Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

The Holy Spirit

In the beginning of time, the Holy Spirit was hovering above the face of the waters. From creation, the Holy Spirit has been an integral part of unfolding the scheme of redemption. Moses performed miracles by the Holy Spirit. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Moses described the world of Genesis and then penned the other books of the Pentateuch.

Throughout the history of Israel, God worked His wonders through the Finger of God (Holy Spirit). Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit. At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness.

When Jesus came up out of the water and was praying, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. All the miracles Jesus performed were accomplished by the Finger of God (Holy Spirit).

Knowing that He must return to the Father, Jesus instructed the eleven to remain in Jerusalem until they were given power from on high. Ten days after Jesus ascended to the Father’s right hand, the twelve apostles (now including Matthias) were in Jerusalem when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

This was a sign of the power of God given to His ambassadors of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the devout Jews asked Peter and the other apostles what they must do to be saved, Peter told them to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins, and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. What Peter promised was to be given to all men in every generation. That promise was not the promise given to the apostles by Jesus.

A distinction must be made between the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised the apostles the power of the Holy Spirit but only to the apostles. They were endowed with power from God to perform all types of miracles (healing, raising the dead, casting out demons), which they did in their ministry.

The gift of the Spirit promised by Peter in his response is the promise of the Holy Spirit to everyone who obeys the gospel of Christ. This gift is non-miraculous and has no power attached to it.

This is best understood from the story of Philip preaching in Samaria (Acts 8). Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ. The multitudes obeyed the gospel, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

A sorcerer named Simon also obeyed the gospel. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard what Philip was doing in Samaria, they sent Peter and John, who came and parted the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the saints. Simon thought to purchase the power and was rebuked for his wickedness.

Philip had the power of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but he could not pass that gift to another person. The Samaritans (including Simon) had been baptized into Christ and received the gift of the Holy Spirit (non-miraculous). Peter and John came to Samaria to pass along miraculous gifts to the waiting saints.

Three things are noted about the Holy Spirit in this story: (1) Philip had received the power of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (casting out demons, healing the paralyzed and the lame). (2) All those who obeyed the gospel received the gift of the Holy Spirit; (3) Peter and John were apostles and were the only ones who could pass along the gifts to others. When Peter goes to the home of Cornelius, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is given to the Gentiles in the same fashion as upon the apostles at Pentecost.

The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were part of the scaffolding of the early church. Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the church was able to go throughout the world unto every nation. When the establishment of the church was completed with the fully revealed word of God, the spiritual scaffolding was removed – the age of miraculous gifts ceased.

The Holy Spirit is still active today through the saints who have been baptized in Christ and the power of the word. Paul explained to the Christians in Rome how the Holy Spirit dwells in them, and to the Ephesian brethren, the sword of the Holy Spirit is the word of God.

To the churches of Galatia, Paul reminded them of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Until the Lord returns, the Holy Spirit will continue to fulfill His work of the divine plan of the Father.

All Christians must realize the importance of filling their hearts with the word of God and setting their minds on the things of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not to be worshiped as Jesus Christ because everything the Spirit did was to lead men to Christ.

Jesus died for all men. The Holy Spirit guided men into all truth so they could see and realize the love of God accomplished through His only begotten Son.