August 19, 2011
Father, Son, Holy Spirit: One God,
Three Divine Persons
Part Seven
The Deity of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 2:12
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Yesterday, I spent time talking with my friends about the death of the old man, and the new creation we are in Christ. We read Galatians 2:20, and considered our crucifixion with Christ, so that my old man died, and now Christ lives in me. Christ loved me and gave Himself up for me. The Holy Spirit used these verses to encourage our hearts, and help us truly understand who we are in Christ. The Holy Spirit used the Word of God to teach us about our essential spiritual life. We would not know who we are spiritually, and what we should do spiritually, apart from the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. So, today we will continue our study of the Holy Spirit so that we may love the Holy Spirit more.
but just as it is written, THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.
1 Corinthians 2:9
All That God Has Prepared. In 1 Corinthians 2:9, we read that our eyes and ears have not perceived all that God has prepared for those who love Him. Furthermore, it has not entered our hearts. Many people stop right here in this verse and completely ignore the next verse. Only by the ministry of the Holy Spirit do we as believers understand all that God has prepared for us.
For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 2:10-11
The Depths and Thoughts of God. In 1 Corinthians 2:10, God explains another key ministry of the Holy Spirit. We see that the Holy Spirit has revealed all the things our hearts, eyes and ears could not perceive. The Holy Spirit searches the depths of God. In this context, we see that God has prepared great things for believers, but God has not revealed them to everyone. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, He reveals them through the Bible. We can learn about the depths of God by reading the Word of God. God also tells us that we can know the thoughts of God just like the human spirit in us knows our thoughts. With God, the Holy Spirit allows us to know the thoughts of God, and He has great plans for us.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
1 Corinthians 2:12
We May Know. In 1 Corinthians 2:12, we see that the Corinthians, like all believers, have received the Holy Spirit. He is from God. He ministers to us so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. The Holy Spirit reveals the plans and purposes of God, and we would not have known them except for the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit searches out the mind of God and discloses those things to us. God wants us to know the things freely given (“χαρισθέντα“) to us by God. So, as we consider and meditate upon the Holy Spirit, and try to comprehend His role in our lives, and His deity, we see this picture of the Holy Spirit searching the depths of God, and then revealing those depths and plans, so that we might know the things freely given to us by God. God not only wants to give to us, but God wants us to know that He gives to us all the time. Only through the ministry of the Holy Spirit revealing those depths of God do we comprehend them, and live in the truth of God. Therefore, we understand more about the deity of the Holy Spirit. He searches out the mind of God, and reveals those thoughts to us. He works to let us know all about the great things in the depths of God. Only God can know the depths of God. Only God can reveal the depths of God. Clearly, by our human faculties, we would never have known all the things God has for us. By the Holy Spirit, those great things have been revealed to us, because God, in His infinite love and wisdom, revealed them to us.
So we learn more about the deity of the Holy Spirit today.
● The Holy Spirit helps us know the things prepared for us by God.
● The Holy Spirit searches the depths of God.
● The Holy Spirit helps us understand the things freely given to us by God.
Application for Today
As I live today, I will consider the things freely given to me by God, and I will know that the Holy Spirit has revealed those depths of God to me through the Word of God, the Bible. The Holy Spirit searches out the depths of God, and allows me to come with Him, through the Bible. God loves to disclose His gifts to us, so that we may glorify Him and live everyday in the knowledge of His gifts to us. Will you be meditating upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit, as He makes known to us the depths of God through the Word of God? Will you be focusing upon the things freely given to us by God today?
