The Holy Spirit: Grace, Creation, and Restraint

 

Summary

In our exploration of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, we delve into the profound implications of Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, as described in Acts 2. This pivotal moment in Christian history marks the arrival of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the prophecy of Joel. However, this raises a theological conundrum: if the Holy Spirit had not yet come, how do we account for His activity before Pentecost? To address this, we must first gather the facts from Scripture, which reveal the Holy Spirit's involvement from the very creation of the world. The Spirit of God was active in creation, sustaining the universe, and imparting what is known as "common grace."

Common grace refers to the general blessings and moral influences that God imparts to all humanity, regardless of their salvation status. This includes the light of conscience, the establishment of governments, and the sense of morality and public opinion that restrain sin and promote order. The Holy Spirit's influence is evident in culture, art, and science, which, while not redemptive, are good and improve human life. These gifts are manifestations of God's grace, given indiscriminately to both the just and the unjust.

The Holy Spirit's role in common grace also involves restraining sin and delaying judgment. God's patience and long-suffering are evident in His decision to postpone the execution of judgment upon humanity, allowing time for repentance. The Spirit strives with humanity, restraining the worst manifestations of sin and maintaining a general sense of morality and religion in the world. This operation of common grace is a testament to God's sustaining power and His desire for all to come to repentance.

As we continue to explore the activity of the Holy Spirit before Pentecost, we are reminded of the depth and breadth of God's grace. The Spirit's work in creation, sustenance, and common grace reveals a God who is intimately involved in the world, guiding and sustaining it through His Spirit. This understanding calls us to a deeper appreciation of God's gracious dealings with humanity and a greater commitment to living in the light of His truth.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Holy Spirit's Role in Creation and Sustenance: From the very beginning, the Holy Spirit has been active in creation, moving upon the waters and sustaining the universe. This divine involvement underscores the unity of the Trinity in the work of creation and the ongoing maintenance of the world. The Spirit's presence in creation is a testament to God's continuous care and provision for all that exists. [02:44]

2. Understanding Common Grace: Common grace refers to the general blessings and moral influences that God imparts to all humanity, regardless of their salvation status. This includes the light of conscience, the establishment of governments, and the sense of morality and public opinion that restrain sin and promote order. These manifestations of common grace reveal God's desire to maintain a semblance of righteousness and order in a fallen world. [05:05]

3. The Influence of the Holy Spirit in Culture: Culture, encompassing art, science, and literature, is a manifestation of common grace. While not redemptive, culture is a good thing that improves human life and reflects the creative power of the Holy Spirit. Recognizing the Spirit's role in culture calls us to glorify God for the gifts and talents He bestows upon humanity. [10:34]

4. The Restraint of Sin and Delay of Judgment: The Holy Spirit restrains sin and delays judgment, allowing humanity time for repentance. This divine patience is a reflection of God's long-suffering nature and His desire for all to come to repentance. Understanding this aspect of common grace encourages us to respond to God's patience with gratitude and a commitment to live righteously. [15:08]

5. The Holy Spirit's Striving with Humanity: The Spirit strives with humanity, maintaining a general sense of morality and religion in the world. This striving is a manifestation of God's grace, as He seeks to draw people to Himself and restrain the worst manifestations of sin. Recognizing the Spirit's striving calls us to be attentive to His promptings and to align our lives with His will. [16:10]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
- [00:25] - The Day of Pentecost and Peter's Sermon
- [00:58] - Theological Conundrum: Has the Holy Spirit Come?
- [01:46] - Method of Approach: Gathering Facts
- [02:27] - The Holy Spirit in Creation
- [03:32] - Sustaining Creation Through the Spirit
- [04:51] - Understanding Common Grace
- [06:30] - The Light of Conscience
- [07:51] - Government and Law as Manifestations of Grace
- [09:11] - Public Opinion and Culture
- [13:24] - God’s Control Over Peace and Evil
- [14:22] - Effects of Common Grace
- [15:53] - The Delay of Judgment
- [16:43] - The Spirit's Striving with Humanity
- [19:16] - Restraining Sin Through Common Grace
- [21:35] - Common Blessings and God's Sustenance
- [23:27] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Acts 2:1-4 - The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
2. Genesis 1:2 - The Spirit of God moving upon the waters during creation.
3. Psalm 104:30 - The Spirit's role in renewing the face of the earth.

