Great Themes of the Bible Series

#8  Spirit: His Works

"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

False Ideas about the Holy Spirit (by Wayne Jackson)

Jesus warned:“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves” (Mt. 7:15).

False teachers do exist (2 Pet. 2:1), and the ideas they advocate are dangerous. We will direct attention to some false teachings relative to the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit Not a Person

One of the most fundamental errors regarding the Holy Spirit is the tendency of some cults to deny his very personality. A Watchtower publication asserts that “the holy spirit is the active force of God. It is not a person but is a powerful force that God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy will” (Reasoning, p. 81).

Mary Baker Eddy, founder of “Christian Science,” characterized the third person of the Trinity as “Divine Science” (p. 55). Parley Pratt, one of Mormonism’s original “apostles,” once described the Holy Spirit as a force like “magnetism” or “electricity.” He further spoke of the Spirit as “a divine fluid” and “impersonal energy” (see Jackson, 1993, p. 26).

Each of these notions is quite foreign to the truth. The Holy Spirit is a divine person, and this is evidenced by the following factors:

1.      The Spirit acts in a personal way. He can speak (Mt. 10:20; 1 Tim. 4:1), teach (Jn. 14:26), bear witness (Jn. 15:26), guide, hear and declare (Jn. 16:13), send (Acts 10:20), forbid (Acts 16:6), search and know (1 Cor. 2:11), will (1 Cor. 12:11), help (Rom. 8:2), and love (Rom. 15:30). Sound biblical interpretation will not allow the view that these references are mere personifications.

2.      There are many passages which describe the Holy Spirit as being the recipient of actions which are applicable only of a personal entity. The Spirit can be grieved (Eph. 4:30), lied to (Acts 5:3), spoken against (Mt. 12:32), resisted (Acts 7:50), and insulted (Heb. 10:29). Can one “lie to” electricity, “grieve” magnetism, or “insult” fluid?

3.      The Holy Spirit is frequently mentioned in contexts in which other persons are discussed. Of the Spirit, Jesus said: “He shall glorify me” (Jn. 16:14). If the “me” (Christ) represents a person, why does not the “he” (the Spirit) likewise denote a person? Certain inspired leaders in the early church wrote: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us...” (Acts 15:28). The Spirit is as personal as the “us.”

Holy Spirit Still Works Miracles

Every devout Bible student is aware of the fact that miracles have been employed by God in the divine scheme of things. By means of miracles, the creation and organization of the Universe were effected (Gen. 1; Psa. 33:6-9; Heb. 11:3). Additionally, when Jehovah commenced his process of progressive revelation, communicating his will to the human family, he documented the authenticity of the message with supernatural phenomena. Miraculous “signs” were designed to validate the written message (cf. Mk. 16:17-20). But the fact of the matter is, God is not exhibiting his power today in a miraculous fashion, and that is demonstrated by the following line of argumentation.

1. There is no occurrence in today’s world that even remotely resembles the kind of “signs” that are common to the New Testament record. Where is the person with an amputated body-part that has had such instantaneously and perfectly restored (cf. Lk. 22:51)? Where is the individual, four days dead, who has come forth from the grave (Jn. 11:44)? Who pays his taxes these days with funds recovered from a fish’s mouth (Mt. 17:27)? An examination of so-called modern “miracles” will reveal that they have virtually nothing in common with the type of “signs” described in the Bible (see Jackson, 1992, pp. 127-134).

2. The allegation that the Holy Spirit is working miracles today is contrary to the explicit biblical teaching relative to the purpose for which miracles were given. As indicated earlier, signs were designed to validate the revelation of God’s will for mankind (Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:2-4). When the revelatory process was concluded with the completion of the New Testament record, miracles were no longer needed, hence, passed away (see 1 Cor. 13:8-13). No one can consistently argue for miracles today without also contending that divine revelation is on-going, and the New Testament is incomplete.

3. The means for the reception of spiritual gifts in the Christian age are not operative today. Gifts, in the first century, were bestowed by means of Holy Spirit baptism (Acts 2,10), and through the laying on of the apostles’ hands (Acts 8:17,18; 19:6; 2 Tim. 1:6). Since there is no Holy Spirit baptism today (Eph. 4:5; Mt. 28:19,20), and as there are no living apostles, it is obvious that, so far as biblical evidence is concerned, no spiritual gifts are being given to believers today.

4. As suggested earlier, the New Testament explicitly affirms that the early church’s endowment with miraculous gifts was to be temporary; when revelation was completed, supernatural signs were to pass away (Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 13:8-13; see Jackson, 1990, pp. 114-124).

Direct Operation in Conversion

Denominationalists frequently contend that the Holy Spirit, in a direct and mysterious fashion, operates upon the sinner in the process of conversion. In his debate with N.B. Hardeman, the celebrated Baptist preacher, Ben M. Bogard, affirmed: “The Bible teaches that in conviction and conversion the Holy Spirit exercises a power or influence in addition to the written or spoken word” (p. 7).

