Friday, March 3, 2017

Who Is God?

4 Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. 5 There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. 6 But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for Him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 (NLT)

The God of the Holy Bible is the one and only true God of the universe (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; see also Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; Psalm 86:8-10; John 17:3; Acts 17:24-31; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Timothy 2:5). He is living and exists eternally as one God in three Persons, known as the Trinity or the Godhead – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Scriptures reference the Trinity at various locations (see e.g., Genesis 1:1-3; 26-27; Matthew 28:19-20; John 14:16, 26; John 16:13-15; John 20:21-22; Romans 15:16, 30; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 4:4-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 1 John 4:2, 13-14; Jude 20-21). The clearest image of the Trinity was revealed with Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist where Jesus, God the Son, was anointed for His public ministry by God the Spirit, descending as a dove, with God the Father’s declaration from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, which whom I am well pleased” (see Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). Jesus, also known as the Word of God and the Christ (Messiah), is the most definitive revelation of the Godhead because the fullness of God lived in Jesus (see e.g., John 1:1-5, 14; John 20:28, 31; Acts 2:36; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 1:15-20; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:1-4). Moreover, the Apostle John and Apostle Paul have provided the church good teaching on the Trinity at John chapters 14 through 16 and Romans chapter 8.

God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit (also known as the Holy Ghost) are equal in nature but different in role, duties, and relationship. The Holy Spirit receives direction and instructions from both God the Father and God the Son and the Holy Spirit carries out the unified will of both the Father and the Son. The distinctive roles typically have God the Father willing, Jesus the Son completing, and the Holy Spirit applying the work of the Son (see e.g., Genesis 1:1-3, 9-10; Roman 8). Yet, there is a Oneness with Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (see e.g., Deuteronomy 6:4; Nehemiah 9:6). Even more, God is a God of truth. In the Holy Scriptures, all three Persons of the Trinity are related to truth (see e.g., Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 32:4; John 1:14; John 14:6; John 15:26; John 16:13).

The Holy Spirit is a fully and completely divine Person who possesses all of the divine features and powers of God (see e.g., John 4:24; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 1:4-5). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is not a New Testament concept with His coming at Pentecost (see Acts 2). In the beginning of creation, the Spirit of God was “hovering over the face of the waters” (see Genesis 1:2) and the Holy Spirit runs throughout the entire Holy Scriptures (see e.g., 2 Samuel 23:2; Psalm 104:30; Job 33:4; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Acts 1:16). The Holy Spirit was God’s power in the Old Testament that empowered prophecy to proclaim God’s word and carried out God’s mighty deed (see e.g., Numbers 11:17; Judges 14:6-20; 1 Samuel 11:6; Ezekiel 2:2; Micah 3:8). The Holy Spirit is the living water, the breath, and Giver of new life (see e.g., Genesis 2:7; Psalm 51:11; Isaiah 63-10-11, 14; John 4:10-14; John 7:38-39; John 6:63; John 20:22; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Romans 8:2, 10). The Greek word pneuma and the Hebrew word ruah are similar for Holy Spirit, stemming from association with breath and wind (see Genesis 2:7; Ezekiel 1:4; John 3:8; Acts 2:1-2).

The personal and comforting nature of the Holy Spirit is evident in His title “Comforter,” “Advocate,” or “Helper” (see John 14:16, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7). The Holy Spirit is advises, teaches, encourages, convicts, comforts, strengthens, and intercedes for God’s faithful people (see John 14:16-17, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7-11; John 16:13-15). Before His sacrificial death on Calvary’s Cross, Jesus promised He would send the Holy Spirit to His disciples (John 14:15-18; John 16:7; see also Luke 24:49; John 20:22; Acts 1:4-5, 8) and Jesus’ promise was fulfilled at Pentecost with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2).  

The Holy Spirit is clearly at work in key events throughout God’s redemptive history:

·         Creation (see Genesis 1:1-3)
·         Jesus’ miraculous birth (incarnation) (see Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35)
·         Jesus’ baptism (see Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:21-22;
John 1:32-33)
·         Jesus’ public ministry of good (see Luke 4:14, 18-19; Acts 10:38)
·         Jesus’ resurrection (see Romans 8:11; 1 Peter 3:18)
·         Human regeneration (rebirth, salvation) (see John 3:5-8)
·         Teaches all truth (see John 14:17, 26; John 16:13)
·         Tells believers we are loved by God (see Romans 5:5)
·         Convicts of sin and righteousness (John 16:8)
·         Divine Author of the Holy Scriptures through inspiration and understanding (illumination) of (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
·         Believer’s sanctification (see Galatians 5:16-18; 22-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2)
·         Jesus’ empowerment against evil (see Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)
·         Searches the deep things of God and knows God’s thoughts (see 1 Corinthians 2:10-16)
·         Distributes spiritual gifts for the churches’ good and encouragement (see 1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
·         Interprets and brings human prayer before the Throne of the Father (see Romans 8:26-27; Jude 20-21)
·         Assures believers of adoption into God’s family (see Romans 8:14-16)
·         Bears witness to and glorify Jesus (see John 15:26; John 16:14).
·         Seals and confirms believers’ salvation in Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14
·         Giver of life (see John 3:5-8, 16, 36; John 6:63; Romans 8:2, 10; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 5:7)
·         Eternal (see Psalm 90:2; Hebrews 9:14)
·         Omnipresent (see Psalm 139:7-10)
·         Omniscient – all knowing (see 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; 1 John 3:20)
·         Omnipotent – all powerful (see Luke 1:35-37)
·         Holy (see Romans 1:4)

