Concepts of the Holy Spirit

Concepts of the Holy odorPneumatologyI conceptualize in the Holy disembodied spirit, that He is the third Person of the Trinity, He is fully idol, He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and He carries out the work of sustaining and empowering worshipers to live properly as children of GodThe Person of the Holy Spirit I believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and, as such, is deity (Acts 53-4). He exists co-equally and co-eternally with the Father and the Son (2 Cor. 1314 1 Pet. 11-2). His divinity is shown in how He is presented as equal with the Father and the Son (Matt. 2819 1 Cor. 124-6), by His names Spirit of God or Spirit of Christ (Gen. 12 Rom. 89), by His ability to give new life ( canful 663 Rom. 14 82-11 2 Cor. 36) and by His full knowledge of the thoughts of God (1 Cor. 210-11). He is personal in nature. He is state to understand the mind of God and to search out all things (1 Cor. 210-11) which emphasizes knowledge and int ellect. He has a allow for and He chose to distribute sacred gifts to the church service according to His allow (1 Cor. 1211). He commands believers to do certain tasks (Acts 829). He testifies of Jesus and bears witness that He is indeed from the Father and does so for those He indwells (Jn. 1526-27). He teaches believers (Jn. 1426) and guides them in all the truth of God (Jn. 1613). He can be resisted (Acts 751), lied to (Acts 519), grieved (Eph. 430), and quenched (1 Thess. 519).The Work of the Holy Spirit I believe that the Holy Spirit was active in creation (Gen. 12) and in empowering circumstantial Old Testament people for particular acts of service (Num. 1126-29 242 Judg. 146). He was instrumental in the giving of prophesy and Scripture. Ezekiel verbalise that the Spirit came into me causing him to speak the truth to Gods people (Ez. 22). The Holy Spirit was involved in the virgin birth of Christ (Matt. 120 Luke 135), came upon Jesus at His baptism (Matt. 316-17), and strengthened Jesus byout His earthly ministry (Matt. 41 1228).I believe that the Holy Spirit superintended the writing of the Scripture to ensure the precise results God wanted (2 Peter 120-21). The Spirit works in the lives of unbelievers convicting them of their sinful state before God and of the impending judgment (John 168). The Spirits work in believers heightened at Pentecost (Acts 2).The Spirit works in New Testament believers for the glory of Christ (John 1613-14). He is responsible for regeneration (John 33, 5 Titus 35 2 Thess. 213). He indwells every believer at metempsychosis (Rom. 89) and is involved in incorporating believers into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 1213). The Spirit seals believers until the day of redemption (Eph. 430). He is the guarantee of future salvation (Eph. 113-14 Rom. 823). The Spirit empowers believers for daily living and for service (Acts 18 Gal. 516-25), provides assurance of salvation (Rom. 8 16), is intricately involved in the sanctification a nd spiritual adulthood of the believer as the Christians helper and comforter (Jn. 1416), and leads believers to be holy (Rom. 813-15).Baptism in the Spirit is a unrivalled-time experience for each believer that happens at conversion (Acts 15 238 1 Cor. 1213). From conversion on, each believer is to be strongly influenced by the Spirit (Eph. 518). The believer never receives more of the Spirit after conversion, but throughout the Christian life, the Spirit ought to influence the believer more and more as the believer responds rightly to the Spirits work through the Word.The Spirit promotes unity in the body of Christ through the various gifts (1 Cor. 12). Spiritual gifts include individuals specially wedded by Christ such as pastors and teachers (Eph. 411), as well as abilities endowed by the Spirit for the good of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 124-11 Rom. 126-8 1 Pet. 410-11). Apostles and prophets formed a unique reference in the formation of the church (Eph. 220) and still minis ter to the church immediately through the Scriptures they wrote. However, there are no apostles and prophets today. The Spirit gives gifts to individual believers as He wills (1 Cor. 1211). The record of Scripture (Acts 2, 10, 19 Heb. 21-4) and church floor suggest that several of the gifts such as healing, miracles, and tongues were confirmatory and temporal in nature, in that they confirmed Gods unique working through the apostles and the early church, but in a short eon fell off the scene. What is most important is that love drives all use of the spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 13), that gifts are practiced in accord with Scriptural guidelines (1 Cor. 1440), and that believers focus on edifying others through their God-given abilities and gifts (1 Cor. 1412, 26), rather than tearing others down and exalting themselves.EcclesiologyI believe that the church, of which Christ is the head, is one universal and spiritual body, gathered in local bodies, to whom has been committed the ordina nces of believers baptism and the maestros Supper, with the corporate purpose of glorifying God through worship, the edification of the saints, and the communication of the gospel to the world.The Universal church