Category Archives: Alphabetical

Abultion

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Abultion
David Cox’s Topical Bible Concordance

In general is a ceremonial washing with water.
• General references Exo. 19:10, 14; Mat. 15:2; Mar. 7:2-5, 8-9; Luk. 11:38; Heb. 9:10.
• Of priests Exo. 29:4; 30:18-21; 40:12, 31-32; Lev. 8:6; 16:4, 24, 26, 28; Num. 19:7-10, 19; 2Ch. 4:6.
• Of burnt offerings Lev. 1:9, 13; 9:14; 2Ch. 4:6.
• Of the dead Act. 9:37.
• Of infants Eze. 16:4.
• Of the face Mat. 6:17.
• Of the feet Gen. 18:4; 19:2; 24:32; 43:24; Exo. 30:19, 21; 40:31; Judg. 19:21; 2Sa. 11:8; Song 5:3; Luk. 7:38, 44; Joh. 13:5; 1Ti. 5:10.
• Of the hands Exo. 30:18-21; 40:30-32.
• Of the hands, as a token of innocency Deu. 21:6; Psa. 26:6; Mat. 27:24.
• For defilement:
– Of lepers Lev. 14:8-9.
– Those having bloody issue Lev. 15:5-13.
– Those having eaten that which died Lev. 17:15-16.
• Traditional forms of, not observed by Jesus Luk. 11:38-39 Purification; Defilement
• Figurative General references Psa. 51:2; 65:3; 73:13; 79:9; Pro. 16:6; 20:9; Isa. 1:16; 4:3-4; Dan. 12:10; Act. 22:16; 1Co. 5:7; 6:11; Tit. 3:5; Heb. 1:3; 9:14; Jam. 4:8; 2Pe. 1:9; 1Jn. 1:7; Rev. 1:5; 7:14 Regeneration
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Abib (month)

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Abib [H24]

David Cox’s Topical Bible Concordance
• Called also Nisan. First month in the Jewish calendar Exo. 12:2.
• Passover instituted and Israelites depart from Egypt in Exo. 23:15; Deu. 16:1.
• Tabernacle set up in Exo. 40:2, 17.
• Israelites arrive at the wilderness of Zin in Num. 20:1.
• Enter Canaan in Jos. 4:19.
• Jordan’s overflow in 1Ch. 12:15.

Baptism

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Baptism

David Cox’s Topical Bible Concordance
Baptism.
As administered by John Mt 3:5-12; Joh 3:23; Ac 13:24; 19:4
Sanctioned by Christ’s submission to it Mt 3:13-15; Lu 3:21
Adopted by Christ Joh 3:22; 4:1,2
Appointed an ordinance of the Christian church Mt 28:19,20; Mr 16:15,16 Continue reading →

Holy Spirit, Names of

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When we look at the Bible’s references to the Holy Spirit, it refers to him in many different ways. In this post, we will look at his names by categories.

“Seven Spirit of God” – Rev 1:4

The Essential Attributes or Nature of the Holy Spirit

The Spirit

Mat 4:1; John 3:6; 1Tim 4:1 – A spirit is a spiritual entity of a person, i.e. “his spirit”, that which gives life and action to that person. This in relation to God is God’s active hand in the world. In relation to persons, their individual spirit is what gives them “life” (see “spirit of life” below). “Spirit” (according to the Greek and Hebrew meanings of the word) can also refer to “wind” (an animator of things in nature), or “breathe” which is air which is exhaled from a person. This breathe is usually what a doctor looks for to see if there is still life in the body of the person. So as a consequence, a person’s breathe is an evidence of life still in him. It also comes out of his mouth and nose with certain aspects or characteristics of that person, so it is distinctively “his”.

In Gen 2:7, God formed man from the dust of the earth, and then “breathed in him” to animate his body with life. The inbreathing of God in man gives life to him. (See Psa 104:30, “you send your Spirit, they are created”.)

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

In John 20:22, Jesus “breathed on them” and said “Receive the Holy Spirit”. This divine breathe is somehow a medium by which divinity is placed within these human beings, not that they become divine or a god on their own, but that they have some part of God indwelling in them (see indwelling the believer below).

John 3:6-8 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

The need for a “spiritual” animating (instilling of the Spirit of God) is necessary for the person to be saved. This comes at the moment of salvation.

