Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit in Holiness

 

Summary

In our exploration of the Holy Spirit, we often overlook the depth of His titles and roles, much like we do with the Father and the Son. Today, we delve into understanding the Holy Spirit as the Creator and Re-Creator, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and most importantly, the Holy Spirit. The essence of His holiness is not just a title but a call to us to live in holiness, reflecting His nature. The Holy Spirit's ministry is to transform our disordered lives into ones of holiness, aligning us with the image of Christ.

Romans 8 provides a profound insight into this transformative work. Paul speaks of the tension between the indwelling Christ and the persistent presence of sin. This struggle is not without hope, for the Holy Spirit empowers us to grow in holiness and Christlikeness. We are encouraged to set our minds on the Spirit, not the flesh, as we are no longer dominated by the flesh but live in the Spirit. This new life in the Spirit calls us to put to death the deeds of the body, a process that is both our responsibility and enabled by the Spirit.

Paul emphasizes that living by the Spirit involves a conscious effort to reject sin and embrace righteousness. This is not merely a moral obligation but a reflection of our identity as children of God. The Spirit creates in us a desire to live according to our new family, the family of God. This transformation is not just about avoiding sin but about living in a way that honors the sacrifice of Christ, who died for our sins. The Spirit's work in us is to align our lives with this truth, motivating us to live in holiness.

Key Takeaways:

- The Holy Spirit is both Creator and Re-Creator, bringing order to our chaos and fullness to our emptiness. His role is to transform us into the likeness of Christ, emphasizing the importance of holiness in our lives. [01:02]

- Living in the Spirit means setting our minds on spiritual things, not the flesh. This shift in focus is crucial for overcoming the tension between the indwelling Christ and the presence of sin. [05:58]

- Our identity as children of God calls us to live in a manner consistent with our new family. The Spirit empowers us to reject sin and embrace a lifestyle that reflects our belonging to God. [08:06]

- The Spirit provides us with the motivation to live righteously by reminding us of the consequences of living according to the flesh and the eternal perspective of our actions. [14:04]

- The indwelling of the Holy Spirit unites us with Christ, making it unthinkable to continue living in sin. This union is a powerful motivator to pursue holiness and reject sinful behaviors. [22:44]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:32] - Titles of the Holy Spirit
[01:02] - Creator and Re-Creator
[01:43] - Spirit of the Lord Jesus
[02:23] - Communion with the Holy Spirit
[03:02] - Understanding Holiness
[03:48] - The Spirit's Ministry of Holiness
[04:35] - Romans 8: The Spirit's Role
[05:12] - The Struggle with Sin
[05:58] - Living in the Spirit
[06:42] - Sons of God
[08:06] - Living as God's Family
[09:17] - How to Overcome Sin
[11:13] - United with Christ
[14:04] - Motivation for Holiness
[19:24] - The Spirit's Indwelling
[22:44] - Union with Christ and Holiness
[24:20] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 8:12-13
2. 2 Corinthians 13:14
3. Philippians 2:12-13

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Romans 8:12-13, what are believers encouraged to do by the Spirit, and what is the outcome of this action? [06:42]

2. How does 2 Corinthians 13:14 describe the relationship between believers and the Holy Spirit? What does this imply about our daily walk with God? [01:43]

3. In Philippians 2:12-13, what does Paul say about the role of God in our efforts to live a holy life? How does this relate to our responsibility? [12:37]

4. What are some of the titles given to the Holy Spirit mentioned in the sermon, and how do they help us understand His role in our lives? [01:02]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean to "put to death the deeds of the body" as mentioned in Romans 8:13, and how does this process reflect our identity as children of God? [06:42]

2. How does the concept of the Holy Spirit as both Creator and Re-Creator influence our understanding of personal transformation and growth in holiness? [01:02]

3. In what ways does the Holy Spirit create motives within us to live righteously, and how does this align with the eternal perspective mentioned in the sermon? [14:04]

4. How does the union with Christ, as described in the sermon, serve as a powerful motivator to pursue holiness and reject sinful behaviors? [22:44]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a specific area of your life where you feel the tension between the Spirit and the flesh. What practical steps can you take this week to set your mind on the Spirit in that area? [05:58]

