pneumatology doctrine of the holy sp

8/8/2019 Pneumatology Doctrine of the Holy Sp...

1/13

Pneumatology: Doctrine of the Holy Spirit1. What Does the Holy Spirit Do?The function of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament age is well known and several books have been written onthe subject. Of more significant import is what the Spirit's job may have been prior to entecost. The only

available book on the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was done in !"#$ by %eon &. ood. (t was entitled TheHoly Spirit in the Old Testamentand was published by )ondervan. (t is a useful book* but not without its faults.%eon &. ood writes+The evidence that spiritual renewal* or regeneration* was true of such Old Testament people lies mainly in twodirections. One is that these people lived in a way possible only for those who had e,perienced regeneration*and the other is the avenue of logical deduction that argues back from New Testament truth. -or some reason*the Old Testament itself does not speak of the matter directly. hafer is /uite correct when he asserts+ 0The OldTestament will be searched in vain for record of &ews passing from an unsaved to a saved state* or for anydeclaration about the terms upon which such a change would be secured.0 Then* because this is true* he states0No positive declaration can be made0 whether Old Testament people were regenerated or not. hafer'sconclusion* however* is unwarranted in view of the two lines of support mentioned....ood also writes that regeneration* indwelling* sealing* filling* and empowering all occurred prior to entecost.He argues that only the baptism of the Spirit* which made all believers one in hrist* had yet to occur atentecost. ( believe ood's position on these matters is unwarranted* and that hafer in fact is closer to thetruth. ( believe that the Spirit's primary activity in the lives of Old Testament saints was to empower them forservice. The other activities* from baptism to indwelling had to await the day of entecost. ood'smisunderstanding of the work of the Spirit prior to entecost. is related to his failure to consider two critical NewTestament passages* neither of which is mentioned in his book+hile 1pollos was at orinth* aul took the road through the interior and arrived at 2phesus. There he foundsome disciples and asked them* 03id you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed40They answered* 0No* wehave not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.0So aul asked* 0Then what baptism did you receive400&ohn'sbaptism*0 they replied.aul said* 0&ohn's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe inthe one coming after him* that is* in &esus.0 On hearing this* they were bapti5ed into the name of the %ord &esus.hen aul placed his hands on them* the Holy Spirit came on them* and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.There were about twelve men in all 61cts !"+!7#8This passage seems clearly to indicate that under the Old ovenant the Holy Spirit was not behaving in thesame way as afterward. There had been no sealing* indwelling* or baptism of these disciples of &ohn* peoplewho were truly redeemed believers in 9od. (t was not until hristianity was e,plained to them that the Holy Spiritcame.The ne,t passage* 1cts !+:7;* e,plicitly indicates that the coming of the Holy Spirit was a new work. Thedisciples had to wait for the Spirit to come+On one occasion* while he was eating with them* he gave them this command+ 03o not leave &erusalem* but waitfor the gift my -ather promised* which you have heard me speak about. -or &ohn bapti5ed with water* but in afew days you will be bapti5ed with the Holy Spirit.0That the bapti5ing and indwelling work of the Holy Spirit was promised as something yet future would tend toindicate that this activity was something which had not occurred before. &oel


2/13

at the description of the New ovenant as recorded in &eremiah >!+>!7>:. &ohn #+>" is also instructive on thispoint+?y this he meant the Spirit* whom those who believed in him were later to receive. @p to that time the Spirit hadnot been given* since &esus had not yet been glorified.So what did the Holy Spirit do in the Old Testament4 Nine functions 6at least8 can be listed.!. The Holy Spirit came upon people to empower them for specific tasks 6&udges $+>:A ! hron. !:+!:7!;8.". The Spirit is omnipresent 6s. !>"+#7!B8.2. The Gender of the Holy SpiritThe /uestion of the gender of the Holy Spirit is rarely if ever discussed for the simple reason that the Spirit'smasculinity is naturally assumed from the masculinity of 9od+ 9od is masculine and is always addressed as0he0* so surely the same must be true of the Holy Spirit* a member of the Trinity. %ike most theologians ( hadalways assumed this to be true. ( don't know that anyone ever formally taught me that 0the Spirit is masculine0A itwould hardly seem necessary.(n my graduate Semitics program at @%1* one of the languages ( had to study was Syriac* a dialect of 1ramaicwritten with rounded letters reminiscent of modern 1rabic. Syriac was the language of people living in northernDesopotamia* from at least >BB ? until the time 1rabic became dominant in the region* around !BBB 13. Dostof the Syriac documents available today were produced by a Donophysite branch of hristianity* today known as

the Syrian Orthodo, hurch 6monophysitism is the belief that hrist had but one nature8. One strikingpu55lement of the te,ts* at least to me* was the constant reference to the Holy Spirit as 0she0. ( was aware* ofcourse* that in 1ramaic 6and hence in the dialect known as Syriac8 the natural gender of the word 0spirit0 wasfeminineA however* ( was surprised to discover that this accident of grammar had resulted in a whole theologyconstructed around the femininity of the third person of the 9odhead.

