Friday, October 12, 2012

Role of Holy Spirit in the believer’s life and in counseling ...


Term “Spirit” translates the Hebrew word ‘ruah’.

The term "Spirit" translates the Hebrew word ruah, which, in its primary sense, means breath, air, and wind. Jesus indeed uses the sensory image of the wind to suggest to Nicodemus the transcendent newness of him who is personally God's breath, the divine Spirit."

“In our members there is a slumbering inclination towards desire which is both sudden and fierce. With irresistible power, desire seizes mastery over the flesh. All at once a secret, smoldering fire is kindled. The flesh burns and is in flames… Joy in God is in course of being extinguished in us and we seek all our joy in the creature. At this moment God is quite unreal to us, He loses all reality, and only desire for the creature is real… Satan does not here fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God… The lust thus aroused envelopes the mind and will of man in deepest darkness. The powers of clear discrimination and of decision are taken from us… It is here that everything within me rises up against the Word of God” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  Creation and Fall and Temptation, pp. 116-117).

In a broken, sinful world our only hope for real intimacy and love starts with God. Only God can know us and love us completely. In John 14: 19-23, Jesus said, “… because I live, you will live also. At that day you know that I am in my Father and you in Me, and I in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him… and we will come to him and make Our home with him.” There’s real intimacy. There’s what the God-shaped vacuum in our hearts is really longing for.

The Spirit of God,  convicts, strengthens and guides. He helps us identify and fix a problem.  He is our Helper. Jesus said He will send us the Holy Spirit the comforter and the helper who will guide and lead us in all truth.

The beginning of the Christian life:  In Jesus’ teaching there is strong emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit in initiating a person into the Christian life. When a person accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of his life, Holy Spirit comes and dwells within the person and leads and guide in the path of righteousness and truth. This is the first step and we call it conversion. Without the work of the Holy Spirit Jn: 16:5-15, there can not be any conversion. Jesus spoke about the conviction of sin and repentance. “And when the Counselor comes, He will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.” Jn: 16:8.

“However when He the Spirit of Truth has come, He will guide you into all Truth; for He will not speak on His own authority. But whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Jn: 16:13. Holy Spirit helps in the miraculous transformation of the individual and in the impartation of Spiritual energy. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus that unless he is born new in the Spirit he will not enter the Kingdoms of God; Jn: 3:3. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”; Jn: 3:5-6. The Holy Spirit is the agent who produces this supernatural occurrence of regeneration and flesh is not capable of effecting this transformation.

The continuation of the Christian Life: This is a tremendous role of Holy Spirit and He is a perfect Counselor in the life of a believer. The Holy Spirit empowers, Holy Spirit will indwell and illuminate, Holy Spirit will teach us, intercedes for the believer, and works for the sanctification in the life of a believer. Holy Spirit empowers (the disciples) to do greater work in the believers today; Jn: 14:12. The key to a disciple’s success was not in their abilities and strength but by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; Jn: 16:7; Acts: 1:4-5. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you”; Acts: 1:8.

Holy Spirit would indwell and illuminate the Believer: He will guide the believer in all truth and indwell in the believer and this is a gift of God for human beings and God knows we can not do it on our own; Jn: 14:16-17; 16:13-14. He takes permanent residence in a believer.

Holy Spirit has a teaching role: “He will teach you all things…”  Jn: 14:26. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is mainly illuminating Scriptures to the believers so they understand the truth as it is written; Jn: 15:26. He inspired the prophets and the apostles, and teaches and sanctifies the church, and selects the officers, qualifying them by the communication of special gifts at His will, and He is an advocate and every Christian is His client1. He brings all the graces of the ‘Risen Christ’ to a believer in every moment of our lives; Lk 12:12; Rom 15:16; Heb 2:4.

The intercessory work of the Holy Spirit is a major help in the life of a believer. He knows because He searches the deep things of God; “Like wise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Rom: 8:26-27. Thus the believers are assured that when they do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit will intercede for them that the Lord’s will be done in their lives. The intercession is done both by the Son, Rom: 8:31; Heb: 7:25, and the Holy Spirit, Rom: 8:26-27.

