Lesson for September 17, 2023
The Doctrine of Pneumatology
Lesson 5
The Holy Spirit’s Ministry to Church Age Believers
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. Victory depends on the Holy Spirit and on Bible doctrine in a 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. Our study today 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 imparting spiritual life to a person at the time of faith in Christ as Savior. This person is said to be born-again, alive from the dead and a new creation. (Titus 3:5-6) Being born-again is better translated, born from above. In other words, born of God. This new birth results in a person 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 (separation from God). Regeneration by the Holy Spirit solves this problem by imputing spiritual life into a 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 creates a human spirit, which is 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. (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.
It is the indwelling 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” means “dwelling.” It is the indwelling Holy Spirit Who enables believers 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 a 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, a believer is placed in permanent union with Christ by means of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is not an emotional experience. It is simply a truth for us to believe. This union guarantees us a share of Christ’s inheritance. Believers are not only heirs of God; they are joint heirs with Christ and 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 Holy Spirit sovereignly 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, 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 is the Greek word “pleroo,” meaning to fill up a deficiency, to be fully possessed, to be fully influenced by, and to be filled with a certain quality. Without the Holy Spirit, we are deficient to learn and apply doctrine or to resist the influence of Satan. The Holy Spirit possesses the soul of believers who are in fellowship with God. When believers are filled with the Holy Spirit, every area of their life is being influenced. The quality that a believer is filled with is the character of Jesus Christ.
The filling of the Holy Spirit is temporary, depending on a believer’s fellowship with God. Fellowship with God means that there is no unconfessed sin in your life. Fellowship with God is achieved by naming or admitting known sins directly to God. (I John 1:9) This means keeping “short accounts” (naming your sin immediately). It is the filling 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 your relationship with people (your Christian life). A believer is glorifying Christ when they are producing the fruit of the Spirit, which is the character of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 4:19; 5:22-23)
Teaching and Guiding
God the Holy Spirit is our teacher and guide. It is His ministry to guide us to and teach us truth. In the Church Age, God uses pastor-teachers to teach Bible doctrine, but it is the Holy Spirit Who makes that information understandable. We learn accurate Bible doctrine when we consistently expose ourselves to it under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. The result is storage of doctrinal information that can be used by the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us in our Christian lives. 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 our behalf. Even though the Holy Spirit is not a priest like Christ, He does make intercession for believers. The reason this is possible is that the Holy Spirit is indwelling a priest (a believer).
Since the Holy Spirit is indwelling a priest, He is able to “make groanings which cannot be uttered” for us. These “groanings” are His communication to God the Father as He intercedes for us in times that 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 glorifying Christ is accomplished in the life of believers as they execute the Christian Way of Life. If believers choose to allow the Holy Spirit to control their life, and learn, believe, and apply Bible doctrine, the character of Christ can be formed in them. It is this formation regarding 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 the knowledge of God’s Word) are found in only one place, God’s Word. The character of Christ is expressed as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. By following Christ’s example, we can advance to spiritual maturity and glorify God. (Galatians 4:19)
Sustaining
In the same manner that the Holy Spirit sustained Christ in His humanity, He sustains believers. “Sustain” is defined as supplying the needs of a person. Believers who are not advancing in their Christian lives 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)
Conclusion
Without the divine power of the Holy Spirit, a believer has no power to fulfill their spiritual destiny of glorifying Christ. As with everything in the Christian life, fulfilling Gods plan is only potential. We have been given a perfect blueprint, by a perfect God, for building a perfect spiritual life.