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The use of Holy Ghost in the Bible.

Holy Ghost: 'God's Holy Spirit working in a way that affects this physical reality'.

Please see the Word Study on Spirit for every place where the Bible uses the word spirit.

There is a Biblical doctrinal difference between the use of the phrase Holy Ghost and God's Holy Spirit in that the Bible uses Holy Ghost for when He is acting to cause a difference in this world while the Bible uses Holy Spirit for when He is interacting with the spirit of God's children. Both are identifiers of the Third Person within the Trinity. Please use this link to see every reference in the Bible where God's Holy Spirit is used along with a note on each usage and a separation of the references according to the application used. The phrase Holy Ghost only occurs within the New Testament.

The functional definition of holy is: 'Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions'. When God's Holy Ghost operates in this world it is to cause, or increase, these attributes in the lives of God's true children. Anyone who claims otherwise, such as a claim to have received a spiritual gift which lifts them up in pride, is a liar. All true ministering by God's Holy Ghost is to bring us into complete unity with God.

Verses within this Study.

Matthew 1:18; Matthew 1:20; Matthew 3:11; Matthew 12:31-32; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:8; Mark 3:29; Mark 12:36; Mark 13:11; Luke 1:15; Luke 1:35; Luke 1:41; Luke 1:67; Luke 2:25; Luke 2:26; Luke 3:16; Luke 3:22; Luke 4:1; Luke 12:10; Luke 12:12; John 1:33; John 7:39; John 14:26; John 20:22; Acts 1:2; Acts 1:5; Acts 1:8; Acts 1:16; Acts 2:4; Acts 2:33; Acts 2:38; Acts 4:8; Acts 4:31; Acts 5:3; Acts 5:32; Acts 6:3; Acts 6:5; Acts 7:51; Acts 7:55; Acts 8:15; Acts 8:17-19; Acts 9:17; Acts 9:31; Acts 10:38; Acts 10:44-45; Acts 10:47; Acts 11:15-16; Acts 11:24; Acts 13:2; Acts 13:4; Acts 13:9; Acts 13:52; Acts 15:8; Acts 15:28; Acts 16:6; Acts 19:2; Acts 19:6; Acts 20:23; Acts 20:28; Acts 21:11; Acts 28:25; Romans 5:5; Romans 9:1; Romans 14:17; Romans 15:13; Romans 15:16; 1Corinthians 2:13; 1Corinthians 6:19; 1Corinthians 12:3; 2Corinthians 6:6; 2Corinthians 13:14; 1Thessalonians 1:5-6; 2Timothy 1:14; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 2:4; Hebrews 3:7; Hebrews 6:4; Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 10:15; 1Peter 1:12; 2Peter 1:21; 1John 5:7; Jude 1:20

Note:

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

The Bible uses the title of Holy Ghost when the third person in the Trinity affects this physical reality and uses the title of Holy Spirit when He affects spiritual things. In this verse, we see Him making Mary physically pregnant. We find the phrase only begotten son in: John 1:14; John 1:18; John 3:16; John 3:18; Hebrews 11:17; 1John 4:9. The Bible definition of this word is: 'provide physical life at conception and provide the character after birth'. The note in Hebrews shows us the difference between definitions from man-written dictionaries and this note as it ignores Ishmael and Abraham's six (6) other sons. The Holy Ghost caused the conception and God the Father provided the character to the Son of God.

Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

As far at the use of the title of Holy Ghost, This sentence tells us the same thing as the prior sentence. The note above provides the doctrine for this sentence. This sentence doubles the doctrine, which makes it a precept and something that we will be judged by God for is we deny this truth.

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

We see, essentially, the same message in Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16 and John 1:33. This verse, and the next verse, form a single sentence which is a prophecy that the new covenant will provide the indwelling Holy Spirit to all saved and that Jesus Christ will send to Hell all religious people who do not belong to Him. Since baptism is: 'identified with', we see that this baptism of the Holy Ghost is: 'identification with the ongoing personal relationship with God which is sustained through the ministry of the Holy Ghost'. When we consider the context, and the fact that John to Baptist demanded Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance (Matthew 3:8), we see that the true baptism of the Holy Ghost includes changes which can be seen in this physical world and show that the person has true Biblical repentance. In addition, the matching verses, in the other Gospel accounts, tell us the same message but deliver it with different details.

Matthew 12:31-32 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

This reference is commonly called 'the unforgivable sin'. Lots of people like to claim that other things, such as divorce, are 'the unforgivable sin', but this sin is the only thing that the Bible says it shall not be forgiven him. God says: My spirit shall not always strive with man (Genesis 6:3). In addition, Romans 3:11 says: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Therefore, if God's Holy Ghost refuses to seek someone who has blasphemed Him, then that person will never be saved and never be forgiven. Now, our Bible reference says: whosoever, which includes saved people. One doctrinal error claims that there is no punishment in Heaven, only loss of rewards. However, that is a lie. Yes, there is reason to believe that punishment ends after the great white throne judgment, but there is nothing that i know of which says that this particular sin will be forgiven. And, the bottom line is that God's children should make sure that they never do this sin. Further, this sin was claiming that the spiritual work of God's Holy Ghost was actually done by Beelzebub. God's true children should know to never repeat such a lie.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

This verse and the next form a single sentence which is the main part of The Great Commission which is found in Matthew. By saying in the name of...the Holy Ghost, Jesus was commanding us to have saved people identified with (baptizing them) the power and authority (in the name of) God's Holy Ghost. The saved are to be identified with the ongoing personal relationship with God's Holy Ghost by the changes in their life that the relationship is to cause. That is: the relationship is to cause them to be more holy and righteous like God the Father and to dedicate their life to sacrifice and service to God like the Son of God.

Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

There is a lot of doctrinal error taught about the baptism of the Holy Ghost because people use non-Biblical definitions for the words that are in this phrase. The true Biblical doctrinal meaning of baptize is 'identified with'. (Look at the Word Studies to see where every place in the Bible, where forms of this word are used, is discussed and that this definition is what matches every usage in the Bible.) In addition, the Bible never says that we are baptized with the Holy Spirit but always uses Holy Ghost. hat means that the true baptism of the Holy Ghost involves His affecting our life in this world so that we become more Godly. This is not talking about some type of spirituality which excuses our becoming like a spiritual devil. This is not talking about our being filled with pride, which God resists, because we make some weird noises which we claim is an 'angel tongue'. No, John the Baptist was prophesying about Jesus Christ providing us with the indwelling Holy Ghost that will change the lives of truly saved people so that the world identifies them with God.

Mark 3:29 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:' Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

The first part of this sentence tells us part of what Jesus said in response to the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. The important thing, which applies to this Study, to pay attention to is the fact that when we attribute the work of the Holy Ghost, in this physical world, to any other being then we blaspheme against the Holy Ghost. Here we are told that such actions hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. Even if we are saved, and do not receive eternal damnation, we can permanently cut ourselves off from the help from the Holy Ghost. In addition, we can do this by giving credit to men for the work done by the Holy Ghost. Therefore, we want to be very careful about who we credit for spiritual work done in this physical world.

Mark 12:36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Here we see Jesus quoting an Old Testament prophecy. As also seen for a couple of other references in this Study, the Holy Ghost used Old Testament prophets to speak prophecy. Here we see that the prophet did not speak using his own power but spoke by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Here we see the spiritual gift of prophecy continuing in the New Testament. Lots of liars claim to be prophets today and claim that they can tell future events, but God removed that aspect of the gift when he had John close the Bible with the finishing of Revelation. However, when God's people are delivered up for punishment by rulers of this world because of the Gospel, and they let the Holy Ghost speak through them, then they are exercising a true spiritual gift of prophecy.

Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

This is the first often (10) references to the Holy Ghost within this Gospel. In every case, we see the Holy Ghost moving someone to act within this physical reality to accomplish the will of God the Father. Please notice the repeated use of the word Lord in this sentence and the related sentences. The use of the word Lord, in all of these sentences, are referring to God the Father.

Here we see that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb like the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4-5). He preached before, and during, God's people going into the Babylonian captivity. John the Baptist preached before God's people rejected Jesus as their Lord and King, which resulted in God setting them aside to give us the 'Church Age'.

We see the start of the fulfillment of this phrase in Luke 1:44 where we read: For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Joy is an emotional reaction to a spiritual stimuli and the babe (could only) leap in my womb through the power of God's Holy Ghost.

In addition to the start of his life, John the Baptist was consistent in serving God even to his death and this is possible only with the help of God's Holy Ghost. Please see the Study called John the Baptist for details on his life as reported in the Bible.

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

This sentence is part of the discussion between the angel and Mary when the angel told her that she would have a male child and name the baby JESUS and that he would be great and fulfill prophecy. She believed him, but asked how it would work since she was still a virgin. This sentences is his answer. Here we are told that God would be the father and her son would be the Son of God. Thus, we see that the third member of the Trinity affects this physical world by making Mary pregnant.

This sentence is a further clarification of the prophecy the angel spoke in Luke 1:32-33. It also matches what the Angel told Joseph in Matthew 1:20-25. It also answersd the question of Job 25:4 and fulfills the prophecy of of Psalms 2:7.

Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Here we see two evidences of the Holy Ghost affecting things in this physical world. First, the babe leaped in her womb. Secondly, Elisabeth....spake out with a loud voice, and prophesied. (The sentence following this sentence, which is started with the word And and is added to this sentence, makes the prophesy clearer than this sentence makes it.)

Luke 1:67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

Here we see that Zacharias prophesied through the power of the Holy Ghost. It has always taken the power of the Holy Ghost to produce Godly prophecy. Here, his son, John the Baptist, has been born. John the Baptist is the fore-runner of Christ. This prophecy is all about Jesus Christ, Who will not be born for another six (6) months. There is no way that Zacharias could know these things aside from the power of the Holy Ghost.

Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

In this sentence, we see the Holy Ghost cause this man to wait for the consolation of Israel and, when he saw Mary and Joseph bring Jesus into the Temple for His circumcision and naming, the Holy Ghost cause this man to come by the Spirit into the temple and take him (Jesus) up in his arms and bless God and prophesy. Thus, we see the Holy Ghost causing him to act in this world.

