The Person of the Holy Spirit & Sanctification

Question 1

What qualities and ministries, possible only for a person, does Scripture attribute to the Holy Spirit?

Answer 1

• He teaches - John 14:26 (He will teach you all things)
• He speaks, commands, calls, has a plan - Acts 13:2 (The Holy Spirit said “set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”)
• He gives spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12)
• He can be lied to - Acts 5
• He can be grieved - Eph 4:30
• He makes groans and intercessions for us - Rom 8:26-27

Question 2

What role does the Holy Spirit have in the life of the non-believer? the believer?

Answer 2

• Non-believers - Conviction of sin (John 16:8-9)
• Believers
  • Comfort us (John 14:26)
  • Make Jesus known to us (John 15:26)
  • Teach us (John 16)
  • Empower us (Acts 1:8)
  • Gives us gifts (1 Cor 12)
  • Fill us (Eph 5:18)

Question 3

Where do we find the Scriptural teaching on the gifts of the Spirit and how would you summarize that teaching?

Answer 3

• 1 Cor 12
• Romans 12
• Ephesians 4
• 1 Peter 4

Question 4

Do you hold to a cessation theology on the gifts of the Spirit?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

How would you differentiate between the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit?

Answer 5

Fruit has to do with character qualities that come from the Spirit, while gifts has to do with abilities for ministry

Question 6

What is the Scriptural definition of sanctification?

Answer 6

Set apart from sin and to holiness by the empowering of the Holy Spirit - 2 Tim 2:21

Question 7

What is the relationship between justification, regeneration, and sanctification?

Answer 7

Must be justified before regeneration can happen. Cannot be made holy until we have been made new.

Titus 3:4-7

Question 8

What is meant by positional sanctification and progressive sanctification, and how is “crisis” connected to the two?

Answer 8

• Declared “Holy” when regeneration happens (positional)
• Progressive sanctification, the process of becoming more like Christ, happens as we yield to the Holy Spirit
  
  • Hebrews 10:14
• Crisis is the point of recognizing that you can’t live the Christian life on your own, and yielding to Him and asking his Spirit to fill you and empower you, leading to progressive sanctification
  
  • Gal 2:20 - Christ lives in me

Question 9

What is the practical significance of sanctification in the Christ-follower’s lifestyle?

Answer 9

Without the Holy Spirit at work, it is impossible to live the Christian life

 - Gal 5:16 - Live by the Spirit
 - Gal 2:20 - Christ lives in me

Question 10

What does the Scriptural phrase “dead to sin and alive to God” mean?

Answer 10

Romans 6:8 says “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” This, with Romans 6:11 (dead to sin and alive to God) implies that as Christ died in our place, we are also dead to sin. Therefore, as Christ works in us, we are made alive to God.

Question 11

What are the Scriptural evidences of a sanctified life?

Answer 11

• Continuing to live in righteousness
• Gal 6:22-23 - fruits of the spirit
• holy life/free from sexual immorality- 1 thes 4:3-7
• 2 Peter 1:3-9 - make every effort to add to your faith goodness…