#### Observation Questions
1. What significant event in Acts 2 marks the arrival of the Holy Spirit, and how does Peter explain it? ([00:58])
2. According to Genesis 1:2, what role did the Holy Spirit play in the creation of the world? ([02:27])
3. How does Psalm 104:30 describe the Holy Spirit's involvement in sustaining creation? ([04:06])
4. What are some examples of "common grace" as described in the sermon, and how do they manifest in the world? ([06:01])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the Holy Spirit's activity before Pentecost, and what theological questions does this raise? ([01:14])
2. In what ways does the concept of "common grace" challenge the idea that God is only involved with the saved? ([08:55])
3. How does the Holy Spirit's influence in culture, as described in the sermon, reflect God's creative power? ([10:34])
4. What is the significance of the Holy Spirit restraining sin and delaying judgment, and how does this reflect God's character? ([15:08])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in creation and sustenance. How does this understanding affect your view of the natural world and your responsibility towards it? ([02:44])
2. Consider the concept of "common grace" in your daily life. How can you recognize and appreciate God's grace in the world around you, even in non-religious contexts? ([05:05])
3. How can you glorify God for the cultural gifts and talents you see in yourself and others, acknowledging the Holy Spirit's influence? ([10:34])
4. In what ways can you respond to God's patience and the Holy Spirit's restraint of sin with gratitude and a commitment to live righteously? ([15:08])
5. How can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's promptings in your life, striving to align your actions with His will? ([16:10])
6. Identify a situation in your life where you see the Holy Spirit's influence in restraining sin or promoting order. How can you contribute positively to this situation?
7. Think of a time when you experienced God's common grace in a surprising way. How did it impact your faith or perspective on God's involvement in the world?

Devotional

Day 1: The Holy Spirit's Creative Power
The Holy Spirit has been active since the beginning of creation, moving upon the waters and sustaining the universe. This divine involvement underscores the unity of the Trinity in the work of creation and the ongoing maintenance of the world. The Spirit's presence in creation is a testament to God's continuous care and provision for all that exists. The Spirit's role in creation is not just a historical fact but a present reality, as He continues to sustain and uphold the universe by His power. This understanding calls us to recognize the Holy Spirit's ongoing work in the world and in our lives, inviting us to participate in His creative and sustaining work. [02:44]

Genesis 1:2 (ESV): "The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."

Reflection: How can you acknowledge the Holy Spirit's sustaining power in your daily life, and what steps can you take to align yourself with His creative work today?


Day 2: Common Grace in a Fallen World
Common grace refers to the general blessings and moral influences that God imparts to all humanity, regardless of their salvation status. This includes the light of conscience, the establishment of governments, and the sense of morality and public opinion that restrain sin and promote order. These manifestations of common grace reveal God's desire to maintain a semblance of righteousness and order in a fallen world. By understanding common grace, we can appreciate the ways in which God is at work in the world, even among those who do not know Him, and recognize the importance of these blessings in our own lives. [05:05]

Matthew 5:45 (ESV): "For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced God's common grace in your life, and how can you express gratitude for these blessings today?


Day 3: The Spirit's Influence in Culture
Culture, encompassing art, science, and literature, is a manifestation of common grace. While not redemptive, culture is a good thing that improves human life and reflects the creative power of the Holy Spirit. Recognizing the Spirit's role in culture calls us to glorify God for the gifts and talents He bestows upon humanity. By engaging with culture thoughtfully and discerningly, we can appreciate the beauty and creativity that reflect God's image in humanity and use these gifts to honor Him. [10:34]

Exodus 31:3-5 (ESV): "And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft."

Reflection: How can you use your own talents and interests in culture to reflect God's creativity and bring glory to Him today?


Day 4: Divine Patience and the Delay of Judgment
The Holy Spirit restrains sin and delays judgment, allowing humanity time for repentance. This divine patience is a reflection of God's long-suffering nature and His desire for all to come to repentance. Understanding this aspect of common grace encourages us to respond to God's patience with gratitude and a commitment to live righteously. By recognizing the Spirit's role in restraining sin, we can appreciate the opportunity we have to turn to God and seek His forgiveness and guidance in our lives. [15:08]

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV): "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to repent and seek God's guidance, and how can you take a step toward doing so today?