Luke 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

This sentence is added to the prior by starting with the word And. By considering the two sentences together we see that the consolation of Israel is a role of the Lord's Christ. We also see that this man received spiritual information not received by most people and that he received this special revelation because he was just and devout. God's Holy Ghost deals with the saved on a personal basis and reveals things to some people while hiding the same things from others.

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

This is the middle verse of three verses which make up the sentence which this verse is part of. Please see the Book Study on the Gospel of Luke for the detailed explanation of the sentence and the contextual considerations.

This verse is part of the message from John the Baptist in which he says that he is not God's Christ and goes on to tell us what God's Christ will do. Within the part that tells us what God's Christ will do, John uses the phrase he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire as symbolic language to say that God's Christ (the he) will provide initial salvation (baptize you with the Holy Ghost) and cause God's saved to represent God and deliver God's message(and with fire).

This verse uses the name of Holy Ghost because the third person of the Trinity will work in God's people to produce a visible change in this world.

Luke 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

This verse is the second half of a sentence telling us about the baptism of Jesus. We see the Bible use the title of Holy Ghost because this is the start of the ministry of Jesus. He would do many miracles and other things, in this physical world, using the Power of the Holy Ghost. While the saved may have the indwelling Holy Spirit, they can not expect to have the Power of the Holy Ghost upon their own personal life until they, like Jesus, commit their entire physical life to the service of God with a willingness to accept anything that God gives to them. After all, as our example, Jesus accepted the cross.

Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness

This verse starts with the word And, which lets us know that it was added to the account of the baptism of Jesus. (Please see the verse above.) In addition, this verse deliberately makes a distinction between using the titles of Holy Ghost and Spirit. The Spirit led (Jesus) into the wilderness because He would face a spiritual test. However, we are told that Jesus was full of the Holy Ghost because the Holy Ghost would do many things, in this physical world, through the ministry of Jesus.

Luke 12:10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

Mark 3:28-30 says essentially the same thing. Please see the notes for that Bible reference to see more details.

In this sentence we see two different persons of the Trinity and we see two very different consequences for blaspheming each of them. This difference is too extreme to be a reaction to two different roles of the same person. This extreme difference is only applicable to different persons, which means this Bible reference is supporting the doctrine of the Trinity. Please use the link to see the note for this sentence in the Book Study on the Gospel of Luke. It has a lot more detail about this doctrinal support of the Trinity and explains the critical considerations due to context and due to sentence structure.

It is important to note that our sentence uses Holy Ghost and not Holy Spirit. The Bible uses Holy Spirit for when the third person in the Trinity is dealing with spiritual matters. The Bible uses Holy Ghost for when the third person in the Trinity is affecting matters in this world. Now, the resurrection had not happened yet and many people believed that Jesus was just a prophet. The resurrection changed that perception in this physical world. Jesus provided direct evidence of Who He was. However, the Holy Ghost can only provide indirect evidence by getting people to change their life and allowing others to see the change. However, if people are convinced that the change is caused by a devil or by someone 'getting religion', or any other such lie, then it is a lot harder for the Holy Ghost to get people to believe the truth. In addition, the longer the lie lasts, the harder it becomes for the Holy Ghost to do His job. Therefore, when we consider the long-term consequences, there are far more damaging results from blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost. And, because of the consequences involved, the punishment from God is also correspondingly greater.

Luke 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

This is actually in the next sentence, within the Gospel, after the prior reference in this Study. There are two verses but only one sentence which follows the prior reference and God's way to understand God's word is by sentences.

As the notes for the Book Study on the Gospel of Luke explain (use the link to get there), This verse is the last sentence in a progression of doctrine that started at the beginning of this chapter. Jesus had warned them to not follow the doctrine and example of the Pharisees, Jesus. He then warned them of their judgment by God and how things which men thought were4 hid would be completely exposed. He then reminded them that God cared about them. He then told them that their main job was to confess Jesus Christ. (That was the sentence of the prior verse in this Study.) Now, in the sentence that this verse is part of, Jesus that when they are tried for confess Jesus Christ, let the Holy Ghost answer for and through them. This is how the Holy Ghost works in this world. He works in and through the saved who let Him do so.

John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

This sentence is part of John's Gospel account about the ministry of John the Baptist. Here John the Baptist is comparing water baptism to Jesus Christ .baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. As explained in the note for this sentence, in the Book Study on the Gospel of John, 'Jesus gives us an identification with the ongoing personal relationship with God which is sustained through the ministry of the Holy Ghost'. When we consider the context, and the fact that John to Baptist demanded Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance (Matthew 3:8), we see that the true baptism of the Holy Ghost includes changes which can be seen in this physical world and show that the person has true Biblical repentance.

John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

This sentence is providing clarification to the promise from Jesus that If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. In the Gospel of John, the phrase living water was used with the Samaritan woman who brought many others to salvation after she was personally saved. Thus, once more, we see the Bible use the phrase Holy Ghost for what God's Holy Spirit causes visible changes in this physical world.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

This sentience describes the main ministry of the Holy Ghost. In this sentence we see how the Holy Ghost will affect the physical lives of believers. This change is what enabled the apostles, and other believers, to have the impact upon the world which they had.

