Barnes church of Christ

What is the “The modus operandi of the Holy Spirit,” or what is “the method of procedure; especially: the distinct pattern or method of operation” of the Holy Spirit in the cases of conviction and conversion in the New Testament? Many in the world of “Christendom” (those who claim to be Christians) regard the work of the Holy Spirit as a mystery. By the word “mystery” is meant: a religious truth that can be known only by revelation but cannot be fully understood; an experience which baffles the mind or that cannot be fully understood by reason and less strictly, to whatever resists or defies explanation. At least this expresses some of what many believe about how the Holy Spirit works in conviction, conversion, and sanctification. It is believed that the Holy Spirit must work directly upon the heart in each of these three areas and that the experience may be different to some degree in each case!
As stated by one writer: “The world is a sinful place, and one of the Holy Spirit’s tasks is to convict the world of its sin. No amount of preaching, pleading, or pointing of fingers will bring about the conviction of sin, unless the Holy Spirit is at work in the sinner’s heart. It is the Spirit’s job to convict.” (Not sure just who wrote these words, but they were taken from: “S. Michael Houdmann, President, GotQuestions.org). Yet, when reading “The Acts of the Apostles” the first thing that is noticed, is the preaching of the gospel, which the Holy Spirit guided the apostle Paul to write: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:16-17). Question, “Is the gospel God’s power unto salvation, or is it not God’s power unto salvation?” The words of Peter, which the Holy Spirit guided him into writing are important here: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Pet. 1:23-25). Did you notice, that it is by the incorruptible seed that we are “born again?” Did you notice, that it is “by the word of God,” that we are “born again?” Did you notice, that it is “the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever?” Did you notice, that “this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you?” The “incorruptible seed,” “the word of God,” and “the gospel” are one and the same “which liveth and abideth forever!”
Now, let us read right into chapter two: “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:1-2). You may not have ever read these words, the end of chapter one and the beginning of chapter two, together before. But the Holy Spirit put them together and there they should stay! The new birth is accomplished, “born again,” by means of the “incorruptible,” by mean of “the word of God;” and our spiritual growth is continued by the same word of God! Is the Holy Spirit at work here? Yes, it was by means of the Holy Spirit guiding the apostles into “all truth” that we have the “incorruptible” word by which we are “born again” and by which we grow! The word of God is “The modus operandi of the Holy Spirit” in conviction, conversion, and sanctification!
Let us take the case of when “the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem.” Luke is very brief in recording the event and writes: “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). There is not one word about the Holy Spirit, but we would be amiss to conclude that the Holy Spirit was not at work in these convictions and conversions! That there were convictions and conversions, is simply understood in the words, “the number of the disciples multiplied;” for this cannot take place without conviction and conversion! Was the Holy Spirit at work in these convictions and conversion? Yes! For Luke wrote: “the word of God increased;” and it was the work of the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles, and in this case it appears it includes those upon whom the apostles had laid their hands and imparted spiritual gifts, for the seven were required to be “full of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:3). Then, Luke continued to report: “and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, the other six names are then given; therefore, there can be no doubt that these men who were engaged in the word being “increased” were guided by the Holy Spirit and convictions, conversion, and sanctification, followed: “the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly!” Therefore, “The modus operandi of the Holy Spirit” in conviction, conversion, sanctification, stands in the truth preached!
My friends, if you are waiting for a direct work of the Holy Spirit upon your heart/mind, then, you are waiting on the wrong thing! Hear the gospel, God’s power unto salvation, believe it, and obey it!

