And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed* unto the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:30-32

The Holy Spirit is a person.  He is not a power or influence.  The reference above from Ephesians indicates that we can grieve Him.  A power or influence cannot be grieved.  Only a person can be grieved.  The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune God.  

Listed below are a few verses among many that point out attributes, actions and personal pronouns used to describe the Holy Spirit’s actions and identity which indicate His personhood.  

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.  I John 5:6

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:                  for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.                      I Corinthians 2:10

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.  Acts 8:29

But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. Isaiah 63:10

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.  Ephesians 3:5

For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  Matthew 10:20

The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.        II Samuel 23:2

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.  Revelation 2:29, 3:6, 13, & 22

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  John 14:17

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  Acts 10:19

And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:  Acts 11:12

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Galatians 4:6

Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.  Isaiah 48:16

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  Romans 8:27

These verses clearly show us that the Holy Spirit is a person.  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are the three persons of the Godhead.  Their personages emphasize the fact that knowing God or being  a Christian is a relationship.  This relationship is made possible with God the Father through God the Son and by God the Holy Spirit. 

The Christian is indwelt by the person of the Holy Spirit.  To resist His working in our life to transform us into the image of Christ is to grieve Him or to make Him sorrowful.  We are to put away the things that grieve the Holy Spirit.  These things are listed in the opening verses above as: bitterness (bitter hatred), and wrath (an outburst of hot anger, passion), and anger (smoldering anger with the idea of revenge), and clamour (the tumult of controversy), and evil speaking (railing, reviling, blasphemy),…with all malice (badness in quality, opposite of excellence, vicious character). **

In contrast to the things that we are to put away, believers are to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving one to another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us.

……let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.…..

*For teaching on the sealing work of the Holy Spirit, see Part IIA of The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Church Today – A Study in Ephesians on page 17 of this blog.

**Definitions are from Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words – Copyright 1984, 1996, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.  Proverbs 23:29-35

 If you have to have a beer to relax, are you dependent on alcohol?  Alcohol is addictive.  It is a sin to be controlled by alcohol (Ephesians 5:18).  If you never take a drink, you will never have to be concerned about alcohol controlling you.

3.  Sound Doctrine.

Foundational to sound doctrine is accepting the Bible for what it says about itself.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God (God breathed), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (II Timothy 3:16).  

Being a Christian is more than identifying yourself with a particular religion or affirming a certain value system.  Being a Christian means embracing what the Bible says about God, mankind, and salvation.  Consider the following truths found in the Bible.*

God Is the Sovereign Creator:  The Bible says we were created by a personal God to love, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with Him.  The NT reveals it was Jesus Himself who created all things, therefore He also owns and rules everything.  

God Is Holy:  He cannot commit or approve of evil.  God requires holiness of us as well.  You shall be holy, for I am holy (I Peter 1:16).  

Mankind Is Sinful: Everyone is guilty of sin.  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God (Romans 3:10&11).  

Sin Demands a Penalty: God’s holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by death (Ezekial 18:4).  

Jesus Is Both Lord and Saviour: Christ’s death satisfied the demands of God’s justice, and Christ’s perfect life satisfied the demands of God’s holiness, thereby enabling Him to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (II Cor. 5:21/Rom. 3:26). 

The Character of Saving Faith: True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin.  Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin, pursue Christ and obey Him.  True saving faith always responds in obedience.*

*Copyright 2013 Heritage Baptist Church, NSC, SD.  Used by permission.

The Apostle Paul to Timothy.

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

II Timothy 4:1-8

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

2.  Biblical Leadership

A bishop (overseer) then must be blameless (nothing to be laid hold of), the husband of one wife (a one woman man), vigilant (watchful), sober (self-controlled), of good behaviour (orderly), given to hospitality (loving strangers), apt to teach (skilled in teaching); Not given to wine (clear minded), no striker (peaceable), not greedy of filthy lucre (eager for base gain); but patient (gentle), not a brawler (contentious), not covetous (a lover of money);

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?  