Day 5: The Spirit's Striving with Humanity
The Spirit strives with humanity, maintaining a general sense of morality and religion in the world. This striving is a manifestation of God's grace, as He seeks to draw people to Himself and restrain the worst manifestations of sin. Recognizing the Spirit's striving calls us to be attentive to His promptings and to align our lives with His will. By being sensitive to the Spirit's leading, we can grow in our relationship with God and become more effective witnesses of His love and grace in the world. [16:10]

Genesis 6:3 (ESV): "Then the Lord said, 'My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.'"

Reflection: How can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's promptings in your life, and what changes can you make to better align yourself with His will today?

Quotes


The Holy Spirit has been operative in this world from the very commencement and he has had his influence and his effect upon men who are not saved and who have gone to ption while they were in this life and in this world they came under these General operations non saving operations of the holy spirit that is what we mean by Common Grace. [00:06:08]

Common Grace means those General operations of the Holy Spirit whereby without renewing without renewing the heart he exercises a moral influence whereby sin is restrained, order is maintained in a in social life and civil righteousness is promoted. [00:05:40]

Culture as such is a good thing it's not saving it's not Redemptive but culture is a good thing it improves people it makes them live better lives it doesn't save them but it has an effect upon them now where does culture come from how do you explain a man like Shakespeare Michelangelo any one of these Great Men the answer of the scripture is that all these men had their powers and were able to exercise them as the result of the operation of common Grace. [00:10:30]

The Holy Spirit restrains the worst and the foulest manifestations of sin but there are times when he gives them up to are you and I I Wonder Living in such an age you take for instance this century and compare it with last century it's obvious that the moral level is very much lower today that doesn't mean that everybody was a Christian in the Victorian era no but it does mean this even people were not Christian were better men and women speaking generally then than they are now. [00:18:09]

The Holy Spirit strives with men take that statement in Genesis 6:3 this doesn't exhaust the meaning of that statement but it at any rate does mean that God there announced that there was a time coming when instead of keeping men alive and going in this way in spite of his sin he'd stop doing so and the flood would come and they'd all be destroyed my spirit shall not always strive with men. [00:16:43]

The Holy Spirit has been active from the commencement in sustaining and maintaining the universe and now I come in the third place to a most important matter which is so often forgotten it is the Holy Spirit who is responsible for what is commonly called common Grace. [00:04:36]

The Holy Spirit's striving with humanity, maintaining a general sense of morality and religion in the world. This striving is a manifestation of God's grace, as He seeks to draw people to Himself and restrain the worst manifestations of sin. Recognizing the Spirit's striving calls us to be attentive to His promptings and to align our lives with His will. [00:16:10]

The Holy Spirit restrains sin and delays judgment, allowing humanity time for repentance. This divine patience is a reflection of God's long-suffering nature and His desire for all to come to repentance. Understanding this aspect of common grace encourages us to respond to God's patience with gratitude and a commitment to live righteously. [00:15:08]

The Holy Spirit's role in common grace also involves restraining sin and delaying judgment. God's patience and long-suffering are evident in His decision to postpone the execution of judgment upon humanity, allowing time for repentance. The Spirit strives with humanity, restraining the worst manifestations of sin and maintaining a general sense of morality and religion in the world. [00:14:22]

The Holy Spirit's influence is evident in culture, art, and science, which, while not redemptive, are good and improve human life. These gifts are manifestations of God's grace, given indiscriminately to both the just and the unjust. [00:10:34]

The Holy Spirit's work in creation, sustenance, and common grace reveals a God who is intimately involved in the world, guiding and sustaining it through His Spirit. This understanding calls us to a deeper appreciation of God's gracious dealings with humanity and a greater commitment to living in the light of His truth. [00:23:27]

The Holy Spirit's Role in Creation and Sustenance: From the very beginning, the Holy Spirit has been active in creation, moving upon the waters and sustaining the universe. This divine involvement underscores the unity of the Trinity in the work of creation and the ongoing maintenance of the world. The Spirit's presence in creation is a testament to God's continuous care and provision for all that exists. [00:02:44]

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Transcript
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