The Holy Spirit
By Stephen Bastin
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void: and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Genesis 1: 1,2). Since the first reference to the Spirit is found in the second verse of the Bible, it is not surprising that we should read of his ministry throughout the Bible.
Two other Old Testament passages which speak of the ministry of the Spirit are found in 1 Samuel 10: 10 and in Psalm 5 1: 1 1. The Bible says concerning Saul "And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them." Or again, we hear David pleading, "Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me."
In recent times there has been a renewed interest in the Holy Spirit and his ministry. This pamphlet is being written in response to questions that have come to us. In particular we will be dealing with questions concerning the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian today.
God's people have been troubled from the beginning of time with teachings that were in error. From Cain to Balaam to the antichrist there have been those who changed the teaching of God for various reasons. It is not necessary for us to have an explanation for every wrong teaching. It is enough that we investigate the Word of God itself that we might know the truth.
For ourselves, there has often been a tendency to view any position that is different as wrong. We have sometimes become angry and said things we later regretted because someone dared to differ. A more mature approach suggests that if someone disagrees, he may perhaps be right and even if he is wrong, he deserves a fair hearing before his ideas are discarded. So with the matters that we hope to set before you concerning the Holy Spirit, there may be an immediate rejection. We only hope that you will give them your fair consideration. If the things that we set forth are found to be consistent with the Scriptures, hold them fast. If they are found to be inconsistent with the Word of God, then reject them and, if you are willing, bring those objections to our attention, for in that way we can benefit also.
There are many and various teachings, about the Holy Spirit. It is our intention to set forth in as plain a manner as possible our understanding of what God has said. We will occasionally discuss contrary views in order to show how they fail to take into consideration basic Bible teachings, but it is not our intention to condemn any man nor group of men since all judgment has been reserved to Jesus Christ.
We also want to make clear that this pamphlet is in no respect a complete discussion of the Spirit. It is simply a discussion of a very small part of the Holy Spirit and his work in our world today.
THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is as varied as the circumstances in which he has acted. There was a ministry of the Spirit in creation referred to in Genesis 1:2. There was a ministry of the Spirit with regard to Old Testament prophets. In 2 Peter 2:21 the Bible says, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." This is the ministry by which we are assured that the Bible is the Word of God and not the mere writings of men. There was a ministry of the Spirit to the apostles which Jesus anticipated in John, chapters 14 through 16. There is a ministry of the Spirit in the life of a believer today. This is discussed by Paul in Romans 8 as well as other passages. While it is true that God does not change, He has ministered to man's needs in different ways in different times. Truly he is the same "yesterday, today and forever" but his works among men are sometimes different, as in the exodus from Egypt, in the flood and in the incarnation. A failure to understand the changing circumstances of men has led some to misunderstand the passage in which Jesus spoke to the apostles recorded in John, chapters 14 through 16. There are several promises that are for the apostles only in that passage. This does not mean that the passage is meaningless for us, but that the promises are only indirectly to us while being made directly to the 12.
It is somewhat surprising in discussing the "gifts of the Spirit" to find that most people are not aware that there are other lists of gifts besides the one found in 1 Corinthians 12. There are additional lists in Mark 16, Romans 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4. Some of the gifts are intended as signs, some are "for the perfecting of the saints" and some are simply for ministering to one another. As Jesus came "not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many", so too, Christians are given gifts in order that they might serve others and give of themselves.
Certainly one of the ministries of the Spirit is in giving gifts, but gifts are not recorded in the Bible as the evidence that one has the Spirit. Rather the fact that one has the Spirit should be taken as evidence that gifts have been given. We will have more to say concerning the evidence of the Spirit in the life of a Christian later.