building I believe that all those who place their faith in Christ are baptized in the Holy Spirit and placed into the church (1 Cor. 1212-13), which is one universal and spiritual body (Eph. 122-23 221-22 44-6).Christ is both the builder of the church (Matt. 1618) and the head of the church, giving elbow room to the church and ruling over the church (Eph. 523 Col 118). Christ nourishes and cherishes the church (Eph. 529-30), adds numerically to the church (Acts 247), and causes spiritual growth within the church (Eph. 415-16). As the body of Christ, the church exists to bring glory to God (Eph. 320-21) and to represent Christ to the world (John 1718 Eph. 122-23). The church brings glory to God through worship (John 423-24 Col. 316-17), through building itself up in the f aith (Acts 241-42 Heb. 1024-25), through submission to the Word (James 119-25 1 Pet. 122-23), and through communicating the gospel to the world (Matt. 2819-20).I believe that the church, as a linked international body of Jewish and Gentile believers, is a mystery, not fully disclosed until this age (Eph. 33-6 Col. 125-27). The church is testified to by Jesus (Mat. 1618-19 1815-17 Acts 15), began at Pentecost (Acts 2), but will not be fully completed until Christ comes to take up His bride (1 Thess. 413-18). While the church is a part of the people of God of all ages who have been saved by grace through faith (Rom. 416 Gal. 329), the church is similar to, but distinct from, the nation Israel (Rom. 1123-27 1 Cor. 1032), which still has a role in Gods purposes.The Local church I believe that the local church is the visible representation of the universal church, although believers may at times exist outside of a local church and false converts may at times be present in a local churc h (1 John 219). The local church gathers in organized (1 Cor. 1440), local (Acts 1122 Acts 131) assemblies for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry (Eph. 411-16), all to the glory of God. The local church is a smart set of true followers of Jesus Christ who are individually priests before God (1 Pet. 25, 9) and is characterized by unity in diversity (1 Cor. 12 Rom. 124-8). Every believer ought to be accountable to (Matt. 1815-17) and actively involved in a Bible-preaching local church, so that he or she may go into in the edification of the saints and be built up personally into the likeness of Christ (Heb. 1023-25).I believe that the local church has been given apostles and prophets as foundational gifts and that the local church still benefits from these gifted people through the Scriptures (Eph. 411 220). I believe that the local church has been given two primary offices for today elders or overseers (often called pastors) (Eph. 411 1 Tim. 31-7 Titus 15-9 1 Pet. 51-2) and deacons (Phil. 11 1 Tim. 38-13). Elders and deacons essential meet certain qualifications to serve in these capacities (Titus 15-9 1 Tim. 31-13). The elders primary role in the body is to lead the flock spiritually through his own example, through prayer, and through feeding the flock through the preaching and principle of the Word (1 Pet. 52 Acts 2028). The deacons are those whose primary role is to serve the body in whatever way is needed.In the early church, women were actively involved in church ministry, both publicly and privately, in such capacities as teaching women (Titus 23-5), evangelizing and discipling believers (Acts 1826 2 Tim. 15 314-15), laboring in gospel ministry (Rom. 163-4 Phil. 43), beingness a servant and patron of the church (Rom. 161-3), and praying and prophesying in public worship (1 Cor. 112-16). At the same time, though women play critical roles in the life of the church, both privately and publicly, the New Testament also upholds a di stinction for the role of women in guess to the public ministry of proclaiming the Word (1 Tim. 211-15). besides men are to hold the office of overseer (1 Tim. 31-7) and to exercise authority in the church over men in the public teaching of the Word (1 Tim. 211-15).I believe that the local church has been given two ordinances baptism (Matt. 2819) and the Lords Supper (1 Cor. 1123-32). Baptism is to be done soon after conversion and by immersion in water (Acts 241 836-38 1047 1633). It is a public, external signification of the inward alteration that God has worked in the heart (Rom. 62-4). The believer has died to sin and has been raised to walk in the newness of life. The Lords Supper also functions as a symbolic reminder of the redemptory work of Christ (Luke 2219-20 1 Cor. 1124-25). It is to be a time of unity, confession and forgiveness, and a time of looking forward to Christs issuance (1 Cor. 1123-32). The ordinances point the believer back to the cross and Christs transf orming work in our lives and in this way serve to strengthen believers and to encourage them to continue in the faith.I believe that the local church and its members are to be holy and unstained by the world (James 127 1 John 215-17 1 Pet. 113-16). In addition, the Scriptures clearly affirm that there will be many false teachers who try to lead the church away from Christ (2 Pet. 21-3 2 Tim. 43-4). I believe that the local church and its members must beware of and repudiate false teaching (1 John 41 Rom. 1617 2 Cor. 614-17). I believe that the local church and its members are also to be separated from erring brothers (2 Thess. 