— Frank R. Williams

The articles, which this is the fourth, is where we are pre-supposing that the Holy Spirit is a mystery. This is not to say that it is true! It is in fact, an accommodating term, as so many believe it to be true! In the last article, “the modus operandi of the Holy Spirit” was set forth in one example. It was also pointed out, that once a truth is obtained, it is always true as it relates to the same subject.
It is necessary, at least in the mind of some, to prove a truth more than once; therefore, in the case of the so-called “mystery of the Holy Spirit” we are more than glad to accommodate. In the third article, it was pointed out that the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles in Acts chapter two, verses one through four. In so doing, he started his role of guiding them into “all truth” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit acted upon the lost, but he did so through the words spoken by the apostles; as the conclusion is reached in the first part of Peter’s sermon, Luke wrote that Peter said: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). It is the next words of Luke that he gives us “the modus operandi of the Holy Spirit” as he works through the apostles of Christ: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (verse 37). Let us here notice the words, ‘pricked in their heart.” The Greek word is “katanussō” and it means: “to pierce thoroughly,” and “metaphorically to pain the mind sharply.” Now, just what was it that “pained their minds sharply?” It was the words spoken by the apostles, given to them by the Holy Spirit! Therefore, the Holy Spirit worked through the words preached by the apostles! It was the words, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart.” Here is “the modus operandi of the Holy Spirit” in conversion!
It would be a total mistake to think, or to conclude, that the Holy Spirit was not at work in the above case of conversion! The Holy Spirit was doing just as Jesus said he would do: “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin” (John 16:8). Remember from article number three, the word “reprove” is the Greek “elegchō” and means: “to convict,” and “generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted,” then, “by conviction to bring to the light, to expose.” Therefore, Luke recorded their reaction: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (verse 37). There is “the modus operandi of the Holy Spirit” and the so-called “mystery of the Holy Spirit” is removed!
But, let us take up another case of “conviction” – conversion! When Peter reached the conclusion of what is called his second sermon; he said: “And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers” (Acts 3:17). These words are very much like those of Act 2:36; but there is no cry from those who heard here. Therefore, Peter continued: “But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled” (verse 18). It is important to notice what we have here. We have the gospel preacher, we have the gospel being preached; therefore, we have the Holy Spirit guiding the preacher (Peter) into truth! Thus, we are witnessing “the modus operandi of the Holy Spirit,” but, do we have “conviction?” Peter followed with these words: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” (verse 19). Luke does not report any “convictions;” therefore, no conversion! However, the Holy Spirit was at work, but he was working through preached gospel; which is God’s power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16).
There is no direct operation upon the heart of the sinner by the Holy Spirit, as this is not “the modus operandi of the Holy Spirit!” Is there a “THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” in these two cases? No, not at all. To have the power of salvation in the Holy Spirit directly, would make the words of Paul to the Romans worthless: “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:15-16).
Friends, it is a reproach upon the gospel of Christ, to teach that one must have a direct action of the Holy Spirit upon the heart of the sinner in conversion! It is to say the gospel is powerless, where the Holy Spirit through Paul said, “the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” It was the Holy Spirit who guided Paul as he wrote these words; so, why stand ye against the Holy Spirit?

Frank R. Williams

Breathe easy, as the “New Year” is to start today; that the first article of the year is calling upon you to make no New Year’s resolutions; that few, very few, ever keep anyway! So, why not make a “New Year’s Resolution” for losing weight during the year 2017? Yes, these words were written just to prove that we never keep those resolutions that we make! So, I have told you I will not call upon you to make any “New Year’s Resolutions,” then, the first thing I did was to call upon you to do this that!
Seriously now, the person who has no desire to get better, to make himself a better person, to improve himself, may not be much of a person! This is based upon the fact, that we have no “perfect,” no flawless people walking among us today! Yet, we hear say: “Accept me just the way I am, for this is who I am!” Such a person is revealing that they have no desire to improve! How sad! But think about this, once there was a person who walked upon this earth, who was “perfect,” who was without flaw, and who was without sin! Peter wrote of him: “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Pet. 2:22-23). Yet, few honored him, as he should have been honored and should be honored today! In fact, listen to their cry when Pilate asked them: “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” (Matt. 27:22). Are you listening? “They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.” Yes, Pilate even set a man of “murder” before them, as Luke wrote: “I will therefore chastise him (Jesus, frw), and release him. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him” (Luke 23:16-21). There was no honor for him who was “perfect,” “without flaw,” and who had no sin!
So, shall we be honored who are far less than “perfect,” who have our flaws, and who commit sin? First, in our thinking, let us remember Paul’s words to those in Athens: “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device” (Acts 17:28-29). No, we do not look for our God to be made out of “gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device;” a god that can and was destroyed by invading armies; a god neglected by the hands of man. One of the things I noticed while preaching the gospel in India, was that I would come upon area full of “their gods” and they were totally neglected and abandoned, as the grass and the weeds grew up about them! What a difference between the ideas of man and his gods and God and his idea of man! Those who follow the world, think they can make their own gods; while God created man! Thanks,be to God, who provided us with a means to handle and forgiveness of our imperfections, our flaws, and our sins! John wrote: “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 1:9 – 2:2). There is our God and his plans for our imperfections, our flaws, and our sins! It is from the creator to the created!
Did you notice John’s words: “that ye sin not?” Even though God has an answer for our sins; this is not to create within a desire to sin! No, this is a loving Father, through his beloved Son, providing a way of forgiveness, not creating a desire to sin! Remember the cost of our redemption from sin: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).
So, did I hear anyone say, “I have no desire to improve myself in the year 2017?” My friend, my brothers and sisters in Christ, is this what you think of the “precious blood of Christ?”

