Great, Sovereign God…Among Us! The Holy Spirit, the Paraclete Jesus to His disciples: I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate [allon

Great, Sovereign God…Among Us!

The Holy Spirit, the ParacleteJesus to His disciples:I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate

[allon paracleton] – John 14:16Allon: “another of the same kind”Paracleton: Advocate, Counselor, Helper

The intimate presence, guidance, and friendship of Jesus would be continued.

“Holy Spirit” in the Old Testament

Term Holy Spirit only used twice in Old Testament:

- But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He became their enemy and fought against them. Then He remembered the days of the past, the days of Moses and his people. Where is He who brought them out of the sea. – Is 63:10-11

- Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. – Ps 51:11

Two Old Testament MetaphorsDescribing Presence of the

Spirit1. Neshema meaning “breath”2. Ruach meaning “wind”

- Imply invisible to the eye; yet presence felt like the wind.

- Like wind, can be gentle or destructive

- Like breath, presence means life and absence means death

Translated In the New Testament

These terms translated in the NT with Greek word pneuma ("air").

Thus, doctrine of the Spirit = pneumatology

So, breath, wind, and air imply a connection both of intimacy

and mystery

- The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. – John 3:8

3 Levels of Understanding ofthe Effects of the Spirit in the OT

The Work of God in human experience...

1. Ecstatic experienceRelies on OUTWARD, visible, and sometimes DRAMATICmanifestations of the Spirit

Seen in early cultic prophets:- Experiences consisted of ecstatic utterances, trances, and

dancing- 1 Samuel 10:9-13…


When Saul turned around to leave Samuel, God changed his heart, and all

the signs came about that day. When Saul and his attendant arrived at

Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God took

control of him, and he prophesied along with them.

Everyone who knew him previously and saw him prophesy with the

prophets asked each other, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is

Saul also among the prophets?” Then a man who was from there asked,

“And who is their father?” As a result, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

became a popular saying. Then Saul finished prophesying and went to

the high place.

1 Samuel 10:9-13


The Work of God in human experience...

2. Messianic- Manifested in an INWARD disposition of the HEART vs.

the outward dramatic works

- Might be known in terms of WORDS. Example: Words of classical writing prophets in Israel between 8th and 5th centuries B.C.


The Work of God through created order...

3. Creator Spirit- In creation story, Spirit of God was "moving over the

face of the waters” in Gen 1:2.

- Spirit (Neshema) implied in creation of man who God formed “from dust from the ground, and breathed into

his nostrils the breath of life.” – Gen 2:7


Everything depends upon the Spirit of God for its continual existence:

When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take awaytheir breath, they die and return to the dust. When You sendYour breath, they are created, and You renew the face

of the earth. – Psalm 104:29-30

New Testament ReferencesIn NT, references to the Spirit of God (now more often

calledthe Holy Spirit) became more prevalent and more

personal.

Gospel of Luke makes the work of the Holy Spirit central and

continues that into Acts:- Luke is about the Messiah, the “anointed one”- Acts is about the "anointed people“- Anointing: refers to presence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

New Testament ReferencesGospel of John- Teachings on the parakletos (John 15 & 16).- Holy Spirit also seen as teacher, witness, judge, and guide.

Letters of Paul fill out our understanding of the Holy Spirit:

- Regenerating and sanctifying power- Cannot be considered apart from Christ; is the Spirit of Christ

Christian Pneumatology

Defined as the Study of Doctrine of the Spirit.

Pneuma = wind, breath

Christian PneumatologyHow Christians would understand the deity and

personhood ofHoly Spirit?

- During the fourth century, Gregory Nazianzus, a Bishop ofConstantinople helped define the person and deity of the

Spirit for the early church.

- His stance was the teaching of Scripture concerning the Spirit,

one must conclude that the Spirit is not impersonal power orenergy but God Himself. Distinctively God the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit and the Son

What was the controversy between

Western & Eastern Early Church?


Western View

The Nicene Creed, originally stated “We believe...in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Life-giver, thatproceedeth from the Father.”

Late 6th Century the Western Bishops clarify by saying the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.

The Holy Spirit and the Son Western View

In addition the early church leaders wanted to discourage teachings

that implied the Spirit of God is different from the experience ofChrist.

- Otherwise called “enthusiasm”, a religion based almost solely on highly emotional experiences.

- The safe guard was that the Spirit does nothing, as far as the New Testament is concerned, without referencing the Son.

The Holy Spirit and the Son Eastern View

Eastern Churches were more traditional and wanted to preserve the

concept of the Father and God as one. From Him alone all things

receive their being.

Church Leaders also believed the Spirit ought to be seen asproceeding from the Father, through the Son, and not from the

Son.


Did the early Church have any common ground?


They both wanted to preserve the Oneness of God.

Also, the Son’s equal status with the Father.

The Holy Spirit and ScriptureThe issue and the doctrine of the Person and

Purpose of the Holy Spirit were highlighted for the first

time in church history during the Protestant

Reformation, early 16th century.

