The Holy Spirit and Salvation Introduction The Holy Spirit plays an important role in salvation. The relationship between the role of the HS in salvation and the Christian is often misunderstood. What role does the HS play in our lives?

– Romans 1:18-20; Colossians 2:8-10; Genesis 1:1-2 – Who is the Holy Spirit? A Member of the Godhead – Romans 1:18-20; Colossians 2:8-10; Genesis 1:1-2 – A member of the Godhead Many mistake the Holy Spirit for a mystical force. They fail to recognize the relationship of the Holy Spirit to the Father, and the Son. Some think the Holy Spirit is a force of feeling that falls over them from time to time. (“I feel the Holy Spirit in me!”) These thoughts do not find their origin in Scripture. They are mere assumptions from ignorance. The Godhead Romans 1:18-20 – The invisible attributes are seen since the creation of the world. That is, His Power and Godhead. (Power obviously in the creation of everything.) Godhead – theiotēs – divinity. (Not only is His power made manifest in creation, but the fact that He is an intelligent, transcendent, and living being capable of such intricate design and thought.) He is not known personally in creation, but is known in His divine nature. Colossians 2:8-10 – This shows that Jesus is incarnate God. (God in the flesh.) Coming as man did not suggest He was any less divine than when He was in the form of God. Jesus is of the Godhead. This is the same person who was in the beginning and played a part in creation (cf. Hebrews 1:2). Genesis 1:1-2 – The HS was present in the beginning at creation. Look closly to see the entirety of the Godhead. (v. 1 – God; v. 2 – Spirit; v. 3 – God said, word) (God – 'ĕlôhı̂ym – gods; plural supreme God). Creating man – “Let us” (Genesis 1:26) “By His Spirit He adorned the heavens” (Job 26:13). How exactly the HS was involved in creation would be speculative in discussion. (“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” Deuteronomy 29:29) Godhead means divinity. Both the Father and the Son are placed at the creation scene – they are the divine. However, included in the creation process was the HS. The Godhead made manifest in creation by intelligent design and eternal power is in part the Holy Spirit. (He, not it, is an intelligent being. )

Who is the Holy Spirit? A Member of the Godhead An Intelligent Being – Romans 1:18-20; Colossians 2:8-10; Genesis 1:1-2 – An Intelligent Being – 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 – (He searches, knows, and teaches.) An Intelligent Being 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 In chapter 1 Paul refuted the idea that worldly wisdom could reveal the things of God. (The Gospel is not a product of man’s wisdom.) 2:1-5 – He did not speak wisdom to them (mans wisdom). He spoke the Gospel (Christ and Him crucified). His message was in demonstration (or manifestation; proof) of the Spirit. How?  2:6-9 – He did speak wisdom, but it was God’s wisdom. However, that had been hidden. How did he come into access with God’s wisdom?  2:10-12 – God revealed His will through the Holy Spirit. Notice that the Spirit has the ability to search, and know. 2:13-16 – The Spirit also has the ability to teach. That the Holy Spirit searches the things of God and therefore knows them, and is able to teach them, implies that He is an intelligent being. Who is the we in this passage?  Has to be those to whom the Spirit is given (cf. 2:12). Acts 1:8 – Jesus, before His ascension, promised the Holy Spirit to the apostles (v. 2). Jesus told the apostles when He left they would be rejected – John 16:6-7 – Jesus would give them the Helper. What would He do? – 16:12-15 – He will guide the apostles into all truth. This would occur when they received power in Jerusalem – Luke 24:49

What is the Holy Spirit’s work? Given to the apostles on Pentecost – Acts 2 – (Filled with HS – v. 1-4) What is the Holy Spirit’s work? By examining the first appearance of the Helper (Holy Spirit) as promised by Christ, we can understand what His work is, and how it is accomplished. Acts 2 – The day of Pentecost. 2:1-4 – they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Why? It was not for their benefit. Again, it was to guide them into all truth. Was their being baptized with the Holy Spirit (cf. 1:5) a factor in man’s salvation? NO. It was to allow them, by being led in all truth, to fulfill the great commission given by the Lord (cf. Matthew 28:18-20). The Holy Spirit did not fall on the apostles for their benefit personally, but for the benefit of all. In the process of Salvation the Holy Spirit never works directly on those who are being saved, but indirectly through another factor.

What is the Holy Spirit’s work? Given to the apostles on Pentecost – Acts 2 – (Filled with HS – v. 1-4) (Spoke in tongues – v. 4, 6-7, 12) – Hebrews 2:2-4; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 – 2:4, 6-7, 12 – The miraculous gift of tongue speaking accompanied the Holy Spirit baptism of the apostles. This was a direct working of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. But its purpose was to confirm the word He was speaking through them (cf. Hebrews 2:2-4). The Spiritual gifts were given to reveal God’s word and confirm it. These were to cease when the entire inspired message was revealed (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10). Prophecy, tongues, knowledge are all miraculous in nature. (The knowledge was not normal, but a spiritual gift.) They had the gifts for the benefit of everyone around them. Not for their personal salvation. They were not saved because of the gifts they had. They were saved because of their obedience to the message (cf. 12:13). Any working of the Holy Spirit was to reveal the wisdom of God, and confirm that message.

What is the Holy Spirit’s work? Given to the apostles on Pentecost – Acts 2 – (Filled with HS – v. 1-4) (Spoke in tongues – v. 4, 6-7, 12) – Hebrews 2:2-4; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 – (Preached the Gospel of Christ – v. 14-36) MENTION 2:14-36 – Peter stood up and explained what was occurring. This was a fulfillment of prophecy. He preached the Gospel message. Note: Peter was not speaking his own thoughts and wisdom. This was the Spirit revealing the word of God through Peter (cf. 1 Corinthians 2). The recorded sermon was not of Peter’s interpretation (origin) but that of God’s (cf. 2 Peter 1:20-21). Thus, it wielded power (cf. Romans 1:16). 

What is the Holy Spirit’s work? Given to the apostles on Pentecost – Acts 2 – (Filled with HS – v. 1-4) (Spoke in tongues – v. 4, 6-7, 12) – Hebrews 2:2-4; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 – (Preached the Gospel of Christ – v. 14-36) (Many were saved – v. 37-47) 2:37-39 – The hearing of the message given by God through the inspiration of the apostles by the Holy Spirit affected the hearts of those who heard it. The effect it had on their hearts was not from a direct, personal operation of the HS. 2:40-41 – Those who believed the word and obeyed it were saved. Thus, the “gift of the Holy Spirit” promised to them was the product of believing and obeying His message – Salvation. “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” – Hebrews 5:9. The Holy Spirit’s involvement in the plan of Salvation is realized in Acts 2. He fell upon the apostles and spoke the wisdom of God through them. He did not work directly on those who heard, but secondarily through the message He revealed to them. In this way He works today – through the word.

The Holy Spirit and Salvation Conclusion The Holy Spirit can produce salvation in you, but only in the way He always has. Having heard the word, do you believe it? If so, come to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – Salvation through obedience to God’s word!