The Spirit of Life

Rom 8:2; Rev 11:11 – Again this is attributing the source of all life, and that source giving life or animation to others.

The Holy Spirit

Psa 51:11; Luke 11:13; Eph 1:13; 4:30 – This name emphasizes the Spirit essential moral character, he is holy, he makes holy. Holiness, in summary, is an “apartness” from all common in this world, and especially apart from all profane in this world. This is essentially the work of sanctification, in which God changes man to be like the moral character of God.

The Spirit of holiness

Ro 1:4 – Again this is a name which refers to both his essential character (The Holy Spirit is holy), and His work (the Holy Spirit makes holy).

The Spirit of glory

1Pe 4:14; Rom 8:16-17; cp Eph 3:16-19 – “Glory” means that there is credit, approval, or good (and high) recognition given to somebody. This is not just a commentary, but glory is based on something of high moral worth (something noble, good, outstanding, worthy, and worthy of public recognition) within somebody. This already existing “thing”, glory, is in a person, and when that is brought to public attention, then it is glory. Glory is an activity of revealing moral worth and exalting publicly.

The Spirit of Grace

Zech 12:10; Heb 10:29 – The work of salvation is applied individually into the hearts of men and women through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the “administrator of Grace”. He does this work through working with man in instilling faith and trust in God, and specifically in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The eternal Spirit

Heb 9:14 – Eternity is an element of aseity, and therefore this name of the Spirit refers to or applies the full essence of God to the Spirit.

The Free Spirit

Psa. 51:12 – A free Spirit is a spirit that is not bound or restricted.

Good Spirit

Neh 9:20; Psa 143:10 – In his essential essence, the Spirit is good. He does good and cause benefit and advantage to those who maintain his presence.

The Spirit of truth

Jn 16:13 Jn 14:17; Jn 15:26; 1Jn 4:6 – Truth is reality, because it is the opposite of what is false or unreal. Lies are the opposite of truth. But at the same time truth is morally correct or approved in God’s eyes, so it is in a sense “just” or “justice” or “righteousness.” Beyond being “real” or “true” truth is morally pure and right. Another opposite of truth is sin. We live truth. God’s Spirit is a Spirit of truth, in that what he represents and causes and effects in men is submission to God’s moral truth.

John 14:17 “The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

The Holy Spirit’s being the Spirit of Truth means that he is in opposition to sinful man, and either sinful man will change to be morally acceptable to God, or he will be condemned and chastised in an eternal hell. Note in John 14:17, that the world has a problem even perceiving the presence of the Spirit of Truth. They cannot know him nor see him. He is invisible and unknown to them. Yet for the believer, the Spirit is perceived and known by them, and moreover, the Spirit of Truth is within, or dwelling within the person, and animating the person’s character, attitudes, and actions.

According to John 15:26, the Spirit of Truth will testify of Jesus to the believer. In other words, the character of the Holy Spirit is identical in every aspect with the character of Jesus Christ, and this character is a spiritual guide (Jn 16:13) or moral pattern for the believer, and if the believer submits to the Spirit of Truth, he will be lead into a way of living life that is identical with how Jesus showed us in his own life.

The Spirit of God

God’s Spirit – Acts 5:3-4
Spirit of God – Gen 1:2; 1Co 2:11; Job 33:4
The Spirit of the living God – 2Cor 3:3

Although this connects with the Spirit’s essential being, it focuses on His divine origin, character, and power. See 1Co 3:16 “God’s Spirit lives in you”, and Rom 8:9 “the Spirit of God lives in you”.

The Spirit of the Lord

2The 3:5; Isa 11:2 – This link is with the Lordship of God, the right and ability to command man.

The spirit of the Sovereign Lord – Isa 61:1

The Power of the Highest

Luke 1:35 – Power is the ability to accomplish things.

Spirit of might – Isa 11:2

Titles showing the nature of the Holy Spirit’s activity

The Counsellor / Comforter/Advocate

Isaiah 11:2; John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7; 1John 2:1 – The Greek word here is an advocate, or a professional counselor brought alongside a person to help him in his life. The advocate or lawyer examines the case of the person, and then tells the person what the law is, and where he is abiding by the law (comfort) or where that person is in conflict with the law (rebuke). The counselor or advocate simply states the moral standards of the law, and the individual has either of the two states depending on whether he was in conflict with the law, or abiding in the moral standard of the law.