John 20:22-23 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

In this sentence, the resurrected Lord Jesus gave the eleven the power, through the Holy Ghost, to remit or retain the sins of other people.

Acts 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

The first four verses of this chapter form a single sentence and give us the purpose of the book. This particular verse tells us that after Jesus ascended He gave commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen through the Holy Ghost. The Bible uses Holy Spirit for when the third person of the Trinity is dealing with spiritual matters. The Bible uses Holy Ghost for when the third person of the Trinity is telling God's people how to act in this physical reality. And, that is what we are told in all of the books of the New Testament. Jesus used the Holy Ghost to reveal to His apostles what they should write. And, those men who produced exactly what He wanted had their work preserved while those men, and writings, which were less than what He wanted were not preserved. So, for example, we have Pauls' epistle to the Colossians but not his epistle to the Loadiceans (Colossians 4:16).

Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

The truly saved are 'identified with' (baptized) spiritual life from God by the indwelling Holy Ghost Who changes the lives of the truly saved.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Our sentence is part of the 'Great Commission'. Please also see the Message called Great Commission. The disciples did not receive spiritual power until after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. Likewise, the saved of today do not receive spiritual power until after that the Holy Ghost is come upon them. All true spiritual work is done by God even if He does work through the spiritual gifts that He gives to the truly saved.

Acts 1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

Even in the Old Testament, it was God's Holy Ghost Who truly spoke through the prophets.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Bible uses Holy Ghost when the Third Person of the Trinity is affecting this world and uses Holy Spirit when the Third Person of the Trinity is doing spiritual work. In this sentence, our second phrase tells us what He did in this world. Notice that our third phrase uses the identifier of Spirit because His work through a spiritual gift is a spiritual work. Their speaking was a physical work but what they said was a spiritual work. Therefore, our sentence illustrates how God uses His people to do spiritual work.

Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

God the Father promised to Lord Jesus Christ that He would give the Holy Ghost to anyone whom Lord Jesus Christ decided to save.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

This is the invitation of Peter's Pentecost message. It gives the new Testament promise of God's indwelling Holy Ghost to all who truly get saved.

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them

Peter and John had cured a forty year old man who had been lame from his mother's womb. They then preached the Gospel and about five thousand men, plus women and children, were saved. The religious rulers were upset. They threw peter and John into their hold over night. Then, after they finally gathered the largest council that they could, they tried to intimidate Peter and John. Acts 4:7 says And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?. Since Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost, their attempted intimidation did not work. The rest of the chapter tells us this. And, the lesson is that we are also to be filled with the Holy Ghost so that we can be fearless as we deal with the enemies of God.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

This is a follow-up to the prior verse. It is part of the reaction of the church to the report of the religious leaders trying to intimidate Peter and John. This verse reinforces the application of the prior verse. We are also to be filled with the Holy Ghost so that we can be fearless as we deal with the enemies of God.

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Saved people can resist the influence of Satan and of all devils by calling on God's Holy Spirit to help and protect them. However, Ananias and Sapphira failed to do that. And, by Emphasizing the desire of the flesh to depend on physical support instead of true Biblical faith, Satan got them to do this sin. This sentence is just the first in the reasoning given by Peter and all associated sentences, and their attached notes, should be considered together in order to truly understand the report of this incident. But, the main doctrinal concern is that, when we lie about our service to God, we are not lying to men but to God.

Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

All of the apostles were personal witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They were being tried by the Jewish senate which was led by the high priest and his family, all of whom were Sanhedrims, and denied the truth of resurrection. However, Jewish law said that the testimony of two men was to be considered truth. Since there were twelve witnesses, the court could not reject their testimony. In addition, God's Holy Ghost provided witness by doing miracles to back the doctrine of the apostles. Since He did notable miracles, which were observed by multiple thousands of Jews, they also could not deny the testimony of God's Holy Ghost.

Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

This sentence is part of the chapter which tells us about the church creating the office of the deacon. This sentence, and 1Timothy 3, tell us the requirements that someone is to fulfill if they are to be a true Biblical deacon. (The note for this verse, in the Book Study, explains these requirements more.) What is important, for this Study, is that Deacons must have dedicated their entire life to the service of God and let God's Holy Ghost control all of their life, including the small every day things, or they do not fulfill this requirement. Unfortunately, picking men for this office has become a political event which totally ignores God's Holy Ghost, in most churches.

Acts 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

This was when the church chose the first deacons. It tells us that Stephen was a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost tells us how to act in this world. Acts 6 tells us that people who thought they were Bible scholars could not resist the wisdom that Stephen had to dispute their doctrinal error. Therefore, they hauled Stephen before the Jewish Council and had false witnesses tell lies about him. Instead of disputing their lies, God's Holy Ghost had Stephen preach to the Jewish Council and convicted them of their own sins. As a result, he became the first recorded martyr. What we see here is that being full of God's Holy Ghost might mean that we become a martyr, but we will receive everlasting rewards for everything we do in obedience to God's Holy Ghost.

Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

This is part of Stephen's message. (See the norte above.) This sentence convicted the Jewish Council of their own sins. Here we see that God's children who do always resist the Holy Ghost personally become stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears.

Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Stephen was being stoned to death, which is a very painful way to die. However, our sentence indicates that Stephen did not feel pain but, instead, had a glorious vision before he fell asleep. In this sentence, God's Holy Ghost lets Stephen see spiritual truth and he testifies what he sees.

Acts 8:15 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.): only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

This sentence has a lot of doctrine which is misunderstood and preached wrongly. Please see the note for this sentence in the Book Study, which explains the true doctrine. These people had believed and been baptized but the Holy Ghost as yet was fallen upon none of them. The first problem was that they believed the preaching of Philip, who was not an apostle. The apostles, Peter and John, had to open the door of salvation for half-Jews first. In addition, they were not baptized in the name of Christ. Therefore, they were not 'identified with' the ongoing personal relationship which is with Christ through God's Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

As explained in the note for this sentence, within the Book Study, half-Jews could not get saved until the apostles legally opened that door in Heaven. This sentence is when that happened.

Acts 8:17-19 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

Simon did not understand that only our Lord Jesus Christ could give this power to anyone and He limited it to the apostles which He personally gave it to in a face-to-face meeting with each personally. The next sentence tells us the reaction by Peter to the offer in this sentence. Simon, like a lot of people today, did not understand spiritual authority.

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

This sentence reports when Saul was saved. The notes in the Bible Study explain a lot of doctrine which is related to this account.

Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

When the members of the church were stopping their sinning, and obeying Jesus Christ, then God's Holy Ghost gave them comfort.

Acts 10:36-38 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

This is the first sentence of the message which Peter preached to the household of Cornelius. In this sentence, Peter introduces Jesus because he is not sure how well the Gentiles know about Him. Peter also tells them that God the Father anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power. Before the resurrection, Jesus used the power of God's Holy Ghost to do miracles because He set aside all of His own power in order to live and die as a literal physical man. After the devils dragged Him into Hell, He took back His own power and defeated all of the devils and bound Satan. And He rose with His own power and will never give His own power up again. However, our sentence is telling us the truth that before the crucifixion, Jesus used the power of God's Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

This is the result of the message which Peter preached to the household of Cornelius. The Gentiles were saved and this sentence reports the evidence of salvation given to the Gentiles and that there were other Jews with Peter. Therefore, the Jerusalem Church could not deny that God saved Gentiles even though they kept preaching that only Jews could be saved. During the 'Church Age', having the indwelling Holy Ghost, and the changes that He brings into the lives of the truly saved, is the evidence of salvation. It is not salvation because true Biblical salvation, that is the same throughout all ages, is; 'an ongoing personal relationship with God whereby He saves the person'. True salvation does not change but the application of true salvation is what changes in different 'Ages'.

Acts 10:47 Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Our sentence tells us that Peter challenged the other Jews to recognize that the Gentiles were truly saved and, therefore, should be allowed to be baptism. Anyone who claims a religious ceremony which someone calls baptism, before they are truly spiritually saved, only got wet.

Acts 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

This is part of Peter's explanation to contending Jews about how God saved Gentiles. God gave the Gentiles the same sign of salvation as He gave to the Jews.

Acts 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

John the Baptist said this to Jews when they asked him why he baptized. He baptized Jews who truly repented. But, he also told them that there was more to true salvation. True salvation, during the 'Church Age', included the indwelling Holy Ghost to give saved people personal instructions from God.

Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Barnabas was the preacher sent to Antioch from the Jerusalem Church to be their pastor. The church at Antioch was what God used to spread the Gospel throughout the Gentiles. God used them because of the leadership of their pastor. As explained in the Book Study, Barnabas was controlled by God's Holy Ghost in all aspects of his personal life and of his ministry. That is why they had the results which they had.

Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

These church leaders were fasting and praying, and serving (ministering) to the Lord and the Lord had God's Holy Ghost tell them what to do. There are religions and people who make a by religious thing about the spirit, but the spirit that they preach about does not match God's Holy Ghost of the word of God. He keeps us saved and gives us messages from the Lord but he is not seeking us to pray to Him. All worship is to be directed to the Lord and the Lord is Whom all directions come from even though they are delivered by God's Holy Ghost.

Acts 13:4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

As mentioned above, the commandment came from the Lord, but they came though they God's Holy Ghost. And, since He is affecting things in this physical world, he is called Holy Ghost and not Holy Spirit.

Please also notice that our sentence says that they were sent by Holy Ghost and not by the church. Lots of people want to 'take a doctrinal stand that the church sends missionaries'. Yes, God does work through the local church but our sentence says that it is actually God's Holy Ghost Who sends missionaries. And, when it came time for Paul's second and third missionary journeys, we don't read that the church sent them. Therefore, people who claim that someone can not be a missionary unless they are ordained by a local church are not doctrinally correct. Yes, it is best if the local church agrees to send them, but sometimes the local church refuses their responsibilities which they take on if they do the sending. However, God's people refusing to obey does not stop God from working. Therefore, the only thing that a missionary truly needs, if the local church refuses to obey, is God's Holy Ghost sending them.