36-15 1 Cor. 59-11 Titus 310-11). This legal separation is to be practiced through the discipline of wandering members in the hopes of restoration (1 Cor. 5 2 Thess. 315 Matt. 1815-17 Gal. 61-2). This separation also ought to be practiced at an ecclesiastical level to preserve the truth of the gospel. It is our sharing in the gospel and in the Spirit that cre ates unity in the body of Christ (Eph. 41-6). If the clarity of the gospel is at stake, a firm stand must be made that clearly identifies the church and its members with the gross(a) gospel of grace (Gal. 16-10 211-14 Phil. 31-3).EschatologyI believe that Jesus is coming again as King and Judge to be united with His Bride, to inflict judgment on all those who have not obeyed the gospel, and to establish His kingdom in fulfillment of the promises of Scripture.The Eternal State I believe that fleshly death involves the separation of the soul from the body (James 226 Phil. 122-24). For a believer, death means the immediate entrance of the spirit into the presence of the Lord (2 Cor. 58 Phil. 123). The spirit of the unrighteous enters hell, a place of torment and penalization (Luke 1619-31 2 Pet. 29 Rev. 2013-14). This mediate state is a conscious existence for all who die as they await their bodily resurrection the righteous unto imperishable, glorified bodies (Rom. 810-11 1 Cor. 1524-54) while the unrighteous unto eternal disgrace and corruption (Rev. 2011-15 John 528-29). The righteous will be judged and will receive the rewards due them in ossification with their works (2 Cor. 59-10 Rom. 1410-12) the unrighteous will stand condemned at the Great White Throne and be cast into the lake of fire for eternal punishment and separation from God (2 Thess. 17-9 Rev. 2011-15). The punishment of the wicked will be conscious and eternal (Matt. 1028 Luke 1623-28) and will be worse for those who had been given biger privilege (Matt. 1120-24 Rom. 25).The Heart of Eschatology I believe that Jesus is coming again to be united with His bride (1 Thess. 413-18) to inflict vengeance on those who have not obeyed the gospel (2 Thess. 15-10), to crush His enemies, and to establish His worldwide kingdom (Acts 15-11 Rev. 19-22). Believers ought to wait with eager prescience for the coming of the Lord (James 57-9). Unbelievers should repent while there is still time since God ha s appointed Jesus as Judge (Acts 1730-31). For believers, the Lords lapse ought to inspire hope in the midst of suffering and holiness in practical life (Rom. 818-25 2 Peter 311-13 1 John 31-3).Eschatological Chronology While I believe that the Scripture does point toward the chronology below, I also recognize that the Scriptures are not explicit in regard to prophetic chronology and that church history also points to a lack of consensus on this issue. With this said, I affirm the following view of prophetic chronology.I believe that Gods computer program is to bring everything in the universe into subjection to Christ (Col. 119-20 Eph. 19-10). I believe that the next event in Gods prophetic plan is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to rapture His saints (1 Thess. 413-18). Those who have died in Christ will be instantly resurrected, and those still alive will be caught up together with them and be transformed into glorious new bodies (1 Cor. 1551-53 1 Thess. 413-18). Following t he rapture, the seven year tribulation will capture (Dan. 927 Matt. 2415-31). During this time, there will be an outpouring of Gods wrath like none other in the history of the earth (Rev. 615-17 Is. 24 Jer. 307 Rev. 6-19). This will be a time in which match will persecute Israel with fierce destruction and deceive the nations with great success (Dan. 121-3 Jer. 307 2 Thess. 23-12).I believe that at the end of the tribulation period Jesus will physically return (Acts 111) to the earth to defeat Antichrist and his forces (Rev. 1911-21), to bind Satan and seal him in the abyss (Rev. 201-3), and to rule the world from Jerusalem for honey oil years (Mic. 41-4 Zech. 149-11 Rev. 204-6). These thousand years, known as the millennium, will be a time of peace, prosperity, blessing, and righteousness (Is. 116-10 6520-25), and will ultimately fulfill Gods covenant promises to Israel (Is. 96-7 Ezek. 3721-28 Jer. 3131-34 Rom. 1125-26) as the Offspring of David rules the whole earth from His th rone in Jerusalem (Is. 22-4 111-5), along with His people (Dan. 721-22 Rev. 204). The millennium will be brought to an end with the final, brief release of Satan (Rev. 207). Satan will once more deceive and gather together the wicked against Christ and His saints at Jerusalem (Rev. 207-9). Christ will destroy them and cast Satan into the lake of fire. The wicked will be resurrected bodily to be judged at the Great White Throne and then will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 2010-15) to suffer eternal punishment (Matt. 1342 2541-46). I believe that these heavens and earth will be burned with intense love (2 Pet. 310) and that God will create a new heaven and a new earth where believers will dwell eternally and joyfully in His presence, free from all sin and sorrow (2 Pet. 313 Rev. 211-225).