Frank R. Williams

The year 2017 AD is upon us; therefore, it seems good that we take advantage of the time to look at something that has taken place, which has largely gone unnoticed by the majority of us. If you have not noticed, you should notice that a change has taken place without much “fanfare,” but it identifies a major change in the way the world is thinking! The change of which I write is at the heart of time and the way it is identified! Here is what the “Wise GEEK” – clear answers for common questions”– says about this subject:
“The term BC is short for “Before Christ.” Historical dates before the birth of Christ become smaller as they approach the theoretical but non-existent Year Zero. Historical dates after the birth of Christ are classified as AD, short for the Latin phrase Anno Domini, or “in the year of our Lord.” Contrary to popular belief, AD does not stand for “After Death.” The BC/AD system for identifying historical dates has been in continuous use ever since the earliest part of the Middle Ages, at least.” (The Middle Ages or medieval period lasted from the 5th to the 15th century.)
Then, this important information is given to aid our understanding as it relates to the subject:
“Several centuries after the AD/BC identification of historical dates became popular, a new movement developed among scientists, historians and some religious leaders. The time following the birth of Christ was now referred to as the “Vulgar Era” in some circles. The meaning of the word vulgar actually meant ‘common’ at that time, not distasteful or obscene. Eventually many areas of the Western world adopted the less Christ-centered term “Common Era.” Historical dates occurring before the year 1 CE would be considered BCE, short for “Before Common Era.”
So, what is the point? The point is that the change from “BC” and “AD” to the modern terms “BCE” and “CE” is an effort to remove the birth of Jesus as the turning point in time! Once more a quote from “Wise GEEK” will help our understanding:
“The relatively new BCE/CE reference for historical dates has had its share of supporters and critics. Critics view the new system as an attempt to remove the religious significance inherent in the BC/AD system. The BCE/CE method of assigning historical dates also fails to fix the BC/AD system’s lack of a practical Year Zero. Modern scholars believe the actual birth of Christ would fall around 7 to 4 BC, which renders the actual year of 1  AD relatively meaningless historically.”
“Supporters of the BCE/CE method of identifying historical dates say the removal of Christian references works as a bridge between different religions and cultures. The BC/AD system appears to endorse Jesus Christ as the superior world religious figure, which could be viewed as disrespectful of other religions and belief structures. Although the birth of Christ is still used as a reference in the BCE/CE system, the Christian influence is not as apparent.”
This is given for your consideration, to help you understand how the world we live in is changing before our eyes, and many of us have failed to notice it!
The “world” will not miss any opportunity, nor will it miss any area, to remove Christ from the minds of the peoples of the world. One such effort is to change the terms by which time is identified! The funny thing here, is that those who are promoting this effort, are still recognizing the same “point” in time, “the birth of Jesus,” as the point time changed! The BC and the AD was before the birth of Jesus and the after the birth of Jesus. The modern terms, BCE and CE still use the birth of Jesus at the point that time changed! From the birth of Jesus, the arrow points backwards and the years get larger the more one moves away from it; while on the other hand, the arrow points forward and the years get larger the more one moves away from the birth of Jesus.
It is a change without change, but nevertheless, it is an effort to change the thinking of the peoples of the world! It is an effort to remove Jesus from the center, the point at which time changes! The use of CE in Jewish scholarship was historically motivated by the desire to avoid the implicit “Our Lord” in the abbreviation AD. “Our Lord,” of course, refers to Jesus, the Christ. A point which is not hard to understand as the Jews deny that Jesus of Nazareth is “Jehovah’s” Lord (Psa. 110:1)!

