired all writers of Scripture. (II Pet. 1:21)
3. He is the agent of God in all His works. (Job 33:4, Ps. 104:29-30, Isa. 40:7, Luke 1:35, Acts 10:38)

II. HIS WORK IN THE LOST

1. His indirect work in, or upon, lost men. By this is meant the work done upon mind and conscience through the word, as in Acts 7:51 and 52. This is truly a work of the Holy Spirit, since He is the author of the Word. There are some who erroneously believe this is the only kind of work He does in lost men today.

i. The Spirit strives with the lost. (Gen. 6:3)
ii. He convicts them of sin, righteousness and judgment. (Jn. 16:8-11)

III: It is as if the Spirit of Christ returns to “haunt” His murderers, and convince them of their sin, because they slew the Son of righteousness, and thus to convince them of judgment to come.

iii. This division of the Spirit’s work is not only resistible, but is always resisted by sinners.

1. His direct work in the lost. (Regeneration)

i. Regeneration precedes faith and repentance logically, else you have dead men repenting and believing.
ii. Regeneration, repentance and faith chronologically are simulta­neous, else you have either a saved unbeliever, or an unsaved believer.
iii. Thus, it is necessary and proper to discern between convic­tion and regeneration, and see that it logically and chrono­logically precedes it.
iv. This work of the Spirit is irresistible, (not violating the will, but working behind it). Consider Jn. 1:12-13, Jn. 6:65, Jn. 6:37, Jn. 6:44-45 and Rom. 8:7-8.

III. HIS WORK IN THE SAVED

We have previously stated the certainty of the Spirit indwelling the believer. The works accomplished by, and through, this indwelling are:

1. Giving assurance of salvation. (Rom. 8:16, II Cor. 1:22, Eph. 1:14)
2. Giving comfort, indoctrination and enlightenment. (Jn. 16:7, I Cor. 2:9-12, Eph. 1:17, I Jn. 2:20 and 27)
3. Leading us into, and in, obedient service. (Rom. 8:14, Gal. 5:16, Acts 8:27 and 29, Heb. 8:10)
4. In calling us to special service. (Acts 13:2 and 4)
5. In distributing spiritual gifts. (I Cor. 12:4-11)
6. In leading believers to (by water baptism) unite with a local church. (I Cor. 12:13)
7. Empowering Christians in service. (Acts 1:8, I Cor. 2:4, I Thes. 1:5)
8. In making us fruitful. (Gal. 5:22-25)

i. In interceding for us. (Rom. 8:26-27, Gal. 4:6)

9. In stirring our hearts to worship. (Phil. 3:3)

i. In quickening us at the resurrection. (Rom. 8:11-23)

(I gladly acknowledge that this outline is essentially based on the work of T. P. Simmons, A. H. Strong and Bancroft.)