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