Introduction

Context and History of the Apostles' Creed

We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. On the third day, He rose again from the dead, ascended to heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Main Point: We believe in the third person of the Triune Godhead, who is at work in the world, bringing glory to Jesus and Jesus' people to glory.

1. Who is the Holy Spirit?

    a. The Holy Spirit is God (Trinity)

        i. Placement in the Creed [3 Major Paragraphs]

       ii. Proof from the Scriptures [Acts 5:1–4; cf. Romans 1:4; Psalm 139:7–8; Isaiah 40:13; Zechariah 4:6; Hebrews 9:14]

      iii. Proceeds from Father and Son [Matthew 28:19–20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:6; John 15:26]

    b. The Holy Spirit is Personal [Ephesians 4:30; cf. 1 Timothy 4:1; Romans 15:30; Acts 9:31; Romans 8:26; John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 12:11]

2. What does the Holy Spirit do generally?

    a. He Creates [Genesis 1:2, 26; cf. Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30]

    b. He Empowers [Judges 14:9; cf. Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:20; 14:6; 15:14; 1 Samuel 11:6; 16:13; Micah 3:8]

    c. He Indwells [Ezekiel 36:26–27; cf. Jeremiah 31:33–34; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20]

3. What does the Holy Spirit do especially for Jesus and his people?

    a. He Glorifies Jesus (the Son)

        i. He is a Homemaker and Helper [John 14:15–18; cf. 1 John 2:1; Romans 8:26]

       ii. He is a Teacher [John 14:25–26; 16:13; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; cf. 2 Samuel 23:1–2; Nehemiah 9:30; Ezekiel 2:2; 11:24–25; Micah 3:8; Zechariah 7:12; Matthew 22:43; Acts 1:16; 4:25; 28:25–27; Hebrews 3:7–11; 10:15–17; 1 Peter 1:11]

      iii. He is a Witness [John 15:26–27]

      iv. He Convicts the World and Communicates the Glory of Jesus [John 16:5–15]

    b. He Brings Jesus' people to Glory

        i. Calls (Effectually to Salvation) [2 Thessalonians 2:13–14]

       ii. (re)Creates (Born Again) [John 3:3–5; Titus 3:5–6]

      iii. Connects (us to Christ, union) [Ephesians 1:13]

      iv. Conforms (to Christ for Sanctification) [2 Corinthians 3:18; cf. Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:22–23; Ephesians 1:13–14]

Conclusion

    Application for Non-Christians

    Application for Christians

To learn more about what Arlington Baptist Church believes, read our Statement of Faith.