2. Consider your identity as a child of God. How does this identity influence your daily decisions and actions? What changes might you need to make to better reflect this identity? [08:06]

3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of living in a way that honors the sacrifice of Christ. Identify one habit or behavior that does not honor this sacrifice. What is one step you can take to change it? [17:21]

4. How can you cultivate a deeper communion with the Holy Spirit in your daily life? What specific practices or disciplines could help you grow in this area? [02:23]

5. Think about a recent decision or action that was influenced by short-term desires rather than long-term spiritual goals. How can you shift your focus to consider the eternal perspective in future decisions? [15:26]

6. The sermon discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in providing motivation for holiness. What is one specific way you can remind yourself of this motivation throughout your day? [14:04]

7. Reflect on the idea of being united with Christ. How does this union impact your view of sin and holiness? What is one practical way you can live out this union in your interactions with others? [22:44]

Devotional

Day 1: The Holy Spirit as Creator and Re-Creator
The Holy Spirit is not only a part of the Trinity but also plays a crucial role as both Creator and Re-Creator. He brings order to the chaos of our lives and fills our emptiness with His presence. This transformative work is essential for aligning us with the image of Christ, emphasizing the importance of holiness. The Spirit's role is to guide us into a life that reflects the nature of Christ, helping us to grow in holiness and Christlikeness. By understanding the Holy Spirit's role as Creator and Re-Creator, we can better appreciate His work in our lives and strive to live in a way that honors His presence. [01:02]

Isaiah 32:15-17 (ESV): "Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel chaos or emptiness? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to bring order and fullness to these areas today?


Day 2: Living in the Spirit
Living in the Spirit involves setting our minds on spiritual things rather than the desires of the flesh. This shift in focus is crucial for overcoming the tension between the indwelling Christ and the persistent presence of sin. By choosing to live in the Spirit, we are no longer dominated by the flesh but are empowered to grow in holiness. This new life calls us to put to death the deeds of the body, a process that requires both our effort and the enabling power of the Spirit. By setting our minds on the Spirit, we align ourselves with God's will and experience the transformative power of His presence. [05:58]

Colossians 3:1-3 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

Reflection: What specific thoughts or habits do you need to change to set your mind on the Spirit today? How can you practically make this shift in your daily routine?


Day 3: Our Identity as Children of God
As children of God, we are called to live in a manner consistent with our new family. The Holy Spirit empowers us to reject sin and embrace a lifestyle that reflects our belonging to God. This transformation is not just about avoiding sin but about living in a way that honors the sacrifice of Christ, who died for our sins. The Spirit creates in us a desire to live according to our new identity, motivating us to pursue holiness and righteousness. By embracing our identity as children of God, we can live in a way that reflects His love and grace to the world around us. [08:06]

1 John 3:1-3 (ESV): "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure."

Reflection: How does your identity as a child of God influence your daily decisions and actions? What changes can you make to better reflect this identity in your life today?


Day 4: Motivation for Holiness
The Holy Spirit provides us with the motivation to live righteously by reminding us of the consequences of living according to the flesh and the eternal perspective of our actions. This motivation is not merely a moral obligation but a reflection of our identity as children of God. By living in the Spirit, we are empowered to reject sin and embrace a lifestyle that honors God. The Spirit's work in us is to align our lives with the truth of Christ's sacrifice, motivating us to pursue holiness and righteousness. By focusing on the eternal perspective, we can find the strength to live in a way that honors God and reflects His love to the world. [14:04]

2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV): "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."

Reflection: What motivates you to pursue holiness in your life? How can you keep an eternal perspective in mind as you make daily decisions?


Day 5: Union with Christ and Holiness
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit unites us with Christ, making it unthinkable to continue living in sin. This union is a powerful motivator to pursue holiness and reject sinful behaviors. By living in the Spirit, we are empowered to grow in holiness and Christlikeness, aligning our lives with the truth of Christ's sacrifice. The Spirit's work in us is to transform our disordered lives into ones of holiness, reflecting the nature of Christ. By embracing our union with Christ, we can live in a way that honors God and reflects His love to the world. [22:44]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Reflection: How does your union with Christ influence your daily life and decisions? What steps can you take to deepen this union and live in a way that reflects His holiness?