In Romans 8 there is a ministry of the Spirit in making intercession "for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Some have imported the idea of speaking a tongue prayer language into this text, but there is nothing to indicate that such was in the mind of the inspired writer. Rather, there is reference to a groaning of the whole creation (verse 22), a reference to our groaning within ourselves (verse 23) and finally a reference to the Spirit interceding for us with God with "groanings which cannot be uttered". The Greek in which Paul wrote suggests the idea of "wordless sighs" for groanings (not "unknown tongues" or "ecstatic utterances" which phrases occur nowhere in the original languages of the scriptures).
The intercession of the Spirit which we are speaking of here is not the same as that which Jesus is said to be the only mediator of. Jesus' intercession was the offering of himself once for all as a sacrifice for sin. The Spirit's intercession is not substantially different than that which Christians do in praying for one another; except that it is the Spirit pleading and not a human.
The ministry of the Spirit in giving gifts is to benefit the community of believers. No gift is for the private use of its recipients for Peter specifically states, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." (1 Peter 4: 10).
In John 14 through 16, Jesus discusses a particular ministry of the Spirit which would be a blessing to believers down through the centuries. In John 14:26 Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." And in John 16:13 we read, also from the lips of Jesus, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
Notice that in both of these passages the ministry of the Spirit is not to testify concerning himself, but to focus on Jesus. It is by virtue of these promises that we are assured of the inspiration of the New Testament. If someone today were in possession of these same promises recorded in John as made to the apostles, that person would no more need the written New Testament that the apostles. But as a matter of fact, no man today is so inspired. God has given us the Bible with ample evidence provided by signs that it came through the Holy Spirit to men whom God had chosen.
The following passages further reflect the ministry of the Spirit in giving signs as evidence that those speaking were speaking under the direct influence of God. "And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." (Mark 16:20) "Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not." (1 Cor.14:22a). The second chapter of Acts gives an example of tongues as a sign to unbelievers that the ones speaking were inspired by God. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will." (Heb.2:3,4)
One of the great ministries of the Spirit was the inspiration of the Bible. With the completion of the book of Revelation, this ministry of the Spirit drew to a close and with it a need for "signs, wonders and miracles" which God gave as a confirmation of his Word. Well did Jesus say (as recorded in Matthew 12:39-40), "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas; for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
As people desired more and more signs in the days of Jesus, so they still do. Signs are demanded of God, but God says that we are to believe the sign that he has given, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead after three days in the tomb. God has no more signs, wonders and miracles to perform, not because he cannot, but because in Jesus he completed his plan for the salvation of all who will believe. He now commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).
BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT
John the Baptist made the announcement during his ministry that, "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." (Mark 1:8). Consistent with that promise, Jesus stated to the apostles in Acts 1:5, "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." That promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost as the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them. (Acts 2:1-4)
Yet, it is also evident in the remarks of Peter in Acts 2 that the outpouring of the Spirit upon the apostles was not all that God had in mind when John spoke of being baptized with the Holy Ghost. Peter said, "...Ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Later we read in 1 Corinthians 12:13, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." John the Baptist says that Jesus would "baptize with the Spirit" and Paul says we are all "baptized with the Spirit". (In Greek, the expressions are the same in Mark 1:8 and 1 Corinthians 12:13.) These remarks lead us to the conclusion that it is God's plan that all Christians have the Holy Spirit.
It is also evident in the New Testament that God intended that those who believe in Jesus should be baptized in (with) water. In the Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus sent the disciples out to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Obviously, since the disciples were to administer this baptism, it involved the use of water. It is also evident from Peter's comment in Acts 10:47, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" that the disciples understood Jesus to be commanding baptism in water.
In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 5, he states that there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism". Therefore, in the Bible there is no such thing as water baptism separate from Holy Spirit baptism for Christians. In the words of Jesus (John 3:5), a man must be "born of water and Spirit". not born of water and then at some later time, born of Spirit or born of Spirit and at some later time born of water as though there were two baptisms. The view that there is one baptism involving the elements of both water and Spirit is further clarified by Peter's command and promise in Acts 2:38. "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." This would also account for Peter's call for water in Acts 10 as he saw that the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon Cornelius and his household. For the disciples, water and the Holy Spirit were to be joined in accordance with the teaching of Jesus to Nicodemus in John 3.
