Praise God the Holy Ghost

Who Has Called Us Into Fellowship With Jesus Christ

THE TRIUNE GOD

The God of the Bible reveals Himself as He is; He is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). The worship of any other deity is called idolatry. God reveals Himself in the Bible as Triune. He is three in one as is seen in the Old Testament (Number 6:23-27). He reveals Himself in like manner as three persons in the New Testament. (Matthew 28:19) We summarize the one and only God, the true God, as three persons in one God. There are not three gods, but one God. Not one God with three different names, but One God who reveals Himself as three separate distinct persons.

• Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear or Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.
• Numbers 6:23-27 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. So they shall put my name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.
• Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

THE HOLY GHOST

The Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. This does not mean that He is third in importance. He is true God (Acts 5:3,4). He is a spirit being (John 4:24). He is equal in honor and power and glory with the Father and the Son. Some other names for Him in the Bible are the Spirit of the Lord (Acts 5:3); the Comforter (John 14:26); The Spirit, Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:10,11).

• Acts 5:3,4 . . .Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?. . . you have not lied unto men, but unto God.
• John 4:24 God is a spirit. . .
• John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost . . .
• 1 Corinthians 2:10,11 But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit . . . even so the things of God knows no man but the Spirit of God.

WHAT IS THE WORK OF HOLY GHOST?

The work of the Spirit is called sanctification. The word sanctify means to set apart. God the Holy Spirit has set the believer apart from the ungodly world. The believer was not set apart because he was a believer. He is a believer because he was set apart (2 Thessalonians 2:13,14). Further, the Spirit is He who gives understanding of divine Truth (John 14:26).

• 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14 We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief of the Truth.
• John 14:26 The Holy Spirit . . . will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you

HOW DOES THE HOLY GHOST WORK?

The Holy Ghost works through means. The Word of God is the means through which He works. Through the word of the Law the Holy Spirit convicts the sinner of his sin and guilt (Romans 3:20). He also, through the Law, shows the curse and wrath of God which the sinner deserves (Galatians 3:10).

• Romans 3:20 By the law is the knowledge of sin.
• Galatians 3:10 Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the Law.

THE HOLY GHOST AND FAITH

Faith does not just happen. Faith is not a consequence of prayer. Faith is not a work of man, a good attitude, or change of habit. Faith is not emotion. Faith is a gift of the Spirit through which the Chritian confesses Jesus as Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3), and through which one apprehends the words and promises of God. Likewise here, the Spirit does not work without means (Luke 16:31). The Spirit of God creates faith through the MEANS OF GRACE. The Means of Grace are the Gospel in Word and Sacrament. Through the same means He confirms, affirms and keeps the believer in the faith unto eternal salvation.

• 1 Corinthians 12:3 No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Ghost.
• Luke 16:31 If they do not hear Moses and the prophets ( the Word of God ), neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.
• Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
• 2 Timothy 3:15 From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
• Acts 2:38 Repent and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

SIN AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST

All sin is forgiven through the merit and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one sin that is unforgivable (Matthew 12: 31,32). It is unforgivable, not because it is too great to be forgiven by the Lord, but because it is a sin against the very One whose work it is to convert and convince, as well as against the divine truths through which the Spirit works. It makes repentance impossible. Those who have committed this sin are not disturbed by it. The Christian however, who is concerned when he sins, but who feels a longing in the heart for divine grace, has not committed this sin. Nevertheless, the Christian will want to be careful to study the Word and receive the Sacrament through which faith is cultivated and strengthened against the attacks of the devil.

• Matthew 12:31,32 Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit gives gifts to God's children as He did in the early Church (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:6-8).They are given to individuals in various measure for the common good. One of these gifts in the early church was the gift of tongues. Yet this particular gift was not to be exaggerated or used to promote self, or as though it were the ultimate gift. In fact, this particular gift is mentioned last in 1 Corinthians 12. The gift of tongues without interpretation does not edify the church. The 13th chapter speaks of love as the greatest gift of the Spirit. Without love, speaking in tongues is as a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). Paul, who had the gift "more than you all," in fact preferred that he spoke words with understanding (1 Corinthians 14:19) The Christian's zeal is for spiritual gifts which build up the Church (1 Corinthians 14:12). Finally, the use of tongues is a judgment against unbelievers (Isaiah 28:1,2), "while the clear speech of prophecy becomes a token of God's present activity for believers to establish and confirm them in the faith" (Franzmann).

• 1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass and a clanging cymbal.
• 1 Corinthians 14:19 I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, then ten thousand words in a tongue.
• 1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
• Isaiah 28:11,13 For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people . . . that they may go and fall backward and be broken and snared and caught.

FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) are contrasted to works of the flesh in Galatians 5. With the call to faith through which the Christian is set apart from the world, the Spirit has also has set the Christian apart from the works of the flesh (Ephesians 2:10). That is, he that has been sanctified has crucified his flesh. The Christian manifests faith by living in the Spirit, and bringing forth spontaneously and gladly those fruits which glorify the Savior, Jesus Christ. Such fruit bearing is the will of God (Titus 2:14). Furthermore, fruits of the Spirit are possible only because of the Christian's connection to Jesus Christ (John 15:3,5). Fruits of the Spirit are just that: fruits. They do not merit eternal life and are not the cause of salvation

• Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long - suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self - control.
• Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
• Titus 2:14 (Christ) gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous of good works.
• John 15:3,5 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you . . . I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

As Christians we confess the Triune God. We give thanks for the Holy Ghost without whose work we would not know the true God, or stand in the confidence of our salvation. Neither would the fruits of faith through which the Christian glorifies the Lord Jesus be possible. Praise be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the HOLY GHOST.

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