The Oil of Joy – Heb 1:9

The Spirit of wisdom and understanding

Isa 11:2; Dt 34:9 fn; Eph 1:17 – For the Holy Spirit to instruct us, He must first have knowledge (understand the facts of life) and wisdom (be able to manipulate and use those facts such that he causes benefit and advantage).

Spirit of the fear of the Lord

Isa 11:2 – This quality is the beginning of wisdom. Without fear of the power of God, and what offending that God will eventually cause you, you cannot learn nor be wise.

Teacher

John 14:26; 1Cor 2:13 – A teacher is a person who works with an individual, first instilling facts, and secondly making the person wise, which is so that he can use knowledge to gain benefit and gain.

Revealer/Spirit of Truth

John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 1Cor 2:12-16; Eph 1:17 – The Holy Spirit is a revealer of truth or the Spirit of Truth. This aspect of his person reveals his messenger abilities to take the message of God and make it clear and understood to men. Truth is the reality of things, but it is also a moral standard. We accept and submit to truth (moral standard) or we do not. God says “Do not fornicate”, “Do not steal.” We either submit to that moral truth or we reject it. There can be no other options. Ignorance of it si the same as rejecting it, you do not abide by it. The Holy Spirit (both in revealing and convicting) works with us to make those moral truths known and understood to us so that we can make the decision. He uses our conscious which is acted upon by God’s Word, the Scriptures.

Witness – Related to revealing, the Spirit is a witness or testimony to Truth Rom 8:16; Heb 2:4; 10:15
Spirit of Prophecy – Rev 19:10

Guide

John 16:13 – This is another concept or view of the Holy Spirit. Every person has a relationship with God, and that person either obeys God’s will for his life, or works his own will. In order for a person to enter into the will of God for his life, he must first know that will, and this is not a general knowledge but a specific and person knowledge. Therefore the person must begin with a general knowledge of God’s will, and from there, understand the specific will of God for his life, where he will live, what vocation he is to do, who will be his soul mate, what church he will attend, etc. These things are never revealed as the general will of God, i.e. there is no real Bible verse to specifically help you. God will guide you through the Holy Spirit. The conditions here is that one has that saving relationship with God, and that there is a good foundation in the general will of God, and that the person builds a background of constantly seeking God’s will. This is essentially be very knowledge of God’s Word through personal study and participation in the ministry of God in a local church, and be sensitive to God’s direction (obey your conscience). Only then will that person be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Convicter of Sin

John 16:7-11

Spirit of Burning – Isa 4:4

Indweller of the Believer

Rom 8:9-11; Eph 2:21-22; 1Co 6:19; Causes the fruit of the Spirit in the beleiver Gal 5:22-23

Deposit/Seals/Makes Earnest the believer

2Co 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:13-14

Spirit of Adoption

Rom 8:15 – While adoption was not technically practiced in Old Testament Israel (but see Psa 2:7), the concept is still there (2Sam 7:14). This adoption concept is one of making somebody your child/son, and the child making somebody his father. This relationship and all that comes with it IS NOT AN INHERENT RIGHT, because the adopted person is not born into the family. He is brought in after the fact of birth. Adoption (see Gal 4:4-7) by somebody means that the child being adopted is transplanted from his present family into a new family. There are new relationships established in this adoption with the parents as well as well the brothers and sisters of that family. The adopted child has new rights, privileges, and responsibilities. Also, adoption means that there is a special relationship of the person with the Father, and that special love and care coming from the Father are now given to the adopted child.  An adopted child also is now an heir to receive good things from his father (cp Exo 4:22). The centerpiece of all of this is that the newly adopted child is loved by God (see Isa 1:2; Hosea 11:1) and his family. The Holy Spirit has the duty of informing, guiding, and motivating the new believer in relationship to these situations. He is the one that causes his adoption, or situates the new believer in his new family’s environment. The “spirit of adoption” can also be considered as an attitude within a person whereby they think, live, and act as a son of somebody. Vine’s distinguishes adoption as not being put into a family by spiritual birth, but being put into the position of sons (emphasizing more the filial relationship, verses “spiritual rebirth” emphasizing the father-son relationship). See Davis Huckabee’s Systematic Theology on Adoption. Also see Church of God “The Spirit of Adoption”, specially the section on “God is reproducing himself” about a third of the way down.