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil (the accuser of the brethren).  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. I Timothy 3:2-7

  Definitions are from Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, copyright 1984, 1996, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN

                                            1.  Regenerate Membership

A New Testament Church is made up of Christians.  A Christian is an individual who has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit upon believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  Titus 3:5-7

The Greek word translated washing in Titus 3:5 is the word loutron which means bath or laver.  This word loutron is the same word used in Ephesians 5:26 by the apostle Paul when he states: that he (God) might sanctify and cleanse it (the church) with the washing of water by the word.  Loutron is used metaphorically of the Word of God, as the instrument of spiritual cleansing.*

The apostle Peter affirms this by declaring we are born again (to beget or bring forth again; to regenerate), not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.   I Peter 1:23

Palingenesia is the Greek word for regeneration in Titus 3:5.  This word is made up of two Greek words: palin which means again and genesis which means birth.*  Does born again sound familiar?

Jesus answered and said unto him (Nicodemus), Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water (i.e. by the word, Ephesians 5:26/I Peter 1:23) and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  John 3:3-5

Are you regenerate?  Have you been born again?

Note: The writer of Hebrews describes the Word of God as quick which means living.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

Further Note: What is the meaning of the word church?  

Ekklesia is the Greek word for church; ek meaning out of and klesis meaning to call.  In the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the OT,  this word was used to designate a gathering  of Israel for any definite purpose.  In Christian usage ekklesia refers to either the whole company of the redeemed or to a local assembly of believers.  Simply put, the word for church means the assembly of called out ones.*  The called out ones are the ones called out of the world.

The church is made up of those who have been washed by God from their sins.  As such, the church is unable to wash anyone else since it is made up of those who needed washing themselves.  Only God can wash or regenerate through His Word and by His Spirit. 

The candidate for washing is one who is capable of believing in God’s provision for his sin through the substitutionary death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and who is capable of realizing his own need of forgiveness.

*W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words

….let the word of Christ dwell in you richly….

C. H. Spurgeon writes: How completely it takes the bitterness out of grief to know that it once was suffered by Him.

The Macedonian soldiers, it is said, made long forced marches which seemed to be beyond the power of mortal endurance, but the reason for their untiring energy lay in Alexander’s (The Great) presence.  He was accustomed to walk with them, and bear the like fatigue.  If the king himself had been carried like a Persian monarch in a palanquin*, in the midst of easy, luxurious state, the soldiers would soon have grown tired; but, when they looked upon the king of men himself, hungering when they hungered, thirsting when they thirsted, often putting aside the cup of water offered to him, and passing it to a fellow-soldier who looked more faint than himself, they could not dream of repining. Why, every Macedonian felt that he could endure any fatigue if Alexander could.

This day, assuredly, we can bear poverty, slander, contempt, or bodily pain, or death itself, because Jesus Christ our Lord has borne it.  By his humiliation it shall become pleasure to be abased for His sake, by the spittle that distilled on his cheeks it shall become a fair thing to be made a mockery for him.  By the buffeting and the blindfolding it shall become an honor to be disgraced.  And by the cross it shall become life itself to surrender life for the sake of such a cause and so precious a Master!

May the man of sorrows now appear to us, and enable us to bear our sorrows cheerfully.  If there be consolation anywhere, surely it is to be found in the delightful presence of the Crucified… 

Taken from a sermon preached by Charles Haddon Spurgeon in March 1873.  From the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 63 vols.  London: (Passmore & Alabaster, 1873), 19:121-32.

*Palanquin – An east Asian covered litter carried on poles on the shoulders  of two or four men.  American Heritage Dictionary, copyright 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975 by American Heritage Publishing Co.

In loving-kindness Jesus came,
My soul in mercy to reclaim,
And from the depths of sin and shame
Through grace He lifted me.

Refrain:
From sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me;
From shades of night to plains of light,
Oh, praise His Name, He lifted me!

He called me long before I heard,
Before my sinful heart was stirred,
But when I took Him at His word,
Forgiv’n, He lifted me.  [Refrain]

His brow was pierced with many a thorn,
His hands by cruel nails were torn,
When from my guilt and grief, forlorn,
In love He lifted me.  [Refrain]

Now on a higher plane I dwell,
And with my soul I know ’tis well;
Yet how or why, I cannot tell,
He should have lifted me.  [Refrain]

Charles H. Gabriel, Pub.1905

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  Titus 3:3-7

He who is born once, dies twice.

He who is born twice, dies once.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.                        Revelation 20:6

Jesus answered and said unto him (Nicodemus), Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  John 3:3

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: Proverbs 3:1

O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever! Deuteronomy 5:29

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11

……...let the word of Christ dwell in you richly……..