porter barrington bible study

The Holy Spirit is God, and is equal to the Father and the Son.

He is God the Holy Spirit, and is distinct from the Father and the Son. In the Genesis account of creation, He is seen actively engaged in the work of creation, along with the Father and the Son. In the Old Testament, He empowered men for service; but, when they were disobedient, He departed from them.

When David sinned, he prayed, “and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11).

In the New Testament, we see the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer, never leaving, filling and empowering him. A scriptural understanding of God the Holy Spirit will make you a better Christian and servant of God.

1. The Deity of the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4): 3) But Peter said, “Ananias, why has the Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4) “While it remained was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Notes: In dealing with Ananias, Peter revealed the Holy Spirit’s Deity (Acts 5:3a). In this Scripture it is very clear that the Holy Spirit is God, and He is co-equal, co-eternal, and co-existent with the Father and Son.

a) His deity is also set forth in that He possesses divine attributes:

• • • He is everywhere present in the universe (Psalm 139:7-10)
    • He has all power (Luke 1:35)
    • He has all knowledge (I Corinthians 2:10-11)
    • He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14)

b) His deity is revealed, His name is coupled in equality with the name of the Father and the Son.

• • • i. In the baptism of the believer (Matthew 28:19)
    • In the apostolic benediction (II Corinthians 13:14)

c) His deity is seen in relation to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

• • • Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35)
    • He was anointed by the Holy Spirit for service – Acts 10:38.
    • He was led by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 4:1)
    • He was crucified in the power of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 9:14)
    • He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11)
    • Jesus gave commandments to the apostles and the church through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:2)

If Jesus needed to depend solely upon the Holy Spirit here on the earth, can we afford to do less?

2. The Emblems of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16): 16) John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Notes: It is difficult to impart truth by words. Frequently they reveal only a half-truth. The Bible used certain emblems when telling of the Holy Spirit, because they show more about Him. They are:

a) Fire as an emblem (Luke 3:16). Fire speaks of His consuming, purifying power (Acts 2:3, Isaiah 6:1-7)

b) Wind as an emblem. (John 3:8). Wind speaks of His depth in His mighty regenerating power.

c) Water as an emblem. (John 7:37-39).

d) Seal as an emblem (Ephesians 1:13) Seal speaks of His ownership; it is a finished, eternal transaction.

e) Oil as an emblem (Acts 10:38 Oil speaks of His power to anoint for service

f) Dove as an emblem (Mark 1:10). The dove speaks of His gentle, tender, peaceful nature. We may know “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) only when fully surrendered to God.

3. Sins against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32): 31) “therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

Notes: This is a solemn study, because the Holy Spirit is God and can be sinned against by both the believer and the unbeliever. May He help you search your heart as you consider:

a) The sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. This sin is committed by unbelievers. It is often called the “unpardonable sin.” It has no forgiveness. It was committed by the enemies of Jesus when they accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan (Matthew 12:24) when Jesus cast them out by the “Spirit of God” (Matthew 12:28

b) The sin of resisting the Holy Spirit. (Acts 7:51) This sin is committed by the unbeliever when rejecting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

c) The sin of grieving the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:30-32) This sin is committed by believers. He is grieved by us unless He controls our lives to the glory of Jesus Christ. 

d) The sin of quenching the Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) This sin is committed by Christians when known sin is allowed to go unconfessed (1 John 1:9; Isaiah 59:1-2)

e) The sin of lying to the Holy Spirit.(Acts 5:1-11). The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was deception. They tried to mock God (Galatians 6:7) The Holy Spirit can be sinned against, He is God.

4. The Work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-14): 7) “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 ) “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment; 9) “of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10) “of rightness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11) “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12) “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13) “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but what ever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14) “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you….”

Notes: In instructing His disciples, regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “. . . for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will . . .”

a) Convict men of the sin of unbelief (John 16:9)

b) Convict men that Jesus is the righteousness (John 16:10; Romans 10:3-4)

c) Convict men that the of God  power of Satan has been broken (John 16:11) 

d) Regenerate the believer (John 3:5; Titus 3:5)

e) Indwell the believer (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

f) Seal the believer (Ephesians 1:13-14)

g) Baptize the believer (Acts 1:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13)

h) Infill the believer (Ephesians 5:18 )

i) Empower the believer (Acts 1:8 )

j) Lead the believer (Galatians 5:16-18 )

k) Administer spiritual gifts to the believer (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, to remain with the church until it is complete and presented to the Lord Jesus at His coming. Just as Jesus Christ finished the work He came to do in the flesh, so the Holy Spirit will finish the work He came to do in the church.

5. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): 22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 22) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Notes: “The Fruit of the Spirit is love,” and it is manifested in joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control:

“The Fruit of the Spirit is love.” Only as we live in love can we fulfill the will of God in our lives. The believer must become love-inspired, love-mastered, and love-driven (2 Corinthians 5:14). Without the fruit of the Spirit (love), we are just a religious noise (1 Corinthians 13:1).

a) Joy is love’s strength

b) Peace is love’s security

c) Longsuffering is love’s patience

d) Kindness is love’s conduct

e) Goodness is love’s character

f) Faithfulness is love’s confidence

g) Gentleness is love’s humility

h) Self-control is love’s victory

“Against such there is no law.” A Holy Spirit-controlled man needs no law to cause him to live a righteous life. The secret of a Spirit-controlled live is found in dedication to God (Romans 12:1-2)

Put your all on the altar, and the Holy Spirit will fill your heart with the love of God (Romans 5:5)