OceanSide church of Christ

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The Role of the Holy Spirit Today
by: Dalton Gilreath

I.              Introduction

a.    The Spirit worked in the 1st century differently than He does today

                                          i.    He no longer literally speaks to us (Acts 8:29)

                                        ii.    Miracles have ceased (1 Cor 13:10)

b.    Now He works through the Word of God

II.            His role in conviction

a.    We agree that the Spirit does convict us of sin (John 16:7-8)

                                          i.    “How does He do it?” is the question

b.    He convicted the Jews on the day of Pentecost through the hearing of the Word Peter preached (Acts 2:37)

                                          i.    The message of the Spirit convicted them of sin, not Peter or some miraculous indwelling

c.    Elders are to convict gainsayers of sin using the “faithful word” (Tit 1:9)

d.    Lydia’s heart was opened when she “heard” Paul (Acts 16:14)

e.    The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God (Eph 6:17)

                                          i.    He pricks us with that sword (Heb 4:12)

III.           His role in conversion

a.    We agree that the Spirit converts us of sin (John 3:3-5)

                                          i.    Again, how does he?

                                        ii.    Here it is by water and the spirit

b.    Eph 5:25-26

                                          i.    We are converted by water and the word

c.    1 Peter 1:22-23

                                          i.    We are converted through the spirit and by the word

d.    Spirit and the word are interchangeable

IV.          His role in strengthening/building up the Christian

a.    We agree that the Spirit builds us up (Eph 3:16)

                                          i.    The key is how?

b.    Acts 20:32

                                          i.    The word is able to build us up

c.    Eph 5:18-19, Col 3:16

                                          i.    Notice before it mentions singing it says to be “filled with the Spirit” in Ephesians

1.    Colossians says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you” as we sing

2.    Contraction? No

                                        ii.    Once again the Spirit and the word are interchangeable

V.           Conclusion

a.    Clearly, the Spirit does convict, convert, and build us

                                          i.    The difference comes in answering how

                                        ii.    The answer is always through the Word!