1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.
9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'"
16 For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
John 1:1-18

Sunday, January 13, 2013

The Comforter, The Holy Spirit

A. He is the third person of the Trinity

The Scriptures describe God as three parts: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are three distinct parts making up one holy God. We call this concept "the Trinity," although the word "Trinity" is never mentioned in the Bible.

**The Holy Spirit is probably the least understood part of the Trinity.
** [Here is how The Baptist Faith and Message describes the Holy Spirit: “The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.” ]

Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to stop Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?” (Matt. 3:13-14)

-->John realized his own sinfulness. He had been baptizing people for the forgiveness of sins in preparation for Christ's coming, so why would he feel adequate to baptize the Lord?

15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him to be baptized. (Matt. 3:15)

-->"to fulfill all righteousness" was to obey the will of God.

16 After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. 17 And there came a voice from heaven: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him! (Matt. 3:16-17)

-->here we have the three persons of God together. God delights in His Son as His Spirit comes down upon Christ. What a beautiful picture of true and everlasting love. Why did the Father delight in the Son at that moment? Jesus Christ was hereby commissioned into His earthly ministry which would lead to His ultimate death, burial, and resurrection. He was accepting the divine will of His Father. His obedience pleased God, as the Spirit came to testify of His pleasure.

B. He is the Spirit of God

1 Corinthians 2:10-12
"10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God."

--> Consider that we are not only bodies but spirit. The spirit in us knows us best, as it is with God for we are made in His image. His Holy Spirit knows Him and brings about bits of understanding of the mysteries of God.

C. He is the presence of God in believers

Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 14 He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory. "

--> He is a guarantee of what is to come. God's seal is placed on us through the Spirit as a covenant between us and God. The Jewish believers were expecting a Savior, but the Gentiles were new to the idea of Messiah. Paul was telling them they would also partake of God's promises.

--> the Holy Spirit has come to reveal God's mysteries to those who believe and to seal the promise of His kingdom to come.

**Announcements: book study update, party update, offering update
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