How Does the Holy Spirit Work Today?
Perhaps one of the most confusing studies that many New Testament Christians have is about the Holy Spirit. There is some disagreement over the work of the Holy Spirit even among our brethren, so what must we make of this? First and foremost, we must understand that the Holy Spirit is God. He is an equal part of the one Godhead comprised of the Father, Son, and Him (cf. Acts 17:29, Colossians 2:9, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:1). Thus, we would conclude that the Holy Spirit is both personal and coeternal.
Part of the confusion that arises over the Holy Spirit is how He works in redemption and sanctification. I hold the position that the Holy Spirit works exclusively through the means of the Word today in redemption and sanctification. Some have misunderstood the position. I have been accused of teaching the Holy Spirit became the Bible. I have been accused of teaching the Holy Spirit is retired, among other accusations. This is frankly a misrepresentation of what is known as the representative view. To understand the work of the Holy Spirit in redemption and sanctification, we will look at a few examples of how the Bible describes the Holy Spirit working through the means of the Word of Truth.
The Spirit and the Word Produce Fruit
Galatians 5:22 is a familiar passage when it comes to the fruit of the Spirit. We may have sung songs or memorized the items enumerated as the fruit of the Spirit. All of those things are clearly associated with a Christian whom the Spirit of God is leading. Now what if we examined another letter of Paul inspired by the same Spirit? It is written,
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
(Colossians 1:3-6)
The Word is also said to have been the source of bearing fruit in the Colossian brethren. Would it be safe to conclude that both the Holy Spirit and the Word of God are said to have the same ability to produce fruit in the Christian? Yes, that would certainly be so.
The Spirit and the Word Strengthen
Secondly, might we consider that the Holy Spirit is a source of strength for the Christian. Paul wrote, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16). This same inspired Apostle said to the Ephesian elders earlier when they departed from one another these recorded words, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32). So we might understand that the Holy Spirit and the Word are both said to provide strength and build up the Christian as well.
The Spirit and the Word Sanctify
The Holy Spirit is said to sanctify the Christian. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Christians, “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. (2 Thess. 2:13). Listen to Jesus’ prayer for His disciples shortly before His trial and execution. “Sanctify them in the truth: your word is truth. (John 17:17). So we could ascertain from God’s Word that the Holy Spirit and the Word are both said to sanctify the Christian.
What Means is the Holy Spirit Using Today in His Work?
What we find from these items and many more is that the Holy Spirit and the Word are said to accomplish the same things for the Christian. I would challenge you to consider that the Holy Spirit does this through the means of the Word. We understand how God achieves something He is doing by means. Consider baptism and the ark as mentioned in 1 Peter 3. The Spirit affirms,
who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
(1 Peter 3:20-2)
We all understood it was God who saved Noah and 7 others through the means of water. The water bore the boat, but God was doing the delivering. The means He used was the water, which brought salvation to those inside the boat and condemnation to those outside the boat. In like manner, the water of baptism delivers the sinner into salvation. A man obeys the command and is saved by the means of ordinary water, by which Christ adds that individual to the church (cf. Acts 2:41;47). We understand the means of Christ delivering the Christian is the water. Christ did not become water. We understand that God did not become the water in the flood, nor does Christ become the water in baptism, but those were and are the divinely chosen means to save men.
In the same fashion, the Holy Spirit utilized the means of miraculous signs and wonders to confirm the Word. These signs accompanied the Apostles, Jesus promised,
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
(Mark 16:15-20) (see also Heb 2:4; 2 Cor 12:11-12).
While these miraculous works were vital to the confirmation of the Holy Word, it is certain that the Holy Spirit did not become a miracle. Formerly He worked through those miraculous means. Today He speaks exclusively from His Inspired Word, and, by the same token, the Holy Spirit did not become the Word. In addition, He did not retire—unless you contend that the Word of God is not transforming and renewing minds today (cf. Rom 12:1-2), or that the Sword of the Spirit has lost its edge (cf. Heb 4:2; Eph 6:17). The question we must ask is not if the Holy Spirit operates today. The correct question to ask and answer from the Scriptures is “How does the Holy Spirit work today?” As evidenced in Scripture, He works through the means of the Inspired Word today.