Acts 13:9-10 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

Our sentence tells us a couple of important doctrines. First, people who pervert the right ways of the Lord are full of all subtilty and all mischief. They are personally (thou) a child of the devil. They are personally (thou) the enemy of all righteousness. Such people pretend to preach the word of God but they do things like use a wrong definition for a critical word or ignore punctuation or take things out of context. In our next sentence we see Paul curse this sorcerer and make him blind. And, as with all miracles (in the Gospels if not the entire Bible), this miracle is a physical example of the spiritual context that it is reported in context with. That is, his physical blindness was a physical example of his spiritual blindness. He had fooled people into thinking that he had the power of God. But, like the Jewish religious leaders, he was truly spiritually blind and only fooling people.
In this sentence, we see Paul use the power of God's Holy Ghost to affect things in this physical reality and to reveal spiritual truth.

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Our sentence starts with the word and, which means it is added to what came before it. And, actually, it is added to the entire chapter. In this chapter, we saw God's Holy Ghost bring truth to those people who were willing to believe and we saw God's Holy Ghost curse, and blind, a sorcerer who perverted spiritual truth. Then we see lost religious Jews running Paul, and his team, out of town because they were jealous that people listened to them but refused to listen to the Jews. Thus, the missionary team already had evidence of God's Holy Ghost judging people .Therefore, they hook off the dust of their feet against them because they were sure that God's Holy Ghost would deal with those Jews and they did not have to do so. In addition, they were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost because they were going to another city and another opportunity to present the Gospel.

Acts 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith

This reference is part of what Peter said at the Council of Jerusalem when the church leaders were debating if Gentiles had to be circumcised in order to be saved and if they had to keep the Jewish religious traditions which were based upon the Mosaic Law. Here, Peter is reminding them that God saved the Gentiles even though they were not circumcised. Therefore, that requirement went against the proven will of God. As to keeping the Jewish religious traditions which were based upon the Mosaic Law, in his next sentence, Pete reminds them that none of the Jews could do that and, yet, they were blessed by God. Therefore, that requirement was also proven not required by God. The saved Pharisees were insisting that there was a spiritual difference between Jew and Gentile. As Peter says here, God put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. What God requires for salvation and for sanctification is for people to obey God's Holy Ghost by faith from the heart.

Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well.

This reference is part of the conclusion from the Council of Jerusalem when the church leaders were debating if Gentiles had to be circumcised in order to be saved and if they had to keep the Jewish religious traditions which were based upon the Mosaic Law. This sentence uses Holy Ghost because this member of the Trinity is directly affecting this physical world by commanding what is to be done and what is not to be done in order for people to be saved and sanctified. Here we read that there is no commandment from God beyond abstaining from sins which directly, or indirectly, affect the relationship between God and the saved person.

Acts 16:6-7 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

On the second mission trip, Paul and his team established (the churches) in the faith, and increased in number daily. After that, they sought to start new churches but everywhere they tried to go, they were forbidden of the Holy Ghost. After this sentence is when Paul received his Macedonian vision. Thus, we see God's Holy Ghost directly guiding where the mission team went.

Acts 19:1-2 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?

This is the start of an account which is in the first seven verses of this chapter. Paul met people who believe in John's baptism but were not saved. The believe in true repentance, but they did not have an ongoing personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. That was why they were not saved and when Paul told them that John the Baptist preached that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus, then they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and they were saved. Notice that our sentence uses Holy Ghost and not Holy Spirit. The Bible uses Holy Ghost when He affects things in this world. The Bible uses Holy Spirit when He deals with our spirit for spiritual matters. Our sentence uses Holy Ghost because if we are truly saved, then He is to change how we act in this physical world.

Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Once more, we see that the Bible uses Holy Ghost when He affects things in this world. Our sentence tells us that they spake with tongues. 1Corinthians 1:22 says: For the Jews require a sign. The Jews very much believed in signs. Therefore, they needed Paul to lay his hands upon them, for them to believe that they truly received God's Holy Ghost. However, we do not need that sign. {The thief on the cross was never touched but he was saved.} We see this truth not just in the 'laying on of hands' but also in the title of Christ Jesus being used which emphasizes the ongoing personal relationship which requires us to spiritually mature after being saved. Our verse emphasizes that when we are truly saved and receive God's Holy Ghost, He changes our life in this physical world.

Acts 20:23 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

Here we see that God's Holy Ghost used men to tell many others what waited for Paul in Jerusalem. Some people criticize Paul for going. However, God's Holy Ghost was giving him a testimony in spite of knowing what waited for him. Paul is our example of obedience.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Here we see that positions in the church are given by God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ working through God's Holy Ghost. Once more, we see that the word of God uses Holy Ghost for when He affects this physical reality.

Acts 21:11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

This is one of several prophecies that Paul would be bound and suffer persecution from the saved Jews in the Jerusalem Church. God's Holy Ghost gave this prophecy many times and to many people who tried to get paul to notgo there. But, Paul had a personal command from his Lord and none of those prophets had the authority to order an apostle to disobey his personal command from his Lord. No, God's Holy Ghost used these many prophecies to testify to the saved of paul's obedience no matter whayt personal physical consequences he might suffer.