Holy Spirit works in the sanctification process in the life of a believer: Sanctification is a continued transformation of moral and spiritual character in the life of a believer so that the believer becomes more like Jesus and the person becomes holy and good. Rom: 8; talks about the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit in this sanctification process. The Spirit is now at work giving life and witnesses that believers are sons of God.  In Gal: 5, Paul speaks of the life in the Spirit; “Walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh;” Gal 5: 16. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit;” Gal 5: 25. Paul also lists a group of qualities which he collectively designated as “the fruit of the Spirit”- “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;” Gal 5: 22-23. It is the Spirit of God, bearing witness we are children of God; Rom: 8:14; Phil: 2:12-13; Rom: 12:1-2; and works in a believer bringing about likeness to Christ.

Convicting work of the Holy Spirit: Convicts the conscience of a believer concerning personal sins, and reproofs, 2Tim 3:16. Regeneration is the supernatural work of God, whereby He imparts eternal life to all that trust in Christ.

Clarification is attributed to the Holy Spirit; Jn: 16:13; The Spirit of truth guide us into all truth. The purpose of the Son, Acts2; the teaching of the Son, Jn: 14:26; 1 Cori: 2:10; assurance of salvation, Rom: 5:5; and the Holy Spirit give intimacy with the Father, Rom: 8:15. Spirit of God honors the Son Jn 15:26; 16: 8-10, 14. Holy Spirit helps in the public ministry Of Jesus Christ Luk 4:18 enabling to fulfill His mission on this earth. 
The relationship of the persons of the Trinity regarding the salvation of the sinners can be summarized as, Father thought it, Eph: 1:9; the Son bought it, 1 Cori: 6:20; the Spirit wrought it, Jn: 6:63. The Three Persons, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are equal. Holy Spirit was send by the Father and the Son, and He takes of the things of Christ and shows it to a believer, and indwells in a believer.
 

End Notes:
1. A.A. Hodges. Outlines of Theology for Students and Laymen. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1860, p. 175.
Website Reference:


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Bibliography:
1. Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983-85, p. 865-880.
2. R.T. Kendall. Understanding Theology, Developing a Healthy Church in the 21st Century. 1996, p. 172-177.
3. Jay E. Adams. A Theology of Christian Counseling, More than Redemption. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979, p.249-266.
4. Louis Berkhof. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996, p. 423-431.
5.  Robert P Lightner. Handbook of Evangelical Theology, Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986, p.111-114.
6. Charles Ryrie. Basic Theology. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986, 1999, p.409-416.
7.  A. H. Strong. Systematic Theology. New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co, 1907, p. 326-349.
8.  Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994, p.634-653.
9.   A.A. Hodges. Outlines of Theology for Students and Laymen. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1860, p.173-176. 
10. Steven W. Waterhouse. Not By Bread Alone, An Outlined Guide To Bible Doctrine. Amarillo: Westcliffe Press, 2007, p.235-243.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Sanctification is said to be past, present, and future....?


Sanctification: ‘Sanctification is that continuous operation of the Holy Spirit, by which the Holy disposition imparted in regeneration, is maintained and strengthened.’1 An individual once a decision to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior was made, a newness of life was conferred upon him and has a legal status before God, as His adopted child. This is past sanctification which is called justification. The present Sanctification is a process in which one’s moral condition is brought in conformity with a believer’s new status. So, Sanctification is a continuing work of God in the life of a believer, bringing the individual to holiness, “bearing an actual likeness to God.”

Greek verb, to sanctify, ‘hagazio and noun ‘hagios’ means holy or saint.

Justification is an instantaneous occurrence completed once an individual accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but sanctification is a process requiring an entire life time for completion. There are degrees of sanctification, but not of justification.  Justification is an objective work affecting our standing before God, and our relationship with God. Whereas sanctification is a subjective work affecting our inner person and our spiritual growth. Future hope and final process of sanctification is termed glorification. This is the point we look beyond this life to the world to come, which takes place when the Christian passes into the presence of the Lord.

1.         Holiness refers to the state of being separate, set apart from the ordinary, and dedicated to a particular purpose; 1 Pet 2:9. In the Old Testament, Holy Place and the Holy of Holies; Aaron’s garments and the Sabbath day; Priest and Levites are set apart for the Lord;  Exo: 13:2. In the New Testament “A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people.” 1 Pet: 2:9; 1 Cori: 1:2. This is a past tense of Sanctification and all believers have already been sanctified.

2.         To live lives of holiness, purity, and goodness. Sanctification is a moral goodness or spiritual worth; Eph: 4:1. Matt: 5:43-45a. A life of lowliness, meekness, patience, and forbearance are moral attributes reflecting such a status.2 This is a present tense aspect of Sanctification, where believers are progressively sanctified in the present practice.

