The primary role of the Holy Spirit in the salvation process is to convict a lost sinner concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn. 16:8-11). This is done through the Spirit-revealed message, the gospel (Rom. 1:16; Eph. 3:3-5).
As someone has said, the leading of the Holy Spirit is never ripped loose from the revealed Word (1 Cor. 2:11-13; 14:37; Heb. 3:7; Acts 7:50-51; etc.). Consequently, the work of the Holy Spirit points to an objective standard, not subjective feelings, in convicting and converting people to Christ.
Another way of looking at this is that people convert to Christ when their faith causes them to obey the gospel. Faith comes from hearing the Word (Rom. 10:17). Biblical faith involves three components: a) conviction of mind; b) trust of heart; and c) surrender of the will.
Yet the Holy Spirit has produced powerful tools, all embedded in the revealed Word, to bring about this faith.
There is evidence to support conviction — eyewitness testimony, supernatural claims, and miraculous works (all backed by Holy Spirit guidance and power).
Trust comes from a realization of the trustworthiness of the Lord — provided by God’s faithful track record and noble intentions toward us (all revealed in the Word).
Finally, surrender results from the conditions of salvation being clearly spelled out — again, a function of the revealed Word. The Spirit continues to speak through the Word (Heb. 3:7). The Hebrew writer is citing Psalm 95 here, which was about a thousand years old at the time he cites it.
When we obey the gospel, we are transferred from darkness into the kingdom (Col. 1:13), we receive “remission of sins” and “the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38), and we are “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13). 1 Cor. 12:13 says that “in one Spirit” we are “baptized into one body.” Somehow the Spirit “sanctifies” us, setting us apart for divine service and making us a part of God’s chosen people (1 Pet. 1:2; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Rom. 15:16).
Since we are also sanctified “by the washing of water with the Word” (Eph. 5:26), some brethren think that revealing the Word is all that the Spirit does for us in sanctification.
I am inclined to think that there is more at work here, and that the Holy Spirit has a role in identifying us with the faithful, but strictly on the level of the heavenly transaction that takes place when we are added to the church and our names are added to the Book of Life.
In any case, Paul mentions the “washing of regeneration” (baptism) and “renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Tit. 3:5-6).
Ultimately, the conviction and conversion process in the sinner’s heart still takes place through the agency of the revealed Word, after which one obeys the gospel. The Holy Spirit renews such a person. The Spirit sanctifies him, marking him out to belong to God.
Now connected to God spiritually, as a cord is plugged into an electrical outlet, the person who is saved is energized (Phil. 2:13) and receives many spiritual blessings. The Spirit then works in his life in a powerful way, in keeping with the revealed Word.
The Spirit seals us until our redemption (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Cor. 5:5; Rom. 14:17; 2 Cor. 1:22); provides our access to God (Eph. 2:18); leads us through revealed truth and a Spirit-tuned vision (Rom. 8:14-16; Gal. 5:25-26; 2 Cor. 3:18); strengthens our inner selves (Eph. 1:18-19; 3:16-19); empowers us in our warfare against evil (Eph. 6:10-18; Rom. 8:13); helps us in our infirmities (Rom. 8:26-27); and will ultimately play a role in raising us to life (Rom. 8:11, 23). Our attitude and behavior should represent the Spirit’s presence in our lives from that point forward (Gal. 5:25-26; Eph. 4:30-32; 5:18-19).
Bible Verses on Spiritual Gifts
It’s unfortunate that most of the religious world only thinks about the most obvious gifts that God has given His people. The early Christians were able to speak in tongues, perform healings, and other miracles that were meant to reinforce the fact that God was the One behind the message (ref. Deuteronomy 18:20-22).
One of the first times that spiritual gifts are even mentioned in Scripture has to do with a man that almost no one remembers: Bezalel. Tasked with building the Tabernacle, God mentions in Exodus 31:3 that He has “filled [Bezalel] with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship.”
Spiritual gifts then, have to do with any kind of gift that God gives – supernatural or not – to accomplish His will.
In the New Testament, that can be seen specifically with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but it can also more generally apply to gifts that we use in service to Him.
In case you want do more research on what the Bible actually has to say about the work of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts in general, here are 19 Bible verses that are worth committing to memory.
*All verses in American Standard Version
Different Types of Spiritual Gifts
- Ephesians 4:11-16: And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.
- Romans 12:6-8: And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with ]liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-11: Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord. And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit: to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits: to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.
- 1 Corinthians 12:27-28: Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues.
- 1 Corinthians 7:7: Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.
Use Your Gifts to Build Up the Church
- 1 Peter 4:10: “According as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God
- 1 Corinthians 12:13: For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.
- Exodus 35:10: And let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that Jehovah hath commanded.
Spiritual Gifts Given By God
- 1 Timothy 4:14: Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery
- James 1:17: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.
- 1 Peter 4:11: If any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
- Luke 11:11-13: And of which of you that is a father shall his son ask [a]a loaf, and he give him a stone? or a fish, and he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
- Ephesians 4:7-8: But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, ]When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
- 2 Timothy 1:6: For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou [a]stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands.
- Acts 8:18: Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money.
Love is the Greatest Gift
- 1 Corinthians 14:1: Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1: If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
- Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.
Supernatural Gifts are Temporary
- 1 Corinthians 13:8-10: Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
