Communion of the Holy Spirit

Series	Location	Subjects	Takeaways	Sermon Link
Allison on 2 Corinthians	Emmaus Orthodox Presbyterian Church	-	-	-

💡Big Idea

Takeaways and Next Steps

• This verse refutes unitarianism.
• The Holy Spirit is always with believers
• I never have liberty to sin.

📖Bible Passage

2 Corinthians 13.14

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Points

• This verse refutes unitarianism.
  • The three members of the Trinity are indivisible, yet they are distinct from each other.
• The Holy Spirit is always with believers
  • This phrase communion (fellowship) of the Spirit is only in one other verse:
    • Philippians 2.1 If, therefore, there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,
  • Every true believer walks according to the Spirit, not according to our flesh.
    • Romans 8:8-10 Those who are in the flesh can’t please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness. [[Rom-08#v9|]][[Rom-08#v10|]]
    • Ephesians 1:12-14 to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ. In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory. [[Ephes-01#v13|]][[Ephes-01#v14|]]
      • Some people think that the Holy Spirit leaves them. They think that they must do something (fast, pray etc.) in order to get into the Holy Spirit. This is not so. The Holy Spirit is ALWAYS with the true believer.
        • The Bible does not teach the so-called second blessing doctrine that the Pentecostals teach.
        • Even the most immature believer has the Spirit of God.

        • “Your union with Christ, by the Holy Spirit is irreversible. This is what the Scriptures teach.”

      • This does not mean that the true believer always has the same consciousness of the Holy Spirit. It is true that the relationship ebbs and flows.
        • This is like the relationship of a marriage. Marriages also ebb and sometimes feel more distant, but distance alone does not reverse marriage. It does not mean that they are no longer husband and wife.
• If the Holy Spirit is always with me, then this means that I never have liberty to sin.
  • Genesis 39.9 No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
  • John 14.16 I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever:
  • If the Holy Spirit is always with me, if He is always my comforter, Counselor, and guide, how then could I sin? How could I do this great wickedness against Him.
• Notice, Paul, here, does not say the power, or blessing of the Holy Spirit is with you all. He says the communion or fellowship is with you all.
  • The Greek word means something that we share in common together.
  • Paul is saying here “You all here are partakers of the communion with the Holy Spirit”
    • Paul, here, does not say, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is with each of you individually.
  • We must be together with other believers in the body of Christ. We can’t just be solo Christians.
    • We must not only be individual or selfish partakers of the Holy Spirit. We must partake together as a community.
    • 1 Corinthians 12.17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?
    • 1 Corinthians 12.26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
• Marks of the felloship with the Spirit
  • 3. We see every gift from God as an opportunity to bless others.
    • We see everything as not only something that we receive but as something that we turn around and give back out.
    • People often don’t see themselves this way. People often join a church, and yet do not volunteer for any ministry or contribute.
  • 4. We must keep walking in the Spirit
    • In Acts 2 when 3000 people were saved and yet it was not as if they were all done.
      • Acts 2.42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
      • We must continue to walk with the Holy Spirt. We must grow and abide in Him. We must grow together.
• What the Holy Spirit does:
  • The Holy Spirit is also our Comforter. Jesus called The Spirit our Comforter
  • The Holy Spirit also brings us joy.
    • Romans 14.17 for God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
  • He sanctifies us.
  • He brings us Hope.
  • ⭐ If you are a believer, then you ought to be thanking God daily for the comforting, counseling, sanctifying, encouraging ministry of the Holy Spirit
    • Just as a spouse in a marriage may fail to appreciate their spouse, so too we are prone to take the Holy Spirit for granted.
• How does the Holy Spirit do His ministry toward us?
  • 1. First and foremost He does this by applying the Word of God in us.
  • 2. The Holy Spirit sheds light (or understanding) in my life
    • This is what the puritans called the reflex act of faith
    • He shows me what I could not have seen myself. He gives me knowledge and understanding.
  • 3. The Holy Spirit assures us that we are a child of God
  • 4. The Holy Spirit continually supports us throughout our entire lives.

Application

• ❓: Ask yourself What if every acted as I do? Would the church be better off or worse?
• Revelation 22.17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.
  • Come to Him.

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Further Study

• Athanasian Creed

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💬Discussion Questions