As stated in 1 Thess 5:23, Sanctification is a supernatural work done by God, not something we do ourselves. This is a future tense aspect of Sanctification and it is a special, volitional work done by the Holy Spirit (Eph: 5:26; Tit: 2:14; Heb: 13:20-21). In Gal: 5, Paul speaks of the life in the Spirit; “Walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.”(V: 16); “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”(V: 25). Paul also lists a group of qualities which he collectively designated as “the fruit of the Spirit”- “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control ;”(V: 22-23). It is the Spirit of God, bearing witness we are children of God; Rom: 8:14; Phil: 2:12-13; Rom: 12:1-2; and works in a believer bringing about likeness to Christ. This divine work in a believer is a progressive work; Phil: 1:6; 1 Cori: 1:18. Here Paul uses a present participle which clearly conveys the idea of an ongoing activity. This activity is the continuation and completion of the new life began in regeneration is evident in Phil: 1:6; and also in Col: 3:9-10. The aim of this work is likeness to the image of Christ Himself; Rom: 8:29.

Whether one is Armenian (the perfectionists: they believe it is possible for a believer to come to a state of not sinning and some arrive at that point) or Calvinists (non-perfectionists: believe in progressive sanctification) our aim should be to love God and please Him and become more like Him. It is clear that in our continued walk in the Christian life, our sanctification is dependent on our union with Him. Jesus asked us to abide in Him so that we bear much fruit; John 15. This is a key verse for a believer’s whole Christian life, fruit bearing (Jn: 15: 5), prayer (Jn: 15:7), and full joy (Jn: 15: 11) depends on this. “ Gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Phil: 3:8-11b. Becoming like Christ is closely connected with willingness in His sufferings; Rom: 8:17; and Union with Christ is a two way commitment.

The principal means of the believer’s sanctification is union with Christ. We are united to Christ in his death and resurrection in which He, as its first fruit, inaugurated the new creation. The Age to come presses in to this Age in such a way as to bring kingdom benefits to those united to Him. We do not grow in our sanctification when we are overly focused on our own spirituality. It comes as we gaze on the beauty and excellency of Christ. We are united to Him in such a way that His death is viewed as our death and His resurrection ours; Rom 6:1-11. The identification is complete in Christ, who is our life! We must, therefore, never separate the Benefactor (Jesus Christ) from benefits of redemption, including our sanctification.3
There is trust and confidence in Jesus rather than fear and secretiveness; and there is a relationship of friendship; Jn: 15. Just like Jesus had a perfect relationship with His Father, every believer can enjoy this relationship with Jesus Christ; Matt: 6:25-34; 10:28-31; Luk: 11:1-13. We see Christian life is based on our union and friendship with Christ. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments” Jn: 14:15, and “You are My friends if you do what I command you” Jn: 15:14.  Legalism is the slavish following of the law thinking one can earn by merit, and it is completely ineffectual because it ignores the fact that we never out grow the need for divine grace and the essence of that law is love.   
 
End notes:
1. A. H. Strong. Systematic Theology. New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co, 1907, p. 869.
3. Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids, Baker Book House, 1998 - 1312 page.
 5. 3. Ibid. 4. Horst Seebass, "Holy, Consecrate, Sanctify, Saints, Devout," in The New International Dictionary of     New Testament Theology, ed. Colin Brown (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976), vol. 2, p. 230.
Bibliography:
1. Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983-85, p. 947-1002.
2. R.T. Kendall. Understanding Theology, Developing a Healthy Church in the 21st Century, 1996, p. 357-364.
3. Jay E. Adams. A Theology of Christian Counseling, More than Redemption. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979, p.249-275.
4. Louis Berkhof. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996, p. 423-450.
5.  Robert P Lightner. Handbook of Evangelical Theology, Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986, p.527-544.
6. Charles Ryrie. Basic Theology. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986, 1999, p.374-377.
7.  A. H. Strong. Systematic Theology. New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co, 1907, p. 869-881.
 8.  Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994, p. 736-761; 840-850. 
9. Steven W. Waterhouse. Not By Bread Alone, An Outlined Guide To Bible Doctrine. Amarillo: Westcliffe Press, 2007, p.188-191. 
10. John Theodore Muller, Th.D. Christian Dogmatics, A handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and Laymen.  St. Louis, Mo: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p.384-386.