Ephesians 4:4-6, One Spirit.

 

One Spirit:

 

The Holy Spirit is a Person and is God. Involved in creation (GEN 1:2). The inspirer and revealer of Scripture. The empower of divine action in believers.

 

The Holy Spirit is sent by the Son and goes forth from the Father. He is obedient to the Father and Son as the Son is to the Father, but in no way inferior.

 

As a part of the eternal purpose of the Trinity, the HS undertook all the ministry necessary to sustain the Son during the incarnation in which the Son was to lay aside His own glory and power to some measure.

 

Jesus’ use of the Holy Spirit in His life is the very prototype of our own.

 

In fact, the HS undertook to beget the Son of God from the virgin Mary, to fill the man Jesus, and to supply all necessary enablement to sustain the Son in the sphere of His humiliation and empower Him for His life among men.

 

G/HS is the source of God’s word and your source of its personal revelation:

 

It is God’s divine purpose to make Himself known, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to carry out that purpose.

 

The Scripture is a product of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of men, while keeping each writer’s conscience and personality. The Scripture is not an inspired product of man, meaning that it not a man-made thing that is heightened or given greater quality by God. The Word of God is God’s product using man as His instrument.

 

It is extremely important to know that the Scripture is breathed by God. It is not the invention of man. Therefore, we know that we have the truth straight from the mouth of God.

 

2PE 1:12-15

Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. 13 And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you may be able to call these things to mind.

 

The apostles died, but the word received from God through their instrumentality, lives on and will live on for all eternity.

 

2PE 1:16-21

For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased" —  18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

 

The Holy Spirit has revealed God throughout human history, even during the lifetime of Christ in the flesh, though Christ was also revealing God.

 

ACT 28:25

“The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,”

 

The Holy Spirit gives revelation in the scripture in the primary sense of making known the will of God and His wisdom. This was done through oral prophecy, dreams, and visions before the time of Moses, and in some respect continued throughout the OT and some in the first century of the church. It included that facts about God and creation which could not have been known by man.

 

The Holy Spirit is also responsible for the inspiration of the entire written Word of God. This also includes things that could not be known by man, as well as an infallible recording of any history revealed. The final result is an accurate, flawless revelation from God in His Word; as much as He has chosen to reveal to us. We can be confident that we have God’s revelation, clearly revealed without a single intent of trying to confuse us or encrypt the Word in some way that demands special insight.

 

It is as important to know that God has clearly revealed Himself as it is to know that God alone gave us the written Word. God had the NT written in common Greek vernacular, the language of the common man, the poor, the middle class. It was not written in lofty Attic Greek or Classic Latin. Most of the common people in the first century were illiterate. God did not set out to give us a puzzle of words to unravel. He clearly presented Himself in His word, and knowing that will protect you from prideful false teaching that claims to have special insight.

 

The Holy Spirit is also responsible for making the written word known to man in a way that he can apply it to certain problems and situations.

 

The Holy Spirit indwells every believer.

The Holy Spirit sanctifies every believer who is dedicated, undefeated, dependent upon, and obedient to Him.   

 

When we look at these four words: dedication, undefeated, dependent, and obedient, we see what we are commanded and exhorted to all throughout the epistles. Sanctification, experimentally or experientially, is a process that increases over time. Over time the believer become more Christ-like in every aspect of his life, and soon enough the process is one that gives him great joy. Can we imagine the process truly occurring over the years in someone who is not dedicated to God or dependent upon God? Can we imagine the process occurring over the years to someone who is constantly defeated by a sinful lifestyle? A sinful lifestyle is overcome by sanctification, for that is its purpose, and of course, the grace of God is patient with us and disciplines us, but if we continue on in a life that grieves the Holy Spirit, we will not see much sanctifying work by Him over us. It is a walk by faith according to the calling with which we’ve been called. And, we must be obedient to the Word of God. These four words describe the believer that God the Holy Spirit will greatly sanctify.

 

2TH 2:13-17

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

 

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17 comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

 

PHI 2:12-13

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

 

All three members of the Trinity are related to sanctifying the believer, but the Holy Spirit is particularly active in effecting the progressive and experiential aspect of life that is completely set apart unto God.

 

The kingdom of God has an outward display. When it physically comes upon the earth at the Second Coming of Christ it will have a clear outward display. Its display in our age through a person in love, forgiveness, compassion, virtue also has a clear display. Yet, the display of God’s invisible kingdom in our age and that of the visible kingdom in the coming age are the results of something within.