The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit with Robert Letham
Feb 8, 2023
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Robert Letham discusses the importance of understanding the Holy Spirit from church history and the relationship between the Word and the Spirit. A recovery of Reformed and Puritan teaching on the Holy Spirit helps Christians today. The main aims of the Holy Spirit's work in the life of a Christian are discussed, as well as how understanding the Holy Spirit affects the ministry of the church. The issue of claims of hearing directly from God and its impact on the sufficiency of Scripture is also addressed.
Studying church history alongside biblical exegesis helps understand the Holy Spirit and prevent deviations from Christian doctrine.
Scripture contains the words emitted by the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the sufficiency of Scripture.
The Holy Spirit works through the means of grace, such as preaching, sacraments, and prayer, in the life of the Christian.
The Holy Spirit's main aim is the transformation of believers into the image of Christ, realized through faith, the Word, prayer, and sacraments.
Deep dives
The New Book on the Holy Spirit
The guest discusses his new book on the Holy Spirit, which explores the Spirit's role in the Trinity and the development of biblical teaching. The book delves into historical material, including addressing the global Pentecostal movement. The Holy Spirit's unity with the Father and the Son is emphasized to prevent an excessive focus on the Spirit alone.
The Importance of Church History in Understanding the Holy Spirit
The guest highlights the significance of studying church history alongside biblical exegesis in understanding the Holy Spirit. The decisions of ecumenical councils and the writings of theologians provide crucial guidance and prevent deviations from Christian doctrine. The focus on the indivisibility of the Trinity and the inseparability of the works of the Trinity underscores the importance of contextualizing the Holy Spirit's role.
The Means of Grace and the Sufficiency of Scripture
The guest emphasizes that Scripture, as the breathed-out word of God, contains the words emitted by the Holy Spirit. A good understanding of the Holy Spirit through Scripture and church history helps avoid errors and emphasizes the sufficiency of Scripture. The Holy Spirit works through the means of grace, such as preaching, the sacraments, and prayer, both individually and corporately in the life of the Christian.
The Aims of the Holy Spirit in the Christian Life
The guest explains that the Holy Spirit's main aim is the transformation of believers into the image of Christ. Conformity to Christ, seen in the fruit of the Spirit, exemplifies the Holy Spirit's work in the life of the Christian. The Holy Spirit's work is dependent on faith in Jesus Christ and is realized through the Word, prayer, and the sacraments.
Evaluating Pentecostalism and Charismatic Theology
In an appendix, the guest addresses Pentecostalism and the charismatic movement, emphasizing the importance of evaluating such movements in light of a holistic understanding of the Holy Spirit. He suggests grounding evaluations in historical context, scripture, and a balanced approach to prevent polarizing extremes.
Takeaways for the Audience
The guest offers practical takeaways for listeners, including the encouragement to continue reading, praying, serving in the church, and trusting in the Holy Spirit's work in their daily lives. He emphasizes that the ultimate aim is to bring glory to the Father.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the episode features an interview with the guest, Bob, who discusses his new book on the Holy Spirit. The conversation covers topics such as the Trinity, church history, the sufficiency of Scripture, the means of grace, and the evaluation of Pentecostalism and charismatic theology. The guest encourages listeners to deepen their understanding of the Holy Spirit and apply biblical principles in their lives.
On today’s Equipping You in Grace show, Dave talks with Dr. Letham about the relationship between the Word and the Spirit, how a recovery of the Reformed and Puritan teaching on the Spirit helps the Christian, and his new book, The Holy Spirit (P&R, 2023).What you’ll hear in this episodeThe importance of having a good understanding of the Holy Spirit from church history.How a good understanding of the Church’s teaching on the Holy Spirit helps us to avoid error.The relationship between the Word and the Spirit.How a recovery of the Reformed and Puritan teaching on the Holy Spirit helps the Christian today.The main aims of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian.How the Holy Spirit uses the means of grace in the life of the Christian.How a good understanding of the Holy Spirit affects the ministry of the church.How the claim “God speaks” to us and people “hear directly from God” undermines the sufficiency of Scripture and the ministry of the Holy Spirit to the Christian today.About Our GuestRobert Letham (MAR, ThM, Westminster Theological Seminary; PhD, Aberdeen University) is professor of systematic and historical theology at Union School of Theology in Bridgend, Wales, and the author of a number of books, including The Holy Trinity, The Lord's Supper, and Union with Christ.Subscribing, sharing, and your feedbackYou can subscribe to Equipping You in Grace via iTunes, Google Play, or your favorite podcast catcher. If you like what you’ve heard, please consider leaving a rating and share it with your friends (it takes only takes a second and will go a long way to helping other people find the show). You can also connect with me on Twitter at @davejjenkins, on Facebook, or via email to share your feedback.Thank you for listening to this episode of Equipping You in Grace.
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