Frank R. Williams

(Editor’s note: We will return to the subject: “THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” in the first or second article of 2017, the Lord willing.)

The title under which these articles are written pre-supposes that the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Here are two questions that might help with the subject: Is the Holy Spirit more of a mystery than God the Father; or, Is the Holy Spirit more of a mystery than “the Word” which became flesh? It is surprising that some, maybe many, would answer these two questions with a ‘yes’! Therefore, another question comes to mind; why is this the case in the mind of so many?
One of the major considerations of the mystery about the Holy Spirit is a failure to understand what can rightly be called: “The modus operandi of the Holy Spirit.” There you have the only “big” words in the vocabulary of this writer! Just what do they mean: “a method of procedure; especially: a distinct pattern or method of operation that indicates how the Holy Spirit works.” Once this is determined, most of the “mystery” is removed! Keep in mind, once a truth is learned, it is always truth.
Just what does that last statement mean? It means, once you learn that repentance is necessary to be saved; it is understood that every time a person is saved in the age of Christ; the age when the authority of Christ is the law, then it should never be taught that anyone is saved without repentance. This is the case even when the word repent(ance) is not in the text! Luke wrote of some: “Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand” (Acts 4:4). The word, saved does not even appear in this text, but it is understood that those who “heard the word” and “believed” were saved! So, is it necessary to repent before one is saved? Peter said: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Two things are clearly established here: 1) repent and 2) baptized, both come before “the remission of sins!” If this is true one time, and it is, then, it is true every time! Therefore, once a truth is learned, it is always truth and must be understood in every context of salvation! It is true that many do not like this; in fact, some deny it and will go to their graves unwilling to accept it!
With this in mind, let us turn our attention to the “modus operandi” of the Holy Spirit. Once we learn “the method of procedure; especially: a distinct pattern or method of operation that indicates how the Holy Spirit works” in one case of conversion; this truth must then be understood in each case of conversion! When this is done, the so-called mystery is removed in regard to the Holy Spirit and his work in conversion. Jesus said: “And when he (Holy Spirit, frw) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, …” (John 16:8). The word “reprove” is the Greek “elegchō” and means: “to convict …; 1a) generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted 1b) by conviction to bring to the light, to expose.” Therefore, the work of the Holy Spirit is to convict, while bringing to shame the person so convicted. The question, how does the Holy Spirit do this; what is “the modus operandi” of the Holy Spirit in conviction? Here is what one writer said: “No amount of preaching, pleading, or pointing of fingers will bring about the conviction of sin, unless the Holy Spirit is at work in the sinner’s heart. It is the Spirit’s job to convict.” However, this is not what we learn by studying what Luke wrote! Notice in the case of the first convictions: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:36-37). Did you notice the words: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart?” The “pricked in their heart” is equal to “conviction of sin” and repressing “shame!” The Holy Spirit was speaking through the apostles and it was to the apostles that their question was addressed: “and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Finally, Peter answers their “conviction” in these words: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (verse 38). There is the Holy Spirit’s modus operandi in conviction!
Frank R. Williams
The title under which these articles are written pre-supposes that the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Here are two questions that might help with the subject: Is the Holy Spirit more of a mystery than God the Father; or, Is the Holy Spirit more of a mystery than “the Word” which became flesh? It is surprising that some, maybe many, would answer these two questions with a ‘yes’! Therefore, another question comes to mind; why is this the case in the mind of so many?
One of the major considerations of the mystery about the Holy Spirit is a failure to understand what can rightly be called: “The modus operandi of the Holy Spirit.” There you have the only “big” words in the vocabulary of this writer! Just what do they mean: “a method of procedure; especially: a distinct pattern or method of operation that indicates how the Holy Spirit works.” Once this is determined, most of the “mystery” is removed! Keep in mind, once a truth is learned, it is always truth.
Just what does that last statement mean? It means, once you learn that repentance is necessary to be saved; it is understood that every time a person is saved in the age of Christ; the age when the authority of Christ is the law, then it should never be taught that anyone is saved without repentance. This is the case even when the word repent(ance) is not in the text! Luke wrote of some: “Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand” (Acts 4:4). The word, saved does not even appear in this text, but it is understood that those who “heard the word” and “believed” were saved! So, is it necessary to repent before one is saved? Peter said: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Two things are clearly established here: 1) repent and 2) baptized, both come before “the remission of sins!” If this is true one time, and it is, then, it is true every time! Therefore, once a truth is learned, it is always truth and must be understood in every context of salvation! It is true that many do not like this; in fact, some deny it and will go to their graves unwilling to accept it!
With this in mind, let us turn our attention to the “modus operandi” of the Holy Spirit. Once we learn “the method of procedure; especially: a distinct pattern or method of operation that indicates how the Holy Spirit works” in one case of conversion; this truth must then be understood in each case of conversion! When this is done, the so-called mystery is removed in regard to the Holy Spirit and his work in conversion. Jesus said: “And when he (Holy Spirit, frw) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, …” (John 16:8). The word “reprove” is the Greek “elegchō” and means: “to convict …; 1a) generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted 1b) by conviction to bring to the light, to expose.” Therefore, the work of the Holy Spirit is to convict, while bringing to shame the person so convicted. The question, how does the Holy Spirit do this; what is “the modus operandi” of the Holy Spirit in conviction? Here is what one writer said: “No amount of preaching, pleading, or pointing of fingers will bring about the conviction of sin, unless the Holy Spirit is at work in the sinner’s heart. It is the Spirit’s job to convict.” However, this is not what we learn by studying what Luke wrote! Notice in the case of the first convictions: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:36-37). Did you notice the words: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart?” The “pricked in their heart” is equal to “conviction of sin” and repressing “shame!” The Holy Spirit was speaking through the apostles and it was to the apostles that their question was addressed: “and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Finally, Peter answers their “conviction” in these words: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (verse 38). There is the Holy Spirit’s modus operandi in conviction!

