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The Holy Spirit: The Power of God

Sermon by Kim Myers

The Holy Spirit is the very power of God, not a third being or part of a trinity. It is the power that moved upon the face of the waters, the power that God pours out to us, and the mind of God that dwells within us. Through the Holy Spirit, God imparts to us the ability to understand His laws, doctrines, and way of life, enabling us to become His children and receive eternal life. The Holy Spirit works within us to produce the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, meekness, and self-control—reflecting the character of God. It opens our minds to the mysteries of truth, intercedes for us in prayer, and provides wisdom, understanding, and comfort as we strive to live under God's rule. Given through baptism to those called by God who repent and live by His Word, the Holy Spirit is a gift that empowers us to change, overcome sin, and bear spiritual fruit, leading us toward the ultimate gift of eternal life if we remain faithful and obedient to God's laws and doctrines.

Lying to the Holy Spirit

'Ready Answer' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Holy Spirit serves as the means, the power, the vehicle, and the agency by which the Father and the Son accomplish Their will, such as in the act of creation as seen in Genesis 1:2. Through His Spirit, God is present in His people and in the apostles, knowing not only their actions but also their hearts. When Peter accused Ananias of lying to the Holy Spirit, he clarified that this was equivalent to lying to God Himself, as the Spirit is the possession of God, reflecting His power and presence. The Spirit takes on properties of the Father and the Son, often described with verbs that suggest human actions, yet this does not imply it is a person. Throughout the entirety of the Bible, the Holy Spirit is never shown to have a humanlike shape, unlike the Father and the Son, and is instead likened to wind, oil, fire, water, or a dove in specific instances. The Spirit is not mentioned alongside the Father and Son in many apostolic praises, and attributes like comfort or intercession, often linked to the Spirit, originate in the Father or the Son. As the mind and power of God working in and through us, the Holy Spirit is a gift, not a person with familial ties to Christians. Sinning against the Holy Spirit, as Ananias and Sapphira did by attempting to deceive God through hypocrisy, is a serious offense, for God, by the power of His Spirit, sees and hears everything as the omniscient Judge of all.

The Holy Spirit

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Holy Spirit is not a personality within the God Family, but rather the power God uses to direct and carry out His purposes within His creation. It is an impersonal force, emanating from the mind of God, enabling Him to be everywhere at once and to affect events anywhere in His creation. This power allows Him to concentrate His attention in multiple areas simultaneously, keeping track of His people across vast distances. Throughout the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit is consistently left out when the God Family—Father and Son—are mentioned, indicating it is not a co-equal personality. It is not included in greetings from the apostles, nor in the chain of command, the transference of power, or as a mediator between humanity and the Father. The Holy Spirit is not portrayed as having a throne or a position alongside the Father and the Son, further emphasizing its nature as a force rather than a being. The Bible uses various metaphors for the Holy Spirit, such as wind, water, oil, and a dove, none of which suggest a human-like form or personality akin to the Father and the Son, who are created in His image with clear expressions of personality. These figures of speech illustrate its role as an inanimate power, poured out or breathed upon creation, lacking shape or life of its own. Even in instances where the Holy Spirit is mentioned alongside the Father and the Son, such as in baptismal formulas, it represents the means through which God brings individuals to repentance and belief, not a distinct personality. The Holy Spirit serves as the tie that binds believers together, the common element shared among diverse individuals, regenerating them into the Family of God. It is the expression of the Divine nature given by God to make His people of His kind, fostering fellowship among them. Thus, the Holy Spirit is the instrument God employs to accomplish His will, not a member of the Godhead with personal attributes or authority.

Pentecost and the Holy Spirit

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Pentecost holds a profound significance in God's purpose, surpassing even the giving of the Law under the Old Covenant. It marks the New Covenant event of God bestowing His Holy Spirit, enabling the founding and building of His church. This gift of the Spirit is crucial for achieving God's purpose, which is our transformation into His spiritual and moral image, making us sons in His family. The Holy Spirit serves as the channel through which God's creative energy and power are manifested. As seen in Psalm 104, without God sending forth His Spirit, there would be neither creation nor renewal; the earth would remain in destruction. This creative power is evident in Genesis 1, where the Spirit of God brooded over the chaos, bringing order, beauty, and life out of confusion. Similarly, in Isaiah 32 and Ezekiel 37, God uses His Spirit to transform and renew, promising to change natures and bring growth, ensuring that without His Spirit, destruction would persist. God continues His creative work through the Holy Spirit, as Jesus affirms in John 5:17 that He and His Father are always working. God is the Potter, shaping us as clay, with the Holy Spirit acting like water that brings the clay to the right consistency for molding. When God sends His Spirit to us, transformation begins from a state of disorder and destruction to purity and order, mirroring the initial creation. We, in our confused state, could not regenerate ourselves, just as the creation in Genesis 1 could not transform itself. The Spirit is given so that God can create within us, emphasizing His role over our own actions. As II Corinthians 5:21 indicates, we are being made into the righteousness of God in Christ, a process of creation and sanctification through the daily application of His righteousness. This transformative power of the Spirit initiates a new life within us, aligning with the truth and hope that motivate and empower us toward eternal life, as seen in Romans 15:13 and Romans 5:5. God retains control over the distribution of His Spirit, apportioning it according to His will for the benefit of the church and for our spiritual growth. The Spirit is not a power to be manipulated for personal gain, as exemplified by Simon's misguided desire to use it for self-glorification. God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him, conditioned by the quality of their desire to glorify Him, ensuring it serves His creative purpose and the common good. Through His Spirit, God grants inward strength and power, enabling Christ to dwell in our hearts and filling us with the fullness of God, as prayed in Ephesians 3:14-21.

Psalms: Book Four (Part Four): God as Creator

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Holy Spirit serves as God's creative power, manifesting His will in the formation and sustenance of all things. Through His Spirit, God speaks, and creation comes into being, demonstrating an awesome and powerful force that accomplishes His bidding. This same Spirit, which renewed the face of the earth, holds the potential to transform and renew individuals, shaping them into the image of God. As a dynamic agent of creation, the Holy Spirit works within to bring about glory, moving from the glory of man to the glory of God. This power, given to believers, is not one of fear but of strength, love, and a sound mind, enabling the creation of a new man in His likeness.

The Source of Church Characteristics (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The seven churches of Revelation 2-3 all existed simultaneously and the characteristics of five of them will apparently be extant at the return of Christ.

Matthew (Part One)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Matthew wrote his account with the Jews in mind, repeatedly saying, 'This was done to fulfill the prophets,' emphasizing the law and the Kingdom of God.

What Does 'Non-Trinitarian' Mean?

Frequently Asked Questions

The Trinity doctrine cannot be found in the Bible. It was patched together hundreds of years after the deaths of the apostles and the sealing of Scripture.