If the Holy Spirit operates upon the soul of the sinner independent of the written Word of God, why is it that not a solitary Christian has ever been discovered in those locales where the gospel has not been proclaimed? Why is it that tribes in primitive regions know nothing regarding the Lord Jesus, apart from the influence of biblical revelation? This circumstance is inexplicable in light of the foregoing theory.

Certainly it is true that the Holy Spirit is instrumental in the regeneration of those who are lost. But his influence is exerted through his revelation, the Holy Scriptures (see Eph. 6:17), and not apart from these documents. For example, it is by the Spirit that one is led to be immersed into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). Correspondingly, it is through the word that this identical result is effected (Eph. 5:26). In the conversion process, which is symbolically designated as being “born anew” (Jn. 3:3), it is by the agency of the Holy Spirit that the “begettal” is initiated. Yet note this affirmation: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently: having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God...” (1 Pet. 1:22,23).

James declares: “Of his own will he begat us with the word of truth” (Jas. 1:18). With this fact, Paul agrees. The apostle describes the Corinthians as those who had been washed, sanctified, and justified by the Spirit (1 Cor. 6:11); and yet, he could declare in the same epistle: “I have begotten you through the gospel” (4:15). Clearly, the Holy Spirit, in leading honest people to the Lord, exerts his influence through the gospel message. To affirm that something additional is needed for salvation, is to rob the gospel of its power in the redemptive process (Rom. 1:16).

Special Spirit Illumination

It is commonly argued that the Bible is not sufficiently lucid to lead men in the pursuit of the godly life. We should study the Scriptures, it is contended, but in order to understand them, we also need the special illumination of the Spirit of God. Roy Zuck of the Dallas Theological Seminary has written: “The [Bible] interpreter must also depend on the Holy Spirit.” He cites H.C.G. Moule: “The blessed Spirit is not only the true Author of the written Word but also its supreme and true Expositor” (Zuck, p. 23).

If this view is correct, here is an interesting query. Is the Spirit as infallible in his exposition as he was in his initial revelation? If the answer is yes, then all who are illuminated by the Spirit should be flawless in their exegesis of the Bible, and totally united in their understanding of Scripture. But such is not the case. Numerous scholars claiming Spirit illumination are constantly disagreeing in their theological opinions.

Moreover, it is the epitome of inconsistency to argue for “supernatural illumination,” and then produce a textbook setting forth the rules for correct biblical interpretation—as Dr. Zuck has done. The fact is, the Bible clearly teaches that one can read and understand the testimony of the sacred Scriptures (Eph. 3:4; 5:17).

But we are told that Paul taught that the “natural man” (i.e., one not illuminated by the Spirit) cannot “know” the things of God (cf. 1 Cor. 2:14). The “illumination” theory imposes upon this context a notion that simply is not there. In this text Paul is suggesting that the natural man (i.e., one not taught of the Spirit by means of God’s appointed spokesmen—vs. 10) receives not the things of God (i.e., spiritual truths). Such things are foolishness to him, and he cannot “know” (ginosko—to know experimentally) them. Such matters must be discerned spiritually (i.e., they are communicated by the revelation process—ultimately embodied in the Scriptures). The “natural man” is not privy to spiritual truth intuitively. No one, naturally (i.e., apart from revelation) can know the mind of God.

There is no reference in this context to the Spirit1s “illumination” as a requisite to understanding the Scriptures. Rather, the emphasis is upon the fact that truth is received by divine revelation, not human intuition.

Sources

Bogard, Ben M. (1938), Hardeman-Bogard Debate (Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate Co.).
Eddy, Mary Baker (75th Anniversary Edition ), Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures (Boston: First Church of Christ, Scientist).
Jackson, Wayne (1990), “Miracles,” Freed-Hardeman College Lectures (Henderson, TN: Freed-Hardeman College).
Jackson, Wayne (1992), “The Miracles of Christ Vs. Modern Miracles,” Essays in Apologetics, Bert Thompson & Wayne Jackson, Eds. (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press), Vol. V.
Jackson, Wayne (1993), “Mormonism and the Godhead,” The Spiritual Sword, July.
Reasoning from the Scriptures (Brooklyn, NY: Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society), 1985.
Zuck, Roy B. (1991), Basic Bible Interpretation (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books).

Dallas Willard has written a book The Divine Conspiracy, which  is a straightforward challenge to what he refers to as "consumer Christianity" or "bumper-sticker faith." Yet it is not negative either in its content or in its tone. It is a mature theological plea for Christians to take discipleship seriously.

If you decide to read it, please understand in advance that it isn't devotional reading. It takes concentration. You'll probably need to reread some pages or occasional whole sections. But it will be time well spent.

