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 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 Ascension of Christ: Part 2 - The Holy Spirit and Christ's Gifts

1/20/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Ascension Of Christ: Part 2 - The Holy Spirit And Christ’s Gifts

Following His first ascension, Christ appeared the evening in the upper room, He commissioned the Apostles to their future ministry. John 20:21-23 states, “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” Immediately, this reception of the Holy Spirit sparks debate. Did not Christ command the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit? Yes, He did. Did the Holy Spirit come on the Day of Pentecost? Yes, He did. What then is this giving of the Holy Spirit? It was a unique gifting of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the Apostles for the preparation of those things which would transpire on the Day of Pentecost, namely the founding of the Church. This giving of the Holy Spirit was similar to the Holy Spirit’s Old Testament ministry, which explains the transformation of the disciples between the Resurrection and the Day of Pentecost.

Paul sheds further light on the gifts of Christ when he says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). The He in Ephesians 4:11 refers to Christ Himself as the giver of these gifts. The disciples in the upper room that evening were equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelist, and pastor-teachers. Scripture itself testifies that these gifts were foundational to the Church.

for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. - Ephesians 4:12-13

The Holy Spirit's Superintendency of the Scriptures

7/4/2020

Trinity Bible Church · The Holy Spirit’s Superintendency of the Scriptures

The Scripture was breathed out by God and recorded by human writers. These human writers of Scripture were moved by the Holy Spirit.

for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. - 2 Peter 1:21

Moved by the Holy Spirit means that they were led, directed, or carried along by the Holy Spirit. This moving is what is known as the superintending or divine directing of the Holy Spirit.

Though there are portions, such as the Ten Commandments, which were dictated and recorded word-for-word, most of the Scriptures were not dictated. In other words, these holy men were not passive instruments or secretaries. God allowed their personalities and vocabularies to express His Words. This can be seen in the various writing styles of the Bible. John’s writings reflect the style of a fisherman — simple and straightforward. Luke’s writings reflect the style of a doctor — sophisticated and detailed. Paul’s writings reflect the style of a lawyer — philosophical and challenging.

Since the Holy Spirit superintended the human authorship, God’s Word was recorded without error in the original autographs. Autographs refer to the original documents of Scripture. While there are no known original documents in existence, we do have apographs or copies of the originals. It is essential to understand that inspiration only applies to the original writings or autographs.

The Tri-Unity of the Godhead

6/16/2020

Trinity Bible Church · The Tri-Unity Of The Godhead

For there are three that testify: in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one And there are three that testify on earth, the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. - 1 John 5:7-8
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. […] And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:1, 14

The title, God, translates the Hebrew title Elohim. Elohim is the plural form of El. Genesis 1:26a states, “God (Elohim) said (ʾāmar).” The usage of the plural Elohim is unique because it is joined to a singular verb said (ʾāmar). By placing a plural noun with a singular verb, it establishes a uni-plurality within the Godhead. This one God exists in three distinct Persons, which are co-eternal, co-equal, and co-existent. These three persons — Father, Son, and Spirit — are each referred to as God. All three Persons equally share the same divine attributes. Also, the individual persons of the Godhead cannot act independently of one another.