Frank R. Williams

One of the failures of the readers of the Old Testament is not knowing that the word “God,” more often than not, is the Hebrew word “el-o-heem’” which appears over 2,500 times in the Old Testament. This is a plural word which is translated into the singular and is used in the opening statement of the Bible: “In the beginning God (el-o-heem’) created the heaven and the earth.” If this word had been translated into the English, “Godhead,” no harm would have been done to the text and would have in fact made it more clear! For it is not one member of the “Godhead” who created “the heavens and the earth,” but all three members!
John, the apostle, in his opening statement in “The Gospel According to John” wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1-3). Thus, the “Word,” which was “made flesh” as stated in verse fourteen; which we commonly refer to as the second member of the Godhead, was active in the creation of Genesis one, verse one. Also, in the second verse of Genesis, Moses wrote: “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” There is no doubt that the “Godhead,” known in the New Testament as: 1) the Father, 2) the Son, and 3) the Holy Spirit, were active in creation; but not only in creation. The Godhead was active in most of the activity throughout the Old Testament when the word “God” is used. While in the New Testament, the action is more individual action. This is not to say, that the three of the Godhead did not have different activities, even in creation, but the word used is “el-o-heem” which identifies the three: the Godhead!
As noted in the first article, the word “Godhead” appears three times in the New Testament. A few words about the three different words used by Paul, as he is the one who used the word, “Godhead.” First, Acts 17:29: “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead (theios) is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” This Greek word was used in two ways; first among the Greeks: “a general name of deities or divinities as used by the Greeks; and second, as Paul used it: “spoken of the only and true God, trinity.” The Greeks, those in Athens to whom Paul was speaking, made their “theios” out of gold, silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device, but Paul was teaching that THE Godhead was no such! For he had just said: “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring” (verse 28). Did any of their gods give them life and being? No! But the “Godhead” of which Paul spoke did!
The second Greek word used in Paul is letter to the church at Rome, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead (theiotēs) ; so that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20). Here the apostle is writing about the eternal power and Godhead; and the word is nowhere else used in the New Testament. The word he used means: “divinity, divine nature.” It is the divine nature, or essence of all that is God and it is revealed “by the things that are made,” which are seen; and get this, it is important here to notice Paul’s next words: “so that they are without excuse!” The things that shout out to all that will hear, God exists!
The third Greek word is used by Paul in his letter to the Colossians: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead (theotēs) bodily (Col 2:9). The Greek used here means: “Deity 1a) the state of being God.” It might help, to say Christ “the infinite attributes essential to such a nature” (Adam Clarke). This word also appears nowhere else in the New Testament!
So, what do we learn from this? We learn that each of the three, better known in the New Testament, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are all that is God; and when viewed as one, they are the “Godhead.” This prepares us for a more fuller study of our subject: “THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!”

Frank R. Williams

The Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead which throughout the Old Testament is known as the One God! However, the word “Godhead” is never used in the Old Testament to identify this One God! God is known as One God, even though a plural word is used throughout the Old Testament. In fact, the first sentence in the Bible uses a plural Hebrew word, which is translated into English using the singular form. Moses wrote: “In the beginning God (el-o-heem’) created the heavens and the earth.” The Hebrew word translated “God” appears more than 2,500 times in the Hebrew Bible. Therefore, more than likely, when you read the word “God” in the Old Testament, it is the Hebrew word “eloheem!” You can see the plural nature of the word as Moses wrote: “And God (eloheem) said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: …” Notice the plural pronouns used with the word “God,” (el-o-heem’) “us” and “our” in the text! Thus, we have the Godhead, without the use of the word itself!
Therefore, throughout the Old Testament it is the “eloheem,” the “Godhead” that is being addressed! It is most important to understand that the relationship of Father and Son, common in New Testament, is not present in the Old Testament and this is a most important point to keep in mind! This relationship is a New Testament relationship and not an Old Testament one! However, it is prophesied of in Psalms: “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psa. 110:1). Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew 22:44. Jesus was David’s LORD (Jehovah) as Deity and David’s “Lord,” and son as fleshly descendant; therefore, Jesus while on earth was both flesh and Deity and the Father and Son relationship is also established in the fulfillment of this great prophecy! In the Old Testament, the word “eloheem” refers to the “Godhead” and is the force in most of the action! It is not the action of one member of the “Godhead,” but the “Godhead” itself that is being written about throughout the Old Testament! This means the Holy Spirit is active in the action of the Old Testament!
To help our understanding of the Godhead and the Hebrew words used, let us turn to Moses giving the Law to Israel in Exodus twenty: “And God (el-o-heem’) spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD (yeh-ho-vaw’, better known as “Jehovah”) thy God (el-o-heem’), which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Ex. 20:1-2). First, notice Moses, by the Holy Spirit, used two Hebrew words: 1) “eloheem” translated “God,” which is a plural term and is the same word used in Genesis chapter one, verse one. Second, notice the word “LORD” is in all capital letters in the King James Version and is the Hebrew “yehhovaw,” but in the American Standard Version is “Jehovah.” The Hebrew word “eloheem” is, as noted above, the word most often used by Moses in the Old Testament in the first five books, then, by other writers throughout the other books also. This Hebrew word, “eloheem,” a plural translated into a singular, might be better understood, had it been translated into our English word “Godhead” as it includes the three that are better understood in the New Testament relationship: 1) Father, 2) Son, and 3) Holy Spirit. The first statement in the Bible could read: “In the beginning the Godhead created the heavens and the earth” and verse twenty-six would read: “And the Godhead said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:…” Finally just here, as Moses gave the Law, it would read: “And Godhead spake all these words, saying.” The action of the Old Testament is that of the Godhead, and it is not just one member acting alone! Therefore, the Holy Spirit is included in this action!
The word Godhead appears but three times in the King James Version of the Bible and is in the New Testament: 1) Paul used the word in Athens when he said: “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead (theios) is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device” (Acts 17:29); 2) when he wrote to the Romans: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead (theiotēs); so that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20); and 3) in his letter to the Colossians: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead (theotēs) bodily” (Col. 2:9). It must be noted that Paul used three different Greek words in the three verses: 1) theios, 2) theiotes, and 3) theotes. These three words are related and this relationship will be noted in the second article.
If one is to understand the Holy Spirit, it is necessary to have some knowledge of the Godhead. It is hoped that this first article has built a foundation upon which to build a better understand of the subject: “THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.”