Quotes

FERGUSON: When we talk about God, we sometimes think about Him in terms of the names and titles that He's given Himself or that we find in Scripture as given to Him by those who trusted in Him. So, we think about some of the titles that are given to the Father. And, often, in books of theology, you'll find the same thing done with the Lord Jesus. [00:00:08]

We could say he is the creator spirit. And some of the hymns of the Christian church, some of the Latin hymns, express that fact -- veni creator spiritus. Come, Holy Spirit, come. We've also thought about the Holy Spirit as the re-creator, the one who brings order into our disorder, the one who gives fullness where we are empty. [00:01:02]

Therefore, it follows that those who live in communion with him also must be holy. Not only that, but the great ministry of the Holy Spirit, as we've already had hints, is that he takes our disordered lives in our fallenness, in our sinfulness, and he re-creates us so that he is sent by the Lord Jesus into our lives in order to work holiness into our lives. [00:03:48]

Paul expresses something of that conflict when he says, "In myself, I am a wretched man, but thank God, Jesus Christ can deliver me." Then he goes on to explain, in Romans chapter 3, how in the present life, although we are not yet perfect, the Holy Spirit enables us to grow in holiness and, eventually, also in Christ's likeness. [00:05:12]

We are sons of God. We are children of God. If we belong to that family, then it follows, necessarily, that we should live in a manner that's in keeping with that family. When your children are young and they're taking their first steps of independence on their own, perhaps they're going to a friend's house, you quietly take them aside and you say to them, "Now," if they're in my family, "remember you're a Ferguson." [00:07:02]

One of the things that means is that you will constantly be putting to death the things that don't belong to your new family lifestyle. And it's one of the interesting things about this statement. Actually, it's fairly characteristic of the apostle Paul, that he makes these statements, and you want to kind of draw him back and say, "It's all very well for you to make these statements, if by the Spirit you're put to death, the deeds of the body will live, but you don't seem to explain to me how I'm supposed to be able to do this." [00:08:13]

He says, "You've been united to Christ so that you have died to the dominion to sin, and you've been raised into a new kingdom altogether, where grace reigns." And he's saying, now -- I wonder if you ever find this. You often meet Christians who sense that sin is so powerful, "I'll never be able to overcome it." Paul's teaching is this. "Dear friend, if you're a Christian, you've already died to the dominion of sin. [00:11:32]

The point is that the ministry of the Spirit doesn't reduce my responsibility to be obedient to the Lord, but energizes me to fulfill that responsibility. He puts it in other terms in Philippians 2:12-13. He says, "Work out your salvation into the whole of your life and the whole of your fellowship, because God, by the Spirit, is constantly working in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure." [00:12:29]

And he pinpoints this in Romans 8:13, by saying, "If you live according to the flesh, you will die." Very simple principle, isn't it? We reap exactly what we sow. We sow a thought. We reap an action. We sow an action. We reap a character. We sow a character. We reap a life. We sow a life. We reap a destiny. [00:14:05]

Because Paul is teaching us, this is what the Holy Spirit affects in us, actually revolutionizes the way we look at things. I had a colleague who once, beginning of every school year, with an incoming class in seminary, in practical theology, would go into the new room with the new students, eager to learn practical theology, and he would say, "I'm going to give you an exercise before I say anything to you. Take out a clean sheet of paper. I'm going to leave the room. In the next 40 minutes, I want you to write your obituary notice." [00:15:50]

If the Spirit of Christ doesn't dwell in you, then you're not a Christian. But if Christ dwells in you, even, although the body is dead because of the sin, the Spirit is life, because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in you, then that same Spirit will give life to your mortal bodies through the Spirit who dwells in us. [00:19:36]

He was teaching them, right from the beginning, that all practical theology involves looking at the present in the light of your eternal destiny. And that's one of the things that the Spirit affects in us, as a motive, so that we begin to see the visible in the light of the invisible. We begin to see time in the light of eternity. We begin to see all of our actions in the light of the final harvest. [00:16:36]

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Transcript
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