Some False Doctrines Regarding the Holy Spirit

Introduction. The subject of the Holy Spirit is a very popular topic in the religious world. Unfortunately much of what is taught is not sound. This past quarter in the Wednesday night adult class we studied the Holy Spirit but ran out of time before we could focus on the errors that are taught on the subject. Tonight I would like for us to spend a few minutes looking at some of these by considering five statements that are sometimes made about the Holy Spirit.

I. “The Holy Spirit directly moves an unbeliever to faith.”

  1. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:13-18).
  2. The word of God moves people to faith. (Romans 10:13-17).
  3. Obedience to the gospel is acting in one Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:12,13) NKJV vs. 13 “by” Gr. en (like our word in English “in.” So lit. “In one Spirit we were all baptized into one body...”
    1. It is not accurate to say that the Holy Spirit dwells within someone before obedience to the gospel because upon conversion they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
    2. It is not accurate to say that the Holy Spirit directly moves a person to faith, He does so through the word (Romans 10:17).
    3. When someone follows the teaching of the Holy Spirit they act “in the Spirit” when they are obedient to the gospel they “drink in” the Spirit and then it may be said that the Spirit dwells within them (James 4:5 “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”).

II. “The Holy Spirit directly teaches people in this age.”

  1. The Holy Spirit taught the Apostles and Prophets directly (Matthew 10:19,20).
  2. What they wrote were the inspired commands of God (I Corinthians 14:37; II Peter 3:16 Peter speaks of Paul’s writings as “Scripture.” C. Paul taught the Ephesians they could understand by reading. (Ephesians 3:1-4).
    1. The promises that the Holy Spirit would directly teach people were to the Apostles and Prophets of the New Testament.
    2. Not even all New Testament Christians were taught directly by the Holy Spirit (e.g. Paul’s instructions to the Ephesians 3:4).
    3. The Holy Spirit indirectly teaches all people through the word (i.e. the “sword of the Spirit” Ephesians 6:17).

III. “The teaching of the Holy Spirit is a strong internal feeling.”

  1. When the Holy Spirit taught a person directly He did so with words that could be written down.
    1. Words which the Holy Spirit teaches (I Cor. 2:12,13).
    2. The Holy Spirit prohibited and commanded certain things (Acts 13:2; 16:6-10).
  2. Feeling is not the basis for Divine instruction (Acts 23:1).

IV. “Scripture is a dead letter until the Holy Spirit enlivens it.”

  1. Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:19-21).
  2. God’s word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12,13).
  3. The words of Jesus are Spirit and truth (John 6:63).
  4. The Spirit is truth (I John 5:6).
    1. The Bible teaches that when we set our minds and lives on the things which the Spirit has revealed we are walking or acting in the Spirit (Romans 8:5).
    2. To claim that the inspired word of God is “dead” until there is some additional work of the Holy Spirit is to deny the teaching of Scripture and to insult the work that the Holy Spirit has already done.

V. “Modern Christians should still speak in tongues.”

  1. Tongues allowed communication as a sign to confirm the Divine source of the gospel (Acts 2:3-8; I Corinthians 14:22).
  2. Not all New Testament Christians spoke in tongues (I Corinthians 14:5).
  3. The word has now been confirmed (Mark 16:19,20; Hebrews 2:1-4).
    1. Modern advocates of tongues misunderstand the Biblical application of this gift and the purpose of its operation.
    2. There is no need for miraculous spiritual gifts today because the word has already been confirmed.
  
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