The Holy Spirit

In this paper, I will review Robert Gromacki’s book The Holy Spirit: Who He is, What He Does I will detail what I feel the book is about. I will emphasize various points given by the author that stood out to me. Finally, I will give my personal evaluation of the book.

Acts of the Apostles chronicles the rapid advancement of the Gospel by way of the gift of the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles: The Charismatic Community in Mission” takes into account the narratives succeeding Pentecost including Spirit Baptisms from Samaria to Ephesus (Acts

“The primary role of the Holy Spirit in Luke-Acts is empowerment to witness, not prophecy or conversion. Luke’s main point is that Jesus is the Spirit-anointed Messiah and that he both spoke and performed wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus in Luke-Acts the recipients of the Holy Spirit are, like Moses, ‘mighty in word and deeds’ (acts 7:22), even as Jesus himself was “might in deed and word (Luke 24:19) Luke does not show as much interest as Paul in the Spirit’s role in conversion and who believers are in Christ; rather power for mission catches the majority of Luke’s attention fundamental concern is to show how the witness concerning Jesus spread. Luke is not averse to

• Acts 1:8 (ch. 17)- But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come

The Holy Spirit of God is the active force or power in one’s life, which most certainly includes spiritual formation (Pettit, 2008, p. 46). When Jesus was speaking with his disciples he made it clear – by using the analogy of a vine and branches – that apart from him they could do nothing (John 15:5). Only if one is connected to Christ will they have the ability to bear fruit and the way Jesus empowers those connected to him is through the Holy Spirt that that father will send in his name (John 14:26). The fact is that the triune God dwells in the Christian in and through the Holy Spirit. One sees this when they place multiple passages together to gain a full understanding of this concept. For example, Jesus made it clear that he and the father would come and make their home with the disciple (John 14:23). In 1 Corinthians 6:19 Paul reminds the Corinthians that their bodies are the very temple of God because the Holy Spirit dwells in them which is similar to what Jesus said would happen when he sent the Holy Spirit after his resurrection and ascension (John 14:17, 16:7).

The book of Acts was written by Luke and was written "no later than the 60's” (Elwell and Yarbrough). Luke wrote Acts after he finished his Gospel. There are two very important key themes within this book. One is the beginning of the Church/the beginning of the Christian movement and the power of the Holy Spirit within the followers of Christ. In the beginning of Acts we see that Jesus is preparing his people for when He returns to heaven. In Acts 1:8 Jesus says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem...” Jesus is leaving the Holy Spirit with His people so they will be witnesses to those around them

In Acts 2:1-4, Paul recounts Pentecost as the ultimate outpouring of the Holy Spirit to all believers, indwelling and granting them with spiritual gifts. Ephesians 4:11-12 explains that these Spirit-given

The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, and is equal in essence and in power in the Trinity to the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit was originally sent by Jesus after his ascension into heaven, Jesus himself saying that he would send a “helper” after he departed from the earth. This spirit is worshipped just as the Father and the Son are, and also participated in the creation of the world, sustaining and giving life continually to all things, and exhibits the uniqueness and characteristics of the third person in the Trinity. This is the same Holy Spirit that divinely inspired the infallible word of God, and although the canon is now closed, the Holy Spirit still works powerfully and constantly in the life of the church and in believers. The Holy Spirit is the giver of spiritual gifts, which are given at conversion and help the believer become more like their creator. The presence of the Holy Spirit is evident in the life of all true believers, and this Spirit turns cowardly men into mighty warriors for Christ who accomplish actions way beyond their natural ability.

Christianity believes that the Holy Spirit is the third person of God and is the same as the Son of God. He is the Lord and the Lord of Christ. Catholics and Protestants believe that the Holy Spirit by the Holy Father by the Communists, the Orthodox Church by the Father, the ages of faith, love, worship and worship. For by the grace of God, the Holy Spirit is the only one who is able to give birth to salvation; this salvation is completed by the bloodshed of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Holy Spirit lives in the heart of the believer and becomes our Counselor and sanctifies us. The Spirit comes to reveal and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, to lead us into all truths, and to manifest the sins of the world with righteousness and judgment. Through

God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit constitute the whole context of Catholic religion. We may have a pretty good point on who Jesus Christ was, we may ponder on who God is, but we must also balance the work of the Holy Spirit within the Catholic church and its followers. Often we think of Jesus Christ as related to the Father, but I think his life was highly influenced and his actions were all the more possible through the help of the Holy Spirit. Christ's actual birth is marked by the intervention of the Spirit, Christ himself acknowledges the work of the Spirit done through him and the moment of the baptism is introduced by the descending of the Holy Spirit as a pigeon. Other moments in the Bible describe the presence of the Holy Spirit as well, thus making it obvious that it has had a major influence on the work of Jesus Christ.

The book of Acts, also known as Acts of the Apostles, is the fifth book of the New Testament. It was written by an Anonymous Author, who also wrote the book of Luke, and is usually dated around 80-90AD. It tells of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its message to the Roman Empire.

Acts 1:8 states "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” This told the apostles to preach the gospel among the kingdom, to the world, starting in Jerusalem and then spreading outward. The apostles began doing exactly what Jesus told them to do in the

The various gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in Scripture are conveyed according to the will of the Holy Spirit to every man for the eventual purpose of the edification and building up the church body.

What is the Holy Spirit’s role in salvation? How can sinful man come to the saving knowledge of a Holy God? What part does the Holy Spirit play in regeneration? These are the questions we are going to investigate today. My intention with this sermon is to challenge us and encourage us in the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit in the regeneration of a soul. With that said let us begin our study.

One. The spirit of those who had slept for such a time rose from the ground. Bones, tendons, and flesh appeared on them as a garment. A rip in the sky caused a mighty wind to fall from another world that had an excess of the breath of life. They who were once placed beneath the ground stood on earth with the promised gift of life returned to them. Tears of joy and weeping of gladness filled the land because of what they witnessed. Bedsheets were provided to those resurrected to new life to cover their nakedness. From a distance, the graveyard looked as if thousands of angels, dressed in white gowns, came to visit earth.