Frank R. Williams

It should be one of the easiest things to do, to just be thankful; for the abundance this nation has, but it appears that not all are so grateful. We have so much national health, that our poverty is above the national level of many nation’s average income! People are leaving their home counties, traveling many miles through dangerous lands, all to cross our borders and live in the United States of America! If we do not think we have a land of abundance, these folks sure do!
We may or may not like the people who are elected to the highest offices of our nation, but at least we get to vote; while much of the world’s people have little to say about who dictates to them in matters of everyday life! We are about to witness a change in national leadership and the power of the President will be handed over without a shot being fired (at least we trust this is the case); for we live in a country founded by the wisdom of our “fathers” who established a federal republic. For those who may not understand just what a “federal republic” is, the following is given: “a country that is governed by elected representatives and by an elected leader;” then, “there is a division of powers between the federal government and the government of the individual subdivisions. While each federal republic manages this division of powers differently, common matters relating to security and defense, and monetary policy are usually handled at the federal level, while matters such as infrastructure maintenance and education policy are usually handled at the regional or local level.” We should be thankful for the wisdom of our “founding fathers!”
However, for those who will take the time to read this article, we are more concerned about spiritual matters! If we are a member of the Lord’s church, which he purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28), then, we are members of the greatest, most precious institution on the face of the earth, bar none! Read as Paul describes her: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for her; That he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, That he might present her to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that she should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:25 – 32). Is there a greater love, than that which Christ has for the church which wears his name and purchased with his blood? We should be, no, we must be thankful that we have been allowed to be part of this body so loved by Christ!
Then, give some thought to these grand truths! As a child of the Heavenly Father, we can go to him at any time; when our heart is broken and our eyes are filled with tears, because of events that are beyond our control; when we realize that we have yielded to sin and we need forgiveness from him seated on the throne and we remember: “for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:15-16). Here the spirit finds peace; the peace of which Paul wrote: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). Here is a peace that stands in the face of war, natural disasters, manmade tragedies, and personal sins; for God has the answer, as Jesus said to the troubled disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3)
So, what about Thanksgiving? To the child of God, every day is a day of thanksgiving; for so many reasons! Yet, it is good that our national leaders saw fit to set aside one day of the year and call it Thanksgiving Day! The following are the words of President Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863, in his Proclamation “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

Frank R. Williams

The days of the week are numbered, but many people fail to understand that Sunday is “the first day of the week.” The reason for this is easy to understand. Our thinking is centered around the work week and Monday is the first day of the week for most people; therefore, it is easy to think of it as the first day of the week. However, for the spiritually minded “the first day of the week” has an entirely different meaning. It is the start of the new week!
This is the day Jesus was resurrected; as Mark wrote: “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, …” (Mark 16:9). It is the day of victory; victory over the grave, victory over death, and it is the evidence of victory over sin, for Paul wrote: “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (I Cor. 15:17). “The first day of the week” is the day Christians assembled to worship God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24); under the oversight of the apostles of Christ: “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, …” (Acts 20:7). It appears that John, the apostle, called “the days of the week” “the Lord’s day” in “The Apokalupsis of Jesus Christ,” (Rev. 1:1) for he wrote: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, …” (verse 9). Though some may desire to debate what day John has reference too, what other day is more identified with Jesus than “the first day of the week?” It is the day those who have been purchased by “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:19) come together in local assemblies to worship the heavenly Father through Christ! Yes, “the first day of the week” is the Lord’s day!
It may seem unusual to some, but for others it is not unusual at all, for they have assembled with the saints on “the first day of the week” so long and so many times, it has become a natural part of life. It does not even require any thinking, for just as surely as Sunday follows Saturday, these saints have prepared and gone to worship on “the first day of the week” it is a natural part of life! Long ago, as they grew out of childhood these saints left behind such words, “do I have to go;” and it has become a blessed honor, a natural act of life to worship the One True God on “the first day of the week!” To these adult saints, the words have changed from, “do I have to go,” to “do I have to miss?”
You see, worshiping the Heavenly Father on “the first day of the week” has become the first important act of the new week: “the first of the week!” The whole week is out of order, Monday is not Monday; the event of the week is missing and cannot be made up, and it cannot be replaced! The words of the Psalms “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psa. 122:1). If we put these words into New Testament language, it might read like this: “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go to the assembly on the first day of the week and worship God!” These words express the heart and spirit of the saint, who is preparing himself for a new week! Life is missing a life-giving spirit when for some reason, not an excuse, for missing the assembly of worship; but a reason which requires that he miss “the first day of the week” assembly of worship; the time when the spirit is refreshed and he is ready to face the world for another week!
It sounds strange to most of the world and some members of the Lord’s church, to write about how negatively it affects one’s life to be forced to miss “the first day of the week” assembly of worship. When this day has been the beginning of a new week for nearly fifty years; when one has enjoyed seeing the faces of brothers and sisters in Christ, rain or shine; when one has added his voice (though some question the quality) to fellow saints in singing praises in spiritual songs and adding his amen to the prayers spoken to the Heavenly Father through Christ; yes, it is not easy to get used to missing!
Some of the more common words are: “What day is this?” Is this Monday or Tuesday?” You see, “the first day of the week” is just that, “the first day of the week” and to the Christian other days follow it in a natural order. But miss “the first day of the week” worship assembly and the whole week is out of order and so is a lot of other things!