1n e,ample of Syriac theology is found in the apocryphal 1cts of ThomasA it is usually assumed that thisparticular work was influenced by speculative gnostic &udaism because it contains the notion* that associated


3/13

with 9od was a wisdom* or creative power 7 a spirit 7 which was feminine. (n an invocation accompanyingbaptism* Thomas calls for the Holy Spirit+ome* holy name of hrist that is above every nameAome* power of the Dost High and perfect compassionAome* thou highest giftAome* compassionate motherAome* fellowship of the maleAome* thou 6f.8 that dostreveal the hidden mysteriesAome* mother of seven houses* that thy rest may be in the eighth house.61cts ofThomas


4/13

!. 1 feminine Holy Spirit clarifies how women can also be said to be created in the 0image of 9od0. (t has longbeen recogni5ed that he 9odhead must include some feminine aspects* since 9enesis !+


5/13

>. The Holy Spirit is the interpreter of Scripture! orinthians +


6/13

The Holy Spirit makes use of the ?ible to reach people with the message of the gospel. ithout the ord*conversion is unlikely. onsider the statement 1braham made to the rich man after he begged him to send%a5arus back from the dead to his family+0He answered* 'Then ( beg you* father* send %a5arus to my father's house* for ( have five brothers. %et him warnthem* so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'01braham replied* 'They have Doses and therophetsA let them listen to them.'0'No* father 1braham*' he said* 'but if someone from the dead goes to them*they will repent.'0He said to him* '(f they do not listen to Doses and the rophets* they will not be convincedeven if someone rises from the dead.'0 6%uke !$+!8onsider also omans !+!$* !B+!:7!#* and salm !!"+!B;. 1part from a biblical ministry there is no 9ospel.Salvation depends upon faith in hrist. ighteousness is available only through hrist and judgment comesupon the one without hrist. 9od* has* however* revealed himself to some e,tent to the entire world* whetherthey have heard the 9ospel message from the ?ible or not. This general revelation* and general call to thehuman race to repent and turn to 9od is referred to sometimes as 0common0 grace. This is clear from aul'swords in omans !+!#7>* !>+


7/13

(t should be kept in mind* too* that no one can have an e,cuse. 2ssentially* if an individual fails to respond to thelight or the call that 9od has given generally in the universe at large* then 9od is not obligated to give anyadditional light or information. %ike the relatives of the rich man in torment* if they won't listen to the ?ible* thenwhy would they listen to a dead man raised to life4 (f an individual doesn't respond in faith to what he can see of9od's goodness and power in the creation* then why would 9od feel obligated to give any more information4

hen he comes* he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment 6&ohn !$+=8ommon grace is not sufficient to save* but it is sufficient to condemn. yrie illustrated it this way+ you offer aman a hundred dollars* but he refuses to take it. This is your basis for refusing to offer him any more.The light of 9od is visible to allA if a person rejects the light of natural revelation* then why would 9od bother togive him special revelation4ommon grace is a ministry of the Holy Spirit that reveals the truth of 9od to humanity wherever and whenevergiven in any form.

1rminians would say that everyone has enough grace to accept hrist* if they want to. alvinists* in contrast*would say that common grace is sufficient only to render human beings ine,cusable for their unbelief 6omans!+!$8.2fficacious grace is given to a person when the %ord brings that one to himself. (t is the ministry of the Holy Spiritwhich is certainly effectual in revealing the 9ospel and in leading to saving faith. 62phesians


8/13

Eou* however* are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit* if the Spirit of 9od lives in you. 1nd ifanyone does not have the Spirit of hrist* he does not belong to hrist.nion With Christ(f we have been united with him like this in his death* we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.6omans $+;8omans $+;. The phrase 0in hrist0 with its e/uivalents such as 0in Him0 0in hom0 0in hrist &esus0 and so onappear in the New Testament no less than !>B times. (t is found twelve times in the first chapter of 2phesiansalone. @nion with hrist is very closely associated with the doctrines of !8 regeneration and +!7!;* ! &ohn !+;7!B* ! orinthians !!+>!7>:*Hebrews !


9/13

non7hristian may have a conscience* the hristian now has 9od inside him or her. Talk about feeling bad whenyou sinI 1 hristian who sins is very unhappy because of the indwelling Holy Spirit.(n a similary vein* the hristian is told to 0/uench not0 the Holy Spirit in ! Thessalonians ;+!". This doesn't meanto e,tinguish* but rather 0to stifle0 or 0to suppress0. The issue and answer is yieldedness to the will of 9od62phesians ;+!;7!#8

Two strategic Scriptures+ omans !++;7$8* and giving us assurance6omans =+!$* 9alatians :+$* ! &ohn >+8. The Holy Spirit allows us to worship 9od in Spirit and intruth 62phesians ;+!=7


10/13

!r$it?ut the fruit of the Spirit is love* joy* peace* patience* kindness* goodness* faithfulness* gentleness and self7control. 1gainst such things there is no law. 69alatians ;+


