The main purpose of the Spirit’s ministry – behold the Son.

Class Outline:

The main theme of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to proclaim to us the things of Christ, which are the things of the Father.

 

JOH 16:14-15

“He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. 15 "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you.”

 

The voice of the Holy Spirit is the truth written in the word of God.

 

We understand that no one knows all of the truth, though some know more than others. If we believe and comprehend the knowledge of the Lord that we do have, we can have a rich and rewarding relationship with Him; one that will fill our hearts with joy and peace.

 

The main goal is to behold the Son and experience His presence.

 

Jesus told us that if we behold Him then we behold the Father. I love that this is the goal of Christianity because it makes it not about me nor about you, from which arise all division and nasty disputes.

 

2TI 2:23

But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.

 

1TI 6:3-6

If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain [for self]. 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.

 

Supposing that godliness is a means of gain - we probably think of those who get into ministry for money, perhaps thinking of the televangelists of the past. But gain means more than money. It may mean admiration, or power, or personal professional success, and it can even mean things like good health, a good family, or anything that we think will make us happy. Notice that there is nothing wrong with any of these things in themselves, but are they the purpose of godliness?

 

 

Doctrine is to conform us to godliness (well-devotedness). Godliness is accompanied by contentment.

 

One of the many benefits to us from godliness is definitely contentment, but is it its purpose? Is the purpose of the Christian life to make me happy? That is a benefit, but not the purpose. If Christianity is about us, once we achieved what we wanted there would no longer be a need for God.

 

We avoid all of the disputes and prideful pursuits when we remember that all doctrine, service, and holiness are for the purpose of seeing Christ and enjoying Him. That is the true contentment. I wouldn’t say that seeing Christ is the only purpose of holiness, but I would say it is one of the main ones if not the main one.

 

Holiness is obeying the will of God in everything because you belong to God.

 

Holiness means the pure, loving nature of God, separate from sin and evil. This life is to characterize all who have entered into Christ.

 

Defining holiness, “Ordered, costly, unstinting commitment for the Lord’s sake to spouse, children, parents, employers, employees, and all one’s other neighbors, on the basis of being radically detached from them all to belong to God - Father, Son, and Spirit - and to no one else, is the unvarying shape of the authentically holy life.” [J.I. Packer]

 

It is through holy living (obedience and love of God) that we can see the Lord.

 

HEB 12:14

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord

 

MAT 5:8

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

 

Holiness, or holy living, is the best life by far for us, for our mental and physical health, for our relationships, our careers and professions, for our personalities. It is through holiness that we find our real selves, the person that God desires us to be. But the purest reason for holiness is to see God. We all know that benefits and blessings to self can easily turn into self-absorption, self-aggrandizement. Satan would love to see you overcome some bad habits and then get filled with the sin of pride. He would cheer you on in that course. Still the life of God is not as much the avoidance of the bad as much as it is the pursuit of the good. Holiness is for walking with God, which it should not surprise anyone, is the best life for us.