Five ministries of the Holy Spirit which occur immediately at the point of salvation*:
1). The Baptism of the Spirit places the believer into UNION with Christ, making each Church Age believer a member of the Body of Christ, the Church, the royal family of God (1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Peter 2:9).
2). The Indwelling of the Spirit transforms the believer’s body into a temple for the simultaneous indwelling of Jesus Christ (The Shekinah Glory—Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:16; cf., Colossians 1:27-29).
3). The Filling of the Spirit is the power for the Christian life and the key to temporal fellowship with God.
4). The Sealing of the Spirit guarantees the eternal security of each member of the royal family—which is you, if you are a believer (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30).
5). A spiritual gift is given to every believer to function as ambassadors on earth (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:11).
“Possessing these five blessings, the believer today has the most phenomenal spiritual privileges of history. The primary purpose of these privileges is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14; Galatians 5:22-23). Whether or not this purpose is fulfilled depends upon the personal choices of the believer.
THE AGENCY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN RESTORATION
In Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30, the Holy Spirit was the agent of restoration of the earth, after the judgment and destruction of original creation. Notice in verse 2 that the earth was without form and void, and encased in ice; and darkness was upon the face of the deep and “the Spirit of God hovered.” Moving or hovering over the earth warmed the surface, melting the ice pack.
The darkened, chaotic earth is analogous to the condition of man’s soul without the new birth. The Holy Spirit is the agent in man’s salvation (or restoration) to God (John 16:7-14. See also John 14;16-17).
What a wonderful, merciful God we serve.
*The preceding Bible Study was quoted in part from the booklet entitled “THE TRINITY,” pages 35, 38, 39, by RBT Bible Ministries. Used with permission.