In Acts 19, Paul found certain disciples when he came to Ephesus. He asked if they had received the Holy Spirit when they had believed. Upon learning that they had not received the Holy Spirit, he immediately questioned their baptism. Apparently, Paul too understood the relationship between Christian baptism in water and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Paul found that these disciples at Ephesus had received John's baptism rather than baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, so they were lacking in Spirit. When Paul had properly instructed them, "they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." God thus testified that Paul was correct in the actions he had taken with respect to these disciples at Ephesus.
The Bible teaches that there is one baptism in the Christian religion, not one in water and one in Spirit, but one which includes both water and Spirit. One of the evidences that the Spirit has come is not that they spoke in tongues, but that the person has faith in Christ and has been baptized in His name.
THE GIFT OF TONGUES
Of all the gifts recorded in Mark 16, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4 only the gift of tongues has rules given regarding its use. It is evident from this fact that the gift was being abused in the Corinthian congregation. While the purpose of the gift is stated as being a sign to unbelievers, it is apparent from Paul's comments that it was being used extensively in the Christian assembly without unbelievers present. Paul was attempting to bring its users under the control of God. Rather than being a unifying factor at Corinth, the gift of tongues seemingly had led to more problems within the congregation and the problems had reached such a magnitude that Paul suggests that those speaking in tongues ought to pray that they might interpret. This is the only known instance of praying for a gift in the New Testament being encouraged.
There are several things that need to be said concerning Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 14. First of all, there are some words in the King James Version which have been added by the translator. These words are written in italics so that there is no confusion over which words have been added. In verse 1 the word "gift" has been added after the word spiritual. In reality, Paul's remarks are aimed at the lack of spiritual character among the Corinthians. He wants them to desire the spiritual (not necessarily gifts which in the case of the Corinthians had not led them to be spiritual). Earlier in this letter to the Corinthians Paul had remarked concerning their lack of spirituality in chapters one through three. In particular, he had said in chapter 3, verse 1, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ". As evidence Paul cited the envying, strife and divisions that were common among them. In chapter 14 he returns to the subject of the spiritual which he desires them to attain.
Right in the middle of the discussion concerning gifts, Paul writes his chapter on love, 1 Corinthians 13. The point that he is stressing is that there is something more vital for Christian growth than the gifts upon which the Corinthians had put so much emphasis. In chapter 13, he mentions in particular the gifts of prophecy, knowledge and tongues only to say that they are temporary and they will pass away. In contrast there is faith, hope and love. These are "now abiding" and constitute a "more excellent Way than the way of gifts. The way to the spiritual is to be sought in a larger measure of faith, a more firmly held hope, and a more fervent love for God and man.
Another word which has been added by the translators in 1 Corinthians 14 is the word "unknown" before tongues. This occurs several times. The New English Bible took the further liberty to translate "language of ecstasy" for the Greek word, glosse, meaning tongue. Since ecstasy is from a Greek word, then Paul had as an option in recording the Corinthian tongue speaking the use of that word. Since he did not use the word "ecstatic" but used rather the word "tongue", a word that means the same in Greek and in English a perfectly adequate translation is "tongue". Whether the tongue is known or unknown depends upon the circumstances. When the apostles spoke in tongues in Acts 2, they were understood by foreign Jews who were present. The tongues were not "unknown" to the foreigners. If they had used those same tongues among the group assembled in the upper room a few days previously, they would have been "unknown" tongues since in the words of the Jews, they were all Galileans (meaning they were ignorant of these foreign languages).
