I’ve prepared a list of texts from all of Paul’s Epistles and some from John, with some notes) to make the point that Paul was consumed with the working and power of the Holy Spirit — that it was, in fact, his principal message to his churches. I encourage you to look over this list, particularly if your understanding of Paul’s message tends to align with the traditional. I think you’ll find it quite compelling.
and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (This is hugely important as it is in the controversial Rom 2.
and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (if you’ve given yourself to your Lord, you are no longer guilty of unrighteousness in God’s eyes.)
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (those with the Spirit can actually fulfill the “righteous requirements of the law”.)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,
and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, (gives various “gifts” that are capabilities one didn’t have previously)
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being” (Ge 2:7); the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (Straight from Jer 31:33
who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (another contrast with the written Law vs the Spirit-enabled conformance with that written law.)
2 Corinthians 3:7-17 (poetic contrast between old covenant and New demonstrating why the New was necessary for the Jews.)
7Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
12Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
2 Co 5:4
4For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (this is a fascinating contrast between our mortal selves and the “life” that God implored us to choose (Dt 30:19))
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (example of his letter benedictions)
Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—
so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (The presence of the Spirit functionally replaces the law.)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. (conveys revelation)
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—
and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Do not quench the Spirit.
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, (forewarned)
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this (keeping his commandments) we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (The “spirit of Antichrist” isn’t some malevolent being coming in the future to inflict punishments on the world. It is simply man’s natural rejection of Christ as the Lord of his life.)
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
9(which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, (Good summary of the difference.)
124 matches of “Spirit” in Romans-Philemon of which 97 are references to the Holy Spirit/Spirit of God.
Of 124 references to “Spirit” in Paul’s Epistles, an overwhelming 97 are his mentions of the Holy Spirit/God’s Spirit and His role in Paul’s Church members’, and fellow Apostles’, lives. In a bit of contrast, his references to “grace” in these Epistles total 82 occurrences. Of these, 52 are references to God’s grace to himself or his churches (apart from Paul’s use of the term in the blessings and salutations of his letters). So, by this simplistic metric, God’s provision of His Spirit to believers was far more significant in Paul’s messages than was God’s grace in dispensing Him.
