Living Waters

Lesson 5

“The Holy Spirit and the Believer”

 

I. Into our Lives

A. Suggested Ice-breaker:

The story is told of a native from a remote mountain village, who visited a large modern city for the first time. He could not bring much home with him, and he had little money. But he was amazed at the electric lights which he saw everywhere.

He bought a sack full of electric lights bulbs and sockets with switches so he could turn the lights off and on.

Arriving home, he hung the light bulbs in front of his house and trees, as well as his neighbor's trees. Everyone watched him with curiosity and asked him what he was doing, but he just smiled and said, "Just wait until dark --you'll see."

When night came he turned on the switches but nothing happened.

No one had told him about electricity. He did not know the light bulbs were useless unless connected to the source of their power.

Acts 1:4-8: 4 “Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now… 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

After Pentecost, we find a group of men, who grasped the words of Christ and faithfully proclaimed the name of Jesus to the very group that crucified him. With the power of the Holy Spirit, they were transformed into radicals for Jesus.

B. Transition:

In Romans chapters 1 – 7, it deals mainly with the basis of our justification and sanctification before God – the death of Jesus. In Romans 8, we see that the Holy Spirit connects us to the reality of our justification. The Spirit is the link between Christ’s atoning work in our lives. You might put it this way, just as the Holy Spirit is the effective agent in creation, he also is the agent in recreation (i.e., the new birth).

2 Corinthians 4:6: 6 “ For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

II. Into the Bible

A. He Starts our Salvation – Adoption into the Family of God:

1. Removal from Slavery:

Romans 8:1: 1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

2. Placement of Sons:

Romans 8:14-16: 14 “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!”

3. Question: Why would the terms “slavery” and “adoption” resonate with Roman believers?

The word “slavery” spoke volumes to the Roman Christians, some of which were slaves themselves. In fact, nearly ½ of the population of Rome consisted of slaves. It is almost needless to say that slaves who were considered as chattel in the hands of their masters -- objects with which their owners can do anything -- were even put to death if there masters were so pleased.

The word “adoption” would have evoked images of intimacy and richness of relationship to most Romans.

“An adopted son was a son deliberately chosen by his adoptive father to perpetuate his name and inherit his estate. He was no whit inferior in status to a son born in the ordinary course of nature and might well enjoy the father’s affection more fully and reproduce the father’s character more worthily.” (F. F. Bruce, Commentary on Romans)

B. He Confirms our Salvation – Affirmation of our Status in God’s Family:

Romans 8:15-16: 15 “…but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”

1. The Spirit confirms our salvation in the way in which we can address God. ,

 “The Aramaic word ‘Abba,’ which means ‘Dear Father’ in the sense that we might say ‘Dad’ or ‘Daddy,’ was never used by the Jews to address God, nor do they use it today. Jesus alone used it and this was no doubt considered scandalous by his enemies.” (Hughes, Romans, 154)

 2. The Spirit confirms our salvation in the way God addresses us.

Paul says that the Spirit “testifies” with our spirit that we are children of God. By testify, Paul means that the Spirit shows this to be true, or gives evidence in support of fact. The evidence that Paul alludes to seems to be some internal assurances that one has peace with God.

3. Question: Have you ever experienced the inner testimony by the Holy Spirit that you are a child of God? If so, describe to the group this experience.

C. He Strengthens us in our Salvation – Preservation of our Status in God’s Family:

1. The Holy Spirit gives us power to live righteous lives.

Romans 8:3-4: 3 “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

2. The Holy Spirit gives us power to persevere though life.

Romans 8:26-39: 26 “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 3. Why is Paul so optimistic about the power of the Spirit to preserve a believer?

III. Into Our Lives

A. Note the application that Paul derives from the power and presence of the Spirit in our lives:

Romans 8:12-14: 12 “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -- 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

  • We are obligated to renounce old life and embrace holy living.
  • We are obligated to wield the power of the Spirit to make this happen.  

B. Ministry Time: Spend the reminder of the time praying that God will fill each believer with the Holy Spirit.

Notes

It is vitally important to define and distinguish the indwelling and infilling of the Spirit. When a person is born again, the Spirit comes to indwell them permanently (see next note). It is clearly possible for a believer to be indwelt with the Spirit, but not in filled with the Spirit. For example, we read that in one of Christ’s resurrection appearances, Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22) It is at this time that the disciples were born again by and indwelt with the Spirit. Later on, however, before Jesus ascends into heaven, he tells his disciples to go into Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to empower them. This refers to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Clearly we have two different conditions. As we look at Romans 8, keep in mind that Paul probably has both concepts in mind, but not at the same time. So, Paul is referring to the Spirit’s indwelling in Romans 8:9, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” However, Paul seems to be urging the believers to be empowered by the Spirit in verse 13: “…but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

Ephesians 1:13-14: 13 “ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 4:30: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

“This is but a little word (Abba), and yet…it comprehends all things. The mouth may not speak it, but the affections of the heart speak after this manner. Although, I may be oppressed with anguish and terror on every side, and seem to be forsaken and utterly cast away from your presence, yet am I thy child, and you are my father for Christ’s sake: I am beloved because of the beloved. Wherefore this little word, Father, conceived effectually in the heart, surpasses on the eloquence of Demosthenes, Cicero, and of the most eloquent rhetoricians that ever were in the world.” (Luther, Commentary on Galatians)

This is no artificial adoption. One can imagine an adopted son who never comfortably refers to his new father as ‘father’ (maybe they avoid the appellation altogether). If they do use the title, it’s done to keep the peace, but it is never meant in the child’s heart. Paul states that for the believer, addressing God as ‘Father’ isn’t an artificial or a reasoned response, but reflexive response.

“ summarture,w : to provide confirming evidence by means of a testimony - 'to sup- port by testimony, to provide supporting evidence, to testify in support. ' summarturou,shj auvtw/n th/j suneidh,sewj 'their consciences testify in support of this' Rom. 2.15. It may be necessary in some languages to translate this phrase in Rom. 2.15 as 'their consciences say to them that this is true.'” ( Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon)