The Holy Ghost and His Work

Lesson No. 14 WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY
ABOUT THE HOLY GHOST AND HIS WORK ? A Look At God's Word by Oswald Riess

1. WHAT TOOK PLACE TEN DAYS AFTER THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -

Acts 2:1-4. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
The exalted Christ fulfilled His promise and poured out the Holy Ghost upon His disciples.

2. WHO IS THE HOLY GHOST ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -

Matt. 28:19. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 5:3, 4. Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost ? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
The Holy Ghost is the Third Person in the Holy Trinity, true God with the Father and the Son. (Other names for the Holy Ghost are: Spirit, Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, Spirit of Truth, and Comforter.)

3. WHAT DOES THE HOLY GHOST WORK IN US IN ORDER TO MAKE US POSSESSORS OF THE SALVATION WHICH CHRIST EARNED FOR US ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -

*Acts 16:31. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.
*1 Cor. 12:3. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
The Holy Ghost brings us to faith in Christ and imparts to us the blessings of redemption.

4. WHY IS IT NECESSARY THAT THE HOLY GHOST WORK FAITH IN US ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -

(a) 1 Cor. 2:14. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(b) Eph. 2:1. (You) were dead in trespasses and sins.
(c) Rom. 8:7. The carnal mind is enmity against God.
(d) Eph. 2:8, 9. By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
We are by nature spiritually
(A) blind,
(B) dead, and
(C) enemies of God, and therefore
(D) cannot bring ourselves to faith in Christ, or even help along to do so.

5. HOW DOES THE HOLY GHOST BRING MEN TO FAITH IN CHRIST ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -

(a) 2 Thess. 2:14. He called you by our Gospel.
*(b) Rom. 10:17. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
(b) Rom. 1:16. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
(A) The Holy Ghost calls and invites men by the Gospel, offering them the blessings of salvation.
(B) The Holy Ghost, by the same Gospel, which is a living power, works in men's hearts the acceptance of this invitation, bringing them to faith.

6. WHAT IS THIS WORK OF THE HOLY GHOST CALLED ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -

(a) 2 Cor. 4:6. God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
*(b) John 3:7. Ye must be born again.
(c) Matt. 18:3. Except ye be converted, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

FROM THIS WE LEARN - This work of the Holy Ghost is called
(A) Illumination (enlightenment), since the Holy Ghost makes man's heart, which is dark with ignorance and despair, bright with the knowledge of his Savior and the certain hope of salvation;
(B) Regeneration (new, or second birth), since the Holy Ghost gives to man, who is dead in sin, spiritual life;
(C) Conversion (turning about), since the Holy Ghost turns man from sin and destruction to God and grace.

7. HOW MAY A PERSON KNOW WHETHER HE IS CONVERTED ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -

Acts 16:29-31. (He) came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
A person is converted
(A) If he is sorry for his sins; and
(B) If he believes, or trusts, in Jesus Christ for his salvation

8. WHAT ELSE DOES THE HOLY GHOST WORK IN US BY THE GOSPEL ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -

(a) 1 Thess. 4:3. This is the will of God, even your sanctification.
(b) 2 Cor. 5:17. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.
(b) Ps. 51:10. Create in me a clean heart, O God.
(c) Eph. 2:10. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
The Holy Ghost
(A) sanctifies us, that is,
(B) He renews our hearts by faith, so that we can now overcome sin and
(C) do good works.

9. WHAT IS A GOOD WORK IN THE SIGHT OF GOD ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -

*(a) John 15:5. He that abideth in Me, and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for
without Me ye can do nothing.
(a) Heb. 11:6. Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God.)
(b) John 14:15. If ye love Me, keep My commandments.
(b) Matt. 15:9. In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (c) 1 Cor. 10:31. Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
(d) Gal. 5:13. By love serve one another.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
A good work is everything that
(A) a child of God does, speaks, or thinks in faith
(B) according to the Ten Commandments
(C) to the glory of God and
(D) for the benefit of his neighbor.

10. WHAT DOES THE HOLY GHOST LASTLY WORK IN US ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -

*1 Pet. 1:5. (Ye) are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
1 Thess. 2:13. the Word of God . . . effectually worketh also in you that believe.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
The Holy Ghost, by the Gospel, keeps us in the true faith.

11. IS THE HOLY GHOST WILLING TO WORK ALL THIS IN EVERYONE WHO HEARS
THE GOSPEL ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -

Ezek. 33:11. As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.
*1 Tim. 2:4. (God) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
The Holy Ghost seriously desires to bring all men to salvation.

12. WHY, THEN, ARE NOT ALL MEN SAVED ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -

Matt. 23:37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not !
Hos. 13:9. O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help.
Acts. 7:51. Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
Most men stubbornly resist the Word and the Spirit of God and are thus lost by their own fault.(Men are saved wholly and solely by the grace of God; men are lost wholly and solely by their own fault.)

Before the Next Lesson
FILL OUT Work Sheet No. 14.
MEMORIZE the Bible passages marked with an asterisk (*).
The Third Article (without the Explanation). See Catechism.
READ Luke, chapters 22-24, and Acts, chapters 1-4.

Work Sheet No. 14

ONE

(A) The Holy Ghost alone converts man. [_]
(B) The Holy Ghost converts man with man's cooperation. [_] (Check the correct statement.) TWO

A person is converted when he gives up bad habits. True [_] False [_] (Check whether true or false.) THREE

(A) The Holy Ghost brings us to faith without any means. [_]
(B) The Holy Ghost brings us to faith by means of the Ten Commandments. [_]
(C) The Holy Ghost brings us to faith by means of the Gospel. [_] (Check the correct statement.) FOUR

(A) Only a Christian can do works which are good in the sight of God. [_]
(B) Any person is able to do such works. [_] (Check whether true or false.) FIVE

Why must Christians remain diligent hearers, readers, and students of the Word of God until their dying day ?

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SIX

Many who hear the gospel are not converted
(A) Because the Holy Ghost does not want to convert them. [_]
(B) Because they resist the Holy Ghost. [_] (Check the correct statement.) SEVEN

When a person is converted, it is because he resisted the Holy Ghost less than others who are not converted. True [_] False [_] (Check whether true or false.)