Returning to the text of 1 Corinthians 14, Paul says that the one speaking in tongues speaks to himself and God since no one understands him. This does not suggest that no one could understand him, but simply that no one in the congregation at Corinth could understand him. Later, in verse 9, he warns them that if they do not speak words that have significance they will be speaking into the air. This leads to the conclusion that if the words are a language, at least God will understand even if there are no persons present who are fluent in that language. But if the words spoken are not a language at all, but simply a vocal noise produced at random, then not even God hears such. It is just mumbo-jumbo or equivalent to the incantations of a fake magician with his abracadabra.
The instructions that Paul gives in 1 Corinthians give these restrictions upon speaking in tongues. Only one person at a time may speak in tongues (verse 27). Only two or three may do it in a particular assembly (verse 27). There must be an interpreter present or else the tongue speaker must keep silent (verse 28). The women are not permitted to exercise this gift in the assembly (verse 35). If any one disagrees with these rules he needs to realize that what Paul has written are the commandments of the Lord (verse 37).
Nowhere is there a suggestion that if one does not speak in tongues then one does not have the Spirit. Rather, in the questions raised at the end of chapter 12 (of 1 Corinthians) there is the clear implication that not all speak in tongues just as all of them are not apostles, prophets, teachers, etc. While on the contrary, it is evident that all of them do have the Spirit. "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (I Corinthians 6:19).
Since the tongues are mentioned both in Mark 16 and in 1 Corinthians 14 as being signs to unbelievers, and since the need for signs ceased with the completion of scripture, then there is no further need for tongues in the church today. Without scripture (the New Testament), there was a necessity that God confirm his spokesmen by the giving of signs. Today his Word is written in scripture and confirmed by those signs done by the writers of scripture.
We will proceed to show from scripture the evidences that God has given by which it can be judged whether we are in possession of the Spirit.
THE INDWELLING OF THE SPIRIT
There are many passages in the New Testament that refer to the Spirit indwelling Christians. One of these is Romans 8:9 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Another passage is 1 Corinthians 6:19. "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" Another passage is Galatians 3:2,3 "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Or again, please note Ephesians 1:13,14 "In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
The Bible gives several ways by which it can be known that one possesses the Spirit. We believe that the evidence that the Bible has to offer is of more value than one's feelings in such a matter. In fact, we further believe that the evidence of the Bible can overrule one's feelings and present the only valid evidence on the subject of the indwelling of the Spirit.
In turning to the Bible for evidence of the indwelling Spirit, we will examine first of all the presence of the Spirit in light of one's faith in Christ. In Galatians 3, mentioned above, it is said that the Spirit was "received by the hearing of faith". In John 7:38 and 39 Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hast said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given: because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)". Or again in 1 Corinthians 12:3, the faith statement, "Jesus is the Lord" can only be made by the Holy Ghost.
Another evidence that one has the Holy Spirit is found in Christian baptism. In Acts 2:38 the apostle Peter told his audience on the day of Pentecost, "Repent, and be baptized every on of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The Bible goes on to say that those who gladly received Peter's words were baptized and so we would conclude that God fulfilled his promise by giving them the Holy Spirit. Also, in 1 Corinthians 12:13, the Bible says, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
As further evidence, the Bible states that the Spirit is given to those who obey God. In Acts 5:32 we read, "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." Notice here that obedience is not given as a condition for receiving the Holy Spirit, but rather the obedience is a sign to the Jews that the disciples of Jesus have received the Holy Spirit.
The presence of the Holy Spirit is shown in a desire for holy living. It is shown in the desire to attain Christian attitudes and conduct one's life in a Christian manner. It is shown by putting away immoral conduct. For passages dealing with these aspects of the Spirit's influence, read Corinthians 6:19,20 where fornication is being discussed, Galatians 5:22,23 which lists the 'fruit of the Spirit" and Romans 8:5-10 where he desire to live the righteous life is inspired by the Spirit of God.
There is evidence that one has the indwelling of the Spirit, but it is found in those things that are peculiarly Christian rather than in signs and wonders which Satan can duplicate.
