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God, Thye Holy Spirit.

D

Douglas Summers

Member
The Holy Spirit is a person, not an influence or an emanation. The Bible refers to "Him" in words implying personality. The same words are used in Scripture which are used of other persons. Two well-known passages sufficiently illustrate this Truth. (John 14:16-17; 26). The personal pronoun "He" and "Him" are used of the Spirit in these passages also (John 16:7-8; 13-15).

The Holy Spirit is a Divine person in the proper sense of Deity. He is called God (Isa. 6:8-10 with Acts 28:25-27) (Jer. 31:31-34 with Heb. 10:15-16; 8:8-12). The body of Christ is formed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Cor.12:12-13). Beginning on the "Day of Pentecost", The Holy Spirit has been baptizing believers at the moment they have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Notice, the believer is "baptized with the Holy Spirit, Therefore , The Epistle never direct him to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit can be hindered and grieved in a believer....but never removed from a born again believer...…...Every born again believer will experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit, there is no mistaking it. It does not matter if it looked like a dove or as cloven tongues of fire, These signs were for the witness of those present. The doctrine of the C of C is there is no baptism of the Holy Spirit since Pentecost?
 
Douglas Summers said:
The doctrine of the C of C is there is no baptism of the Holy Spirit since Pentecost?
Click to expand...
Really? No baptism in the Holy Spirit?
Then neither is there any salvation.
Jhn 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
How sad for members of C of C to be taught that doctrine!
 
Those who do not believe the Holy Spirit is for today are those who have never truly been Spiritually born again. It's the same with those who think the OT is no longer needed to study and we should just do away with it.

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
 
I think on that they were all clothed with power as well as receiving the inward gift of the Holy Spirit. Ref Acts 2

Jesus spoke before hand about the Fathers promise

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

15“If you love me, keep my commands. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
 
Douglas Summers said:
The Holy Spirit is a person, not an influence or an emanation. The Bible refers to "Him" in words implying personality. The same words are used in Scripture which are used of other persons. Two well-known passages sufficiently illustrate this Truth. (John 14:16-17; 26). The personal pronoun "He" and "Him" are used of the Spirit in these passages also (John 16:7-8; 13-15).

The Holy Spirit is a Divine person in the proper sense of Deity. He is called God (Isa. 6:8-10 with Acts 28:25-27) (Jer. 31:31-34 with Heb. 10:15-16; 8:8-12). The body of Christ is formed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Cor.12:12-13). Beginning on the "Day of Pentecost", The Holy Spirit has been baptizing believers at the moment they have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Notice, the believer is "baptized with the Holy Spirit, Therefore , The Epistle never direct him to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit can be hindered and grieved in a believer....but never removed from a born again believer...…...Every born again believer will experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit, there is no mistaking it. It does not matter if it looked like a dove or as cloven tongues of fire, These signs were for the witness of those present. The doctrine of the C of C is there is no baptism of the Holy Spirit since Pentecost?
Click to expand...
I appreciate your pointing out that The Holy Spirit is a Person that indwells the children of God, but I don't see how the Holy Spirit is not an influence on the mind heart and soul in that respect. Please note that He convicts us of sin, and is the indwelling witness of the knowledge of God as He testifies to the Father and Son. How exactly is that not an effectual influence?
 
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.
 
childeye said:
I appreciate your pointing out that The Holy Spirit is a Person that indwells the children of God, but I don't see how the Holy Spirit is not an influence on the mind heart and soul in that respect. Please note that He convicts us of sin, and is the indwelling witness of the knowledge of God as He testifies to the Father and Son. How exactly is that not an effectual influence?
Click to expand...
The Holy Spirit is a new man in us, it is not our spirit that has been influenced, it is the indwelling Spirit that works the works of Christ (Gal. 2:20). Our mind is "enmity" toward Christ (Rom. 8:6-8). Of course our minds either accept or reject the word of God (1 Cor. 2:9-11), But the Spirit "MANIFEST ITSELF" in us (2 Pet. 1:4). Here are those who work by the deeds of the flesh, expecting God to accept their works by the influence of self will, supposing they are doing the work of God (Matt. 7:21-23). These are they who have presented themselves to God by the worthlessness of self reformation (Matt. 12:43-45). If we would let the Spirit reveal (manifest) itself in us, there would be no denominations.. Study Romans Chapters 7 and 8 and 1 Corinthians Chapter 12, which results in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. This is a mystery (Eph. 5:22-33). It is hard to reason these things, they must be experienced. You must be born again. If the Spirit manifest it self through you as a vessel of the Lord, The world will hate you. We are influenced by the word of God, we are called by the Father, we do not join. Being a pastor/teacher is not a profession, it is a calling and a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
 
The Holy Spirit is one of my favorite topics because there is so much still to learn. I love that you mention the Holy Spirit as a person and I whole heartedly agree since the Holy Spirit has a will, intellect, etc.

I am not sure if I am going far with this, but I have thought of The Holy Spirit sometines as what we refer to as our conscience, the voice that steers us to know what is right and wrong.

The Holy Spirit has a job in the unbeliever and that is conviction. The conviction that makes us realize that we have broken God's law and need a Savior (Jesus Christ).

I think a lot about Galatians 5 when I think about the Holy Spirit. When I was reading it yesterday, I remembered my experience with the Holy Spirit.

Growing up in a Church of Christ, I did not understand what the Holy Spirit even is when I hit my adult years. This was a seldom discussed topic. Sure, some of their hymns mention the Holy Spirit, but it dud not feel it was ever in me.

I made a decision to be baptized at 13. I felt this amazing sense of lightness like every burden Christ removed from me. I felt The Holy Spirit dwelling within me. I felt for once, I was so close to the Lord - even closer than before.

After weeks of no Bible reading and life in general set in, The Holy Spirit felt inhibited. After a while, it felt like it grieved. I felt there was something wrong with me because everything at church seemed confusing and my questions went unanswered.

Years later, after marriage my husband and I were on our cross country trek. We stopped at a big church. People worshipped like I have never seen! They raised their hands and some fell in the Spirit while others danced and some even cried. Some spoke in tongues. Coming from a church that did not even believe in raising their hands in worship, it was bizarre to me. I wanted to reject this foreign nonsense, but God had other plans.

I prayed in my mind, "God, this is so confusing. I do not understand. Forgive me that I don't understand." I don't know what came over me, but I wept. I looked at the floor, hoping my hair would cover my face. My husband turned to me, not knowing what I had prayed and he said, "God told me to tell you that it is okay. You may not understand now, but you will."

I cried even more, and my husband who remembers nearly everything did not remember what he had told me.

Another day we were in another state, we went to a small church, but still felt that big Holy Spirit presence was there. I prayed to God and asked for his Holy Spirit that I abandoned so long ago to refill my soul and show me what I needed to do. A pastor prophecied about my husband and I ministering to a special group of people that have been waiting for us for 7 years.

The Holy Spirit is a unique part of being a believer in God.
 
Luminous_Rose said:
I am not sure if I am going far with this, but I have thought of The Holy Spirit sometines as what we refer to as our conscience, the voice that steers us to know what is right and wrong.
Click to expand...
We have a conscience (Rom. 2:13-16). But the Born again believer has the Holy Spirit. If we are willing, the Holy Spirit will manifest him self in us...not by conscience, but by actually (supernaturally) manifesting His work through us as a vessel. The Holy Spirit is sovereign. Study 1 Corinthians chapter 12 prayerfully. To many times we run ahead of the Lord.. It is not I, but Christ in me...not my conscience thinking, but wholly and fully relying upon the Lord. through fellowship and prayer. God is conforming us to the image of Christ (complete conformity) Rom. 8:26-30). You must be born again.
 
Douglas Summers said:
The Holy Spirit is a new man in us, it is not our spirit that has been influenced, it is the indwelling Spirit that works the works of Christ (Gal. 2:20). Our mind is "enmity" toward Christ (Rom. 8:6-8). Of course our minds either accept or reject the word of God (1 Cor. 2:9-11), But the Spirit "MANIFEST ITSELF" in us (2 Pet. 1:4). Here are those who work by the deeds of the flesh, expecting God to accept their works by the influence of self will, supposing they are doing the work of God (Matt. 7:21-23). These are they who have presented themselves to God by the worthlessness of self reformation (Matt. 12:43-45). If we would let the Spirit reveal (manifest) itself in us, there would be no denominations.. Study Romans Chapters 7 and 8 and 1 Corinthians Chapter 12, which results in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. This is a mystery (Eph. 5:22-33). It is hard to reason these things, they must be experienced. You must be born again. If the Spirit manifest it self through you as a vessel of the Lord, The world will hate you. We are influenced by the word of God, we are called by the Father, we do not join. Being a pastor/teacher is not a profession, it is a calling and a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response. I thought that what you have elaborated upon above was probably the intent of your original thought. I hope you don't mind that I have taken issue with your choice of words. As a reader, reading that the Holy Spirit is not an influence, does not convey that the Holy Spirit manifests apart from our will so that the reader draws a contrast between God and one's self.

Of course semantics are always a source of confusion, particularly concerning this subject matter, since The Word of God as the breath of Life or sentience (Rhema), is essentially the same Spiritual energy as the Logos even though there is a new perspective to consider contained in the son.
 
Luminous_Rose said:
The Holy Spirit is one of my favorite topics because there is so much still to learn. I love that you mention the Holy Spirit as a person and I whole heartedly agree since the Holy Spirit has a will, intellect, etc.

I am not sure if I am going far with this, but I have thought of The Holy Spirit sometines as what we refer to as our conscience, the voice that steers us to know what is right and wrong.

The Holy Spirit has a job in the unbeliever and that is conviction. The conviction that makes us realize that we have broken God's law and need a Savior (Jesus Christ).

I think a lot about Galatians 5 when I think about the Holy Spirit. When I was reading it yesterday, I remembered my experience with the Holy Spirit.

Growing up in a Church of Christ, I did not understand what the Holy Spirit even is when I hit my adult years. This was a seldom discussed topic. Sure, some of their hymns mention the Holy Spirit, but it dud not feel it was ever in me.

I made a decision to be baptized at 13. I felt this amazing sense of lightness like every burden Christ removed from me. I felt The Holy Spirit dwelling within me. I felt for once, I was so close to the Lord - even closer than before.

After weeks of no Bible reading and life in general set in, The Holy Spirit felt inhibited. After a while, it felt like it grieved. I felt there was something wrong with me because everything at church seemed confusing and my questions went unanswered.

Years later, after marriage my husband and I were on our cross country trek. We stopped at a big church. People worshipped like I have never seen! They raised their hands and some fell in the Spirit while others danced and some even cried. Some spoke in tongues. Coming from a church that did not even believe in raising their hands in worship, it was bizarre to me. I wanted to reject this foreign nonsense, but God had other plans.

I prayed in my mind, "God, this is so confusing. I do not understand. Forgive me that I don't understand." I don't know what came over me, but I wept. I looked at the floor, hoping my hair would cover my face. My husband turned to me, not knowing what I had prayed and he said, "God told me to tell you that it is okay. You may not understand now, but you will."

I cried even more, and my husband who remembers nearly everything did not remember what he had told me.

Another day we were in another state, we went to a small church, but still felt that big Holy Spirit presence was there. I prayed to God and asked for his Holy Spirit that I abandoned so long ago to refill my soul and show me what I needed to do. A pastor prophecied about my husband and I ministering to a special group of people that have been waiting for us for 7 years.

The Holy Spirit is a unique part of being a believer in God.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your sincere post with which I can relate. The Holy Spirit is indeed a real power which inhabits and deals with each reborn believer in Christ personally in a one on one relationship with God.

In regards to the conscience, I would humbly suggest that you might ponder what is meant in Titus 1:15 concerning the existence of a defiled conscience and a pure conscience. I would also humbly submit my impression, that it is indicative of two different forms of moral/immoral reasoning, one corruptible because of a corrupt image of god at it's core, and one incorruptible because of an incorruptible Image of God at it's core (Christ).
 
Douglas Summers said:
The Holy Spirit is a new man in us, it is not our spirit that has been influenced, it is the indwelling Spirit that works the works of Christ (Gal. 2:20). Our mind is "enmity" toward Christ (Rom. 8:6-8). Of course our minds either accept or reject the word of God (1 Cor. 2:9-11), But the Spirit "MANIFEST ITSELF" in us (2 Pet. 1:4). Here are those who work by the deeds of the flesh, expecting God to accept their works by the influence of self will, supposing they are doing the work of God (Matt. 7:21-23). These are they who have presented themselves to God by the worthlessness of self reformation (Matt. 12:43-45). If we would let the Spirit reveal (manifest) itself in us, there would be no denominations.. Study Romans Chapters 7 and 8 and 1 Corinthians Chapter 12, which results in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. This is a mystery (Eph. 5:22-33). It is hard to reason these things, they must be experienced. You must be born again. If the Spirit manifest it self through you as a vessel of the Lord, The world will hate you. We are influenced by the word of God, we are called by the Father, we do not join. Being a pastor/teacher is not a profession, it is a calling and a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
Click to expand...

