Dr. Jack L. Arnold                                                                        Equipping Pastors International                                                                               Appendix 2

 

Pneumatology
The Doctrine of the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit


Appendix 1—The Promise of the Spirit

 

1.         The coming of the Holy Spirit as seen in His baptizing work was to be one of the distinctive blessings of the new age.   This new age has been referred to as the ministry or dispensation of the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18).  NOTE:  The Holy Spirit was very active in the Old Testament (in creation, preservation, providence, revelation, regeneration, indwelling, and filling for special tasks).  However, the Old Testament predicts a time when the Holy Spirit will be poured out mightily which would be new, distinctive and available to all who believe in Messiah.  (See Isa. 32:15; 44:3; Ezk. 39:29; Joel 2:28)

 

2.         John the Baptizer, the last of the Old Testament prophets, predicted that Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33).  John also said Christ was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).  John saw that the work of Christ was to save and to baptize with the Holy Spirit in this new age.

 

3.         The gift of the Holy Spirit and salvation are part of the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31ff; cf. Ezk. 36:25).  The New Covenant was established and ratified by the blood of Jesus (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 7:22; 8:1-13).  Because of the New Covenant, this is the age of the Gospel and the Spirit of which the Christian is a minister (2 Cor. 3:6-9).

 

4.         The outpouring of the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost.  This gift of the Holy Spirit is connected up with repentance and salvation (Acts 2:38,39).  The gift of the Holy Spirit includes Òthe promise of the SpiritÓ (Acts 1:4; 2:33,39), Òthe baptism of the SpiritÓ (Acts 1:5) and Òthe outpouring of the SpiritÓ (Acts 2:17,35).

 

5.         The gift of the Holy Spirit is also related to the Abrahamic Covenant (Gal. 3:14).  The Holy Spirit is for Gentiles as well as Jews who believe in Jesus Christ.

 

6.         CONCLUSION:  Salvation is never stated in just negative terms – rescue from sin, guilt, judgment, hell, etc.  It also includes the positive blessing of the Holy Spirit to regenerate, indwell, fill, liberate and transform us.  From the Day of Pentecost to the Second Advent is the Age of the Gospel and of the Holy Spirit.