The Spirit is God's agent for bringing people to himself and helping them to mature spiritually. Luke develops several distinctive themes of the Spirit's work. the presence of God as part of a person's religious experience. Again we see a corporate presence of the Spirit not previously encountered (cf. The baptism then, though well-intentioned, would have been premature. Why Do “Left” And “Right” Mean Liberal And Conservative? Only through his power can individuals first receive God's Word as divine ( 1 Thess 1:5-6 ). At times living a Spirit-filled life may include emotional or mountain-top experiences. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. First, the Holy Spirit is a “he” not an “it.” We must think of the Holy Spirit as a person, not as a force or commodity. 14-36). This prophecy alerts his parents to his unique nature; no one in Old Testament times was filled so early. Wood, The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. The Spirit who has spoken in past prophecy ( 2:17-18 ), including through Jesus ( 2:33 ), now makes himself available as a "gift" along with the forgiveness of sins to all who repent ( 2:38 ) and obey ( 5:32 ). Rather each is suggestive of the diversity of ways God endows Christians for spiritual service. According to Baker's Dictionary of Biblical Theology, The four lists [from scripture] of spiritual gifts demonstrate significant overlap as well as important variations. This suggests that they were not Jews and that they had a very truncated understanding even of John's message. The Spirit will be the preeminent good gift for which they can pray ( Luke 11:13 ; cf. Isaiah 63:10-11 contains the only other Old Testament use of "Holy Spirit, " harking back to God's guidance of Moses and the wilderness wanderers. The result of the Spirit’s work is that we bow before God as humbled children of God in awe of God. As irrelevant as the word sanctification may be where you work and in your neighborhood, the reality is very crucial, very contemporary, and very relevant. First, the belief of verse 12 may have been more intellectual than volitional and hence not salvific. Will Christ succumb to the lure to use his power for self-aggrandizement or will he follow the road to the cross? The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is a biblical term that sums up nine attributes of a person or community living in accord with the Holy Spirit, according to chapter 5 of the Epistle to the Galatians: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and … The Spirit's presence in a believer's life is a promise of more to come, a partial installment of future blessings, and a divine guarantee of preservation by God. Isaiah develops this theme in several texts. Six of these passages refer to John the Baptist's teaching, contrasting his baptism in water with Jesus' future baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the source of our inspiration, insight, mental illumination, revelation, guidance, and direction. They do respond to his preaching about faith in Jesus, though, and are thereafter baptized, upon which they receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues and prophesy. In 11:5, he is explicitly said to be the source of Ezekiel's prophecy. He will make possible the new birth, over which Nicodemus so marvels ( John 3:5-8 ), and will create new spiritual lives ( 6:63 ). All four evangelists use simile in describing the descent like a dove ( Matt 3:16 ; Mark 1:10 ; Luke 3:22 ; John 1:32 ); what was literally seen remains unknown. The definition that the Holy Spirit was a distinct divine person equal in substance to the Father and the Son and not subordinate to them came at the Council of Constantinople in ce 381, following challenges to its divinity. A week after his resurrection, Jesus begins to fulfill these promises as he breathes the Spirit on the eleven ( 20:22 ); fuller fulfillment will come a month and a half later at Pentecost. Jesus promised the Apostles that he would send the Holy Spirit after his Crucifixion and Resurrection. Most characteristic are his references to people whom the Spirit "fills." Individually, he aids in believers' prayers, bringing a newfound intimacy with God ( Rom 8:15-16 ; Gal 4:6 ). Baptism of the Holy Spirit Seven New Testament passages speak of baptism of/in/with/by the Holy Spirit. Until we die, the Spirit remains within us, renewing and sanctifying us, comforting us in trials, and sustaining us in afflictions. He is the characteristic mark of Christians ( Jude 19 ) who pray in him (v. 20). First, however, the Spirit must lead Jesus to the place of temptation by the devil ( Luke 4:1 ). Symbolically, the dove may represent peace, re-creation, or love. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is considered a separate experience from both conversion and water baptism. Consistently such individuals quickly proceed to speak inspired words or otherwise boldly proclaim God's Word. The Holy Spirit gives him joy ( Luke 10:21 ). The Hebrew word for "spirit" (ruah [; Wr]) can also mean wind, breath, or life-force. Other themes recur too. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition In sharp contrast stand the works of the flesh (vv. It is holy because it comes from Jehovah, who is clean and righteous to the highest degree, and because it is God’s means to accomplish what is holy. The distinctive and characteristic form of ministry for each believer is then described in terms of the diverse "gifts" of the Spirit ( Rom 12:1-8 ; 1 Cor 12-14; Eph 4:7-14 ). This meaning is different from the Christian concept of "Holy Spirit" as one personality of God in the Trinity. As Catholics, then, we must be able to respond to these two key misunderstandings concerning the Holy Spirit. Rather, it must be a sign to authenticate the message and ministry of the disciples. Matt 11:26-27 ; 12:28-32 ). In the belief of many Christians (see also Christian ), one of the three persons in the one God, along with the Father and the Son ( Jesus is the Son); the Holy Spirit is also called the Holy Ghost. This supernatural power combines with inspiration for verbal utterances in the earliest form of prophecy, usually assumed to have been somewhat uncontrollable or "ecstatic" (cf. Paul's theology of the Spirit is the richest of all of the biblical witnesses and least amenable to short summary. The