HoHum:
John MacArthur- A basic mark of true spirituality is a deep awareness of sin. In Scripture those who most despised their sinfulness were often those who were the most spiritual. Paul said he was the chief of sinners. Peter said to Jesus, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” Isaiah said, “Woe is me, because I am a man of unclean lips.” Spiritual people realize they are in a death struggle with sin. For Paul, ultimate spirituality was to be like Jesus; and that is not something you could attain by any one time experience.
WBTU:
Ever since the Day of Pentecost the HS has been working in the lives of God’s people in a wonderful and exciting way.
We have discussed how the HS worked upon us before we were Christians. Last week we talked about how the HS worked within us in our conversion, being saved.
Had some good questions last week. Had a question about how the HS worked in the life of Jesus. Lord willing we will deal with that next week. Have to back up for that. Left it out.
Our question tonight is how does the HS work within the lives of individuals after we become Christians? What is the Spirit doing for us now?
The key word is power. The HS is giving us two different kinds of power.
Giving us ministering power in the form of spiritual gifts. Talk more about this later on
Moral power, enabling us to obey God’s commands and live a godly life.
Last time we focused on regeneration, how the HS comes and resurrects us from spiritual death. We talked about how the HS causes regeneration in Christian baptism. We talked about the results of regeneration, how the medicine is applied, how we continue to recover.
We said briefly that at baptism we receive initial sanctification and from that point on we are undergoing progressive sanctification. Regeneration is connected with initial sanctification.
For instances:
The Indwelling of the Spirit
Acts 2:38 says that when a repentant sinner is baptized, the HS comes as a gift. We accept the reality of the indwelling of the HS based on faith and because the Bible teaches it.
1 Corinthians 6:19: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
Even though Paul uses plural pronouns here, it is clear from the context that he is talking about the personal body of each individual Christian.
When we received Christ, the HS began to use our physical body as his dwelling place.
Romans 8:9-11
Vs. 9- The Spirit lives in you means that he treats our body as his house, his residence. He is not just paying us a visit; he has moved in to stay.
Vs. 11- He lives in you is said twice.
We must not conclude from these verses that the Spirit’s presence within us is limited to our bodies. Two other Scriptures to consider:
2 Corinthians 1:22: set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Galatians 4:6: Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
How the Spirit does this is not explained but we know it is true.
One caution is that our confidence in the HS indwelling must not be based on some kind of experience, such as a glowing feeling or a supernatural vision, dream or miracle. Such experiences are not a guarantee of conversion and of the Spirit’s presence. Matthew 7:21-23.
Our assurance of the HS indwelling is God’s word, which we accept on faith.
The Purpose of the Spirit’s Indwelling
What is the purpose for the Spirit’s presence within us? Sanctification. Explain:
Sanctification is also holiness. The root idea in this word is separation. A holy or sanctified person is one that is separated or set apart from others and devoted to God.
Initial sanctification is the one time event in which the unsaved person joins the ranks of the saved, the moment in which he is set apart from “this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4) and united with the body of Christ. Look up 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
Progressive sanctification is the ongoing process in which the Christian becomes more and more separated from sin. This is a continuing transformation of our character and mental attitudes, as well as our outward behavior and conduct.
Unlike regeneration, which was entirely the work of the Spirit, sanctification requires our ongoing cooperation. We must contribute our effort to live a life of obedience.
Ephesians 4:22-24
2 Peter 3:18: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
These are all commands and instructions to Christians and show that this aspect of sanctification is a process and is appropriately called “progressive.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
How the HS sanctifies us
The HS helps us to become more and more holy. Don DeWelt said, “When the HS took up residence within us, He did so with the thought of aiding us in developing holy character.”
How does the Spirit do this?
Through knowledge
1. What knowledge are we talking about? The Bible. To become holy, we must know what holiness is. To vanquish sin and remove it from our lives, we must know what God has declared to be sinful. 2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Tell about the young man who had very strict parents. No rules or standards, The only way he knew he was doing right is if they didn’t punish him.
Through power for holy living
Most of the time our biggest problem is not lack of knowledge but lack of power. Our knowledge of what is right usually exceeds our doing of what is right. Romans 7:19: For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
Our minds are informed, but our wills are weak. We need spiritual or moral power. HS helps
HS helps us overcome temptation and sin, obey God’s commands, and do good works.
Sanctification means that we must obey God’s commands and work out our salvation in fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12-13.
Vs. 12- What a terrible task. Work out our salvation. How? God is holy.
Vs. 13- God has commanded us to pursue sanctification but he has not left us to do this from our own resources. He himself, the HS, is at work in us, to help us both to want to do what is right (“to will”) and to help us actually do it (“to act”).
Ephesians 3:16- We need to join with the apostle Paul in praying that the strength of this power will help us to overcome specific sins and to develop specific virtues.
When strengthened with power from HS, we produce the fruit of holiness. Galatians 5:22-23.
Leading and filling
The NT describes the sanctifying power of the Spirit in different ways:
Lead by the Spirit. Romans 8:13-14
Many have assumed that this means that the indwelling Spirit somehow gives us knowledge about what decisions God wants us to make when we are faced with difficult choices. Not the main emphasis here.
As far as guidance we have the Bible and trusted Christians around us to help. If following the commands of God, usually more than one viable option in decisions. Know from the Bible which ones are not viable and need to focus on that more than possible godly opportunities.
This leading is an inward empowerment of the will against sin. HS does this through an inward prodding of the conscience, encouraging our wills to do what we already know is right based on the teaching of Scripture. It is the providing of strength to walk in the path already outlined in Scripture.
Filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18
Some take this to mean the second work of grace. Need all of the Spirit.
Some take this to mean miraculous powers like speaking in tongues.
No, the HS sanctifying power is within us, but we must take the initiative to use it and apply it. Beginning with conversion, we already have present and available to us everything the Spirit provides for holing living. Our responsibility is to take advantage of his help, to allow him to lead us (take the way out), and to follow in his steps as he runs interference for us against our spiritual enemies.
We are commanded to be filled. In terms of our bodies and hearts as the house in which the Spirit dwells, this means that we must open up all the rooms in this house to the Spirit’s presence. We must give him access to and control of all parts of our lives.
Idea of a house guest who only has access to some places.
With this idea we can understand Ephesians 4:30. We grieve the Spirit when we ignore his sanctifying power and continue in our sin.
How do we work with the Spirit? Talking about this on Sunday mornings.
