2-Minute Theology - TRINITY BIBLE CHURCH

The Attributes of the Holy Spirit: Part 1 - Eternal and Omniscient

4/10/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Attributes of the Holy Spirit: Part 1 - Eternal and Omniscient

Because the Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead, He shares the same attributes as the other members. A. H. Strong states that God’s attributes are “those distinguishing characteristics of the divine nature which are inseparable from the idea of God and which constitute the basis and ground for his various manifestations to his creatures.” (1)

The Holy Spirit is Eternal (Hebrews 9:14).

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? - Hebrews 9:14

Eternality means that the Holy Spirit is not beholden to temporal limitation. Charles Hodge stated, “With Him there is no distinction between the present, past, and future; but all things are equally and always present to Him.” (2) Everything created exists within time. Whatever exists within time changes. Since the Holy Spirit is not limited by time, He cannot change — He remains the same eternally.

The Holy Spirit has omniscience (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:10-11

Omniscience refers to His ability to know all things actual, possible, past, present, and future in one moment. The Holy Spirit knows all things possible, including every variable. Thus, He is referred to as the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding and the Spirit of Counsel and the Spirit of Knowledge (Isaiah 11:2).

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. - Isaiah 11:2

ENDNOTES:

Augustus Hopkins Strong, Systematic Theology (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1907), 244.
Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1989), 193.

The Personhood of the Holy Spirit: Part 3 - His Works

4/10/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Personhood of the Holy Spirit: Part 3 - His Works

The personhood of the Holy Spirit can also be confirmed by His works. By definition, a mere force or influence cannot perform a work or action. However, Scripture proves that the Holy Spirit does work or act. These deeds are only able to be done by one who possesses personhood.

First, the Holy Spirit created the world (Genesis 1:2).

The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. - Genesis 1:2

Second, He restrains sin (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he [the Holy Spirit] who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. - 2 Thessalonians 2:7

Third, the Holy Spirit teaches believers (John 14:26).

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. - John 14:26

Fourth, He testifies of Jesus (John 15:26).

When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, - John 15:26

Fifth, the Holy Spirit guides believers into truth (John 16:13).

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. - John 16:13

Sixth, He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).

And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; - John 16:8

Seventh, the Holy Spirit regenerates sinners, imparting new life to them (Titus 3:5).

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, - Titus 3:5

Eighth, He intercedes for believers in their times of weakness (Romans 8:26).

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; - Romans 8:26

Ninth, the Holy Spirit commissions individuals to service (Acts 13:2, 4).

While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. […] So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. - Acts 13:2, 4

Tenth, He directs the believer’s ministry (Acts 8:29; 16:6).

Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go up and join this chariot. - Acts 8:29
They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; - Acts 16:6

The Personhood of the Holy Spirit: Part 2 - Intellect, Emotion, and Volition

4/7/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Personhood of the Holy Spirit: Part 2 - Intellect, Emotion, and Volition

he Scriptures demonstrate that the Holy Spirit is indeed a person because He has intellect, emotion, and volition. That the Holy Spirit has intellect is underscored by His ability to examine and know the deep things of God and reveal them to believers.

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:10-11

Romans 8:27 refers to the mind of the Spirit.

and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. - Romans 8:27

The term mind (phronema) refers to one’s way of thinking or one’s aspirations.

That the Holy Spirit can be grieved by sin denotes that He has emotions.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. - Ephesians 4:30

A force cannot be grieved.

The volition of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated in His forbidding of Paul to preach in Asia.

They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; - Acts 16:6

As well, regarding the distribution of spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit distributes them to believers just as He wills.

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. - 1 Corinthians 12:11

The Personhood of the Holy Spirit: Part 1 - Personal Pronouns

4/7/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Personhood of the Holy Spirit: Part 1 - Personal Pronouns

As a member of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit is a Person. Personhood dictates self-consciousness and self-determination. God is self-conscious.

I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; - Isaiah 45:5

Additionally, God is self-determined.