Holy Spirit can be invited at the same time when you’re asking for Christ to be in your life and it can also be a separate prayer after becoming a follower of Jesus. In Zechariah 6:8 the execution of God's will brings his Spirit rest. In two places in Acts, however, the "package" seems to be broken up. But believers should want to "walk by the Spirit" ( Gal 5:25 ), in this new sphere of existence, because he alone provides true freedom, glory ( 2 Cor 3:17-18 ), and mastery over sin ( Rom 6:1-14 ). Five distinct functions can be discerned in these passages: The Spirit will help Jesus' followers, remaining with them forever ( 14:15-21 ); he will enable them to interpret Jesus' words ( 14:15-17 ); he will testify to the world who Jesus is (15:26-16:4); he will prosecute sinners, convicting them of their offenses ( 16:5-11 ); and he will reveal further truth ( 16:12-15 ), doubtless including though not explicitly specified as the New Testament canon. The Jewish apostles' arrival then enables them to confirm the salvation of the Samaritans and to begin to dissipate the previous hatred that had divided them. Spirit " ("spirit") is by far the most common translation (application) of 4151 (pneúma). In 36:27, the future eschatological restoration again appears. In short, Paul is closing the door on a past reliance on one's own accomplishments (and, arguably, for Jews, on their national identity) which is incompatible with the new covenant and the endowment of the Spirit. Corporately, the Spirit indwells his church to make her holy, like the temple of old ( 1 Cor 3:16 ; 6:19 ), and to build her up like a dwelling ( Eph 5:23 ), creating unity and fellowship out of former enemies ( Eph 2:18 ; 4:3-4 ; Php 2:1 ). In the earliest Scriptures, the Spirit does not clearly emerge as a distinct personality. All rights reserved. He supplies personal guidance and instruction (for obliterating social taboos 10:19 ; 11:12 for choosing church leaders 13:1-4 ; 20:28 for making difficult theological decisions 15:28 for making travel/ ministry plans 16:6-7 ). “Depression” vs. “Anxiety”: Which Do I Have (Or Is It Both)? What does holy-spirit mean? Haggai 2:5 and Zechariah 4:6 connect the Spirit's presence with the empowerment for rebuilding the temple. Psalm 139:7 ("Where can I go from your Spirit?") The third person of the Trinity. All of these uses recur throughout the Old Testament, but one other remains unique to these earliest days equipping Bezalel and Oholiab with the skills of craftsmanship for constructing the tabernacle ( Exod 31:3 ; 35:31 ), although the provision of gifts of the Spirit in the New Testament will become a close analogue. First Samuel 16:13 further suggests that David retained the Spirit as a permanent possession, apparently unlike others in the Old Testament. A distinct personality emerges and, ultimately, explicit trinitarian teaching. The Spirit is the holy presence of God. The Old Testament thus concludes self-consciously open-ended, anticipating a new era in which the Spirit will work among a greater number of individuals and different kinds of people to create a more faithful community of men and women serving God. Christ gives as part of the Great Commission a trinitarian baptismal formula ( Matt 28:19 ), which even if it reflects the liturgical language of the later church (contrast Acts 2:38 ), gathers together Jesus' authentic self-understanding as uniquely one with God and the Spirit (cf. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. More than a Force “Frosting” vs. “Icing”: Are They Synonyms (Or Just Taste Like They Are)? But the Spirit will not lead you merely to rest in God’s presence in a passive way. Apparently they will also be more mightily empowered. Paul develops several relatively new themes as well. The Gift of Fortitude ✝ Fortitude is the gift that enables true believers to stand firm in their faith … Bibliography. A well-known example is the Filioque controversy regarding the Holy Spirit – one of the key differences between the teachings of the main Western Churches and various Eastern Christian denominations (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Church of the East). It is considered an event in which the Christian receives the Spirit’s power in … Paul commands all believers to be continually or repeatedly "filled" with the Spirit ( Eph 5:18 ), defined as including musical praise of God, thanksgiving, and mutual submission (vv. The Spirit came to the disciples of Jesus on Pentecost. Jesus' whole ministry is therefore Spirit-led, but particularly significant manifestations include the fulfillment of prophecy ( Matt 12:18, ; citing Isa 42:1 ; Luke 4:18, ; citing Isa 61:1 ), exorcisms ( Matt 12:28 ), and miracles more generally ( Acts 10:38 ; Rom 15:19 ). 19-21), reflecting a characteristic Pauline opposition between a Spirit-controlled life and attempts to live under one's own power, variously attributed to the flesh, body, sin, or law ( Rom 2:29 ; 7:6 ; 8:1-14 ; 2 Col 3:1-18 ; Gal 3:1-5 ; 5:16-26 ). He will be poured out corporately on all of God's people to bring about justice, righteousness, and peace ( 32:15 ; 34:16 ), including their descendants forever ( 44:3 ; 59:21 ). A Lamp. As the Spirit has empowered Jesus, so Jesus promises that he will similarly empower the disciples. At Pentecost ( 2:1-41 ) the Holy Spirit "comes on" the disciples ( 1:8 ), but also fills them ( 2:4 ), leading them to speak in foreign languages that they did not previously know. With Elizabeth ( Luke 1:41 ), Zechariah ( 1:67 ), and Simeon ( 2:25-27 ), the Spirit comes with temporary power as in the Old Testament. But this phenomenon (vv. These are well-epitomized as the "fruit of the Spirit" ( Gal 5:22-23 ). He comes upon significant individuals, almost as an energizing power, temporarily equipping leaders for physical prowess and military victory. When Jesus resists the tempter's wiles, the Spirit again empowers him for service ( Luke 4:14 ), which John makes clear is a gift without its previously characteristic limits ( John 3:34 ). He echoes previous themes, seeing his own writing as Spirit-inspired ( 1 Cor 7:40 ), as with the ministry of apostles and prophets more generally ( Eph 3:5 ). © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins The Holy Spirit is present in the whispering wind (1 Kgs 19:12). 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