Lesson for June 23, 2019
The Integrity of God
Fourth Imputation: Divine Righteousness to Believers
The Ministries of the Holy Spirit to Church Age Believers
Efficacious Grace
The ministries of God the Holy Spirit begin with efficacious (effective) grace when God the Holy Spirit makes the Gospel message clear and understandable to an unbeliever. Upon faith in Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit makes faith effective for salvation and eternal life. Grace, “charis” in Greek, is often defined as God’s unmerited favor or undeserved mercy, which are correct but simplified definitions. God’s grace is much, much more than simply unmerited favor or undeserved mercy. Grace is all that God is free to do for mankind on the basis of Jesus Christ’s saving work on the Cross. The grace of God is the expression of His character, His integrity, His love, His long suffering, His justice, His righteousness and His perfection. The maximum expression of His grace is the Cross. The word efficaciousis defined as “having the power to produce the intended effect,” or simply stated, effective. Therefore, efficacious grace is effective grace – grace that has the power to produce the intended effect. When applied to salvation, efficacious grace is all that God the Holy Spirit does for people both before and after they put their faith in Christ that produces the intended result of deliverance (salvation). This is called saving grace because it saves the unbeliever from the condemnation of spiritual death (separation from God) and places that person, who is now a believer, in a permanent relationship with God. This permanent relationship sets up great potential for blessing from God, all of which is based upon His grace. (John 3:18; Romans 8:1)
It’s important that we understand the role of God the Holy Spirit in our lives as Christians. The Christian life is a supernatural way of life. Success depends on the Holy Spirit and on Bible doctrine in the believer’s soul. There has been much confusion and misrepresentation of the Holy Spirit and His ministries, some due to incorrect translation and some due to inaccurate interpretation. The ministries of the Holy Spirit are not seen or felt. They are facts stated in God’s Word for us to believe. Only by examining God’s Word can a believer truly understand the Holy Spirit and His role in our lives. Here is an overview of what the Holy Spirit does for each of us as believers.
Regeneration
Regeneration is the act of God the Holy Spirit in giving eternal life to a person at the time of faith in Christ as his Savior. This person is said to be born again, alive from the dead and a new creature.
(II Corinthians 5:17-19) Being born-again is better translated, born from above. In other words, born of God. This new birth results in a person’s receiving eternal life and many other spiritual assets. (John 3:3-8) Being made alive indicates that the person was dead. This, of course, is not referring to physical death, but to spiritual death or separation from God. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit solves this problem by imputing spiritual life into the person who believes in Christ as Savior. (Ephesians 2:5-6; Colossians 2:13) Prior to salvation a person has no spiritual life; they are spiritually dead. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration that first acts as a human spirit so that an unbeliever can understand the Gospel and upon faith in Christ creates a human spirit in that person (a new creation). This new creation is something that never existed before, and it is the means whereby a person can have fellowship with God. (I Corinthians 2:10-14; II Corinthians 5:17)
Indwelling
The indwelling of God the Holy Spirit begins immediately upon faith in Christ and is permanent. This ministry is unique to the Church Age in which we live. It is this ministry that assures our royal status, since all believers, regardless of their spiritual health, are equally indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This ministry also creates a temple in the body of each believer for the indwelling of Christ, the Shekinah Glory. “Shekinah” literally means “dwelling.” It is the indwelling Holy Spirit that enables the believer to understand spiritual truth, to glorify Christ and to witness for Christ. (Galatians 3:2-3; 4:6; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16-17; 6:19-20; John 14:16-20; Colossians 1:27)
Sealing
The sealing ministry is the believer’s guarantee of eternal life. It is through this ministry that believers are secure forever. The Holy Spirit Himself is the seal or down payment of a future inheritance – the time when believers receive their glorified bodies. It means that we are permanently identified as God’s own possession. (II Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30)
Baptism
Upon faith in Christ, the believer is placed in permanent union with Christ by means of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This union guarantees us a share of Christ’s inheritance. Believers are not only heirs of God; they are joint heirs with Christ and become Royal Family of God. This relationship of being “in Christ” is unique to this dispensation of the Church Age. (Romans 8:14-17; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:3-11)
Spiritual Gifts
