Page 36 - Pneumatology - Student Textbook

3. Sanctification is another work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. The Spirit sets Himself against
the desires of the flesh and leads the believer into righteousness (Galatians 5:16–18). The works of the flesh
become less evident, and the fruit of the Spirit becomes more evident (Galatians 5:19–26). Believers are
commanded to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), which means they are to yield themselves to the
Spirit’s full control.

4. The Holy Spirit is also a gift-giver. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes
them” (1 Corinthians 12:4). The spiritual gifts that believers possess are given by the Holy Spirit as He
determines in His wisdom (verse 11)

5. The Holy Spirit also does work among unbelievers. Jesus promised that He would send the Holy Spirit to
“convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8, ESV). The Spirit testifies of
Christ (John 15:26), pointing people to the Lord. Currently, the Holy Spirit is also restraining sin and
combatting “the secret power of lawlessness” in the world. This action keeps the rise of the Antichrist at
bay (2 Thessalonians 2:6–10).

6. The Holy Spirit has one other important role, and that is to give believers wisdom by which we can
understand God.

1 Corinthians 2:10–11 “The Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s
thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God
except the Spirit of God”.

Since we have been given the amazing gift of God’s Spirit inside ourselves, we can comprehend the
thoughts of God, as revealed in the Scripture. The Spirit helps us understand. This is wisdom from God,
rather than wisdom from man. No amount of human knowledge can ever replace the Holy Spirit’s teaching
(1 Corinthians 2:12–13) (https://www.gotquestions.org/what-does-the-Holy-Spirit-do.html).

The Holy Spirit will NEVER leave a True Believer

This is revealed in many different passages in the New Testament. For
example, Romans 8:9 tells us, “…if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he
does not belong to Christ.” This verse very clearly states that if someone does
not have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, then that person is not
saved. Therefore, if the Holy Spirit were to leave a believer, that person would
have lost the saving relationship with Christ. Yet this is contrary to what the
Bible teaches about the eternal security of Christians. Another verse that speaks to the permanence of the
Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence in the life of believers is John 14:16. Here Jesus states that the Father will
give another Helper “to be with you forever.”

The fact that the Holy Spirit will never leave a believer is also seen in Ephesians 1:13-14 where believers are
said to be “sealed” with the Holy Spirit, “who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the
redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” The picture of being sealed with
the Spirit is one of ownership and possession. God has promised eternal life to all who believe in Christ, and
as a guarantee that He will keep His promise, He has sent the Holy Spirit to indwell the believer until the
day of redemption. Similar to making a down payment on a car or a house, God has provided all believers
with a down payment on their future relationship with Him by sending the Holy Spirit to indwell them. The

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