Welcome back to our lessons and as always if this is your first time, this is part 9 in a series of lessons. We have finally made it to our study on the Holy Spirit person of the Godhead. We'll be studying the Holy Spirit over the next couple of lessons so look forward to those. Today we'll study how the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, meaning makes us holy.
To look at how the Holy Spirit works with in us, we have to look back to Jesus Christ. First we will look at two key truths. The first of these truths is that Jesus' work is complete and we are saved. It happened while He was on the cross. John 19 shows Jesus' last moments before giving up His spirit, right as He finished saving us. "28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." 29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." The second of these truths in a way repeats what we read above. Our personal benefit of redemption becomes ours by faith in Jesus. In Acts 16, when Paul and Silas are in prison, they tell their prison gaurd how he can be saved, the very same way we are. "30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." " Much like the prison guard, all we have to do is believe. Not works, no money, not anything but faith alone.
Believe, that's all we have to do, but above I said that the Holy Spirit works within us. Sounds like He doesn't need to do much, but that's not true. Our human nature is not capable of being Christian. When we examine ourselves without God, we see what are really like. By nature we are dead in sin. Ephesians 2:1 says as much, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins." By nature we are enemies of God. Romans 8 says, "6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." Finally, by nature, we are blind to spiritual truth. 1 Corinthians, "14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." The previous two verses emphasize that it is impossible by our own thinking or choosing come to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior.
So if it's not something we can do, how does it happen? Like everything good and holy it is a gift from our Heavenly Father, Ephesians chapter 2 says, "8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." It is a gift from God and we receive it by hearing the Gospel, or the message of Christ. Romans 10:17 says, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." In the letter of 1 Corinthians chapter 12, we learn, "3Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit." The person of the Godhead who works saving faith within us is the Holy Spirit and now let's take a look at the work He does.
The first thing the Holy Spirit does is He calls us. Call means that He leads us to trust in Jesus Christ through the Gospel as our personal savior. The terminology for this work is called conversion, meaning to be turned around. Another term is regeneration, or more commonly call being born again. An important note on regeneration, or being born-again is that some people teach that you need some type of awesome experience before you can be called, 'born-again', but as long as you can say that Jesus is Lord and believe it, then you know the Holy Spirit is working within you. It is completely a gift from God. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 simply put, "He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
The next thing He does is enlightens us. Enlightens means that the Holy Spirit leads us to a spiritual understanding and it gives us joy. Once again, this comes through the Gospel. Or as it is beautifully put in Psalm 19, "8The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." The Holy Spirit sanctifies us, that is, He sets us apart for a life of Godly living through the Gospel. John 17:17 Jesus, praying for His disciples says, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." We see that God's word, the Bible, His saving message, the Gospel is what sanctifies, what works within us by the Holy Spirit. He uses the Gospel message for one other task. That is He keeps us in the faith. 1 Peter 2 claims that Christians are thirsty for the Gospel. "2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."
Now that we've seen how the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, it seems as though we have been put on the tracks and will be pulled to Glory, and what a peaceful thought that is. However, just because we can be sure of our salvation doesn't mean we should throw caution to the wind. The Bible leaves us with some reminders. In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Paul writes, "Do not put out the Spirit's fire;" and in Ephesians 4:30, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Do not resist or grieve the Holy Spirit. If you can feel the Holy Spirit trying to fill you with a life of redemption, do not turn away. Matthew 12:31 warns, "31And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." This is a verse about literally playing with fire. This is a Christian, fully knowing God's saving truth, saying, "I know all of this Lord, I know you're the way to Heaven, that you are God, but I just don't need you." Jesus forgives sins, but says the sin is unforgivable. It's important to understand that Jesus forgives all sins, and that the Father is gracious and patient, we can't say when this line is crossed, that marks unforgiveness happens in a person, but it is a scary thought. One we certainly shouldn't toy with.
The last reminder that we should continually be filled with Holy Spirit through the faithful use of God's Word. Another reminder to look towards the Gospel. The letter to the Ephesians in chapter 5 says, "18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Go to church, encourage your fellow Christians, pray, give thanks, look forward to you Savior's return. All the things we love to do. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is easy, as long as we don't reject Him and with you helping many hands make for light work.
We are certainly thankful that we have a Heavenly Father, who sent us His Son, and that the Holy Spirit helps us seek out His Gospel and through reading His Word, strengthens our connection to Him. In the next lesson we'll learn about how The Holy Spirit Works Through God's Word, where will take our first look at the means of Grace and just how the Bible came to be. I pray these words strengthened your faith and encourage you to seek out the Gospel.
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