At the moment of salvation, the sovereignty of God the Holy Spirit gives every believer at least one spiritual gift. These gifts are given so that the local church can properly function. Some of these gifts were temporary or foundational, as the early church was being formed. The church has been formed and we have the completed Canon of Scripture as our guide and authority. Therefore, the temporary gifts are no longer necessary. Permanent gifts are essential for the function of the local church. (I Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:11)
Filling
Filling in Greek means to fill up a deficiency, to be fully possessed, to be fully influenced and to be filled with a certain quality. Without the Holy Spirit we are deficient to learn and apply doctrine or resist the influence of Satan. The Holy Spirit possesses or controls the soul of the believer who is in fellowship with God. When a believer is being controlled by the Holy Spirit, every area of his life is being influenced. The quality that a believer is filled with is the character of Jesus Christ, which leads to spiritual maturity. The filling is temporary, depending on a believer’s fellowship with God. Fellowship with God means that there is no unconfessed sin in the life. Fellowship with God is achieved by naming or admitting known sins directly to God. This means keeping “short accounts” (naming your sin immediately when sin is realized). It is this control of the Holy Spirit that provides the power to execute the Christian Way of Life, which includes both your relationship with God (your spiritual life) and with people (your Christian life). A believer is glorifying Christ when he produces the fruit of the Spirit and exhibits the character of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 4:19; 5:22-23)
Teaching and Guiding
God the Holy Spirit is the believer’s teacher and guide. It is His ministry to guide a believer to truth and teach a believer that truth. He uses pastor-teachers in this age to teach Bible doctrine, but it is the Holy Spirit that makes that information understandable. Believers learn Bible doctrine when they expose themselves to it under the control of the Holy Spirit. The result is storage of doctrinal information that can be used by the Holy Spirit to guide us into a victorious Christian life. IGNORANCE OF GOD’S WORD MEANS LIMITED GUIDANCE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. (John 7:17; 14:26; 16:13-14; Romans 8:14; I Corinthians 2:10-16; II Timothy 2:15; 3:16)
Intercession
The ministry of intercession is the Holy Spirit mediating on behalf of the believer. This is a normal function of a priest. The believer is a royal priest, Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest, but the Holy Spirit is never said to be a priest (strictly a human function). However, we are told that the Holy Spirit makes intercession for believers. The reason this is possible is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Since He is indwelling a priest, He is able to “make groanings which cannot be uttered” for us. His intercession is for us in times in which we are unable to pray due to intense suffering, distress or when we simply don’t know how or what to pray. (Romans 8:26-27)
Glorification of Christ
The ministry of the glorification of Christ is accomplished in the life of the believer as he lives the Christian Way of Life. If a believer chooses to allow the Holy Spirit to control his life, and learns, believes and applies Bible doctrine, the character of Christ can be formed in him. It is this formation of the character of Christ that glorifies Him. We cannot live a sinless life like Christ lived, but we can develop virtue and integrity. We can acquire the wisdom and understanding of His Word. Virtue (strength of character), integrity (loyalty to the truth), wisdom (application of doctrine) and understanding (faith applied to knowledge of God’s Word) are found in only one source, God’s Word. The character of Christ is expressed in the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. By following Christ’s example, we can become “winner believers” and advance to spiritual maturity and glorify God to the maximum. (John 16:14; Galatians 4:19; 5:22-23)
Sustaining
In the same manner that the Holy Spirit sustained Christ in His humanity, He sustains the believer. “Sustain” is defined as supplying the needs of a person. For some believers, who are not advancing in their Christian lives, they are sustained with only the daily necessities of life, such as food, shelter and clothing. For the advancing believer whose needs are greater, God the Holy Spirit sees to it that all of that believer’s needs are met. The needs may be physical, spiritual, emotional or material. God in His wisdom knows our needs and has promised to meet them. This is a part of the sustaining ministry of God the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16-18,26,27)
In summary, it is the ministry of God the Holy Spirit that a believer must understand and believe in order to execute the Christian Way of Life. Left alone, a believer has no power to fulfill his spiritual destiny of becoming a winner and glorifying Christ. As with everything in the Christian life, it is only potential – a believer must use positive volition to choose God’s plan of action. We have been given a perfect blueprint by a perfect God for the building of a perfect spiritual life that is beyond compare.