For many Believers, there is a lack of clear understanding between the different natures of the Holy Spirit. Many, due to theological dogma, have failed to teach the multifaceted manner the Holy Spirit operates in the lives of Believers, while others have neglected the unity of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of this paper is to show both the unity and the unique distinctions in the nature of the Holy Spirit.
Throughout the history of the Church there has been conflicted regarding the nature and purpose of the Holy Spirit. Stanley M. Burgess explains that church fathers were naïvely silent on the operations of the Holy Spirit but spent most of their time constructing the doctrine of the Trinity or the humanity of Christ largely out of need to
This view can be broken down into two or three parts. Most of the authors consulted in this study reflected two divisions but there were some that reported three divisions. The two divisions will be refered to as the “indwelling” Holy Spirit and the “empowering” Holy Spirit. Different scholars have varying terminology for these natures. Henry I. Lenderle calls them the “internal” and “external” expressions of the Holy Spirit. J. Rodman Williams describes them as being “born of the Spirit” and the “coming of the Spirit.” Lenderle further defines these terms by noticing that in Scripture the preposition “on” or “upon” are regularly used to designate the external work of the Spirit. On the other hand the prepositions “in” or “within” often occur when the reference is to the internal work of the Spirit. For example Acts 1:8 says “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on [emphasis added] you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Here this scripture is describing the empowering work of the Holy Spirit or the external work of the Holy Spirit as seen in the action of the Spirit coming on you. Ezekiel 36:26-27 in the Old Testament reads, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in [emphasis added] you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in [emphasis added] you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” This would be an example of the indwelling or internal work of the Spirit as illustrated by the use of the preposition “in.” Larry Hart adds a third function, which is actually a division of the indwelling or internal work. Dr. Hart uses the the phrases “paschal”, “purifying”, and
...nity. The Holy Spirit allows human beings to become closer to God, and the relationship between the Father and the Son. After writing about both the Trinity and Salvation, I have learned that they are immensely interconnected. The Trinity allows human beings to find Salvation. All in all, the Trinity is not three separate parts, but one part with three different essences.
Edwards believed that progressive sanctification was made by a vital union as new spiritual principles worked. Believer 's holiness increases in accordance with the guidance of the ‘instructing’ method of the Holy Spirit, working in harmony with the faculties of the believer 's soul. Holiness, which is formed by the progressive sanctification of the believer, is the image of the moral attributes of God and is a derived holiness. Edwards, in particular, divides the content of holiness into three categories: knowledge, holiness, and joy. Edwards ' insight into the content of holiness gives a concrete answer to the question of what sanctification a believer has as a result of progressive sanctification. On the other hand, a believer in the process of progressive sanctification appears to be eschatological tension and actively pursue
The Spirit helps us implore (Romans 8:26-27). He gives us new life (John 3:3-6). He is our consoler, and he helps us comprehend God's statement (John 14:26). He lifts up Christ (John 15:26). He convicts us of wrongdoing (John 16:7-11). He helps us to live holy lives (Romans 15:16). He gives us love, happiness, peace, tolerance, thoughtfulness, goodness, faithfulness, tenderness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). He helps us share our confidence (Acts 1:8). What's more, he lives inside us (Romans
The Charismatic debate on whether the gifts of the Spirit have ceased or continue to be used in modern times divides the Christian church. There have been some extremes on both sides of the fence. One view believes that, if a person speaks tongues, the person is under some demonic control and the other says that, if a person does not speaks tongues as evidence of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he or she is not saved. Both views use Scripture to defend their positions. The Scripture was not written to divide, but to bring us closer to God.
Gunton's concern for the Spirit stems from the fact that in most church traditions the Spirit is not talked of as person, and his work is often neglected (Gunton, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 79). He claims that the Western tradition stressed God's action as the action of One God rather than the work of three persons in one Godhead, leading to the incomplete doctrine of the Spirit. He maintains therefore that the solution to this problem is found in the concept of particularity or articulating the Spirit as the person (Gunton, The One, the Three 203), and an understanding “of the Spirit's part in a unified conception of God's action” (Gunton, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
In this essay, I am investigating the Trinity, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and how God understood. I will also consider how this can be communicated in the church today.
For Christians it is impossible to comprehend all of God’s mysteries, all of God’s plans, all of God’s desires, abilities, mercies, and blessings. It’s impossible to comprehend all of God. This is the price they pay for serving a divine God of infinitive complexity. Even when he spells it out for them, as he did with creating the bible, the human mind is incapable of understanding how God works. Since people are simple minded and selfish beings, debates over what God is trying to tell them in scripture can be formed, and can get to the point where these debates spilt the Christian churches. The question of whether or not the gifts of the holy spirit still has an active role in the modern day churches is one that has been greatly argued among the believers. Although many ideas have been presented on the matter, three major viewpoints have been formed; Cessationism, Continuationism, and an open but cautious view. Whether or not the gifts of the spirit are still part of the Christian chu...
The doctrine of the Holy Spirit begins with examining biblical witness to the work of the Holy Spirit in the history of Israel, as well as the ministry of Jesus, and in the life of the church. During the creation account it was the breath of God that grave life to all creation. The Holy Spirit has been a primate actor sin the beginning of time. While the Spirit was present prior to the ministry of Christ, the New Testament speaks in greater detail of the Spirit because it empowered Jesus. From his conception to the day of Pentecost the Sprit was present and active in the life of Christ and the believers. We see in ...
There is an important principle to get the Holy Spirit. Even some believers in the Old Testament received the empowerment of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Every believer in the New Testament receives it. The Baptist emphasizes it strongly. In the Bible, John said, “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit”.
You have made a compelling argument for the Spirit being most neglected of the three choices. I like what you had to say defending your position. You stated, “the church has forgotten God’s Spirit is a gift that should not be neglected.” I agree that the church has neglected the Spirit and needs to reclaim an understanding of and a responsiveness to the Spirit and his work. Francis Chan, author of the book “Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit” writes; “The church is not empowered to live differently from any other gathering of people without the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit gives us power to make things possible. Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The power enabled the apostles to heal the sick (3:1-10, 5:15-16, 9:32-35) and raise people from the dead (9:36-43). The power also enabled them to speak the truth boldly (4:1-14, 7:1-53,
The mystery of Christianity is that the elements of the trinity are present at one time, but each individual element is revealed at different times. “For Christianity is the appeal addressed to man
These two phrases "washing of reborn" and "renewing of the Holy Spirit" help to emphasize and clarify Paul's theology regarding the work
At one point or another in one’s life you are faced with God, eye to eye and you know it. You can feel the Holy Spirit’s presence, like a humming sound that’s too low to hear, but it’s there and you can feel it, a feeling that you are not alone. For some, this feeling lasts for eternity, and for others God works within them again and again because the Lord’s love is persistent. The feeling I had came and went, for it was not strong enough as a child. But now, I am the strongest I have ever been.
So the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit knows exactly what God our Father has for us, ‘the deep things of God’. However the question can be asked how do we tap in to the deep things of God? In order to know what is happening within the spiritual realm the worshipper firstly must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, this involves selflessness, humility and spending time alone in the presence of God (closet time Matt 6:6). However, from my studies, I have deduced that there are two more essential factors that are needed which I would like to discuss; they are ‘establishment and discernment’.