FULLNESS IN CHRIST
Jesus taught many revolutionary things. They were revolutionary, not because they stirred people to violence, but because they stirred his listeners to examine their relationship with God. His teachings would bring radical changes to human lives. Those changes would always be for the better and they would produce revolution in the way people lived together. In spite of the advantages that following Jesus brought to people, there were, and still are, many who reject him and his teachings. There is no doubt at what Jesus said goes against what we want do. The Bible pictures a battle between the flesh and the spirit. When we give in to the flesh, we lose the blessings of the spirit. When our life is done, the things of the flesh will all be one and only the things of the spirit will remain, but, we still have that craving to satisfy the flesh. For this reason, if for no other, we ought to follow the leading of the spirit rather than the leading of the flesh. Paul pictures the two differing paths in his passage in Galatians, chapter five. He concludes by saying that those who follow the spirit have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts.
One thing that Jesus stressed was the feeling of completeness and satisfaction that would come to the one who pursued the things of the Spirit. In Matthew 5:6 he said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: "for they shall be filled." To the woman at the well in Samaria, Jesus said, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13,14) Later Jesus told an audience in Jerusalem, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7:37-39)
All of this would suggest that when a person has come to Jesus he will find that all of his spiritual longings will be fulfilled. He will be complete. This is the full gospel. This is the true gospel. Any gospel that suggests that there is something more than simply coming to Jesus is a false gospel and those who listen will be left empty and hungry with a constant yearning for more.
When a person truly comes to Jesus, he is declared righteous, he is saved, he is redeemed, he is washed, he is sanctified, he is justified and God gives his pledge that all of this is true by giving him the Spirit. There are no more spiritual heights to scale. There is left only the day to day living for Jesus. It is a life in which our bodies are continually offered as "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God." It is a life of walking after the Spirit and not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. It is a life in which as newborn babes we sincerely desire the milk of the word of God that we might grow into the likeness of Christ. It is a life in which it can be said, "I am crucified with Christ and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."
Someone had troubled the Galatian churches. Paul wrote to them, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" By the hearing of faith they had received the Spirit. This was the evidence that they were righteous. Notice that this was how they had begun. They had not begun by accepting Christ and then some later time been filled with the Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues. Rather, they had "begun in the Spirit". And the Spirit had been received by the hearing of faith. There were no conditions that had to be fulfilled after becoming Christians in order for them to receive the Spirit. The condition was faith and they had begun their walk with Christ in the Spirit.
Looking back to what Jesus said in the gospels about the coming of the Spirit, they were not to thirst. They were filled. Unlike some in our generation who teach that Christians are to "hunger for more of God", Jesus and his true apostles know of no such doctrine. Jesus wants you to come to him so that you will never hunger and thirst again. He wants to take you and make you complete in himself And that is precisely what Paul says in his letter to the Colossian Christians. "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." (Colossians 2:9,1-0) You are complete in Christ.
In the things of the flesh there is never fulfillment but rather a constant longing for more. It does not matter whether one is speaking of wealth, houses or the lusts of our various appetites. With the flesh there is never satisfaction, never completeness. In Christ we are complete.
In the gospel, God has provided for our fall satisfaction. He promised to take our sins away and remember them against us no more. In the gospel we are given eternal life. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus we are filled with a love for God and a desire to be with him. That is the consuming desire of a Christian. That is what the preaching of the gospel is all about.
It is true that we can grow as Christians. In that connection, Peter says "Therefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, (1 Peter 2:1-3). We ought to want to become more like Jesus and the directions for that growth are found in the word of God, the Bible. We do not need further "experiences of the Spirit" but a deep and abiding interest in the Word coupled with an application of the things learned in our daily lives.
For those who offer a gospel with salvation, plus health, plus wealth, plus a further filling of the Spirit (that one can then describe with great feeling to everyone else), plus whatever else, the Bible would declare quite simply, "There is no other gospel"; "There is nothing else".