The cause of God and the people of God have an inseparable link with the Spirit of God. It is impossible for anyone to partake of the benefits of the good news made possible through Christ without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. The gospel was announced and confirmed by the work of the Holy Spirit. As the Spirit acted to spread that gospel throughout the world, salvation was made possible through conversion to Christ. Recipients of that salvation who live faithfully are the beneficiaries of the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in their lives even today. Obedient believers from Pentecost to present manifest the work of the Holy Spirit in sealing and filling the Christian.

The question is not, "Is the Holy Spirit working today?" He is. There is no question of whether the Holy Spirit acts in the conversion of the sinner. He does. The question is not whether the Holy Spirit dwells in the faithful children of God or whether such children are filled with the Spirit. He does and they are. Neither do we question whether the Holy Spirit provides strength for the Christian. He does. The question we address today is this: "HOW does the Holy Spirit work in the above ways?"

A careful study of passages relating to the work of the Spirit as described in the New Testament will encourage us to greater service. A proper understanding of the Spirit's work as found in the Scripture will also protect us from dangerous error. May God bless us in this series of studies to that end.

Old Testament Background: Instruction & Blessings of the Spirit

The concept of God's Spirit abiding with His people is not unique to the New Testament. Haggai exhorted the people who had been restored to the land urging them to rebuild the temple as God commanded. The prophet spoke from God, saying,

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith Jehovah; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith Jehovah, and work: for I am with you, saith Jehovah of hosts, according to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, and my Spirit abode among you: fear ye not. (Hag. 2:4-5)

The prophet affirmed that Jehovah was with His people and that His Spirit abode in their midst at the time they were delivered from Egyptian bondage. Isaiah called upon his readers to remember the days of Moses when the Spirit was "in the midst" of God's people, "led" them, and "caused them to rest" (Isa. 63:11-14). Haggai specified the Spirit as a source to strengthen God's people to do the work they were given. Thus, the Spirit is pictured as being involved in the actions which brought the original bestowal of blessings upon Israel.

The same point was raised in the Levites' prayer of Nehemiah 9. They confessed the rebellion of Israel from the time when God instructed and blessed them in the wilderness. The provisions made for God's people then involved His "good Spirit," given to instruct and feed them (Neh. 9:19-20). Because of God's previous action proving His lovingkindness, those of Nehemiah's time could have reason to hope for His promised compassion if they turned from their sins according to the promise of His covenant with Israel (Deut. 30:1-10). Such action would constitute an acceptance of the Spirit as they embraced the instruction and promised blessings of the Spirit.

However, as Israel rebelled, they were ultimately guilty of rejecting the Spirit. This was Stephen's point as he rebuked the Jews of his time, saying, "Ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye" (Acts 7:51). How did their fathers do such? The next two verses show that they rejected the prophets, persecuting them, thus rejecting the law given to them. Since the Spirit was moving those prophets to instruct the people in the Old Law, the fathers actually rejected the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:1:21). Isaiah described the effect of such action by declaring, "But they rebelled, and grieved his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them" (Isa. 63:10). Hence, the Spirit is resisted and grieved by a process exactly opposite of the way He leads and blesses.

This contrast from the Old Testament helps us understand the contrast drawn in the New Testament. We may be recipients of all spiritual blessing God ever planned for man in Christ, on whom we believe, having been instructed through the Spirit by the gospel of salvation. Thus, the Spirit identifies the recipients of the promise He revealed (Eph. 1:3-14; 3:1-19). As we "walk" in the path directed as we "understand what the will of the Lord is," we are "filled with the Spirit" and evidence such in our lives (Eph. 5:15-21). If we fail to understand and obey that will of the Lord revealed by the Spirit, we "grieve the Holy Spirit" (Eph. 4:30).

--- Continued Next Week ---

Where Does the Soul Go after Death?
by Steven F. Deaton

Our question assumes a few things. First, man has a soul. This is contrary to the belief of the "Jehovah's Witnesses," Seventh Day Adventists, Atheists and others. However, the Bible teaches man has a spirit or soul (1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Cor. 4:16). Second, the soul lives beyond this life. Jesus affirmed this when the Sadducees questioned Him on it (Matt. 22:23-33). Third, man dies. There is no escaping this (Heb. 9:27). So, where does the soul go after death?

Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." Some believe this teaches that the soul goes to heaven to dwell with God until the resurrection. However, this cannot be the meaning. All bodies do return to the dust, but not all men go to heaven (Matt. 7:13-14). Rather, while in the body man has control over his spirit, where it goes, what it does, but after death, that control is lost. Where the spirit goes after death is controlled by God.

Further investigation reveals that spirits are sent to one of two places, Abraham's bosom or torments (Luke 16:19-31). The righteous go to Abraham's bosom (paradise) and the unrighteous go to torments. This is in the realm called Hades, where a great, impassable gulf separates paradise and torments (Luke 16:26). Hades is the realm of the dead that will not be destroyed until the judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). Therefore, all spirits are sent into the Hadean realm to await the final judgment.

Some wonder what Paul meant when he wrote, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus" (1 Thess. 4:14). This is teaching that the dead will return at the same time Christ returns. They must, because when He returns the resurrection will take place (John 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:21-26). Thus, He will "bring with Him" those who are in the Hadean realm.

Where a man goes after his death depends on what he did or failed to do in his life (e.g. the rich man and Lazarus). When he dies, God will place his spirit in the appropriate place to await judgment - whether by angels to paradise of by some other means to torments. After our death, we will know where we are, but those left behind do not. They can have hope and confidence, but they cannot change it (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13). Once we are there, we cannot change it either. Therefore, we must obey God here and now (Rom. 13:11-14).

--- from The Gospel Teacher, 2/2/03 ---