Lesson 5
Holy Spirit

Study Compiled by Kevin L. Ziegler, Evangelist
at South Side Church of Christ, Danville, IL 61832
 southside.restorationplea.com

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Introduction
  • A focus on the Holy Spirit is a sign of the times in which we live. The Holy Spirit is not a Biblical focus.
  • It is Jesus the Son that is the focus of Scripture. Colossians 1:13-18; John 16:14 The Spirit gives testimony of the Son, not Himself.
  • We must understand the person, work and purpose of the Holy Spirit objectively through the written Word, rather than subjectively by what we may or may not experience.

  • The Bible is the objective source of absolute truth. Romans 10:13-17; I John 2:1-5.
  • Subjective experience is unreliable. Our senses sometimes fool us. John 16:2; I John 4:1-3.
  • Calvinistic bias in modern translations.
  • To “S” or not to “S”?
  • The word spirit (pneuma = pneuma) appears 264 times in the NT.
  • Possible meanings for this word spirit:
  • The Holy Spirit of God Matthew 28:19
  • The attitude of God Romans 8:14
  • A holy spirit or a spirit of holiness I Thessalonians 1:5
  • Spirituality (vs. worldliness) Galatians 5:16
  • The human spirit Ephesians 5:18 Colossians 3:16,17
 Principle of Faith
  • Faith vs. experience
  • We do not know the Father and the Son by faith and the Holy Spirit by experience.
The Word Convicts, Not the Spirit - I Corinthians 2:12, 13
  • The Spirit convicts (convinces; persuades) of sin, righteousness and judgment John 16:8-11.
  • How He does so is through the Word:
  • Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
  • Acts 4:4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
  • Acts 6:7 The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
  • Acts 9:5, 6 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
  • Acts 11:14 “…and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.”
  • Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
  • Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
  • Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
  • II Timothy 3:16, 17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
  • Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
  • James 1:21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

  • Parallel Passages: Ephesians 5:18, 19 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

  • Colossians 3:16 And let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Links
  • Studies on the Holy Spirit in RTF format by the late Don DeWelt in four volumes: