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SOUND DOCTRINE ... ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT (1)

May 11, 2003 AM

Sermon Outline

Jno 14:25-27

INTRO: We have affirmed before that scripture is the source of sound doctrine. (Ultimately, of course, God is the Source.) To consider sound doctrine about the Holy Spirit, then, we must go to scripture. Now, I well recognize that the subject of the Holy Spirit is shrouded in speculation, confusion and emotion. The world of pentecostal religion and the prominence of televangelists has no doubt had much to do with this shroud. Further, we probably have more questions about the Holy Spirit than God has chosen to answer. Insisting on answers when there may not be legitimate answers takes us into great danger. So, this morning I would like to consider a few thoughts about the Holy Spirit.

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A REAL, PERSONAL BEING

A. There are some very impersonal ideas about the Holy Spirit

1. some would say, and do, that the Holy Spirit is an it - not a he

2. some would say, and do, that the Holy Spirit is a divine force

3. some would say, and do, that the Holy Spirit is the Bible

4. no Personhood in these ideas

B. Note some scriptural references to the Holy Spirit

1. Rom 8:27 - the Holy Spirit has a mind

2. 1 Cor 2:10,11 - the Holy Spirit can know

3. Rom 15:30 - the Holy Spirit can apparently love

4. Eph 4:30 - the Holy Spirit can be grieved

C. Conclusion? The Holy Spirit is a Personal Being!

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT GAVE MIRACULOUS POWERS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME

A. This was in keeping with promise

1. Acts 1:8 - power with the coming of the Holy Spirit

2. Acts 2:1-4 - the gift of tongues was one of the first noted of these powers

3. at first, only the apostles were given such miraculous powers ... later, by the imposition of apostles hands, others received various gifts

4. Acts 8:13-17 - Philip, and evangelist and deacon, was performing miracles - on him the apostles had laid their hands at Acts 6:6 - but he could not impart those powers - two apostles came and did so (these miraculous gifts were designed, then, with termination in mind)

B. And there was a very distinct purpose for the miracles

1. Jno 20:30,31 - to confirm the claims of Jesus

2. Heb 2:3,4 - to confirm the spoken message of the apostles and others

3. the miraculous gifts were not playthings for personal enjoyment and such - and they belonged to the infancy of the Lords church (1 Cor 13:8)

4. based on scriptural information, we conclude that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, essential until the Lords revelation was complete, ceased with the death of last person on whom the apostles had laid their hands

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALED GODS TRUTH

A. This is true of the prophets of the old covenant

1. 1 Pet 1:21 - as they were moved by the Holy Spirit

2. Mk 12:36 - for David himself said by the Holy Spirit...

3. Acts 28:25 - well spake the Holy Spirit by Isaiah...

4. the revealing activity of the Holy Spirit is of long standing

B. 1 Cor 2:12,13 - Great affirmations

1. the Holy Spirit revealed what God wanted us to know

2. He revealed them in words which He chose

3. what He revealed is the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16)

4. Jno 14:26 - we can absolutely depend on the scriptures - these are the very words of God revealed by the Holy Spirit!

IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT DIRECTS US BY HIS REVEALED WORD

A. Does the Holy Spirit lead various people into various paths?

1. the leading of the Holy Spirit is claimed by so many

2. but I am concerned that if the claims are valid the Holy Spirit is producing confusion!

3. but I read 1 Cor 14:33 as part of the distinctive nature of God

B. Eph 6:17 - ...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

1. consider 2 Tim 3:15-17 ... by the scriptures we know Gods will

2. the Holy Spirits leading is very objective ... we have the mind of Christ in the word revealed by the Holy Spirit ... and we submit to that mind, or will of Christ

3. faith is based on what can be known from the word and on that which can be obeyed ... by anyone who chooses to submit to it (no confusion)

CLOSE: There is so much more to be said. And there is so much more I would like to know. But what I know is enough for me to have confidence in the Holy Spirit of God ... Whose concern for me is very real.

Cecil A. Hutson

11 May 2003

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)