This week Pastor A preached about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Among other things, which we’ll look at in more detail below, he explained that the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune God. God eternally exists in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and this God is one God. According to this definition, the Holy Spirit is a person, not that he has a body, but he possesses personhood. Therefore, the Bible can speak of the Holy Spirit as being grieved (Eph 4:30) and lied to (Acts 5:3). Pastor A then went on to answer the question “How do I get oil in my lamp”? We’ll look at the over four brief points.

. You Must Be Born Again (John 3:1–8) “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.’ 3Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ 4Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ 5Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’”

1. What does it mean to be “born again”? The reality of the new birth in theological language is called “regeneration.” “Regeneration is a secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us [by the power of the Holy Spirit].”
2. According to Jesus, how is one able to see the kingdom of God?
3. Who does this work of the new birth?
4. Is being “born again” the same as being “born of water and the Spirit”? Jesus uses the to phrases to refer to the same reality.
• Truly, truly, I say to you (v. 3) • Truly, truly, I say to you (v. 5)
• unless one is born again (v. 3) • unless one is born of water and the Spirit (v. 5)
• he cannot see the kingdom of God (v. 3) • he cannot enter the kingdom of God (v. 5)
5. Is this work of the Spirit discernable? In other words, can you see the effects of the new birth?
6. According to this passage, how does one get oil in one’s lamp?

2. The Spirit and the Word (Acts 10:44) “While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.”

1. According to the context, what were “these things” that Peter was saying? Read 10:34–43. Peter preached the gospel.
2. Is there a necessary relationship between God’s word and the work of the Spirit? What does this text indicate? Why would such a relationship be necessary?

3. Sealed with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:11–14) “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

1. When were we “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit”?
2. Who is the “guarantee of our inheritance”?
3. What is this “inheritance” that we will one day “acquire” possession of?
4. Does this give you confidence that your salvation is secure? Why?

4. Be Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18–21) “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

1. According to this passage, what should be characteristic of believers?
2. What does this look like to be “filled with the Spirit”? How would you do these things today?

Application
1. Take time as a group to pray for family and friends who have not as yet been born again. Ask that the Holy Spirit would draw them to Christ, and that he would give you opportunity to share the gospel with them.
2. Pray for those in your group who may struggle with assurance of salvation. Pray Ephesians 1:11–14 over them.
Further Study on the Person and Work of the Spirit
Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000), 226–239; 634–653; 763–787; 1016–1088.

D. A. Carson, Showing the Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12–14 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1987).

John R. W. Stott, Baptism and Fullness: The Work of the Holy Spirit Today, 2nd Ed. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1975).