1 John 4 Lesson

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

Today’s lesson focuses on the Holy Spirit:

• Why He was sent,
• And what that means for us. 

Our focus verse is taken from the Gospel of John:

• “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.” – John 14:26.

From this one verse, we can decipher five things about the Holy Spirit:

1. The Holy Spirit is also referred to as “the Helper,”
2. The Holy Spirit was sent from God,
3. The Holy Spirit was sent in the name of Jesus,
4. The Holy Spirit is a teacher,
5. The Holy Spirit is a “He,” not an “it.”

HOW DO WE RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

We receive the Holy Spirit when we are baptized.

Luke wrote about this in the Book of Acts: 

• “Repent, and each of you bebaptized in the name of Jesus Christ for theforgivenessof your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:38.

JESUS WAS BAPTIZED

The Bible tells us that Jesus, Himself, was baptized. 

This may cause some to ask:

• “Why did the Son of God get baptized?” 

John the Baptist asked Jesus the same question, and even tried to prevent Jesus from being baptized as documented in the following exchange:

• But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” – Mathew 3:14.

Jesus responded to John's question:

• “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” – Mathew 3:15.

That is the first reason that Jesus was baptized. 

• “To fulfill all righteousness.” 

In other words, Jesus was baptized because it was the right thing to do. 

How God reacted when Jesus was baptized is something for all of us to be aware of.   

We can read about that in the following scripture:

• “After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” – Mathew 3:16-17.

We see from this scripture the second reason for us to be baptized.  To please God!

And the third reason to be baptized is to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!

Taking into account these three reasons, it is hard to think of any reason not to be baptized!

1. Getting baptized is the right thing to do,
2. Getting baptized pleases God,
3. Getting baptized is how we receive the Holy Spirit.

THE HOLY SPIRIT ALLOWS US TO “FEEL” GOD’S PRESENCE

Every word of the Bible is inspired by God!

It is the single, most valuable, tool there is to make sure that we are living our lives in a way that is pleasing to God and in accordance with His will. 

As disciples of Jesus, the Bible is our:

1. True north,
2. Moral compass,
3. Authority for determining right from wrong.

The Apostle Paul wrote about this in his second letter to Timothy:

• “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

At times in our lives, we will find ourselves having to make decisions where the scripture does not specifically answer the questions that we have. 

It is in these times that we need to rely on the Holy Spirit to help us. 

It is not a question of using either the Bible OR the Holy Spirit.

We must use both!

There is a relationship between the Bible and the Holy Spirit:

1. The Bible tells us “what” God commands us to do,
2. The Holy Spirit allows us to “feel” God’s presence and make decisions that please Him.

The Bible and the Holy Spirit will always agree, and will never contradict one another.  

John wrote about this in his first epistle:

• “By this, you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist.” – 1 John 4:2.

GOD, JESUS, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

There is a special relationship between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  

As we have discussed, they are always in agreement and never contradict one another.  

Jesus said:

• “I and the Father are one.” – John 10:30.

There are multiple passages in the Bible where God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are mentioned at the same time.

We will highlight three of them in today’s study:

1. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” - Mathew 28:19,
2. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” - 2 Corinthians 13:14,
3. “To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” – 1 Peter 1:1-2.

CONCLUSION

God sent the Holy Spirit to help us.  

We receive the Holy Spirit when we are baptized.

Unlike the Bible which teaches us through words, The Holy Spirit helps us through feelings and emotions. 

These feelings must always align completely with the teachings of the Bible.  

If they do not, the feelings did not originate from the Holy Spirit.  

God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are separate entities that always align and never contradict each other.

Between the Bible and the Holy Spirit, we have been given everything that we need to successfully navigate life as faithful Christians.  

We will end today’s lesson by revisiting our focus verse from earlier in the lesson:

• “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.” – John 14:26.