The Spirit of sonship

Ro 8:15

Intercessor

Rom 8:26 The Holy Spirit is a mediator between God and man like Jesus Christ is, but he works through Christ, not independently of Christ. This intercession is to help man come to God (conviction, guidance, revelation, etc).

The Spirit of grace and supplication

Zec 12:10; Heb 10:29 – The Holy Spirit is the force, agent, or motivating power which applies the grace of God individually to men. This highlights his work as Intercessor (see previous entry), in that He stands between God and man to work for man in order to gain man’s benefit in finding and approving and applying the grace of God to each individual man.

The Spirit of judgment and fire

Isa 4:4; 28:6 – Judgment is when God enters into a situation to evaluate and declare something as “just” (approved in the sight of God) or “unjust” or guilty (disapproved). “Fire” is a difficult symbol to interpret in this case. It can be linked with judgment, being the punishment of unjust actions, but at the same time, it is the purifier of unjust nature, thus sanctification and holiness are associated with fire which changes us from sinful to holiness. Another aspect of this positive aspect is that metal is purified by much fire and heat.

The Holy Spirit in related to His Functions

The promised Holy Spirit

Ac 2:33; Eph 1:13 – The Holy Spirit was fully active in the Old Testament. But at the same time, the effect of the Holy Spirit is compared between the Old and New Testaments as being much greater and more extensive in the New Testament than the Old. In this, the Spirit is said “to have come” and “to have been promised” before his coming at the day of Pentecost.

The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead

Ro 8:11 – The most powerful thing in all of history was the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The Holy Spirit is directly attributed with this act.

Author of Scripture

2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16 – The Holy Spirit is also the person who gives, directs, guides, reveals, the will and message of God to man. His work is in communicating this message, but also in making sure it is not corrupted or changed by the passing through men to get into a fixed state.

The Spirit in relation to the Son of God

Gal 4:6; Act 16:7; Rom 8:9; Php 1:19; 1Pe 1:11

In relation to being God, or related to others in Godhead

The Spirit of the Lord/Christ/God

This reference focuses on the possession of God, His Spirit. Spirit is what “animates” man and animal, so this concept of the “Spirit” which is of God would seem to indicate the animating or working influence of God in the world.

See Gen 1:2; 41:38; 1Sa 10:10; 1Sa 19:20,23; Ro 8:9; 1Co 6:11; 2Co 3:3; Eph 4:30; Php 3:3. Jdg 3:10; Jdg 6:34; Jdg 11:29; Jdg 13:25; Jdg 14:6,19; Jdg 15:14; 1Sa 10:6; 1Sa 16:13; 2Sa 23:2 ; Isa 11:2; Isa 61:1; 2Co 3:17 Mat3:16; 2Cor 3:17; 1Pe 1:11.

Spirit of Lord God – Isa 61:1
Spirit of the Lord – Isa 11:2; Acts 5:9
Spirit of God – Gen 1:2; 1Co 2:11; Job 33:4
Spirit of the Father – Mat 10:20
Spirit of Christ – Rom 8:9; 1Pe 1:11
Spirit of the Son – Gal 4:6

The Breath of the Almighty

Job 33:4 – Breath is what goes out of one’s mouth, but yet there is the characteristics of that person in his breath.

Personal References to the Holy Spirit

My Spirit

Ge 6:3; Isa 30:1; Isa 59:21; Joel 2:28-29; Hag 2:5; Zec 4:6;Zec 6:8; Mt 12:18

His Spirit

Isa 34:16; Isa 63:10-11; Zec 7:12; Ro 8:11; Eph 2:22

Your Spirit

Ne 9:20,30; Ps 51:11; Ps 139:7; Ps 143:10

The Spirit of your Father

Mt 10:20

The Spirit of Christ/His Son/Jesus Christ

Rom 8:9; Gal 4:6; Phi 1:19; Act 2:32-33; 16:6-7,

Atonement

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Atonement

The old adage, “at one with God” is very true to this concept. The idea begins with an acknowledgement that we are at odds with God because we have offended God, sinning against God. This antagonism between God and us is caused by our sin, and cannot be lifted or remedied by us. God offers a solution in the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary as the remedy that God accepts. But God conditions this remedy from becoming effective ONLY IF we believe in Jesus as our Savior. Faith is the key around which atonement works. Faith has a basis, and it is not in a power within us, but in the confidence of God, that He has solved the situation through Jesus.

