Gospel Gazette Online for January 2009

There are many today who attribute many things to the Holy Spirit. Most of those things are related by those who are highly emotional. They have a “zeal, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2). Almost without exception those things are considered as miracles – such things as the Holy Spirit finding a parking spot for someone who is late for an appointment, popping a baby that is underwater into the arms of its father or unplugging a coffeepot at a youth gathering because it was making too much noise. Each of the above has been related to me personally. Perhaps these are more radical claims than most would make; however, there are those who make claims of the Spirit speaking directly to and through them, speaking in tongues, raising the dead, all by the miraculous power of the Spirit.

Does the Holy Spirit work today in the conversion of the sinner, and in the life of the saint? For the answer, shouldn’t we do as we go to the one infallible standard, the Word of God? How can we go to those who make claims about the Spirit working in their lives when they teach something absolutely contrary to what others who make the same claim are teaching? The answer to the original question is an emphatic “Yes!” The question is not, “Does the Holy Spirit work in the conversion of the sinner, and life of the saint?” but “How does He work?” Please study the chart below and notice that everything that is attributed to the Holy Spirit as He works is also attributed to the Word of God.

The Spirit witnesses (Romans 8:16..................................................... The Word witnesses (John 5:39)

The Spirit instructs (Neh.9:20)...................................................... The Word instructs (2 Timothy 3:16)

The Spirit teaches (John 14:26).............................................................. The Word teaches (John 6:45)

The Spirit convicts (John 16:8)............................................................... The Word convicts (Titus 1:9)

The Spirit begets (2 Corinthians 3:6....................................................... The Word begets (James 1:18)

Born of the Spirit (John 3:5, 8)............................................................ Born of the Word (1 Peter 1:23)

The Spirit saves (Titus 3:5...................................................................... The Word saves (James 1:21)

The Spirit sanctifies (1 Corinthians 6:11)............................................ The Word sanctifies (John 17:17)

The Spirit cleanses (1 Corinthians 6:11)................................................ The Word cleanses (John 15:3)

The Spirit washes (1 Corinthians 6:11)........................................... The Word washes (Ephesians 5:26)

The Spirit comforts (Acts 9:31............................................ The Word comforts (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

The Spirit gives love (

Rom.

5:5).......................................................... The Word give love (1 John 2:5)

The Spirit leads (Romans 8:14)......................................................... The Word leads (Psalm 119:105)

Indwelling of the Spirit (Romans 8:11).................................... Indwelling of the Word (Colossians 3:16)

The Spirit strengthens (Ephesians 3:16)........................................... The Word strengthens (Acts 20:32)

Power of the Spirit (Romans 15:13)................................................. Power of the Word (Hebrews 1:3)

Spirit in resurrection (Romans 8:11).............................................. Word in resurrection (John 5:28-29)

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