Grace, and Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is both an expression of God's grace and the means by which it is experienced.

The Holy Spirit is himself a gracious gift of God

Acts 2:38, Acts 6:5–8; Titus 3:4–7; 1 John 3:24 See also John 6:63, John 20:21–22; Acts 5:32, Acts 11:15–17, Acts 15:6–8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Galatians 3:14

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith. Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.

Through the Holy Spirit God brings believers out of slavery and into his family

Romans 8:15–16 See also Galatians 4:6–7; Ephesians 2:17–18

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Through the Holy Spirit God equips believers to serve him

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 See also John 7:37–39; Acts 1:8, Acts 2:4, Acts 4:31; Romans 5:5; Galatians 3:5; Hebrews 2:4

There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

The Holy Spirit in God's gracious work of redemption

Romans 8:1–2 See also 1 Corinthians 2:4–5, 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:4–5; 1 Peter 1:12

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.

The Holy Spirit in God's gracious work of sanctifying and sustaining his people

2 Corinthians 3:17–18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 See also Acts 9:31; Romans 8:26–27, Romans 14:17–18, Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:4–5, Galatians 5:22–23, Galatians 6:8; Ephesians 2:22, Ephesians 3:16–20; Philippians 1:18–19; 2 Timothy 1:14; Hebrews 10:29; James 4:4–6

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.