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Purpose: Encourage the seeker that he/she will indeed receive the gift of God’s Holy Spirit at baptism. After baptism, we are sustained by the help of the Spirit. He works powerfully in the life of every baptized disciple of Christ. You may want to combine this study with a study of the Church, as both help us hold fast to our confession to the end.
1. Acts 2:36-38
36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We receive the Holy Spirit at the time of baptism. The Holy Spirit is a gift.
2. John 16:7-8
7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
Jesus promised to send the Counselor [the Holy Spirit - John 14:26]. [Greek ‘Paracletos’ translated as – Counselor, Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor or Encourager]
The Spirit is send to convict or convince the world [includes us] with regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment.
3. Ephesians 1:13-14
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
When we become a Christian we are marked with a seal of Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our salvation.
4. Ephesians 3:16
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
We are strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit.
5. Romans 8:9, 15-16
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
If you do not have the Holy Spirit you do not belong to Christ. [v 9]
We have received a Spirit of sonship.[v 15-16]
The Spirit testifies that we are God’s children.
6. Romans 8:26-27
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
The Spirit helps us in our weakness.[Helper]
The Spirit himself intercedes for us.[Intercessor]
7. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Your body is a temple [sanctuary] of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is in you. So we are to honor God with our body.
8. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
The Spirit helps us to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus.[an ongoing “life-long “process]. In other words, as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
9. Galatians 5:16-18,22-23
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
We are to live[walk] by the Spirit [v 16]
We are to be led[guided, directed] by the Spirit [v 18]
If we are led by the Spirit and not by our sinful nature then we can bear the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.[v 22-23]
Your new life in the Spirit should bear it.
Conclusion : We need to rely on the Holy Spirit that is deposited in us by God at baptism and seek his fruit.
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