11/13

1nd now these three remain+ faith* hope and love. ?ut the greatest of these is love.-ollow the way of love andeagerly desire spiritual gifts* especially the gift of prophecy. -or anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speakto men but to 9od. (ndeed* no one understands himA he utters mysteries with his spirit. ?ut everyone whoprophesies speaks to men for their strengthening* encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongueedifies himself* but he who prophesies edifies the church. ( would like every one of you to speak in tongues* but (would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues* unless heinterprets* so that the church may be edified.Now* brothers* if ( come to you and speak in tongues* what goodwill ( be to you* unless ( bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction4 2ven in thecase of lifeless things that make sounds* such as the flute or harp* how will anyone know what tune is beingplayed unless there is a distinction in the notes4 1gain* if the trumpet does not sound a clear call* who will getready for battle4 So it is with you. @nless you speak intelligible words with your tongue* how will anyone knowwhat you are saying4 Eou will just be speaking into the air. @ndoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in theworld* yet none of them is without meaning. (f then ( do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying* ( am aforeigner to the speaker* and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts*try to e,cel in gifts that build up the church.-or this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that hemay interpret what he says. -or if ( pray in a tongue* my spirit prays* but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall (do4 ( will pray with my spirit* but ( will also pray with my mindA ( will sing with my spirit* but ( will also sing with mymind. (f you are praising 9od with your spirit* how can one who finds himself among those who do notunderstand say 01men0 to your thanksgiving* since he does not know what you are saying4 Eou may be givingthanks well enough* but the other man is not edified.( thank 9od that ( speak in tongues more than all of you.?ut in the church ( would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in atongue.?rothers* stop thinking like children. (n regard to evil be infants* but in your thinking be adults. (n the %awit is written+0Through men of strange tonguesand through the lips of foreigners( will speak to this people*buteven then they will not listen to me*0 says the %ord.Tongues* then* are a sign* not for believers but forunbelieversA prophecy* however* is for believers* not for unbelievers. So if the whole church comes together andeveryone speaks in tongues* and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in* will they not saythat you are out of your mind4 ?ut if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in whileeverybody is prophesying* he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all* and thesecrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship 9od* e,claiming* 09od is really amongyouI0hat then shall we say* brothers4 hen you come together* everyone has a hymn* or a word ofinstruction* a revelation* a tongue or an interpretation. 1ll of these must be done for the strengthening of thechurch. (f anyone speaks in a tongue* two7or at the most three 7 should speak* one at a time* and someone mustinterpret. (f there is no interpreter* the speaker should keep /uiet in the church and speak to himself and 9od.Two or three prophets should speak* and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 1nd if a revelation

comes to someone who is sitting down* the first speaker should stop. -or you can all prophesy in turn so thateveryone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. -or9od is not a 9od of disorder but of peace.1s in all the congregations of the saints* women should remain silentin the churches. They are not allowed to speak* but must be in submission* as the %aw says. (f they want toin/uire about something* they should ask their own husbands at homeA for it is disgraceful for a woman to speakin the church.3id the word of 9od originate with you4 Or are you the only people it has reached4 (f anybodythinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted* let him acknowledge that what ( am writing to you is the %ord'scommand. (f he ignores this* he himself will be ignored.Therefore* my brothers* be eager to prophesy* and donot forbid speaking in tongues. ?ut everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. 6! orinthians !


12/13

very words of 9od. (f anyone serves* he should do it with the strength 9od provides* so that in all things 9odmay be praised through &esus hrist. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. 1men. 6! eter :+=7!!8Some gi"ts&!. Teaching 7 omans !


13/13

Some people image that 1postleship* prophecy* miracles* healing and tongues were temporary gifts that ceasedfunctioning after the apostolic age. hy4 rimarily in reaction to the e,cesses and abuses in some churches.ather than seeking to argue for the appropriate use of the gifts of tongues* it is easier to simply forbid them.This is remarkably similar to the position of first century &udaism* which sought to protect the law by buildinghedges around it.That is* in order to prevent the breaking of a law in the ?ible* the ancient abbis devised added laws* that if kept*would make it impossible to even come close to violating the scriptural prohibition. So* for instance* the &ewishpeople* to this day* do not pronounce 9od's name* Eahweh. (nstead* whenever they come upon it in the ?ible*they say 0adonai0 or 0ha7shem0* meaning* respectively* 0lord0 and 0the name.0 ?y never pronouncing 9od'sname* they are assured of never violating the commandment prohibiting the taking of 9od's name in vain.%ikewise* the kosher regulation to keep milk and meat products completely separate* and to never consume ameal with both items in attendance* goes back to the concern not to violate 2,odus +!"* 2,odus >:+"8.The caveat* of course* follows in the ne,t verse+ 0?ut everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.0 Theonly reason for desiring the end of one of 9od's gifts is because it is unliked and makes some peopleuncomfortable* especially since it is so commonly abused. -rankly* ( suspect that most instances of tonguesspeaking has little if anything to do with 9od's Holy Spirit and everything to do with peer pressure* pride* and

emotional hype.

pneumatology doctrine of the holy sp

Documents