The Work of the Spirit
Galatians 3:2-6, selected scriptures
By Joe Fauth

Editor’s Note: In this series, Joe is building expositional sermons using the key word study method and referencing the KeyWord Study Bible © from AMG Publishers. Greek terms are marked with their corresponding number from Strong’s dictionary.

Introduction: The Holy Spirit enables a sinner to believe in Christ and empowers the Christian to live for Christ.

Proposition: There are at least four biblical works of the Holy Spirit

I. The Work of Convicting of Sin (John 16:8-9)

KeyWord: “convict” (e¨le¨gcho [1651], “in NT, convict, to prove one in the wrong and thus shame him”). True conviction is not a work of man, but a work of God. Man may be the instrument but it is the work of the Holy Spirit—He is the agent of conviction.

II. The Work of Producing Repentance (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25).

KeyWord: “grant(ed)” (didomi [1325], “To give of one’s own accord and with good will”). Repentance is something that must be granted by God and thus is a gift of grace, not a work of man.

III. The Work of Proclaiming and Revealing Truth to the Heart and Mind (Acts 2:3-4; 1 Pet. 1:12; 1 John 5:7)

KeyWord: “filled with the Holy Spirit” (pletho [4130], “To fill, to make full…to be wholly imbued, affected, influenced with or by something”). As the disciples were controlled by the Holy Spirit, they began to speak the message of salvation in the languages of those who were gathered around them.

IV. The Work of Regeneration (John 3:3-6; Titus 3:5)

KeyWord: “born” (ge¨nnao [1080], “generation, kind, offspring”). This word is an aorist subjunctive, referring to simple, undefined action as opposed to that which is continuous.

KeyWord: “again” (anothe¨n [509], “from above”). Jesus refers to a birth that comes “from above”, i.e. from God in heaven. In other words, before a man can see the kingdom, he must first be born from above—regenerated.

V. The Work of Empowering the Christian to Live for Christ

   A. As a guarantee (Eph. 1:14),

KeyWord: “guarantee” (arrhabon [728], “earnest money, a pledge, something which stands for part of the price, paid beforehand to confirm the transaction…spoken of the Holy Spirit which God has given to believers in the present to assure them of future and eternal inheritance,” (cf. 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5).

   B. As the spiritual fruit producer (Gal. 5:22).

   C. As the One who enables for service (1 Cor. 12:4-7).

   D. As the One who illuminates the Word (John 14:26).

   E. As the One who grows the Church and comforts God’s Children (Acts 9:31).