Reach Children!
HEART TROUBLE
A tract esp ec ia lly lo r
Doctrinal pointers by Gerald B. Stanton, Th.D. Prof, of Systematic Theology, Talbot Theological Seminary
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A New Series
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The Doctrine of the Ho ly Spirit
T he Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity, one in essence with God the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. It is therefore vitally important that every Christian recog nize the Spirit as such and render unto Him the fullness of his devotion and confidence. Many important min istries are performed by the Spirit in behalf of the believer. To be ignorant of His person and insensible to these ministries may well render the Chris tian powerless to know God fully or to serve Him acceptably. Nor can the Christian who knows little of the important work of the Holy Spirit fully comprehend the self revelation God has made in the Scrip tures. He will not understand the “ deep things of God,” for these are taught by the Spirit only to those yielded to His control (1 Cor. 2:9-12). It is not overstating the case to say that true spirituality within the Chris tian depends in large part upon his knowledge of the Spirit. He becomes a Christian when he enters a proper relationship with Christ. He becomes a spiritual Christian only when there is present a proper adjustment to the Holy Spirit. Many can testify that their present knowledge of God and the Scriptures stems directly from an earnest study of the Holy Spirit. May many more have that happy experience as we con sider together in this present series the “ things of the Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:14). Major Problems Connected With the Holy Spirit In subsequent articles we shall en deavor to answer the following ques tions: Is the Holy Spirit a person? Is the Holy Spirit God, and if so, is He equal with the Father and with the Son? What does it mean to receive the Holy Spirit and how may we re ceive Him? What is the baptism of
the Holy Spirit and how does one receive it? What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit and to walk in the Spirit? What are the major works or ministries of the Holy Spirit in this present age? These are important questions, worthy of our earnest con sideration. There are three broad areas in which the Christian doctrine of the Holy Spirit has suffered. 1) The Spirit has been denied, some rejecting His true personality and oth ers resisting His true deity. While any student of church history knows of the early departures of Arianism and Socinianism, it is unfortunate that many “ professing Christians” to day continue these denials, making the Holy Spirit little more than an impersonal energy proceeding forth from God. Such ones consider the Spirit as intangible and impersonal, much like “ the spirit of America” or “ the spirit of democracy.” While they may be sincere in their beliefs, they do not know the triune God of the Bible. 2) The Spirit has been ignored. In deed, the doctrine of the Spirit is one of the most neglected doctrines of the Word of God and forms one of the great omissions from many otherwise standard theological educations. Mul titudes today are like the men of Eph esus who said, “ . . . We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost” (Acts 19:2). 3) The doctrine of the Spirit has become a storm center for false views and emotional wildfire. Eradication, emotionalism, second works of grace, peculiar concepts of Spirit baptism and holiness — all these have attached themselves to the doctrine. Confusion over the doctrine of the Holy Spirit has become one of the tragic weak nesses of the professing Christian church in this present hour. (T o be continued next month.)
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