Why Baptists Believe What Baptists Believe - Part 14

Why Baptists Believe What Baptists Believe

Part 14

WHY BAPTISTS BELIEVE WHAT BAPTISTS BELIEVE, PART 14

WHY DID THE HOLY SPIRIT COME?

I mentioned what Jesus said in John Chapters 14 thru 16 while in the upper room with His disciples. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be sent by His Father. Then just before He ascended, He reiterated this promise again (Acts 1:8).

Well, just as Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit came!

Acts Chapter 2 records the incredible events surrounding the coming of the Holy Spirit [Note: This is a lengthy passage but worth taking the time to read] …

 “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.’

And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others mocking said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’”

The question was raised during this study, “Why do some churches today practice speaking in tongues?” That’s a good question. We Baptists view speaking in tongues as applying as it does here in Acts Chapter 2. Paul does mention later in First Corinthians the gift of speaking in tongues. But he also talks about having someone there to interpret them. So, tongues are not like some “private” language that nobody else knows. Someone has to be there to interpret them. Somebody else would have to know what that language means. Speaking in tongues and the interpretation of tongues – they go together.

I’ll let you tackle [Question 6] on your own.

So let’s go back to when Jesus was telling His disciples about the Holy Spirit coming, back to John Chapter 16. “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is Mine; therefore, I said that He will take what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13-15).

[Question 7]

According to John 16, why did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would come? To glorify Jesus and declare His truth. This is what we see happening in Acts Chapter 2 at Pentecost. As Jesus came to exalt and reveal the Father, the Holy Spirit is being sent to exalt and glorify the Son, Jesus Christ. As part of this greater purpose He reminds us of what Jesus taught.

In John Chapters 14 thru 16, Jesus revealed several reasons for the Holy Spirit’s coming. Let’s read some of these. In [Question 8] you’re being asked a series of True – False questions.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).

True or false? God the Father sent the Holy Spirit. That is True.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13).

True or false? The Holy Spirit speaks on His own authority. NO. According to this verse He “will not speak on His own authority.” So, it is False.

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me” (John 15:26).

True or false? The Holy Spirit bears witness of Jesus. Yes, that is True. The context of this verse is Jesus talking to His disciples in the upper room.

“All that the Father has is Mine; therefore, I said that He will take what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:15). “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).

True or false? The Holy Spirit conceals the deep things of God. NO. These verses tell us that He reveals the truths of God. So, this one is False. In fact, sometimes the only way we will know the deep things of God is by the Spirit’s revelation. God is not trying to hide things from us.

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7).

True or false? Only by Jesus leaving would the Holy Spirit come. That is True. That’s what happened. It wasn’t very long after Jesus left that the Holy Spirit came (at Pentecost).

WHAT DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT DO?

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9).

[Question 9]

Can a person belong to Christ (be a Christian) and NOT have the Holy Spirit dwelling in him or her? Based on the passage we just read the answer is no, you can’t. It’s not like you get saved and then later on the Holy Spirit comes and indwells you; that you get some special baptism of Holy Spirit. That’s NOT what the Bible teaches. We Baptists believe that is part of regeneration. When you get saved the Holy Spirit comes to indwell you. And that’s what it says in the Baptist Faith and Message under the heading “God the Holy Spirit”: “His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ.” His presence in the Christian – it’s not just something you believe. He is in you. How do I know I’m saved? Does the Holy Spirit live inside you? If not, then you are not.

The Holy Spirit lives in us. It is truly an amazing concept to think that the God of the universe lives inside of us, you and me!

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

[Question 10]

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” What a mind-boggling thought to realize that the very presence of God Himself indwells YOU, Christian brother and sister! This is personal.

[Question 11] involves 4 different passages.

Let me read them to you first. “But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh [the son of the slave woman] persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit [Isaac], so also it is now” (Galatians 4:29). This passage tells us that believers, those who follow God, are born of the Spirit.

“In Him [Christ] you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13). We touched on this earlier when we read Ephesians 4:30. It’s a really important point that Paul talks about early on in the book of Ephesians. As believers we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. He’s our Guarantee. He keeps us saved, eternally secure.

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). We believers are led by the Spirit. He is actively involved in our everyday lives, in our decision-making.

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). So then since we are saved, sealed and are being led by the Spirit we should keep in step with the Spirit. The New American Standard says it best… “Walk in the Spirit.”

So, filling in the blanks based on all those passages we just read, Believers are born of the Spirit, sealed with the Spirit, led by the Spirit and should walk in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit does a lot, doesn’t He?

Remember early we read what Jesus told His disciples just before He goes back to Heaven. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

[Question 12]

The Holy Spirit is the Christian’s source of power to live out the Christian life and to carry out the Great Commission that He has called us to.

The Scriptures tell us that the Holy Spirit has a variety of ministries. So let’s look at those.

[Question 13]

“And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged” (John 16:8-11). – A, He convicts people of sin, righteousness and judgment. Whether you are a believer or unbeliever the Holy Spirit is going to convict you of sin.

“Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). – B, He inspires Scripture. This is one of the passages we Baptists cite to defend our position that the Bible is God-breathed.

“Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). – C, He intercedes for those who pray. Sometimes I can’t put what I am feeling into words. I am so over-whelmed. And so, the Holy Spirit helps us pray.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is Mine; therefore, I said that He will take what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13-15). – D, He teaches truth. The Holy Spirit declares to us what Jesus taught. He reminds us of the truth.

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). – E, He distributes spiritual gifts, all for the common good, for the overall benefit of the body of Christ.

“So, the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied” (Acts 9:31). – F, He comforts. It was a good thing the Holy Spirit was there to comfort the early church because they were being persecuted.

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). – G, He assures believers of their salvation. Some people will ask, “how do I know I’m a Christian?” One of the things the Holy Spirit does is He assures us of our salvation.

Ephesians Chapter 1 talks at length about how all three Persons of the Trinity are actively involved in our salvation. There is another passage in 2 Corinthians that discusses how the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are at work in our lives as saved individuals. It is a very short passage, Paul’s benediction to 2 Corinthians. This is what Paul says: “For He [Christ] was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but in dealing with you we will live with Him by the power of God” (2 Corinthians 13:4).

[Question 14]

In Paul’s benediction I just read did you notice the terms used? Each member of the Trinity is at work in the life of a Christian: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God (speaking of the Father), and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.” The Father loves us so much, we are extended grace through His Son by what Jesus did on the cross. We didn’t deserve it. We deserved punishment. But we got grace because of what Jesus did. As the hymn puts it, a “grace that is greater than all our sins!” And then, on top of that, because of what God has done, we get to enjoy fellowship with Him and with each other.

He is ONE GOD working in us!