Transforming Ordinary People into Extraordinary Followers of Christ

Foundations of the Faith – The Holy Spirit is Not a Ghost! – Part 6 of 8

Sermon Summary

Sermon Summary What mental image do you get of God the Father? Now picture Jesus. Now, try to picture the Holy Spirit. For most of us, it is hard to envision the Holy Spirit.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

  1. The Holy Spirit is not an it, but a person.
    • He is referred to with personal pronouns . (Jn. 14:16; 15:26)
    • He has intelligence . (Isaiah 11:2; John 14:26)
    • He has emotions . (Ephesians 4:30)
    • He has a will . (1 Corinthians 12:11)
    • He can be resisted . (Acts 7:51)
    • He can be lied to . (Acts 5:3)
  2. The Holy Spirit is fully God.
    • The Holy Spirit is called God . (Acts 5:3-4)
      • Divine attributes are ascribed to him.
      • He is eternal . (Hebrews 9:14)
      • He is omnipresent . (Psalm 139:7)
      • He is omniscient . (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)
      • He is omnipotent . (Job 33:4; Genesis 1:2)
    • He is equal with the Father and the Son
      • Expressed in a biblical benediction . (2 Corinthians 13:14)
      • Expressed in the work of salvation . (1 Peter 1:2)
      • Expressed in a call to baptism . (Matthew 28:19)

What Role Does the Holy Spirit Play in Our Lives?

  1. He was working behind the scenes before you became a Christian. (John 16:7-8)
  2. He is the source of the Christian life.
    • He imparts spiritual life (Titus 3:5)
    • The Holy Spirit indwells us. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Romans 8:9)
  3. He guarantees your eternal destiny.
    • The Holy Spirit seals us. (Ephesians 1:13)
    • The Holy Spirit is a pledge of our inheritance. (Ephesians 1:14)
  4. He is working to make you more like Jesus.
    • The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome temptation . (Galatians 5:16)
    • The Holy Spirit produces godly character . (Galatians 5:22-23)

Application / Challenge

  • Thank the Holy Spirit often for showing you your need for a Savior, and for imparting spiritual life to you.
  • Take comfort in the knowledge that the Holy Spirit guarantees your salvation and future spiritual inheritance. It is His faithfulness, not yours, that secures your salvation.
  • Cooperate with the Holy Spirit as he works to make you more like Christ. Stop resisting him. Remember, “If you walk by the Spirit, you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.”
  • Memorize Galatians 5:16 and 1 Corinthians 10:13
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