(1) The Spirit is the divine Author of the Word of God (II Pet. 1: 19-21).

It is for this reason that the holy Scriptures are designated the sword of the Spirit

(Ephesians 6: 17). This is the only offensive weapon permitted to the believer and the

only weapon that overcomes the devil and the powers of darkness. We have a wonderful

example of its use by the Lord Jesus Christ when tempted by Satan for forty days in the

wilderness. Three times He foiled the devil, not by the power of His deity, but by the

power of the written Word of God (Matt. 4: 1-11). This is certainly an example to all

His followers, and we should remember that practice is essential for the effective use of

all weapons. A scanty knowledge of the Word is useless in this spiritual warfare and the

devil is certainly not afraid of Christians who keep the Book shut. It is of the utmost

importance to have the word of Christ dwelling in us richly in all wisdom (Col. 3: 16)

and this can only be realized when there is constant application to the Word and

absorption of the same until it becomes part and parcel of our minds and beings. We are

assured that it was the Holy Spirit who spoke through human channels (Mark 12: 35;

Acts 1: 16). This is why the Bible is the Word of God and not the word of man.

(2) The Holy Spirit is the quickener of all spiritual life (John 3: 3, 5-8).

This is where Christian life really begins and it cannot be realized by education alone

or intellectual capacity. Theological courses may be helpful in giving information about

the Bible, but none of them by themselves can give life eternal to a spiritually dead

sinner, however religious he may appear to be. This is God's work alone, accomplished

by the Spirit of God Who leads the quickened sinner to appropriate by simple faith the

unending life which is found only in Christ (II Tim. 1: 1; I John 5: 11, 12).

(3) The Holy Spirit's seal (Eph. 1: 13).

This is a figurative way of emphasizing the complete security of each member of the

Body of Christ. No believer can accomplish this eternal security by his own power or

actions. God the Holy Spirit sets His seal upon the salvation of the believer at the

moment of believing. This shows that the whole work of salvation is God's and not

man's. The Holy Spirit puts His stamp upon it making it secure for eternity. This work

of the Spirit does not refer to some exalted experience subsequent to salvation. How we

should rejoice and be thankful when we realize this! Some object and say that such

doctrine will lead to a careless walk.  If it does, then such can expect the Lord's

discipline. God's truth is always balanced and in other studies we have pointed out how

the Word of God teaches that not only is each member of the Body saved with an eternal

salvation, but he becomes a servant of the Lord with a service to discharge unto Him, and

then the question of good or bad service, faithful or unfaithful comes into the picture with

the possibility of reward and divine commendation, or loss of it and shame, so that no

child of God gets away with a careless walk.

(4) The Holy Spirit baptizes.