Theology: K - Other Questions Flashcards
What does the Bible teach about the Holy Spirit’s work in the Old Testament?
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament as he is in the New Testament was an agent in creation, giving
life, revealing God’s Word, and enabling his people.
1) shaping creation 2) revealing God’s message 3) eliciting faith, repentance, obedience and
righteousness
What is the Holy Spirit’s function today? Is it different than in the past?
The Holy Spirit includes the generation of life, preparing men for office, the inspiration of Scripture,
the formation and increase of the church, and teaching and guiding the church. He also grants
blessings which are ours in Christ: regeneration, conviction of sin, adoption, the fruit of the Spirit, etc
What happened at Pentecost? How does this relate to the church today?
At Pentecost the Spirit began to indwell the church empowering the apostles with courage
and memory of all that Jesus taught. Not only did this allow for the infallible Scriptures of
the New Testament, but also provided the bold proclamation of the gospel to people of all
tribes tongues and nations
What happened at Pentecost? How does this relate to the church today? The outpouring of the Holy Spirit as fulfillment of OT/Baptist/Jesus (Acts 2:1-41).
- The salvation-historical place of Pentecost
a. God’s outpouring of the Spirit is not divorced from the rest of God’s work
b. It is foreseen in the OT (Jeremiah 31:31-37 [I have taken you out of slavery
and given you instructions how to live, I have given you everything you need, yet
something is amiss. So I will put my Spirit in your heart and let you know my purposes
and my heart] – it is not God’s purpose to have charismatic people but to have people
who have the heart of God and that love Him) - intimate closeness with the person of
God, not miraculous displays
c. What does Pentecost mean to a Jews?
1) First-fruits of the harvest (like Thanksgiving)—first-fruits of the
work of Christ
2) Connection between the giving of the Law and the Pentecost
(Intertestamental material) – signifies that God is writing His law on the hearts of the
people – for the purpose of godliness
a) The giving of the Law came 50 days after the passover
b) Pentecost came 50 days after the death of Christ
Distinguish between the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is developed in believers’ character as they mature in their relationship with the
Lord. Spiritual gifts are given to believers for “the equipping of the saints for the works of service, the
building up of the body of Christ. They are not character qualities as much as abilities given for the
planting and sustaining of the church
Galatians 5.22- But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law
Does the Spirit give gifts today? Explain.
The gifts of the spirit can be defined as abilities given to God’s people which are essential to the planting and sustainng of the church. As such, the Spirit continues to give gifts for the sustaining of the church (Preaching, evangelism, teaching, prayer, helps, administration, etc) though I believe extra-ordinary gifts have ceased. Especially with regard to new revelation.
Are there gifts mentioned in Scripture that are not given today? Explain and defend.
start at 8
There are gifts of the Spirit which seem to have been designed to provide for the foundation upon
which the church would be built. This foundation is given to us in the form of Scripture-the apostolic
witness of the New Testament. Such gifts include prophecy, signs and wonders, and miracles- those
gifts associated with the affirmation of the message and witness of the Apostolic office which has
now ceased.
How would you answer charismatic claims from Scripture?
Go to Ephesians 4.5 and its discussion of one baptism. Also walk through Acts’ Pneumatological outlook
a. How the Holy Spirit works (phenominalogical), not who the Spirit is
b. Acts 2:1-14; 8:14-25; 9:17ff; 10:44-48; 19:1-7
2. Three foci of the book of Acts as related to the work of the Holy Spirit
a. Salvation-History and the Holy Spirit
b. The Church (discipleship) and the Holy Spirit
c. Jesus and the Holy Spirit
3. Key text
a. Acts 2:1-14
1) Known languages
- V. 4 glwssai” definitely refers to languages
- proof in v. 6 “in their own language”
- a miracle of different languages, at least 12
60
- more than communicate awe, these languages praise God and spread His message
“the wonders of God in . . .”
- see also 10:14; 19:6 for other uses of glwssai” which are known languages
2) Collective filling - Not a selective filling of the spirit but a
collective/corporate filling
3) Declaration of the praise of God
- Peter’s speech finished with Jewish question, “What shall we do?”
- Peter’s answer points to a change of heart
- Here baptism in Christ’s name may mean identification with Jesus Himself—this is
consistent with the forgiveness of sins
- The Spirit of God rests where there is purity; always when the Spirit of God works,
He rests on God’s people
- The purpose of gospel proclamation:
4) To bring people to repentance
5) To bring people to identification with Christ
6) To see people filled with the Spirit
Acts 2:38 and Romans 8:9 – having the Holy Spirit is part and parcel with salvation
- question is whether Acts 2:38 speaks more on empowering for the ministry
b. Acts 8:14-25 (The most challenging passage)
1) Context: the gospel is taken up north after the scattering from
persecution up to Samaria; Jews would feel more comfortable with the Gentiles
coming to faith than they would with the Samaritans
2) The big problem is 8:12 – the delay of the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit
3) disciples is not necessarily identical with believer and belief is not
necessarily identical with saving faith
4) Explanations:
a) The Samaritans had received the Holy Spirit and v. 14-17 are
merely charismatic manifestation: problematic
b) The Holy Spirit only comes by the laying on of hands:
disqualified because the Holy Spirit comes through various means in the book of
Acts
c) Luke had a deficient pneumatology and separates what
originally (and should) belonged together: non-sensicle
d) Something is flawed with the Samaritans belief—no genuine
faith (J.D. Dunn Baptism in the Holy Spirit);
(1) this passage weaves Simon and the group, the whole
is stained through guilt by association
(2) they seem to follow the sensational; they believed
Philip but not Jesus
(3) seen by Peter’s interaction with Simon who had
been baptized
(4) However, baptism in Jesus’ name is identification
with Jesus
(5) Guilt by association is difficult to impute in this area
e) There is a salvation-historical delay that is unique here
(1) There has to be an authentication by the apostolic
witness commissioned by God
(2) Shows that God includes Samaritans — great
significance that they are included among the people of God
Dunn: Baptizw (baptize)
61
eperxomai(come upon)
plhsqhnai(filled): 2:4; 4:8, 31; 9:12
ekcew (pour out): [2], 10:45
lambanw (received): 2:38; ch. 8; 10:47; 19:2
didonai (give) : 8:18
epipipein (fall upon): 8:6; 10:44
The same group was filled in 2:4 and with 4:31. Do not fix semantic particularities, except to describe
perspectives on the same thing. Two different perspective: from God’s and from people’s
What shakes the earth much more than healing, prophesy, and physical blessings is when God
changes a man’s heart
Answer from the Scriptures:
a. Mormon
There is one God who is the creator of the world
Christ did not become God- he was God from all eternity
Finality of Scripture
Trinity
Works of righteousness
Answer form Scripture
b. Jehovah’s Witness
Deity of Christ Eternal Son of God Works of Salvation Hermeneutics of John 1 Colossians 1 Hebrews 1
