Read John 14:6 and John 17:17. What is the meaning of truth in these passages? In the Gospel of John, the word truth is a key term. Our contemporary understanding of truth often is very abstract and theoretical. In the Western world it has been shaped by Greek philosophy. However, in the Bible, and particularly … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The Personality of the Holy Spirit” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the … Continue reading –>
A challenge we face in understanding the Holy Spirit is that we can imagine God as a Father in a somewhat tangible way. Many also have a concrete picture of Jesus, as He is described in the Gospels. He took our human nature and appeared to us in human form. The Holy Spirit, however, is … Continue reading –>
Everyone wants to succeed. Some do – some don’t. Teachers may define success by the numbers of attendees, or by getting through the entire lesson, or by avoiding any glaring blunders. The definitions of success vary from teacher to teacher. All of us should spend some time reflecting on how well we did or didn’t … Continue reading –>
Once, I was talking to a church treasure who told me every week she finds a few empty tithe envelopes turned into the offering plate. She figured it was kids turning them in. I was more skeptical and wondered if it was adults wanting to look like they were giving an offering. This was before … Continue reading –>
As you read the following texts, ask yourself if they sound as if they are talking about an impersonal force or about a divine Person. Rom. 8:14-16, Romans 8:27; Rom. 15:30; 1 Cor. 2:10; Acts 8:29; Acts 10:19-20; Acts 28:25. Can an impersonal force intercede in our behalf? Does an impersonal spirit or power have … Continue reading –>
Read John 16:13-14; John 15:26-27; and John 14:17, John 14:26. What very personal characteristics does Jesus attribute to the Holy Spirit in these passages? What does it mean to you that Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as a helper or comforter (parakletos)? According to Jesus, the Holy Spirit guides, speaks, hears, discloses, and glorifies (John … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: John 16:13-14; Rom. 8:14-16; Rom. 15:13; John 14:6; John 17:17; Rom. 5:5. Memory Text: “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 said to you” (John 14:26, NASB). Because the … Continue reading –>
As we have seen this week, the biblical evidence for the divinity of the Holy Spirit is very convincing. The Holy Spirit is God. But remember: in thinking about the Holy Spirit, we are dealing with a divine mystery. We reiterate the point: just as we cannot fully explain God and His nature, we have … Continue reading –>
What would be lost if the Holy Spirit were not God? If the Holy Spirit is not fully God, the implications for salvation and worship are serious. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is responsible for regenerating believers. He dwells in them and fills them. He renews our thinking and changes our character. … Continue reading –>