But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does. - Job 23:13

Jehovah Witnesses and Unitarians deny the personhood of the Holy Spirit. Such a viewpoint is based on the Greek term pneuma, which is translated as spirit. The Greek term pneuma is gender neutral, neither male nor female. According to the rules of Greek grammar, any pronoun used in place of a noun must agree with said noun in gender. Thus, male gender nouns must be substituted by male gender pronouns; female pronouns for female nouns and neuter pronouns for neuter pronouns. However, the human writers of Scripture broke the rule and used masculine pronouns in reference to the Holy Spirit.

When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, - John 15:26
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. - John 16:13-14

By doing using the masculine pronoun, the human writers of Scripture conveyed the idea that the Holy Spirit is not a force but a person.

The Deity of the Holy Spirit: Part 2 - Equality in Name

3/27/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Deity Of The Holy Spirit: Part 2 - God By Equality

While equal to one another, each Person of the Godhead is distinct from the others. Though distinct, no one Person is inferior to the others. Because the Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead, He is God. The title Spirit of God emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is equal to God.

For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:11

Rene Pache stated, “When He is called ‘the Spirit of God’ that means that He is the very Person of God. […] [A]s man and his spirit make one and the same being, so God and His Spirit are only one.”

In the same way, the titles Spirit of Christ or Spirit of Jesus emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s equality to Christ.

They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; - Acts 16:6-7
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. - Romans 8:9-11
seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. - 1 Peter 1:11

It is evident in Acts 16:6-7 that the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Jesus are one and the same. In Romans 8:9-11, all three members of the Godhead are clearly stated. The Spirit dwells within believers, Christ is in believers, and the Father (Him) raised Jesus from the dead. Paul stated in Ephesians 4:4 that there is one Spirit.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; - Ephesians 4:4

Therefore, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are not four different spirits but one Spirit.

The Deity of the Holy Spirit: Part 1 - God by Name

3/27/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Deity Of The Holy Spirit: Part 1 - God By Name

The Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity. Francis Chafer defined the doctrine of the Trinity as follows, “The Trinity is composed of three united Persons without separate existence – so completely united as to form one God. The divine nature subsists in three distinctions - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
These three persons — Father, Son, and Spirit — are each referred, in Scripture, as God.

But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit […] You have not lied to men but to God. - Acts 5:3-4
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. - 1 Corinthians 8:6
But of the Son He says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, […] You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; - Hebrews 1:8-10

The Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. The Father is not the Son or the Spirit. The Son is not the Father or the Spirit. The Spirit is not the Father or Son.

The Great Commission underscores the equality of three persons of the Godhead. In Matthew 28:19, Christ commanded the disciples to “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” The term name (ónoma) refers to a title by which person is known. While three persons are mentioned, the singular use of name (ónoma) implies that all three persons share the same title — God.

The Gift of Christ: Part 7 - Pastor-Teacher

3/24/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Gift Of Christ: Part 7 - Pastor-Teacher

The final function of the gift of Christ is the pastor-teacher office. These two terms pastor (poimḗn) and teacher (didáskalos) are linked together by a single article, therefore, making it one office. Paul Enns, in The Moodly Handbook of Theology states, “As a pastor, he cares for the flock. He guides, guards, protects, and provides for those under his oversight. As a teacher, the emphasis is on the method by which the shepherd does his work. He guides, he guards, he protects by teaching.”

The function of the pastor-teacher is to provide the congregation with scholarly teaching and apologetics. They are supported by their local congregation. As well, the pastor-teacher selects those educated in the Scriptures, to read and teach (as an extension of his office). The Pastor-teachers lead the prayer times. Depending on the size of the congregation, there may be more than one pastor-teacher. While the bishop functions as the pastor-teacher in the church, not every pastor-teacher would be the bishop.

The Gift of Christ: Part 6 - Evangelist

3/24/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Gift Of Christ: Part 6 - Evangelist

The next function of the gift of Christ is the evangelistic office. An evangelist (euangelistḗs) is one who primarily preaches the Gospel.

How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news (euaggelízō) of good things! - Romans 10:15

The evangelist would travel from town to town preaching the gospel to those who never heard. Thus they were authorized migratory preachers who declared the Gospel wherever sent.

An evangelist was also an apologist. As they would engage the lost, they would have to be ready to give a defense of the faith. Eusebius (AD 260-340), a church historian, referred to himself as an evangelist, when he defended his Christian brethren from the false charges brought against them.

Philip, one of the seven chosen in Acts 6, was an evangelist.

entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. - Acts 21:8b

Philip was first called to be an elder in the Jerusalem church. God then called him to be an evangelist and sent Him to Samaria, the Ethiopian.

Timothy’s role, in the Ephesus church, involved teaching believers within the church, and also evangelizing unbelievers outside the church.

…do the work of an evangelist… 2 Timothy 4:5

Scripture points to the fact that prophets preached to believers and evangelists preached to unbelievers. Perhaps then, Timothy functioned as both a prophet and an evangelist.

The Gift of Christ: Part 5 - Prophets

3/20/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Gift Of Christ: Part 5 - Prophets

The next function of the gift of Christ is the prophetic office. A prophet (prophḗtēs) is one who primarily tells-forth or preaches God’s Word. In both Testaments, the prophet told-forth more than they foretold. They could only foretell if they had the gift of prophecy. As noted, just because the prophetic gift is inactive, does not mean the prophetic office is inactive.

The prophet’s ministry in the New Testament era is similar to that of the Old Testament era: to proclaim God’s Word, edifies, exhorts, strengthens, and comforts believers.

Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message. - Acts 15:32
But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. - 1 Corinthians 14:3

The prophet’s ministry also included the ordaining of other elders, specifically other prophets, such as Timothy.

Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. - 1 Timothy 4:14
For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift (chárisma) of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. - 2 Timothy 1:6

The gift (chárisma), in 2 Timothy 1:16, referred to here is not a spiritual gift, since the Holy Spirit gives them at salvation, not by the preaching of the Word or ordination. The gift relates to the office to which he was called. The gift of God is synonymous with the gift of Christ (cf. Ephesians 4:11). Timothy was to devote himself to the ministries of a prophet: reading, teaching, preaching, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting.

give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. - 1 Timothy 4:13
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. - 2 Timothy 4:2

Those who served in the office of the prophet exhort or edify people through the proclamation (i.e., telling-forth) of the Word. Some are teaching prophets who teach weekly in a particular congregation (i.e., a bishop, pastor, or another teaching elder). Others are traveling prophets, in that they teach from church to church (i.e., an itinerant preacher) or went town to town making disciples (i.e., a church planter).

The Gift of Christ: Part 4 - Apostles

3/20/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Gift Of Christ: Part 4 - Apostles

he first function of the gift of Christ is the apostolic office. An apostle (apóstolos) is one sent out as a sanctioned representative, a messenger. Often in the New Testament, apostles are qualified by the phrase of the Lord Jesus Christ. Such a qualification implies that an apostle is sent out as a sanctioned representative or messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ. When one hears the term apostle, he or she usually thinks in terms of the twelve apostles. To be of the Twelve, one had to meet two criteria. First, they must have been with Jesus from His baptism until His ascension. Second, they must have been an eyewitness to His resurrection.

Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection. - Acts 1:21-22

However, others were also named apostles, who were not counted among the Twelve.

And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. - Luke 9:1-2
Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. - Luke 10:1

Noting Christ’s post-resurrection appearances, in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul notes that Jesus appeared first to Peter, then to the Twelve, and then to all the apostles.

and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. […] then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. - 1 Corinthians 15:5-8

Paul makes a particular distinction between the Twelve and all the apostles. Indeed the Twelve were apostles, but others were also commissioned and sent out as messengers of the Lord. Men and women, such as Barnabas, Paul, Andronicus, Junia, Titus, James the brother of Jesus, Epaphroditus, and Silas, were commissioned as apostles or missionaries sent out by the church.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul, heard of it - Acts 14:14a
Greet Andronicus and Junia, […] who are outstanding among the apostles… - Romans 16:7a
As for Titus [… ] our brethren […] they are the messengers (apóstolos) of the churches… - 2 Corinthians 8:23
But I did not see any other of the apostles except James the Lord’s brother. - Galatians 1:19
But I though it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, […] your messenger (apóstolos), - Philippians 2:25
as apostles of Christ we (Paul and Silas) might have asserted out authority - 1 Thessalonians 2:6

These individuals served in their churches as apostles. They functioned as authorized emissaries or messengers of their congregation. What the church presently calls a missionary functions as an apostle of the gospel.