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Study Section 10: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Both the Old and New
Testament

10.1 Connect

In the section, we will look at the role of the Holy Spirit in both Testaments. We will do so
because some believers think that the Holy Spirit is only a “Church Age” person, coming to
believers at Pentecost. They don’t consider His many activities described in the Old Testament.
Throughout the entire Scriptures, the Holy Spirit has been extremely active as God working
among men.

Almost everyone believes that the Holy Spirit is a “Church Age” person. However, there is a lot of
confusion today about some of the things the Holy Spirit does. Some Christians say that after you are
saved, you need to seek a new level in your Christian life called the Baptism of the Spirit. When you get
that, you will speak in tongues. You then will find greater victory in your life and can serve the Lord more
effectively and with greater enthusiasm. Let’s find out. . .

10.2 Objectives

1. Students should be able to define “ruach” and its importance and discover that the role of the
Holy Spirit in the Old Testament is very similar to His role in the New Testament.

2. Students should be able to state several promises of the Old Testament regarding the
permanent residence of the Holy Spirit in the church age.

3. Students should to defend the position that a believer receives the Holy Spirit immediately upon
exercising faith in Christ, which is the baptism of the Spirit.

4. Students should be able to describe the difference between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the
filling of the Holy Spirit.

10.3 Roles of the Holy Spirit in Both Testaments and His Sealing

Holy Spirit’s Roles in the Old Testament.

The role of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament is much like His role in the New Testament. When
we speak of the role of the Holy Spirit, we can discern four general areas in which the Holy Spirit
works.

Regeneration—making a person alive spiritually by providing faith. The first area of
the Spirit’s work is in the process of regeneration. Another word for regeneration is
“rebirth,” from which we get the concept of being “born again.” The classic proof text
for this can be found in John’s gospel (John 3:3). This begs the question: what does
this have to do with the Holy Spirit’s work in the Old Testament? In His dialogue with
Nicodemus, Jesus said to him, “You are Israel's teacher. . . and do you not understand
these things?” (John 3:10). Jesus told Nicodemus that he should have known the truth that the Holy

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