For the past several months, I’ve had the opportunity to teach the academy teachers on various topics through Systematic Theology.
Just last week, we went over the doctrine of Pneumatology; the study of the Holy Spirit. Few even said that the Holy Spirit is the forgotten third person of the Trinity at times.
Understanding the doctrine of pneumatology is crucial as it is often perhaps one of the most misunderstood doctrines of all the systematics across all denominational lines.
1. Justification & Regeneration (Permanent)
“Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ”( John 3:3, 7)
Some theologians will call this the “Divine Monergism.”
We believe as the Evangelical faith that salvation is the saving of man from the power and effect of sin. When men come to Christ we are truly saved as Jesus is called to save people.
Therefore, there is a distinct relationship between regeneration and baptism as Christ has called us by His glorious grace.
2. Adoption & Sealing (Continual)
“He saved us, not because of works are done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5)
John Frame said it well once, “The new birth brings life out of the spiritual death. Without this new birth, we cannot even see the kingdom of God, because our spiritual eyes are dead.”
Men were all once;
1). Blind by the flesh (2 Cor. 4:4).
2). Bound to Destruction (2 Tim. 2:26).
3). Alienated from commonwealth (Eph. 4:17-18).
4). Enemies of God (Rom. 5:6-11).
5). Condemned in Sin (John 3:18).
6). Dead in Trespasses (Eph. 2:1).
3. Indwelling & Filling (Repeatable)
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Cor. 3:16-17)
It is possible to be filled with the Spirit on Sunday and not to be filled on Monday.
You may be marveled thinking, “What? Why? How come? I thought the Spirit will never leave us.”
Here are three reasons why;
1). Walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16)
2). Grieve the Spirit (Eph. 4:30)
3). Quench the Spirit (Stifle: 1 Thess. 5:19).
How are some ways we can grieve the Spirit and not be filled in our churches?