#21 On the Nature of God: The Holy Spirit in the New Testament

In general, we know very little about other spirits or even if they exist. However, the Holy Spirit, an important part of the Trinity, was very much a part of the work of the Apostles, the establishment of the church, the future growth and development of the church, and declaring Jesus to the world.

The first mention of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is at the impregnation of Mary with Jesus, Matthew 1:18:

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.”

When Jesus began His ministry, He was baptized by John the Baptist. When Jesus came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit appeared as a dove to rest on Jesus. God the Father spoke His approval, Matthew 3:16-17:

“…when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

This resting by the Holy Spirit was an anointing and was highly significant. It is described in Peter’s sermon to Cornelius: Acts 10:37-38:

“…you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.”

In fact, the Holy Spirit did much to direct Jesus. After the anointing, the Holy Spirit sent Jesus into the wilderness to undergo temptation, Mark 1:12:

“The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.”

After repelling satan’s temptations, Jesus began His ministry in the power of the Spirit, Luke 4:14-15:

“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.”

This means that Jesus had the approval of heaven and all the power needed to teach and to do miracles.

When Jesus spoke in the synagogue in Nazareth, He recognized the presence of the Holy Spirit in His life by quoting from Isaiah 61:1:

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives…”

He then applied this prophecy directly to Himself, Luke 4:21:

“And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus also said that the Spirit was the source of power in His miracles, Matthew 12:28:

“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

After Jesus’ ascension to the Father the Holy Spirit continued as a Helper to the apostles. Jesus had promised this in John 14:16:

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth…”

The anointing of the Apostles with the Holy Spirit was a spectacular event that occurred on Pentecost, Acts 2:1-4:

“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

On that day, Peter preached the first gospel sermon and promised salvation, the gift of the Holy Spirit, to those who were obedient, Acts 2:38-39:

“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”

The Apostles not only had the special measure of the Holy Spirit, they could also pass on special gifts such as speaking in tongues or prophesying to Christians, Acts 8:14-17:

“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet a fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit indwells all Christians, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:

“…do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?”

We do not know all about what this means. However, as we read and study the New Testament further, we are strengthened. This is a kind of indwelling since the Holy Spirit inspired the word of God

Like Jesus, the Holy Spirit helps with our prayers, Romans 8:26:

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

The nature of God is to send His Spirit to the world to accomplish His will in redeeming mankind. This was especially evident in New Testament days.

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