Playing off the bumper sticker that reads "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven," Willard raises the possibility that some preaching these days communicates an impoverished message to the church. From his own experience, he describes his fear of a shallow understanding of the gospel this way:

It says that you can have a faith in Christ that brings forgiveness, while in every other respect your life is no different from that of others who have no faith in Christ at all. This view so pleasingly presented on bumpers and trinkets has deep historical roots. It is by now worked out in many sober tomes of theology, lived out by multitudes of those who sincerely self-identify as Christians.[1]

Being a Christian is supposed to make a difference. Faith is supposed to create holy actions. "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men" (Rom. 14:17). Righteousness, peace, and joy make a believer's life rich and satisfying. They make her life a credible witness to the gospel. But these spiritual qualities are blessings from God, not attainments through the methods and techniques of our human effort.

Understanding Two Key Concepts

The alternative to "consumer Christianity" proposed in The Divine Conspiracy is not to impose a legalistic holiness code over the gospel's message of salvation by grace. As opposed to a fire-escape mentality for presenting the message about Jesus, however, Willard proposes a rethinking of (1) the nature of the kingdom of God and (2) discipleship. That is, he thinks people should be taught the gospel as more than an escape route from hell. He and I apparently agree that "If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?" is not the best opening line for sharing the story of Jesus. Church- sponsored "hell houses" around Halloween may get some young people to confess Jesus out of fear, but I wonder how many of these conversions "stick"? Fear isn't a very good long-term motivation for doing anything — much less holy things.

Anyone who is a Christian has access now to the life we are sometimes only too eager to relegate to the hereafter. This life with a new orientation shows itself in a set of new behaviors and is our participation today in what the Bible calls the "kingdom of God" or "eternal life." The personal impact of this new life is "discipleship" — an experience of paying attention to, learning the teaching of, and imitating the lifestyle of Jesus. Christ is the teacher, and those he saves are pupils who learn his thoughts and behaviors.

This is the authentic gospel message as opposed to what Bonhoeffer called "cheap grace." The gospel so preached and received creates a faithful witness to Christ in the world. It initiates those who receive it into an experience in which the kingdom of heaven breaks into human history again through one who has taken the gospel seriously. It is a believer's intentional surrender to the Holy Spirit that makes the difference between bumper-sticker faith and life-transforming faith, a cheap-grace confession and an everything-to-Christ confession.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

It is the Spirit's work to transform sinners into saints. His power enables one to "put off" an old man or woman and "put on" a new personality and character. His primary task in Christian experience is to make those who follow Jesus "fruitful" in holy things.

Do you remember these words from Jesus? "I am the vine; you are the branches," he said. "If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). At the end of his Allegory of the Vine and Branches, he added this: "You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last" (John 15:16). Instead of being prayerfully possessed of a desire for the fruit of the Spirit, God's people across the ages seem to have been preoccupied instead with the gifts of the Spirit. And, yes, I believe that both supernatural spiritual gifts and discovering one's own spiritual gift in ministry today are important biblical subjects. Even so, I would argue that even the gifts of the Spirit are ultimately aimed at the goal of transformation and holy living.

After treating a number of doctrinal matters in Ephesians — including the gifts of the Holy Spirit at 4:11ff — Paul expounds on the practical difference sound doctrine should have on Christian character. He conspicuously links the following things with the prospect of grieving the Holy Spirit: sensuality, indulging in impure behaviors, lying, anger, stealing, unwholesome talk (4:17-29). In the light of Dr. Willard's point about discipleship and the kingdom of God, pay particular attention to his words:

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. . . . Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love . . . But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. . . . Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 4:30-31; 5:1-2a,3,18).

Sound doctrine reveals itself in renewed character. Not only in Ephesians but also in Romans, Paul traces out this same foundational truth. After eleven chapters of doctrinal instruction about the grace and mercy of God, he makes this turn at chapter twelve and begins exploring moral and spiritual transformation:  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will (Rom. 12:1-2).

Or, in our text for today from Galatians, Paul pleads for his readers to reject a lifestyle of license leading to "acts of the sinful nature" — sexual immorality, hatred, fits of rage, drunkenness, etc. — and to live instead by the power of God's indwelling Holy Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-25).

We Are "Under Orders" from God

In these biblical texts, Paul clearly affirms that a lack of this ninefold fruit of the Spirit negates one's claim to be a Christian and makes his or her service to the Lord empty and without profit.

Do you think it is possible for someone to make a false claim to be a Christian? Do you believe one can fake a spiritual gift by carnal efforts? I suspect most of us would say "Yes" to these questions. For example, a new book about John Lennon claims the ex-Beatle declared himself saved and a Christian back in 1977.[2] He peppered his speech with "Praise the Lord!" and "Thank you, Jesus!" It lasted about two weeks, according to Robert Rosen. At the end of this brief stint of Christian vocabulary and perhaps even a song written during that time, Lennon went back to astrology, tarot-card readers, and psychics. And people from Marjoe to fallen televangelists have gotten away with preaching like prophets while living as backsliders.

