The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

Free Bible Study Materials for Christian Discipleship
July 2010

photo courtesy of ian burt
Dear Fellow Disciplemakers,

If you are like me, talking to people about the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and his role is not easy. Ignorance and confusion abound concerning the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Although it is a challenge, let me encourage you to consistently emphasize that, at its core, Christianity is a Living Person, living in a living person; Somebody living in somebody. Christ in you; Christ in me.

The goal of the gospel is not just to get man out of hell and into heaven, but to get God out of heaven and back into man.

The forgotten member of the Trinity

Historically, followers of Jesus have always believed in the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). But practically speaking, one member of the Trinity is a forgotten person. The forgotten one is the Person of the Holy Spirit. In much of the Christian world, the Person of the Holy Spirit has been ignored, neglected and forgotten. Dwight L. Moody once said, True, we have heard of the Holy Spirit, and we have read of Him, but we have little personal knowledge of His attributes, His offices, and His relationship to us.

Is the Holy Spirit real to you?

The views concerning the doctrine of the Holy Spirit held by the average religious person today have almost no practical value. In most Christian circles the Holy Spirit is entirely overlooked. He is nearly non-existent. His presence or absence makes no real difference to anyone. Many professed believers have virtually no conscious awareness that their body is the human temple where the Holy Spirit dwells. Very few see themselves as the human channel through whom the Holy Spirit works. In short, the Holy Spirit is a religious theory people agree with, not a reality they experience.

The role of the Holy Spirit

God's will for Jesus was to live on earth approximately thirty-three years. Jesus said, I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father (John 16:28). Shortly before He returned to heaven, Jesus promised His disciples that He would send His successor – the Person of the Holy Spirit to be with them and live in them. God and Jesus live in us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. I am sure it surprised Jesus' followers when He said, It is good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you (John 16:7).

photo courtesy of Godo-Godaj

The doctrine of the Holy Spirit

A fundamental role of the Holy Spirit is to internalize the presence of Jesus. Our Lord said to his disciples, You know him (the Spirit of Truth, the Counselor), for he lives with you and will be in you (John 14:17). On earth Jesus was with them and could teach them, but he could not enter their personality and change them from within. Now, through the Holy Spirit Christ dwells in our hearts and does his transforming work there. If you are a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in you. Nothing could be more beneficial to your spiritual development than to deepen your personal acquaintance with Him.

Author:Paul Schlieker www.bible-study-lesson-plans.com

For any reuse or distribution of our free Bible study materials author credit and web address is required.

Please email us with questions or comments..

Return from The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
to Free Bible Study Materials for Christian Discipleship E-Newsletters

Home - Bible Study Lesson Plans