Holy Spirit and Humanity & Sin Notes Flash Cards

HUMANITY

• Theological Anthropology

  • Study of humanity's nature and purpose from a theological perspective.

  • Key figures: Gregory of Nazianzus vs. Apollinarius.

  • Council of Constantinople (381 AD) marked "Gregory’s triumph" against Apollinarius.

  • Important Patristic response: "what the Son did not possess, he cannot heal/restore."

  • Concept of theosis:

    • Becoming divine metaphorically.

    • Humans transformed into the image of Christ.

• Image of God (Imago Dei)

  • Foundational to understanding human identity:

    • Humans created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-28).

    • Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God, the ideal image of God (Colossians 1:15).

    • 2 Corinthians 4:4 highlights the blinding effect of sin on humanity's perception of God.

• Role of Jesus Christ

  • Reveals God's nature and embodies humanity's purpose.

  • Romans 8:28-30 explains the process of being conformed to Christ’s image.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:49 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 emphasize transformation into Christ's likeness.

• Views of the Image of God

  • Substantive: Views focusing on the soul or rational mind; widely held and endorsed in Patristic tradition.

  • Functional: Emphasizes human stewardship over creation.

  • Relational: Finds the image of God expressed through relationships with each other and with God. Connects to the Trinity concept.

• Eschatological Perspective on the Image of God

  • Timeline: Creation (original image) → Fall (perverted image) → Restoration (renewed image) → Perfection (perfected image).

  • Sanctification: The ultimate goal is to achieve perfect imaging of God.

SIN (HAMARTIOLOGY)

• Humanity's Original Purpose

  • Original state described as "good" (Genesis 1-2).

  • Despite the initial goodness, ongoing disharmony indicates a story of corruption and disorder.

• Nature of Sin

  • The Fall (Genesis 3): pivotal event where humanity deviated from the intended relationship with God.

  • Key Terms:

    • Hamartiology: Study of sin.

    • Prelapsarian: Before the fall.

    • Postlapsarian: After the fall.

  • Association of sin with death (Genesis 2:16-17); also involves demonic powers (2 Corinthians 4:4).

• Effects of Sin

  • The disruption caused by sin leads to widespread suffering and a disconnect from God.

  • Genesis 3:14-19 outlines the consequences that resulted from the fall:

    • Disharmony vs. harmony, blessing vs. cursing.

    • Central concept: "We were meant to flourish, but apart from God we languish."

• Historical Views of Sin

  • Analysis of different theological positions on sin:

    • Augustine: Emphasized the role of original sin and human corruption.

    • Pelagius: Denied original sin; believed humanity was capable of choosing good without divine assistance.

    • Greek Patristic: Offered an orthodox position recognizing both corruption and liability.

  • Key Concepts:

    • Corruption: Inherent sinful inclinations from birth.

    • Liability: The idea of accountability before God regarding personal sin.

• Comparison of Views on Adam’s Sin

  Position	Corruption	Liability
  Pelagius	No	Not liable
  Greek Patristic	Corruption	Liable
  Augustine	Corruption	Liable

  • Pelagius viewed grace as helpful but not essential for salvation, while Augustine affirmed the necessity of grace.

• Council of Constantinople: Discussed the nature of the Son in relation to redemption.

  • Key Point: For effective redemption, the Son must be fully human as He shares human nature.

  • Purpose of Incarnation: By taking on human nature, the Son positions Himself to restore humanity.

• Theosis: Concept of becoming divine metaphorically; not becoming God, but being elevated and transformed into Christ's likeness through sanctification.

• Image of God:

  • Every human is created in God's image; this image has been corrupted due to sin.

  • Restoration of this image is necessary for communion with God; sin leads to separation from God.

  • Transformation: Believers are being restored to true humanity, which involves flourishing relationships with God, themselves, and others.

• Sanctification:

  • A process through which believers are progressively conformed to the image of Christ through the Holy Spirit.

  • Glorification is the ultimate end goal, where believers will be fully restored in future resurrection.

• Key Scripture References:

  • Genesis 1:26-28: Humans are made in God's image, with the command to rule over creation.

  • New Testament references to Jesus as the image of God, emphasizing His role in revealing God and humanity's purpose.

• Various Views on the Image of God:

  • Substantive View: Image as a mental or spiritual capacity (rational mind, immaterial soul) that distinguishes humans from other creatures.

  • Functional View: Emphasizes humans' role in stewarding dominion over creation, representing God through their lives.

  • Relational View: Focuses on the community and relationships, mirroring the fellowship within the Trinity.

• Brokenness after the Fall:

  • Despite the fall, humans still retain the image of God but it is perverted or corrupted.

  • Restoration of the image of God is fundamental to the Christian faith and begins with accepting Jesus and being indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

• Eschatological Perspective:

  • Understanding of the image of God through time: original state (pre-fall), corrupted state (post-fall), and perfected state (final resurrection).

  • The ultimate goal is perfect imaging of Christ, where believers fully reflect God's character.

  • The process involves an ongoing transformation during a believer's earthly life until complete restoration at resurrection.

• Key Doctrinal Themes:

  • The relationship between divine holiness and human corruption.

  • The significance of Jesus' humanity allows believers to restore fellowship with God.

  • Already but not yet: The tension in eschatology where believers experience transformation now, but the complete fulfillment will occur in the future.

  HOLY SPIRIT

  • Key Concept: The Holy Spirit is considered one of the three persons in the Trinity, alongside the Father and the Son, sharing one essence (ousia) but distinct in personhood (hypostases).

  TRINITY REVIEW

  • Essence of the Trinity:

    • One essence (ousia), three persons (hypostases):

      1. Father (unbegotten)

      2. Son (begotten)

      3. Holy Spirit (procession/emanation)

  CHRISTOLOGY REVIEW

  • Key Concept: Christology involves understanding the nature of Christ as one person with two natures:

    • Pre-incarnation: Before taking on humanity.

    • Post-incarnation: After assuming human nature.

  NICENE CREED ON THE HOLY SPIRIT

  • Declaration:

    • "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets."

  • Church Importance: This includes the acknowledgment of the Church’s role, baptism, resurrection, and eternal life.

  HOLY SPIRIT (PERSON)

  • Fully God:

    • Acts 5:3-4: Peter affirms lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God.

    • Matthew 28:19: Command to baptize in the name of the Holy Spirit alongside Father and Son.

  • Truly a Person:

    • Ephesians 4:30: The Holy Spirit can be grieved, indicating personhood.

    • Matthew 12:31-32: Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable, underscoring its distinct personality.

  HOLY SPIRIT (WORK)

  • Empowerment (Acts 1:8):

    • “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you... to the ends of the earth.”

  • Sanctification:

    • Definition: The process of becoming holy.

    • Philippians 2:12-13: God works within believers to desire and act according to His will.

  • Inspiration (2 Peter 1:21): Prophecy arises from being inspired by the Holy Spirit.

  • Gifts/Fruit (Galatians 5:22-23): Describes the characteristics produced by the Spirit, including love, joy, and self-control.

  • New Covenant (DS): The Spirit signifies the beginning of eschatological restoration.

    • Joel 2:28-29: Prophecy of the Spirit being poured out on all flesh, indicating universal empowerment via the Spirit.

  THE KINGDOM OF GOD

  • Definition by George E. Ladd: The Kingdom of God represents God's active and redemptive rule establishing His authority on earth, culminating in His apocalyptic reign at the end of age.

    • Key Movements: Fulfillment within history and consummation at the end of history.

  ESCHATOLGY & SPIRIT

  • Ephesians 1:13-14: Holy Spirit acts as a guarantee of inheritance for believers, marking their salvation.

  • Romans 8:11: The same Spirit that resurrected Jesus will also give life to believers, affirming the transformational role of the Holy Spirit in eschatological hope.

  Introduction to Pneumatology

  • Pneumatology: Study of the Holy Spirit, focusing on the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

  • Holy Spirit as one of the three persons of the Trinity, alongside the Father and the Son.

  • Importance of understanding the role of the Holy Spirit in Christian theology and experience.

  The Trinity

  • One Essence: The Trinity consists of one divine essence (ousia) manifested in three persons (hypostases).

  • Father: Unbegotten, source of the Trinity.

  • Son: Eternally begotten of the Father; referred to as the Word of God.

  • Holy Spirit: Often viewed as emanating from both the Father and the Son; brings empowerment and fills believers.

  The Nicene Creed and Historical Context

  • Nicene Creed (381 AD): Formulated in response to heresies denying the Holy Spirit's full deity.

  • Pneumatomachians: Group that denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit; opposed by the Cappadocian Fathers.

  • The Creed emphasizes the Holy Spirit as fully God, who proceeds from the Father and (in Western tradition) the Son.

  The Holy Spirit as Fully God

  • Key Scriptural Evidence:

    • Acts 5:3-4 indicates lying to the Holy Spirit is equated to lying to God.

    • Baptismal formula in Matthew 28:19 includes the Holy Spirit alongside the Father and Son, affirming His deity.

  The Holy Spirit as a Person

  • Described as a distinct person within the Trinity.

    • Personhood: Can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30).

  • Acts 2 marks the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, empowering believers.

  The Work of the Holy Spirit

  1. Empowerment:

     • Acts 1:8 notes that believers receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, enabling them to witness.

  2. Sanctification:

     • The Holy Spirit works to make believers more like Christ, a process involving justification and glorification.

     • Justification: Declaration of righteousness through faith in Jesus.

     • Sanctification: Ongoing spiritual growth and transformation.

     • Glorification: Future hope for believers at Christ's return.

  3. Inspiration:

     • Holy Spirit inspired the writings of Scripture (2 Peter 1:21).

     • Considered essential for understanding the divine nature of the Bible.

  4. Spiritual Gifts:

     • The Holy Spirit bestows various gifts for ministry and service within the church; believers are encouraged to discover and utilize these gifts.

  5. Fruit of the Spirit:

     • Galatians 5:22-23 lists characteristics (love, joy, peace, etc.) that should be evident in the lives of Spirit-filled believers.

  Assurance and Guarantee of Salvation

  • The Holy Spirit serves as a seal and guarantee of our inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14).

  • Down Payment: The presence of the Holy Spirit assures believers of their future resurrection and eternal life.

  Eschatological Implications

  • The Holy Spirit’s work signals the beginnings of the restoration of all things promised under the new covenant.

  • The new covenant is highlighted in Joel's prophecy and fulfilled in the New Testament through Pentecost.

  Conclusion

  • Understanding the person and work of the Holy Spirit is vital for a full grasp of Christian faith.

  • Believers should cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit, seeking empowerment, guidance, and growth in holiness.