Term Paper on "Person and Work of the Holy Spirit in John"

Term Paper 12 pages (3588 words) Sources: 9

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Person and the Work of the Holy Spirit in John

The objective of this work is to read the Gospel of John and to relate in writing what John states about the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the enabler of the man and has been so since Jesus departed this physical plane of existence. The Holy Spirit is the person of God that was sent to us in the name of Jesus, both by Jesus the Son and God the Father. The Holy Spirit came when Jesus left this physical realm so as to remain in the lives of the followers of Christ so as not to make orphans of them. It is through the person of the Holy Spirit that Jesus has spoken to all disciples since his Ascension and the imparting of the Holy Spirit to believers at Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit, as expressed by John relating the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John is the person of God with the express purposes of instructing, comforting, admonishing and convicting, and indeed even bring to the remembrance of mankind the Living God while mankind is still in a state of absence from the presence of God the Father and God the Son. The Good Leader Edition of the authorized King James Version of the Bible, published in 1946 states that the first of the three Gospels were:

written for three different sections of mankind; but the Gospel According to St. John was designed to fulfill the spiritual needs of all people." (1946)

Therefore, it can be understood that this Gospel was intended for all children of God and all of those who are brothers in Christ for the express purpose of fulfilling spiritual needs. The purpose of his having written this Gospel is expressed by John as follows: "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (KVJ, 1946)

I. WHAT IS PRECISELY MEANT by the 'PERSON' of the HOLY SPIRIT?

In the work entitled: "The work of Pentecost Continues" Wintz writes that the word person is used when speaking: "...of the persons of the Holy Trinity" and yet this is not the "exact equivalent of the word we use in referring to human persons." (2003) Wintz writes that it is helpful to think: "...of the Latin root of the word 'person', which is persona. A person, from which our English word derives, is literally an actor's mask, such as were used in ancient Greek drama. In which case the same actor would use different masks to play the roles of different characters." (2003) When this is applied to the Trinity, then one can imagine the one and only God performing three different roles."(2003) Wintz writes that these: "...are not three separate Gods, but one God in three persons." (2003) the Gospel of John is highly focused on the person of the Holy Spirit and the work of that person of God.

III. HOLY SPIRIT: BAPTIZES (CLEANSES & REJUVENATES)

As noted in Chapter 1 verse 33 it is stated: "[33]"And I knew him not, but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon who thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Spirit." (John 1:33, KVJ)" the Holy Spirit identified as the cleanser and rejuvenator of mankind. The Holy Spirit is shown to descend upon and remain with the individual who is a true follower of Christ.

IV. FREEDOM and SOVEREIGNTY of the HOLY SPIRIT to ACT

In understanding the inherent freedom and sovereignty of the Holy Spirit to 'act' in the lives of mankind the analogy is used by Jesus to the 'wind' in the Gospel of John 3:8 when referring to the Holy Spirit. According to the work of John Piper entitled: "That Which is Born of the Spirit is Spirit": "Jesus was "trying to drive home the freedom and sovereignty of the Holy Spirit in the act of regeneration." (1981) in other words, when Jesus states that "The wind" or in this verse the Spirit "blows wherever it will" he is illustrating the impotence of man in that man "cannot start the wind blowing....cannot change the direction of the wind." (1981) Piper states that: "The Spirit blows where he wills and, therefore, everyone born of the Spirit has been acted upon by the free Spirit and has been born anew." (Piper, 1981) in John 6:62 Jesus states as recorded by John that: "It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life." (KVJ)

V. HOLY SPIRIT COMFORTS, ABIDES and DWELLS 'WITHIN'

The Gospel of John Chapter 14 and verse 16 states: "[16]"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. 17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. [[18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (KJV) in the Gospel of John, Chapter 14 verses 16 through 18 it is related that Jesus said that he will pray to the Father so that the Father will send 'another' Comforter that will abide with those who follow Christ and that the Holy Spirit will abide with those followers forever. Jesus is explaining to his disciples in this Chapter that he must go away but that it is expedient that he go away so that the Comforter may come unto them. This comforter is identified as the third person of God, not separate but wholly part of the three-part personhood of God the Father. Jesus explains that the Comforter cannot be received by the world that the Comforter is the 'Spirit of Truth' unseen and unknown by the world but yet the Comforter will dwell within those who love Christ and follow the teachings of Christ.

VI. HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES and BRINGS to REMEMBRANCE

In the Gospel of John Chapter 16 verses 25 through 27 it is stated:

25] These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. [26] but the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. [27] Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (KJV)

In Chapter 16 and verses 25 through 27 Jesus is informing his disciples that the Holy Spirit will "teach" all things to the followers of Christ therefore it can be understood that part of the Holy Spirit's personhood and the duties of the Holy Spirit is to teach those who follow Christ. Jesus goes on to state that the Holy Spirit will "bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said unto you." (KJV) This is important because this illustrates the ongoing interaction of the Holy Spirit with mankind in a process of comforting, providing peace, teaching, reminding and urging mankind toward the teachings of Christ.

VII. HOLY SPIRIT IS SPIRIT of TRUTH and SPIRITUAL GUIDE to ALL TRUTH

In the seeking of truth, Jesus instructed the disciples that the Holy Spirit is the very Spirit of Truth that will guide the disciples to truth. Stated in the Book of John Chapter 16 verse 13 is the following:

13] 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 shew you things to come." (KJV)

Jesus is further instructing the disciples in this verse that the Holy Spirit will show or reveal to them further revelations of future events or conditions. The Holy Spirit is depicted in this statement to be an active personhood in the life of the believer and has many times been described as an "inward knowing" concerning things of various natures on the part of the believer. This urging, or unction of the Holy Spirit is that which serves as a guide to the follower of Christ and it is this "Spirit" that dwells within the believer that serves to unction the follower of Christ in choosing the righteous pathways that is promised by Jesus to dwell with his followers in his absence in the physical world.

The Holy Spirit is that which urges the follower of Christ to offer help to others and to care that someone is lacking in knowledge about Christ enough to go out of their way to relate the work Christ has begun in their own… READ MORE

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