Understanding the Holy Spirit's Role in Our Inheritance

The Holy Spirit was given to the early church not as the final fulfillment of God’s promise, but as a down payment—a guarantee of a greater inheritance yet to come. Just as a deposit on a purchase secures ownership but does not complete the transaction, the Spirit’s arrival marked the beginning of a transition for the first believers. They were sealed by the Spirit, which signified God’s claim of ownership and His commitment to fulfill His promises. However, the fullness of what was promised—the complete inheritance in Christ—was still ahead for them.

Jesus, before His departure, told His disciples that there were many things they could not yet bear or understand. The Holy Spirit’s role was to guide them progressively into all truth, leading them from their limited understanding into the fullness of the New Covenant. This process was not instantaneous; it was a journey of revelation and transformation. The early church, even after receiving the Spirit, continued to practice old covenant traditions and struggled to grasp the radical inclusivity and completeness of Christ’s work. The Spirit patiently led them, correcting misunderstandings and opening their eyes to the reality of their inheritance.

This transition is evident throughout the New Testament. The apostles and early believers wrestled with issues like circumcision, temple worship, and the inclusion of Gentiles. The Spirit’s work was to move them from the shadows of the old covenant into the light of the new, where Christ’s finished work was fully revealed. Today, we do not stand in the same place of expectation as the early church. We live in the reality of the fulfilled inheritance. The Spirit’s role for us is not to lead us into new, unrevealed truths, but to guide us into a deeper understanding and experience of what has already been accomplished in Christ.

Understanding this progression helps us read Scripture with discernment, recognizing the unique context of the early church’s journey. It also calls us to live confidently in the reality of our inheritance, allowing the Spirit to anchor us in the completed work of Christ and to shape our lives accordingly.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The Holy Spirit as Down Payment, Not Fulfillment The Holy Spirit was given to the early church as a guarantee—a down payment—of the inheritance that was still to come. This means that God’s ultimate plan was not fully realized at Pentecost; rather, the Spirit’s presence was a pledge of God’s faithfulness to complete what He had promised. This challenges us to see the Spirit’s work in its proper context, as part of a larger unfolding plan. [18:45]
• 2. Progressive Revelation and Spiritual Maturity Jesus told His disciples that there were truths they could not yet bear, and the Spirit would guide them into all truth over time. This highlights the progressive nature of revelation: God’s people grow in understanding as they are able to receive it. Spiritual maturity is a journey, not a moment, and the Spirit patiently leads us step by step into deeper realities. [25:05]
• 3. Transition from Old to New Covenant The early church’s experience was marked by a transition from old covenant practices to the new reality in Christ. Even after receiving the Spirit, believers continued in traditions like temple worship and circumcision, showing that transformation is gradual. The Spirit’s role was to guide them out of the shadows and into the substance of Christ, teaching them to let go of what was obsolete. [52:54]
• 4. Living in the Reality of Fulfillment Unlike the first-century believers, we now live in the reality of the fulfilled inheritance. The Spirit’s role for us is not to reveal new, future promises, but to help us walk in the truth of what Christ has already accomplished. This calls us to embrace our identity and inheritance in Christ, living from a place of completion rather than lack. [71:37]
• 5. Reading Scripture with Contextual Discernment Recognizing the transitional nature of the early church helps us interpret Scripture accurately. Many instructions and struggles in the New Testament reflect a community in process, moving from promise to fulfillment. We are called to honor that journey, but also to discern our own place in God’s story—living as those who have received the fullness of what was once only anticipated. [72:58]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [18:45] - The Holy Spirit as Down Payment
• [19:28] - Understanding Audience and Times
• [21:13] - The Promise and Its Fulfillment
• [22:31] - The Spirit’s Role: Guiding into All Truth
• [25:05] - From Inability to Bear to Fullness of Truth
• [27:08] - What Was Still to Come?
• [29:55] - The Holy Spirit as Seal and Guarantee
• [32:01] - Ownership and the Seal of the Spirit
• [34:23] - The Greek Word “Arabon” and Its Meaning
• [35:51] - Assurance, Not Fullness
• [38:12] - Did the Early Church Receive the Full Inheritance?
• [40:16] - Jesus’ Promise: “I Will Come to You”
• [44:57] - The Spirit as Guide and Teacher
• [49:39] - The Transition Period Explained
• [52:54] - Old Covenant Practices in the Early Church
• [56:45] - Becoming the Temple of the Holy Spirit
• [58:02] - The Struggle to Include the Gentiles
• [59:59] - Embracing the New Covenant
• [63:05] - God’s Ultimate Plan and the Spirit’s Role
• [71:37] - The Spirit’s Role for Believers Today
• [72:58] - Living in the Completed Work of Christ
• [73:38] - Preview: The Mystery of Christ

Bible Reading

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV) — > In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

John 16:12-15 (ESV) — > “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Acts 2:46-47 (ESV) — > And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Observation Questions

1. In Ephesians 1:13-14, what two things does Paul say the Holy Spirit does for believers? ([29:55])
2. According to John 16:12-13, what did Jesus say the Spirit would do for the disciples, and why was this necessary? ([22:31])
3. After receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, what old covenant practices did the early believers continue to observe? ([52:54])
4. What does Jesus mean when He says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” in John 14:18? ([40:16])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul use the language of “seal” and “guarantee” to describe the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of early believers? What does this say about God’s relationship with His people? ([32:01])
2. What does the process of the Spirit “guiding into all truth” reveal about how God works with His people’s understanding and maturity? ([25:05])
3. Why did the early church continue with old covenant practices even after receiving the Holy Spirit? What does this tell us about spiritual transformation? ([52:54])
4. The sermon says we now live in the reality of the fulfilled inheritance, not in expectation like the early church. How does this change the way we relate to the Holy Spirit today? ([01:11:37])

Application Questions

1. The early church had to let go of old traditions as the Spirit led them into the fullness of Christ. Are there any “old ways” or habits in your own faith that you sense God is asking you to move beyond? What might that look like practically? ([52:54])
2. The Spirit was given as a “down payment” to assure believers of God’s faithfulness. When you struggle with doubt or uncertainty, how can remembering the Spirit’s presence help anchor you? ([35:51])
3. Jesus said the disciples couldn’t bear all the truth at once, so the Spirit would guide them step by step. Are there areas in your life where you feel impatient with your own spiritual growth? How can you trust the Spirit’s timing and process? ([25:05])
4. The early church wrestled with including people who were different from them (like Gentiles). Are there people or groups you find hard to welcome or include in your faith community? How might the Spirit be prompting you to grow in this area? ([58:02])
5. The sermon challenges us to read Scripture with discernment, recognizing the unique journey of the early church. How might this perspective help you when you come across confusing or seemingly outdated instructions in the New Testament? ([01:12:58])
6. Now that we live in the reality of the fulfilled inheritance, the Spirit’s role is to help us walk in what Christ has already accomplished. What is one area of your life where you need to live more confidently in your identity and inheritance in Christ? ([01:11:37])
7. The Spirit patiently led the early church through misunderstanding and gradual change. How can you show patience and grace to others in your small group or church who are at different places in their spiritual journey? ([49:39])