Project Description

Getting to truth on the Holy Spirit is difficult but not impossible. God has shared His word and things about His Holy Spirit for us to know. There are also things we can’t know (because He hasn’t revealed it).

Let’s study some of the basics and see what Scripture reveals for us.

God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

Acts 5:31-32

sound doctrine: Holy Spirit

Can I be baptized with the Holy Spirit?

The baptism with the Holy Spirit was foretold of by both John the Baptist and Jesus1,2. Jesus further qualified it as something that would happen to the apostles, giving them power2.

The baptism with the Holy Spirit for the apostles happened just as Jesus said it would2 “not many days” later on the day of Pentecost, which was also the first day the gospel was preached to the Jews in Jerusalem3. That day three thousand were added to Christ.

The second (and only other) time we read of the baptism with the Holy Spirit was at the conversion of the first gentiles4. It was a miraculous (“power”) spectacle just like on the day of Pentecost and was a necessary display to convince Peter, his traveling companions and the Christian Jews back in Jerusalem of God’s acceptance of gentiles into the kingdom4.

It’s evident by these two occurrences in Scripture of the baptism with the Holy Spirit – at the first conversion of Jews and Gentiles (each) – that the baptism with the Holy Spirit was for a specific and special purpose. It was the miraculous ushering in of the gospel “to the Jew first and also the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

Do miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit continue today?

The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit was first promised by Jesus to the apostles just before He ascended1. They first received the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit not many days later on the day of Pentecost2. From then on, the apostles alone could bestow the miraculous gifts to baptized believers4 by the laying on of their hands3,4. There is no other mention or example of this ability of non-apostles with the power to pass it on.

So what does the Holy Spirit do today?

The Holy Spirit is dwelling in the born again Christian4,6,7 and was given as a down payment and seal4,5,8 for their salvation4,8 and inheritance5 in heaven. Throughout a Christian’s walk, they are being renewed6 and helped in their prayers to God1 by the Holy Spirit which should be source of comfort and rejoicing7.

How specifically does the Holy Spirit do these things? We are not told, only that He does these things. We are also not told how or what it means when He is grieved due to our sin8, only that He is.

Finally, the Holy Spirit is testifying and bearing witness to the Christian through the Word of God2 — it is through God’s word that He speaks to us.

getting to truth about the Holy Spirit is more than a little important, agreed?

Connect with us if you think we’re missing it….our souls depend on it too!

get all of the questions about the Holy Spirit

answered by scripture with the Bible Study Framework

  • Miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit

    How were miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit given?

    Much is debated today about if miraculous gifts (aka "power of the Holy Spirit" in Scripture and charismatic gifts today) of the Holy Spirit still exist. Miraculous gifts as a topic is sometimes condensed into two camps - cessationists and continuationists. It is a debate closely associated with and connected [more]

  • Miracles

    Do miracles still happen today?

    "It's a miracle!" That's an exclamation we hear often and have probably uttered ourselves. It might be used to describe passing a test you didn't study for or to sum up a great, come-from-behind victory. For example, the great Olympic victory by the U.S. Men's Hockey team is known [more]

  • God's revelation

    Is the Bible the complete revelation of God?

    Whether or not the Bible is God's complete revelation has profound implications on Christianity today. If the Bible isn't the complete revelation of God, then the door remains open to "other" revelation. If the Bible is not the complete revelation, then it must require other scriptural authority such as [more]

  • Holy Spirit

    What does the Holy Spirit do for the Christian today?

    Much is said about activity of the Holy Spirit today. In fact, in some Christian religious groups the primary emphasis of their message is the Holy Spirit - it is the "lure" and attraction for converts in their faith. Indeed, the combination ofpower andmystery can be intoxicating. On [more]

  • Cathedral at Notre Dame

    Does it matter where we worship God?

    Where we worship God has often been debated through the years. Some hold to the idea that worship must occur in a cathedral -- an often ornate structure dedicated to the worship of God. Others don't take much stock in the structure at all, whether an official worship [more]

  • Holy Spirit Baptism

    What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit?

    Being baptized with the Holy Spirit (aka Holy Spirit baptism) is a remarkably hot topic - often disputed among Christians today. And yet, there is little direct Scriptural reference to the explicit act of being "baptized with the Holy Spirit." As a subject, there is much the Bible [more]