There are not many studies that are more foundational then the a study of the Holy Spirit. He is our life; we are His temple. He is our breathe; we are His workman. You don’t hear a lot of preaching and teaching on Him, but I can assure He is very present and He lives to breathe everlasting life into the minds and hearts of all who seek Him.
In our look at John 3, Nicodemus just wasn’t getting it—“…ye must be born again.” He continued to think in tangible and physical terms trying to make sense of it all. In verse six, Jesus begins to explain what part of Nicodemus must be born again—his spirit.
Then Jesus turns to the second illustration—the wind.
Jesus says in verse eight, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
No matter how advanced our studies in anatomy and biology become, birth is still a mysterious miracle! It the same with the regenerate work of the Holy Spirit within a man. You can see it evidences but the work is incomprehensible!
Imagine sitting there with Jesus and Nicodemus. I wonder if the winds hollowed around them as the sun dipped low under the trees. I wonder if the wind painted Christ’s illustration perfectly by rustling the flame that was lit in the night hour. I imagine Nicodemus, the religious ecclesiastical thought of the Old Testamant passage in Ezekiel 37, when a valley of dry bones were revived by the Holy Ghost. Perhaps.
Whatever the scene, we certainly know the Holy Spirit was present, working on the spirit of a man full of wonder.
But what does the Holy Spirit specifically do for the unbeliever? What does He do for those who are born again? Let’s look briefly at the Holy Spirit’s work.
First, for the unbeliever:
He convinces of sin (John 16:8-9, 18). The Holy Spirit is the One that shows man His sinful state and his unrighteousness before God.
John 16:8-9 says, “And when he is come, he (The Holy Spirit) will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me;”
He points out Christ’s righteousness, who has met Gods requirements (John 16:10). When Christ died and resurrected, He satisfied the wrath of a holy God making a way for all men to be saved. Twofold, He reveals the futility of self-righteousness and that unless we come by the blood of Christ, we cannot merit righteousness for ourselves. (Eph. 2:8-10, Titus 3:5, Is. 64:6)
He shows a person that sin will be judged. (John 16:11) A man will spend eternity one of two places; either with God or without Him--Heaven or Hell. The Holy Spirit is the One who reveals this truth to man and shows him his need of a Saviour. He shows him that sin must be judged, but Jesus has paid for the judgment.
He enlightens the unbeliever to God’s forgiveness and hope of the Gospel (John 3:36, 5:24, 6:44). In our look at Ye Must Be Born Again, we spoke of two “parents” of the new birth; the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Much of the Holy Spirit’s work is a illumination of the Word of God. He sheds light on the truth that there is hope in a hopeless world!
Secondly, let’s look at what the Holy Spirit does for the Believer:
At the moment of receiving Christ the believer is regenerated through the work of the Holy Spirit (Jn 3:3-8, Titus 3:5,)
1 Corinthians 6:11 says, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
He imparts a new nature created in righteousness and holiness (Col 3:10)
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24.
When someone is born again, they are given a new nature that desires heavenly things. Our sinful nature is not done away with the moment we trust Christ, but we are given power over the lusts of the flesh through the Holy Spirit.
He imparts spiritual life to those that believe (Romans 8:2)
Romans 8:10 says, “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
He brings the believer into a God’s family, giving him a relationship with God. (II Cor 5:17, I Jn 1:3, 7, I Cor 1:9)
It is an amazing thing that we can have a relationship with God! We ought to never get over that! The Holy Spirit is at the hub of the communication we have with our heavenly father. He bares witness to us and tells us what we ought to pray.
Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
He baptizes the believer into the body of Christ (I Cor 12:13, 27, Gal 3:27, 28)
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:27,28.
The Church is a living organism that is a united by one head, that is Christ. The Spirit give this unified body life and breath to accomplish the will of the Father. He fills us with the power of the resurrection so we may boldly proclaim God’s truth and work towards a common goal.
We literally cannot do this Christian journey without the Holy Spirit's work in our life! And this list is just the beginning of all that He does or us. His works are eternal even when His hands are not visible. I’m glad He drew me to the Savior, and continually works to manifest the Savior in me!
Sources:
Systematic Theology, Chafer Lewis Sperry
Practical Christian Theology, Barackman Floyd H. Pgs 195-227
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