What can't be faked is authentic Christian character over time. And genuine transformation of a person's heart and life is a work of the Spirit of God to which every saved person is commanded to submit. Think about it: There is no command in the Bible to be indwelt by, baptized by, or gifted by the Spirit. These are gifts to receive, not commands to obey. But there is a command about being filled with the Spirit. It was contained in a text read earlier: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 4:18). Is the first part of this verse a command? If so, why would anyone miss the fact that the second part is as well? C.H. Spurgeon commented on this text: "This is not a promise to claim. This is a command to obey."

Granted, Paul is writing to people who have already been baptized, who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and who have the Spirit indwelling them. So what is his point? What is he commanding? We can't have "more of" the Holy Spirit because he is a person and enters us in totality. But he does want more of our minds, feelings, and behaviors under divine control. Paul wanted his readers — then and now — to stop resisting and grieving the Holy Spirit.

"Just as some people abandon themselves to the intoxicating powers of alcohol," Paul says, "you must learn to live under the influence of divine intoxication. No one gets drunk except as he imbibes and comes under the control of some strong drink, and no one becomes spiritual until he drinks deeply at the fountain of the Spirit. So with mind, will, and passions, surrender your entire being. Just as you have been ‘born from above,' now you must offer yourself to God so that you can think ‘from above,' speak ‘from above,' and live ‘from above.' People can tell when someone has had too much wine; they can also tell when someone is captivated by the Spirit. No, she isn't perfect — but she is growing. She is becoming more spiritual in attitudes and desires, in thinking and speaking. People around her are noticing that something has changed."

Conclusion

A major theme in Paul's theology is the contrast and conflict between sarx ("flesh," KJV; "sinful nature," NIV) and pneuma ("Spirit"). Sarx is everything about a human being that is opposed to God and holiness; it is everything I am apart from God and in rebellion against him. Sarx is the precise opposite to being a Christian. Thus Paul wrote: "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sarx. . . . I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in my sarx a slave to the law of sin. . . . Those who live according to their sarx have their minds set on what sarx desires . . . Those controlled by sarxcannot please God" (Rom. 7:18a,25b; 8:5,8).

Sarx — though translated "flesh" in the King James Version — isn't your bodily frame. Paul's point is not that your brain, tongue, and hands can't be used by God for holy purposes. They can be holy but will be used for evil so long as hostile-to-God sarx is making the decisions and pursuing its agenda. But there is a power great enough to take mind, heart, and body away from its base control and give them to God's glory. Human willpower is not enough, but the powerful Holy Spirit is more than enough. When we were saved, God sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts crying "Abba, Father" and to testify with our spirits that we are no longer Satan's pawns but are now God's children. In that gift of the Holy Spirit, a beachhead for righteousness was established. Now we must obey heaven's call to surrender completely and be filled with the Spirit.

Paul pointed to the difference made by our capitulation to the Spirit's presence and wrote: "Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. . . . You, however, are controlled not by your sarx but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. . . . Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation — but it is not to our sarx, to live according to it. For if you live according to sarx, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Rom. 8:5b,8a,12-14).

If you are going to get past the bumper-sticker excuses for your weaknesses into the fulness of life in God's strength, you must abandon yourself to the indwelling Spirit so he can do his work in you. Just as you recognize and have confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord over heaven and earth, you must acknowledge it in your heart and life by holiness that is empowered by his Holy Spirit who represents him.

The Holy Guest has been present in you from the day of your conversion, but is he president? You possess him, but does he possess you? Is he dormant or dominant in you? The fruit test of Galatians 5:22-23 is your guide for answering these questions.

Are you filled with the Spirit of God? Don't tell me about an exhilarating moment in your life. Don't tell me about a worship time — public or private — in which you felt the movement of the Spirit. Don't tell me about a language you spoke or an insight you received. Tell me about the character defect God has refined, the addiction he has broken, or the evil desire he has lessened. Show me the fruit of the Spirit in your life.

Don't tell me how high you've jumped; tell me instead of how much straighter you are walking in the Spirit's strength. Don't wave the leafy branches of your spiritual gifts, but show me instead the fruit of God's abiding presence. That is the work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian's life. It is the work he does for all who desire, submit to, and yield to the indwelling Spirit. Never resist, grieve, or quench that work in your life, for it is the only path to righteousness, joy, and peace — in the Holy Spirit.

 

 (Plantation is a suburb of Fort Lauderdale...just 10 minutes from Miami-Dade County, in the middle

of college and pro football country and 20 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean).  Last modified: April 18, 2006