The Holy Spirit is not a new man in us, but He who creates a new Spiritual inner man in us where He indwells us, John 3:5-7.
 
for_his_glory said:
The Holy Spirit is not a new man in us, but He who creates a new Spiritual inner man in us where He indwells us, John 3:5-7.
Click to expand...
The power to sanctify or heal that which occupies the soul in a man, which is a matter of spiritual condition. We're oftentimes just arguing semantics or the best way to say it.
 
The Holy Spirit will teach you things the carnal mind cannot perceive. Jesus explains the purpose of the Holy Spirit and the relationship of the believers to Christ and what relationship the believers have to the world in John chapters 14 and 15.

We receive power and authority through the Holy Spirit to carry on the works of the Lord until His glorious return. In order to stay in Gods will you must posses the mind of Christ to know the works we do are not of ourselves, but that of the Father who started a good work in you. Jesus has started a good work within you and we can only carry out these works through the Holy Spirits guidance as we help meet the needs of others who need a touch from God, Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; Philippians 2:5-8.

The Holy Spirit bears witness of Jesus to us as he did to the disciples on the day of Pentecost for us to gain truth through Spiritual eyes and ears. The disciples could not understand the works of the Lord with their carnal minds until they received power from God and after that the Holy Spirit came on them to teach them how to do the will of the Father. God gives us his power and authority through the Holy Spirit to be over comers and to take his word out into the world with love and compassion as we allow the Holy Spirit speak through us.
 
childeye said:
The power to sanctify or heal that which occupies the soul in a man, which is a matter of spiritual condition. We're oftentimes just arguing semantics or the best way to say it.
Click to expand...

Douglas Summers made the statement that "The Holy Spirit is a new man in us " which implies the Holy Spirit is the new man. It's not the Holy Spirit, but that of the Holy Spirit creating a new Spiritual inner man within us. There is a difference.
 
childeye said:
Thanks for the response. I thought that what you have elaborated upon above was probably the intent of your original thought. I hope you don't mind that I have taken issue with your choice of words. As a reader, reading that the Holy Spirit is not an influence, does not convey that the Holy Spirit manifests apart from our will so that the reader draws a contrast between God and one's self.

Of course semantics are always a source of confusion, particularly concerning this subject matter, since The Word of God as the breath of Life or sentience (Rhema), is essentially the same Spiritual energy as the Logos even though there is a new perspective to consider contained in the son.
Click to expand...
That's ok childeye, It is a mystery. It has to do with relationship, fellowship and willingness. I have had the Holy Spirit manifest HIMSELF in me on day when our pastor did not show up for services. He (Holy Spirit) called me right out of the pew to preach (his message) to the congregation. This is just one of many instances of His manifesting Himself through a willing vessel in my walk with Christ.
Love you in the Lord,
Douglas Summers
 
Yes, the Holy Spirit is a separate Person, and takes up His abode in us as we allow and make room. From there He influences us, changing our Spirit, conforming us into the image of Jesus. This is the correct application for the addage that "God doesn't need our ability, just our availability."

He also deals with us via our conscience. Having a clear conscience before the Lord is precious!

None of these things are God Himself, they're still us. The "new man" in us - that's the mystery! Is it Jesus Himself, doing what only He can do, and what He's always done? Well, yes. Can we attribute that to the Holy Spirit? Certainly! (And we'd better) It is also us, in the process of being joined unto the Lord ...
 
for_his_glory said:
Douglas Summers made the statement that "The Holy Spirit is a new man in us " which implies the Holy Spirit is the new man. It's not the Holy Spirit, but that of the Holy Spirit creating a new Spiritual inner man within us. There is a difference.
Click to expand...
Being reborn is tantamount to being re-created, I agree. I don't think anyone here would disagree including Douglas.
 
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