(4) HIS WORK IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
READ: John 1
The Holy Spirit is sometimes called the ‘hidden’ member of
the Trinity because he never speaks about himself but only
of Christ. His role is to teach men and women about Jesus
Christ.
The Holy Spirit’s ‘spot light’ ministry to glorify Jesus.
Jesus said of the Spirit, ‘He will glorify Me.’ There is a
dangerous tendency today among some Christians to be so
preoccupied with the manifestations and gifts of the Holy
Spirit that they lose sight of the centrality that should always
be given to ‘Jesus Christ and Him crucified’.
We need to remember that pre-eminence is always given to
Christ by the Holy Spirit and by the Scripture themselves.
The Holy Spirit is given us to glorify Christ ‘that in all
things He may have the pre-eminence’. (Colossians 1:18)
The Spirit’s work in the believer
The Holy Spirit is responsible for the conception, birth, and
development of every Christian. The Holy Spirit is with us
from the cradle to the grave. He who began our salvation
will also complete it. Whom he saves, he also sanctifies.
This reminds us about Jesus’ promise to his disciples about
the helper. He would be with them forever, ‘I will not leave
you orphans; I will come to you.’(John 14:18)
THE INCARNATION
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the
truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but
whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you
the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will
take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father
has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine
and declare it to you.
NOTE: The study of the Holy Spirit is called
‘Pneumatology’
Q: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE HOLY
SPIRIT?
A: The Bible says that the work of the Spirit is essential and
that nothing of spiritual worth can be done apart from Him.
Without his work:
*Christ would not be raised from the dead – no resurrection
*No one born again – no Christians
*No effective witness – no evangelism
*No apostles would record Christ’s teaching – no bible
*No spiritual gifts – no power
*No fruits of the spirit – no life
ANOTHER HELPER (John 14:16-18)
Let us look at what the Bible says about the Helper, the
Spirit of Truth, who would take Jesus’ place after his return
to heaven
(1) HE IS A PERSON
(a) He has PERSONAL QUALITIES
(i) He has KNOWLEDGE (1 Cor. 2: 10-11)
(ii) He has a WILL (1 Cor. 12:11)
(iii) He can be GRIEVED (Ephesians 4:30)
(iv) He can be LIED TO (Acts 5:3)
(v) He INTERCEDES for us (Romans 8:26)
(b) He has a PERSONAL MINISTRY
Jesus told his followers that he was sending someone to look
after them who would be like a parent to them. In John 13-
16, Jesus refers to the ‘helper’ as ‘he’ thirteen times. This is
so the disciples realised that it was someone who was
coming to help them, not something.
(c) He has a PERSONAL EFFECT on us
When someone becomes a believer, new qualities begin to
appear in his life; these are called the fruit of the Spirit.
(Galatians 5:22-23)
(d) He has a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with us.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have deep personal
interest in, and concern for us. (2 Cor. 13:14)
(2) HE IS GOD
(a) He is EQUAL to the Father and Son. (Matt. 28:19)
(b) He has DIVINE QUALITIES
(i) He is ETERNAL (Hebrews 9:14)
(ii) He is OMNIPRESENT ( Psalm 139:7-8)
(iii) He is OMNIPOTENT (Luke 1:35)
(iv) OMNISCIENT (1 Cor. 2:11)
(c)He is REFERRED as GOD (Acts 5:3-4)
(3) HIS RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER MEMBERS OF
THE TRINITY
Each member of the Trinity works in perfect unity and
cooperation with the other two. Whatever they do, they do
harmoniously together.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each have their own
distinctive part to fulfill in accomplishing our salvation.
(i) The Father planned salvation by sending His Son.
(1 John 4:14)
(ii) The Son accomplished salvation by dying on the cross.
( John 17:4)
(iii)The Holy Spirit applies salvation to all who truly
believe. (1 Cor. 2:12)
(iv) The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.
For the purposes of man’s salvation, the Holy Spirit
subordinates himself to them both. (John 15:26)