The Holy Spirit and ScripturePrior to Protestant Reformation- Catholic Church was set up as the mediator between God and sinners

- Catholic Church was the ultimate authority on all doctrinal and moral issues

- People were ostracized from the church

- The love and grace of Christ were not evident

- Eternal life was more or less attained through the purchase of indulgences

- People did not trust the church

The Holy Spirit and Scripture

Protestant Reformation (1517 – early 17th century)

Martin Luther (1517) and the 95 Theses- It was the role of the Holy Spirit – not the Catholic church - to be

mediator between God and man- Scripture was the ultimate authority on all matters of doctrine, human

behavior, and morality- God wanted a personal relationship with sinners- Eternal salvation was through Christ alone

Scripture as the ultimate authority- If Scripture is the Word of God, then the Catholic church did not create

the Scriptures- Doctrine and practice must rest on Scripture alone

The Holy Spirit and ScriptureEnd of Protestant Reformation

John Calvin (Early/Mid 16th Century)- Scripture must not be interpreted loosely and without accountability

- Since Scripture was created by God the Spirit, then the Spirit Himself must be the only One to illuminate the meaning of the words of Scripture

After the Protestant Reformation / Current- “One confirms and testifies to the other.”

- Scripture opens the mind, unlocks truth, serves as a “measuring stick”

- Holy Spirit causes us to respond

The Holy Spirit and Scripture

We’ve already heard some about the Person of the Holy Spirit. But what does Scripture say about the purpose of the Holy Spirit, in

our world, and in our lives as Christians?

There is a lot of confusion.

The Holy Spirit and ScriptureThe Holy Spirit works in creation Creation of the world- The Spirit “hovering over the waters” (Gen. 1:2)

- Psalm 33:6 “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made; And by the breath of His mouth all their host.”

Creation of man (Gen. 1:26-27)

The Holy Spirit works in redemption- John 3:5 “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.”

- He convicts us, and leads us to repentance. (John 16:7-11 and Acts 26:20)

The Holy Spirit and ScriptureThe Holy Spirit works in revelation

In the Old Testament, God revealed His truth through the prophets (Isaiah, Nehemiah)

In the New Testament, God revealed His truth through the HolySpirit, as evidenced by the Scriptures

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

The Holy Spirit and ScriptureThe Holy Spirit helps us remember things that

God hassaid or done before

- John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

The Holy Spirit testifies to the Truth of God

- 1 John 5:6 “This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.”

The Holy Spirit and ScriptureThe Holy Spirit provides guidance

He helps us discern between right and wrong - John 16:13a “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…”

He helps us determine the right path- Isaiah 30:21 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

The Holy Spirit intercedes for us, to the Father

- Romans 8:26 “ 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.”

The Holy Spirit and ScriptureThe Holy Spirit equips and empowers us

To do good works (Romans 7:18)

To fulfill our mission - Acts 1:7-8 “He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs

which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.

He gives us the words to say when we don’t have them (Romans 12:12)

The Holy Spirit unifies us 1 Cor. 12:4 “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same

Spirit…”

The Holy Spirit and ScriptureHe comforts us - 2 Cor. 1:4 “…Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can

comfort those in any trouble, with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

- John 16:7

He mediates our present circumstance, and the future we

long for with Christ- John 16:12-13 “I have many more things to say to you, but you

cannot bear them now. 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.”

- 1 Cor. 2:9-10

The Holy Spirit After the Coming of Christ

How is the Holy Spirit of the New Testament

different from the Spirit of the Old Testament?


“…the Gospels impress us with the idea that

the presence of the risen Christ has brought

believers into a new relationship with the Spirit.”


LEADERSJoshuaNumbers 27:18

Saul1 Samuel 10:6-7, 10

David1 Samuel 16:13-142 Samuel 23:2

JUDGESOthnielJudges 3:10

GideonJudges 6:34

JephthahJudges 11:29

SamsonJudges 13:25

Judges 14:6-19

PROPHETSBalaam

Numbers 24:2

IsaiahIsaiah 48:16-17

EzekielEzekiel 2:1-3

MicahMicah 3:8


Common to think of the Christian experience with the Holy Spirit

to be miraculous and ecstatic manifestations -- signs, healings,

speaking in tongues, etc.

- Luke identified these events as assurances that God was present in a new

and powerful way in the church. Luke takes us from an account of themessianic person (in the Gospel) to the messianic people (in Acts), and

theyare seen to be messianic by virtue of their anointing by the Spirit.

- Are the signs themselves what is new about the Holy Spirit? Are they what

define the Christian experience of the Holy Spirit?


What then, is distinctive about the Christian experience of the Holy Spirit?

The clearest example of what is new is in the Gospel of John:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever...” - John 14:15-16


It’s not occasional manifestations that distinguishes the Church’s

experience with God, but the fact that God is now a constant

presence who operates in us to do His will.

- Romans 8:5-11

- 1 Corinthians 6:19

- Galatians 5:16-26


“This then is what is new: That which men and women had desperately longed for is made available to them – reconciliation with God in their everyday works, their

profoundest desires, and their constant striving.”

Documents

Great, Sovereign God…Among Us! The Holy Spirit, the Paraclete Jesus to His disciples: I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate [allon