Acts 28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

This is God's final judgment, and prophesied destruction, of the Jews in general because they refused to let their Lord correct their doctrine. This is Paul's final judgment of the religious doctrines of all of the Jews.

After that meeting, Paul ended up being beheaded and the Roman Army was sent into Jerusalem where they tore down the Temple and killed or scattered all of the Jews who preached a works salvation saying that people had to be circumcised before they could be saved. In addition, they preaches a works sanctification claiming that people had to keep the Jewish religious traditions in order to be blessed by God. At the same time. lost Jews were convinced that they would go to Heaven because they were born Jews. Thus, lost or saved, the Jews refused to let God correct their doctrine

People claim that the Temple was torn down because of the acts of lost Jews, but they had been acting the same way for 400 years. No, what was new was God had tried to correct the doctrine of this church at least three times before that happened. And, God tried every way possible to lead the lost Jews to a correct doctrine. That is what the context of this sentence tells us and that is what the quoted prophecy tells us. With no Temple, the saved Jews could not claim that the Jewish religious traditions had to be kept since those traditions were impossible without a Temple. With the loss of their country and being scattered, the lost Jews could not, reasonably, claim that they were better than all Gentiles in the eyes of God.

Romans 5:5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Our sentence says that saved people have attitudes and actions which are totally contrary to what our flesh, and the world, tells us to have. Saved people only have these attitudes and actions, which are displayed in this world, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Once more we see the evidence of God working in this physical world, through the lives of saved people, by the Holy Ghost moving them to do so.

Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

This chapter continues with Paul's testimony about the lost condition of most Jews who were alive at the time of this book being written. The lost Jews persecuted Paul, had him beaten several times and had him run out of several cities. Yet, in spite of those attitudes and actions against Paul, he had great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart for these lost Jews. This is the opposite of a natural reaction. Our sentence tells us that the Holy Ghost continued to work on Paul's conscience, while he was in this world, to make him aware to the lost condition, and eventual judgment, of other Jews.

Romans 14:17 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

The first part of this sentence, and the contextual considerations, are explained in the note for this sentence within the Book Study on Romans. What we want to look at here is the fact that our sentence tells us that the Holy Ghost is Who gives us righteousness, and peace, and joy as we work for the kingdom of God and allow it to cause God's character to become our personal character.

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

This sentence, and the contextual considerations, are explained in the note for this sentence within the Book Study on Romans. What our sentence clearly tells us s that we receive Biblical hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. The functional definition, of the word hope, is: 'hope is like faith in that both require us acting upon our belief before we have any factual evidence that we are correct. However, where faith is based upon a promise found in the word of God, hope is based upon the character of God when there is no written promise found'. Since we must act, in order to have true Biblical hope, we see that the power of the Holy Ghost causes changes in this world by motivating the believer to act upon their true Biblical hope.

Romans 15:16 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

This sentence is only the second-next sentence after the prior reference in this Study. here we saw that that the power of the Holy Ghost causes changes in this world by motivating the believer to act upon their true Biblical hope. Now, in this sentence, we see that the result of the hope, that Paul had, was the offering up of the Gentiles (was) sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Back in Romans 12:1 we saw that we were to be a living sacrifice. Therefore, when we combine these two sentences, we see that Paul encouraged the Gentiles to serve God as a living sacrifice and that the Holy Ghost sanctified ("set aside for God's exclusive use') this living sacrifice by the Gentiles. Therefore, once more, we see the title of Holy Ghost used when the third person of the Trinity causes changes in this physical world.

1Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

In this sentence we see a critical precept or proper Bible Study. Not only do we need to consider the context, when we study the Bible, but we need to make sure that what we understand never goes against any Bible precept. Biblical precepts are: 'truths that never change regardless of circumstances'. We verify that we have a true Biblical precepts by comparing spiritual things with spiritual. That is: comparing a principal found in one place of the Bible with every other place, in the Bible, where that principal is taught and making sure that it is always the same. Foe example, the only way to get the true definition of a Bible word is to look at every place where the word is used in the Bible and see what is consistent for every usage. We also need to see that the result of applying the spiritual things matches what the Bible tells us is the testimony of God. In all of this, our sentence tells us that we need the help of the Holy Spirit to avoid error. Once more, we see that the teaching of the Holy Spirit is done in this world.

1Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

A temple is where men worship God while in this life and physical world. The Holy Ghost helps us to properly worship God while in this life and physical world. That is what is meant by the phrase your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.

1Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

This sentence has doctrine which many people misunderstand. The note for this sentence, in the Book Study on 1Corinthians, has a light explanation and links to two other Studies which have detailed explanations of the doctrine in this sentence. Therefore, that doctrine will not be presented here. What our sentence is telling us is that no man can say that Jesus is (his personal) Lord, and speak truthfully, unless he is saved. Anyone who is truly saved has the indwelling Holy Ghost in him and the indwelling Holy Ghost is constantly urging the saved person to change and become more like God.