Frank R. Williams

The title is a relative question as it has within it the word “too” which is defined by the young to mean one age and the older folks to mean another age. Some years ago, when teaching a Bible class, I pointed out just how old “old” is keeps changing. When I was fifteen, forty years old was “old;” but when I got to be forty, it was no longer old. So, I stated that I was not sure just how old one had to be to be old! A little “old” lady in the class quickly replied: “76, I am 76 and I am old!” I was just old enough and wise enough not to object! By her standard, I am now an “old man!” But the point is, “too old” is a movable age and it depends a lot on your own age. Should I live to be hundred and five years old, which has been my goal for many years, seventy-six will not be so “old!”
The title of this article, “Do you ever grow too old,” is a reference to a time in your life when you have gone beyond the point of something! In other words, you reach an age when something is not going to happen to you; therefore, you are not in need of another something. Yes, these are vague but deliberately so. The reason is to give you time to think before we get to the real subject, but we have now arrived at the point for the real subject.
The real subject of this article, “Do you ever grow too old,” to be tempted, and sin; therefore, in need of forgiveness? First, tempted does not imply that one has sinned; for Jesus “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). Therefore, being “tempted” does not imply sin! The word “tempted” (the Greek – peirazō) means: “2b, in a bad sense, to test one maliciously, craftily to put to the proof his feelings or judgments 2c) to try or test one’s faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin 2c1) to solicit to sin, to tempt.” This larger definition is given so the reader may get a fuller view of the subject. It should be easy to see, that every effort is being made to produce sin by means of temptation! Temptation does not mean sin, but it is the effort to produce sin! And no, we never “grow too old” to be tempted!
Second, seeing that we never “grow too old” to be tempted, it should be easy enough to see that we never “grow too old” to sin! By the malicious, crafty enticement of the nature of sin, sometimes we yield to it even though we have grown “old!” It may be true, that the nature of the malicious, crafty enticement has changed as we get older, but it does not stop. Therefore, it may not be the same group of temptations that are set before the “older” folks, but another group of temptations. Nevertheless, the end result of all temptation is the same; therefore, let us no matter our age remember Peter’s words: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Us “older” folks are just as required as the young people, to “be sober, be vigilant” as our “adversary” (antidikos = opponent, enemy) never gives up and he has many agents! We must be fully aware of Satan and his agents: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Cor. 11:14-15). No, we “never grow too old’ to be tempted, nor to sin!
This naturally brings us to a third point, if: 1) we “never grow too old” to be tempted; 2) we “never grow too old” to commit sin; then, 3) we “never grow too old” to be in need of forgiveness! Give thought to these words, now that you are “older:” “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain” (James 4:13); as “older” folks these are not our thought as they belong more to the young. However, James continued with: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (verse 14); wherefore, we should understand that we are in the “vanisheth away” stage of life! This Greek words (aphanizō) means: “to snatch out of sight, to put out of view, to make unseen.” Do these words describe the “older” age or what? We become less and less seen, less viewed, and so we are finally unseen!
However, we “never grow too old,” in fact, we are at the prime time in life to heed the words of James as he concludes his thought: “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (verse 15). Our time is growing nearer, temptations will come, sins will be committed, but thanks be to God: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)!

Frank R. Williams