Section 5

The Holy Spirit

Chapter 42.

The Holy Spirit and His Work

1. WHAT precious promise did Jesus make to His disciples shortly before His crucifixion?
"I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever." John 14:16.

2. Who is the Comforter, and what was He to do?
"But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you." Verse 26, R.V.

3. Why cannot the world receive Him?
"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him." Verse 17.

4. How intimate is His union with believers?
"But ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Same verse.

5. Whose presence does the Holy Spirit bring to the believers?
"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." Verse 18.

6. What promise is thus fulfilled?
"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matt. 28:20.  See also John 14:21-23.

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7. What threefold union is thus established?
"At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you." Verse 20.

NOTE.-Rom. 8:9 shows the Spirit of each of the three persons of the Godhead to be one and the same Spirit.

8. How does Jesus, through the Spirit, seek an entrance to every heart?
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20.

9. Why was it necessary for Christ to go away?
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you." John 16:7.

10. What was the Comforter to do when He came?
"And when He is come, He will reprove [margin, convince] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." Verse 8.

11. By what other title is the Comforter designated?
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me." John 15:26.

12. What did Jesus say the Spirit of truth would do?
"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come." John 16:13.

NOTE.-The Spirit speaks (1 Tim. 4:1); teaches (1 Cor. 2:3); bears witness (Rom. 8:16); makes intercession (Rom. 8:26); distributes the gifts (1 Cor. 12:11); and invites the sinner (Rev. 22:17).

13. Whom did Christ say the Holy Spirit would glorify?
"He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you." Verse 14.

NOTE.-It is plain from these scriptures that the Holy Spirit is the personal representative of Christ upon the earth, abiding in the church by dwelling in the hearts of the believers. It follows that any attempt to make a man the vicegerent of Christ in the place of the third person of the Godhead is an attempt to put man in the place of God. Thus does the fundamental principle of the Papacy set aside the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

14. How has God revealed to US the hidden things of the kingdom?
"But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." 1 Cor. 2:10.

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15. Who moved upon the prophets to give their messages?
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:21.

16. After Pentecost, how was the gospel preached?
"With the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven." I Peter 1:12.

17. How are believers sealed?
"In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." Eph. 1:13.

18. What warning is therefore given?
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph. 4:30.

19. Is there a limit to the strivings of God's Spirit?
"And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man." Gen. 6:3.

NOTE.-The limit is determined by the creature rather than by the Creator. It is when there is an utter abandonment to evil, and further appeals would be without avail. God foreknowing all things, may designate a definite period of probation for man, as in the case of the one hundred and twenty years before the flood (Gen. 6:3); but His Spirit never ceases to strive with man as long as there is hope of his salvation.

20. For what did David pray?
"Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me." Ps. 51:11.

21. How willing is God to give to us the Holy Spirit?
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" Luke 1:13.

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O for that flame of living fire,
Which shone so bright in saints of old;
Which bade their souls to heaven aspire,
Calm in distress, in danger bold!

Remember, Lord, the ancient days;
Renew Thy work, Thy grace restore;
And while to Thee our hearts we raise,
On us Thy Holy Spirit pour.
WM. H. BATHURST.

Preparing For Eternity
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