2Corinthians 6:3-10 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

The verse which uses the name of the Holy Ghost is only part of the sentence displayed above. Since a sentence is the minimum expression of a single thought, we must always consider the entire sentence, at a minimum, if we want the truth of what the Bible says. The Sentence outline, found in the Book Study on 2Corinthians, shows us that the phrase by the Holy Ghost is part of the Second Step within this sentence. It also tells us that the Second Step tells us 'How to do the ministry'. The word by is defined as; 'how we get from one place to another place'. This, we can only get from a position of not doing the ministry properly to a place of doing it properly with the help and direction from the Holy Spirit.

2Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

This is the conclusion of this epistle. Here we see that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and he love of God are equated with the communion of the Holy Ghost. The fact is that we only experience the first two, in this world, through the communion of the Holy Ghost.

1Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Our sentence tells us that Paul had three witnesses to verify the truth of the Gospel when he delivered it to this church. The people who criticized Paul did not have these witnesses. One of the three witnesses was the indwelling Holy Ghost which they received when they were saved. The changes in their own life, due to the indwelling Holy Ghost, was an undeniable witness of God's truth..

2Timothy 1:14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

Here we see that we can keep spiritual truths only by relying upon the power of the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. The Holy Ghost is the part of God Who enables us to do anything spiritual within this physical world.

Titus 3:5 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Our sentence tells us that part of our salvation is the renewing of the Holy Ghost. When we are truly saved, the Holy Ghost works in our life to mane us new again by removing the corruption which is the result of sin.

Hebrews 2:2-4 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

This sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us a reason why Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. In addition, the next sentence gives us another reason when it says For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. These two sentences are warning us to pay very close attention to the things which we have heard because our gifts from God's Holy Ghost give us the same authority and responsibility as was given to Old Testament prophets. In addition, God's Holy Ghost is teaching us the attitudes and actions which we will need if we return to reign this world with Christ (put in subjection the world to come). The indication of these sentences, when we truly meditate on them, is that saved people who do not learn to properly use the gifts from God's Holy Ghost, while they are in this life, will not be allowed to return for the 1,000 year reign of Christ. There are also other places in the Bible which indicate the same thing.

Our sentence contains a warning with the phrases: every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward and How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation. The importance of God's Holy Ghost being used in this sentence is the warning about punishment for all saved people who misuse the gifts of the Holy Ghost. Such people should not only expect punishment from God but should also expect to be denied returning to rule this world. However, those saved people who use the gifts of the Holy Ghost to build up God's kingdom in this world should expect that the lessons which they learn now will be used when they return with Christ to rule this world.

Hebrews 3:7-12 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Our reference to God's Holy Ghost is part of an included section which helps us to properly understand to outer sentence of: Wherefore...Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. As with our prior reference in Hebrews, we have a warning against failing to act properly in this world. If we fail to act, as the sentence following this sentence tells us to do, we are departing from the living God because of an evil heart of unbelief. Thus, our sentence is telling us that God's Holy Ghost warns us about the loss suffered by God's people, in the past, who failed to act right. This warning is that we should expect to receive the same type of loss if we also refuse to act right in this world. Our sentence warns us that God sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. That generation walked in the wilderness until they all died and could not enter the promised land. Likewise, the implied threat is that saved people of today, who have God's indwelling Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Ghost, will not be able to enter the 1,000 years reign of Christ if they do not use the gifts of the Holy Ghost properly, in this world, to help build God's kingdom in this world.

Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Our sentence starts with the word For and tells us why the chapter started out saying Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. Our sentence tells us that it is impossible to accomplish the goal which would be sought by laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works if someone was once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost.

In this sentence the doctrinal difference between when the Bible uses Holy Ghost and when it uses Holy Spirit becomes important. Our sentence uses Holy Ghost to let us know that He affected things in this physical world and that these people were made partakers. They were actively involved in a miracle. There is confusion and doctrinal error taught about this sentence because people do not realize the doctrinal difference between when the Bible uses Holy Ghost and when it uses Holy Spirit. All saved people have the indwelling Holy Spirit but many of them have not participated in a miracle. When we exclude such people, we remove the source of confusion and doctrinal error.

Hebrews 9:8 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Our sentence tells us that when God gave the mosaic Law to Moses, it was the Holy Ghost Who revealed it in this physical world to Moses.

Hebrews 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

This sentence might easily be misunderstood. It is God's Holy Spirit that puts my (God's) laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I (God) write them. However, it is the Holy Ghost which moves the saved to display these things in this world as a witness to other people.

1Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

When the word of God is preached with the power of God, which is required to change the hearts of people, our sentence tells us that the Holy Ghost is providing that power of God to affect hearts in this world.

2Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Our sentence tells us that when holy men were moved, in this physical world, to speak prophecy , it was actually the Holy Ghost Who spoke in this world through those holy men.

1John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

This sentence is one of the few times that the Holy Ghost is not working in this physical world but is bearing record in heaven of how the saved responded to His promptings and let Him do His work through their life when they were in this physical world.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Here we see that when we get help from God with our prayer life, while we are in this physical world, it is actually the Holy Ghost Who helps us.

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