What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
After giving a five point introduction on rejoicing in the gospel, Paul gives the Philippians a five point “if-then” condition to consider. The 'if's in 2:1 are, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, 2) if any comfort of love, 3) if any fellowship of the Spirit, 4 & 5) if any bowels and mercies, ...” These all have to do with the function and role of the Holy Ghost. A good pneumatology book states, “When Jesus summarizes a subject, there is no better summary. The one in John 16:7-13 plants the seeds for understanding the person of the Holy Ghost, the purpose of the Holy Ghost, and the methods of the Holy Ghost. This is announced by Christ as a new role for the Holy Spirit of God, a role not seen in the Old Testament.”
The Holy Ghost is not the manifestation of God, Christ is; He does not document truth, the Bible does; He does not unite divergent doctrines, He separates us from them; He is not a “parakeet”, He is a person of the Trinity, and a “Comforter.” On all that Paul stacks up five redundant “if” statements. A 'consolation' is an alleviation of distress of mind as it abates evil; consolation supports and strengthens the mind with hope, joy, courage, and the like. In Luke 2 Simeon “waited for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him” (vr.25). Today believers have the Holy Ghost within them, and out of their “bowels” flows consolation, comfort, fellowship, and mercies. Philippians 2:1 is a full compendium of that. Don't let some misguided charismatic steal that sound doctrine away and entangle you in apostasy. Our Comforter leads into all truth. God blesses a study in pneumatology, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit of God.
An Essay for week #21 - May 22, 2022
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs220522.mp3
Vol 5 Pneumatology www.GSBaptistChurch.com/theology
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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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