K. Other Questions

Question 1

What does the Bible teach about the Holy Spirit’s work in the Old Testament?

Answer 1

• the Holy Spirit in the OT is 1) the agent of giving life (Psalm 104 - When you send forth your Spirit, they are created), 2) Teaching/revealing God’s message (2 Sam 23 - David: The Spirit speaks by me), and 3) enabling God’s people to respond in faith, repentance and righteousness (Psalm 51:10–12 - Take not your Spirit from me).
• Also:
  01. Shaping creation and history (Gen 1:2)
  02. Giving skill and application for creative work (Exodus 31:1–11).

Question 2

What is the Holy Spirit’s function today? Is it different than in the past?

Answer 2

• In the OT, the Holy Spirit pointed prophets to the coming sufferings and glories of the Messiah (1 Peter 1:10–13), whereas in the NT the Holy Spirit (John 14:25) inspired the inscripturated revelation and convicts of sin (John 16:8–11).
• While in the OT the Spirit indwelt believers, in the NT the Spirit indwells believers specifically as the Spirit of Exalted Christ. (John 14)
  01. Regarding John 14:15–17, Ferguson says, “The contrast is located not in the manner of his dwelling so much as in the capacity in which he indwells.

Question 3

What happened at Pentecost? How does this relate to the church today?

Answer 3

• The beginning of the new covenant age and the last days, the day of salvation ( 2 Cor 6 - Now is the day of salvation)
• New Status for God’s people
• No Ethnic boundaries

Question 4

Distinguish between the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit.

Answer 4

• Gifts of the Spirit can be described as that which is essential in the building up of God’s church.
• The fruit of the Spirit has to do with the personal transformation of character in the life of an individual believer.
• Examples of gifts of the Spirit can be found in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12–14, and Ephesians 4. The fruit of the Spirit is found in Galatians 5:22–23.

Question 5

Does the Spirit give gifts today? Explain.

Answer 5

a. Yes. The passages describing the gifts clearly have validity today. (Eph 4, 1 Cor 12-14)

Question 6

Are there gifts mentioned in Scripture that are not given today? Explain and defend.

Answer 6

a. Yes and No. However, I would argue that certain gifts are less prominent and only perhaps come to the fore in establishing the church in areas in which the gospel has hitherto been unknown or long forgotten, such as healings and tongues in known languages, etc. It is important to note that the exercise of gifts even in Apostolic times was not automatic since Paul left Trophimus sick in Miletus (2 Tim 4:20).
- Calvin: Functional Cessasionist
- Under Scripture (Heb 1, 2 Tim 3)

Question 7

What do New Testament passages teach us concerning how the Holy Spirit comes?

Answer 7

• As a dove upon Christ (Baptism: Matt 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, John 1)
• In Wind and Tongues of Fire (Pentecost: Acts 2).
• Through the hearing of the Word (Eph 1 - through hearing and believing you were sealed, Acts 10-11: Cornelius)
• Through the laying on of hands witnessed to by tongues and praise (Acts 19).

Question 8

What do New Testament passages teach us concerning what the Holy Spirit does?

Answer 8

• Reveals Jesus’ reality and the truth about him by:
  01. Uniting believers to Christ (Romans 6 - united in life and death)
  02. Enlightening and convicting others to the word (Acts 10 - Cornelius)
  03. Assures believers that they are children and heirs of God (Rom 8).
  04. Transforms believers progressively through prayer and conflict with sin into Christ’s moral and spiritual likeness (2 Cor 3:18 - beholding the glory of the Lord).
  05. Enables spiritual gifts (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4).
  06. Prays effectively in and for believers in Christ who feel unable to pray for themselves (Rom 8).

Question 9

What do New Testament passages teach us concerning how the Holy Spirit works?

Answer 9

• In our hearts by and with the Word (John 6 - The Spirit gives life, the words are spirit and life)

Question 10

What do New Testament passages teach us concerning the Holy Spirit’s ministry today?

Answer 10

• Same as NT
• Mediates “knowledge of, and union and communion with, the physically withdrawn, ascended, and glorified savior ” (John 14 - the spirit will teach and bring to remembrance) Also convicts the world of sin (John 16 - conviction and glory).
• Applies the benefits of redemption in terms of effectual calling, regeneration, and sanctification.

Question 11

How would you answer charismatic claims from Scripture?

Answer 11

• Hebrews 1 (Scripture)
• Acts 17 (Bereans)
• Follow the instructions in 1 Corinthians 12–14.

Question 12

How would you engage a Mormon?

Answer 12

1. Beliefs
   - Mormon’s believe, “As man is, God once was; and as God is, man will become.”
2. Critique
   - Historically: there is no evidence for the claims of Mormonism regarding peoples who supposedly populated North America.
   -Philosophically: this belief suffers from the problem of infinite regress. If God was once a man ad infinitum, whence creation?
   - Biblically: the following texts undermine such a view of God:
   • Psalm 90:2: “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
   • John 1:1–2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.”

Question 13

How would you engage a Jehovah’s Witness?

Answer 13

• JW’s deny the Trinity, claim that Jesus is just one of many gods and that Jesus returned secretly in the 20th century.
  02. Critique
• The Trinitarian formulas in Matthew 28:18–20 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 are very difficult to explain if the Trinity is denied, not to mention the passages which portray the Son and Spirit and divine.
• John 1:1 is a predicate nominative and thus there is no need for an article.
• Jesus’ second coming is going to be public (Mat 26:64). The “thief in the night” metaphor refers not to hidden-ness but to suddenness.