-DCox Continue reading →

Symbols, the Holy Spirit

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The Symbols of the Holy Spirit

The Finger of God.

Luke 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

The Holy Spirit is the “finger of God” in the sense that a finger is used to indicate things, and teachers use a “pointer” to teach by focusing on the most important.

The Seal.

1Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

A seal has basically two purposes. One is like branding to mark ownership, and the second purpose is to guarantee quality, or set a degree of authority (make sometihing official). A third use is to “seal something” making it private, personal, or not open to “public consumption”. This third idea alligns itself with the concept of making something holy.

The Earnst or Deposit.

1Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

http://www.heraldmag.org/2005/05so_2.htm

accursed

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Accursed

This concept goes hand in hand with the concept of blessing, or being blessed. To be blessed is to be in the favor of God such that God is actively giving you good things, protecting you, and helping you. To be accursed is the opposite. The person who involves themself with something that is “accursed” is to take, like, want, or otherwise involves themselves with something that utterly has God’s disapproval.

God identifies certain things as being “accursed”. These accursed things (and those people associated with it) are things under the condemnation of God, and will shortly fall under the actual punishment of God. The concept of accursed is someone or something that is cast off from God. They (for some reason, by their decision to reject God, or because God has seen their sins and decides to reject them) are separated from God and all the goodness that is associated with God.

Rahab was taken out of the accursed city, but the city and all that were in it fell under the condemnation and punishment of God Joshua 6:17.

Josh 6:18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

God made everything in this city “accursed”, i.e. the Israelites were not to take or rescue anything from it, not animal, not possessions, not even money, gold or silver. Think atom bomb here. Everybody and everything is destroyed and nothing is to be left for Israel’s possession.

In Joshua 7 Achan took gold from the accursed city, and this caused the wrath of God. The entire story of Achan speaks to us of an utter and explosive declaration that things are not in themselves always good. Things associated with evil, especially things gotten through evil or wicked means, retain an association with that wickedness, and therefore, even though they in themselves can be good (food, money, clothing, etc), God has declared them off limits for us. From a purely carnal view, a gold coin is a gold coin, and we should not refuse to grab it if we can (without law enforcement grabbing us for stealing). But the story of Achan teaches us that this thinking just doesn’t check with God.

Possessions gain a kind of moral association with them, and therefore we have to be careful not to grab what is morally wrong, or what is good but gotten through morally wrong means.

Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

“Blessing” (a good thing) is not blessing (is not good for us) if it incures the wrath of God in the process.

Things declared accursed

 

The idea of being declared accursed is to have no remedy to the ills of life. In other words, the only true source of blessing and rescue from the issues of life is God. To be accursed is to have God say, “I am not at home, go away, and don’t come back”. When you enter that situation, their is utterly no hope. The problem is, is when a person that is not accursed does something to get involved with something or someone accursed, and thereby also becoming accursed by association. On the one hand, it can happen, and on the other, normal people utterly refuse and reject anything related with it because nothing good can come from it.

Illustration. Consider a large city with a nuclear power plant. Something happens and the power plant powders the entire city with radioactive dust. Everybody left things as they were, not taking anything with them. You go into the city knowing this. You pick up clothes, eat their food, and drive one of their cars, and go to jewelry shop and put on a lot of gold jewelry. What good does it do you? The more you involve yourself with anything there, the more radioactive you become. You take money from a bank and then go out of the city and start buying things, and shortly the police track you down, and put you in jail for passing off radioactive money. The people that received it also are wanting you lynched. Nothing good comes of anything related to the accursed city.

Jesus became “accursed” for us, by hanging on the cross, in order to save our souls.

Deut 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

-DCox

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Adam 4

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Adam.

The first man. The name is supposed to be derived from Adamah, ‘earth, or red earth,’ agreeing with the fact that “the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, Gen. 2:7. He differed from all other creatures, because God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, by which man became a living soul. He differed also in being made after the image and likeness of God:he was God’s representative on earth, and to him was given dominion over all other living things, and he gave them names. He was placed in the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it, showing that occupation was a good thing for man even in innocence. God said also that it was not good for man to be alone, so He caused him to sleep, took from him a rib, and of this ‘builded’ a woman. Adam called her Isha for she was taken out of Ish, man:the two being a type of Christ and the church, in the closest union:cf. Eph. 5:31, 32. Continue reading →