The acts of the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ first apostles are the focal point of the New Testament Book of Acts. The Holy Spirit empowered and enabled the early apostles of Jesus to spread the Gospel message of repentance and the forgiveness of sins everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (see Luke 24:45-49; John 20:21-22; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Even today, the Holy Spirit works to advance the work God the Father and His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit empowers and anoints God’s faithful people to continue the work of God the Father and His Son Jesus for God’s glory (see e.g., Luke 24:27, 44-48; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2). When the Holy Spirit works, God’s people can boldly proclaim the Gospel message and God’s Kingdom.

Moreover, the power of the Holy Spirit is the power of spiritual transformation at work, saving everyone who repents and believes in Jesus and His Gospel message (see Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Titus 3:5). The Holy Spirit is the One who works within God’s faithful people to transform, sanctify, and give believers greater holiness and “good fruit” in life (see Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2). Through the Holy Spirit, God empowers our Bible reading and mediation, prayer life, church attendance, worship, witnessing, Christian fellowship, and moral living. The Holy Spirit guarantees believers that they have passed from death into eternal life as the Holy Spirit’s work transforms our whole life and seals the life and character of believers in a definitive way (see 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13). In other words, the Holy Spirit enables and empowers God’s people to live like and imitate the true and living God as we faithfully obey God (see Exodus 34:6-7; Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23; Ephesians 5:1-2).

The true and living God is pleased when His people walk in the Holy Spirit and imitate His ways (see Exodus 34:5-7; Galatians 5:22-25). To walk and live according to the Holy Spirit is to live and imitate the true and living God (see Exodus 34:5-7; Galatians 5:22-25). In fact, a God honoring, unified Christian community is possible only when believers walk and follow the Holy Spirit (see e.g., Ephesians 4:1-3). The Holy Spirit glorifies God and His Son Jesus and transforms people into the likeness and image of Jesus for God’s glory (see John 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 3:8). 

The ultimate goal of all of life is to know and love God, make Him known, and thereby glorify Him (see e.g., Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Matthew 22:37 1 Corinthians 10:31). This goal is accomplished primarily through the work of the Holy
Spirit. Reading the Bible, going to church, Christian fellowship, spiritual disciplines, service, and worship are merely playing at religion if all of these activities are not empowered, guided, and filled by the Holy Spirit (see Zechariah 4:6). If the Holy Spirit is not present, even these good things are fleshly, empty, offensive, and unacceptable to God. A life pleasing to God involves daily dependence on the precious Holy Spirit. Jesus often drew on the same Holy Spirit during His public ministry that is also available to all believers (see e.g., Luke 4:18).

How can one receive the Holy Spirit? The Apostle Peter repeats to the listeners the same teaching of Jesus on how anyone can receive the Holy Spirit (see John 7:39). To receive the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Peter declared:

38 “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles (non-Jews)—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Acts 2:38-40 (NLT)

None of these wonderful benefits of the Holy Spirit can come into a person’s life without true salvation. True salvation (rebirth) comes when we genuinely turn from our sins, believe in God’s Son (Jesus), and commit ourselves wholeheartedly to God by seeking, believing, and obeying God’s ways (see Mark 1:14-15; John 14:15; Acts 20:21). Once a person repents and believes in the Name of Jesus Christ, a believer becomes one with God and the Holy Spirit comes to live within that believer as God’s child (see John 1:12-13; John 17:21-23; Romans 8:14-16; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:17, 19; Galatians 3:26; Colossians 2:6). God the Father and His Son Jesus send the Holy Spirit to be with His faithful people and bring about a spiritual change in a believer’s heart (see Jeremiah 24:7; Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 14:16; John 16:7; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

This change, also known as sanctification, results in a transformed heart that leads to a transformed character that produces a transformed life. Jesus taught that regeneration (rebirth, revival, and restoration) is the work of Holy Spirit:

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So do not be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you cannot explain how people are born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8 (NLT)

REPENT, BELIEVE, AND RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!

References
ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).
Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).
Grudem, Wayne. Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005).

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