LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THE SPIRIT-FILLED CHRISTIAN LIFE A Thesis Project Submitted to Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree OOCTOR OF MINISlRY By Curtis Wayne Brown North Uxbridge, Massachusetts May, 2003 LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLCX;]CAL SEMINARY THESIS PROjECf APP~~OVAL SHEET GRADE :MENTOR READER i ABSTRACT TIlE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE Curtis W. Brown Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary ~entor:l)r. Ine~er The Scriptures teach that Christians are to be "filled or controlled" by God, the Holy Spirit. This thesis will define what the Bible teaches regarding how the Holy Spirit co~es to dwell within a person, what is involved in continually sub~tting the heart to the Holy Spirit's filling or control, and what are the behavioral and attitude ~anifestations in a Christian when controlled by the Holy Spirit. The filling of the Holy Spirit will be discussed in the life of the individual Christian, his family and the local church as seen in Ephesians 5:18- 6:17, Galatians 5:22-23, Ro~ans, I Corinthians and Acts. Abstract length: 106 words ',. 11 CONTENTS Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION.............................................. 1 Statement of the Problem........................................ 3 Definition of Terms............................................. 3 Statement of Limitations........................................ .4 Review of the Literature......................................... 4 The Biblical and Theological Bases of the Thesis•................... 45 The Design and Methodology of the Thesis........................ 46 . Chapter One Description....................................... .47 Chapter Two Description....................................... 47 1-,' Chapter Three Description...................................... 49 Chapter Four Description....................................... 50 Chapter Five Description....................................... 50 Chapter Six Description.................... ; ....................51 Chapter Seven Description................................• , ... .51 2. THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE AS EXAMINED IN EPHESIANS 5:18 -6:17.......................................... 52 The Spirit-Filled Life and Submission to God the Holy Spirit. ........ 54 The Spirit-Filled Life and Worship............................... .57 The Spirit':Filled Life and Marriage............................... 60 . The Spirit-Filled Life and Family Interactions...................... 62 The Spirit-Filled Life and Vocation/School Relationships ........... 70 TheSpirit-Filled Life and the Full Armor of God.................... 76 The Articles of Armor ..........................................87 The Belt of Truth .............................................. 88 The Breastplate of Righteousness................................. 89 Shoes of the Gospel of Peace..................................... 90 The Shield of Faith .............................................91 The Helmet of Salvation and The Sword of the Spirit. .......' ........99 iii 3. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT AND THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE IN GALATIANS 5:22-26 .............. 104 The Fruit of Love .............................................106 The Fruit of Joy .............................................. 108 The Fruit of Peace............................................. 109 The Fruit of Patience .......................................... 112 The Fruit of Kindness ......................................... 115 The Fruit of Goodness .........................................117 The Fruit of Faithfulness .......................................119 The Fruit of Gentleness ........................................120 The Fruit of Self-ControL .............................. , .......120 4. THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT AND THE SPIRIT.. FILLED LIFE IN ROMANS 12 AND I CORINTHIANS 12 ....................................122 The Gift of Prophecy ..........................................126 The Gift of Serving/ Ministry ................ ~ ..................127 The Gift of Teaching .......................................... 129 The Gift of Exhortation ........................................130 The Gift of Giving ............................................ 130 The Gift of Leading/ Administration .............................131 The Gift of Mercy .............................................132 The Gifts and the Church ...................................... 133 5. THE GIFT OF TONGUES AND THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE IN ACTS 2 AND I CORINTHIANS 12, 14 .................................136 6. THE SIGN GIFTS IN TODAY'S CHURCH AND THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE ...............................142 7. SPIRITUAL HEADSHIP, ROLE DISTINCTIVES AMONG THE GENDERS, AND THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE ............... 151 The Biblical Basis for Spiritual Headship in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians ............................. 153 The Biblical Basis for Spiritual Headship in 1 Timothy ..............160 Specific Role Distinctives in 1 Timothy ..................... '" ...164 Spiritual Headship and Role Distinctives in Ephesians ............. 170 iv The Role Distinctives for the Genders Regarding Church Government and Families .......................... 171 CONCLUSION . .............................................181 BIBLIOGRAPHY . ..... '...................................... 183 VITA ....................................................... 191 v CHAPTER ONE IN1RODUCTION Tne Scriptures teach that Christians are to be "filled or controlled" by God, the Holy Spirit. This thesis will define how the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within a person, what is involved in continually submitting one's life to the Holy Spirit's filling or control, and what is the behavior manifested in a Christian when controlled by the Holy Spirit. The filling of the Holy Spirit will be discussed in the life of the individual Christian, his family and the local church. Ultimately, this is a critical issue in the church as the individual Christian and his family comprise the congregation of the local church. This thesis is designed to be of value for any Christian, church, or denomination desirous of "walking in the Spirit." The thesis will propose that the Holy Spirit, when pe~tted to lead, will lead Christians, their families, the local church, and the local church's denomination in a direction that is consistent with the teaching of Holy Scripture. There is a variety of teaching taking place in local churches regarding how . 'I - . the Holy Spirit indwells a believer" and what is defined as the llfilling" of the Spirit. The topic of the Spirit-filled life and its impact upon the Christian, his family, and the local church will address how a person becomes indwelt by the Spirit and filled by the Spirit. The Scripture will confirm that God, the Holy Spirit, indwells the individual at the very moment saving faith is placed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that the filling of the Spirit is a life-long experience of 1 2 surrendering to the control of God, the Holy Spirit. There are numerous mistaken definitions of how to identify a Spirit-filled Christian. This thesi~ will identify those characteristics which God, the Holy Spirit, imparts to the believer in Christ, who is filled by the Spirit. This thesis will strive to identify as erroneous those teachings requiring a need for a second baptism of the Spirit and the subsequent bestowal of the gift of "speaking in tongues." Thus, instead of the Christian being identified as Spirit­ filled based upon the drama of heightened emotional experiences, a study of what the Spirit-filled life truly resembles will be examined in Ephesians 5:18-6:17. A study of Ephesians 5:18-6:17 takes the focus off of euphoric feelings of emotional stimulation such as stressed in charismatic organizations, and instead . charts how a Christian should behave when filled (controlled) by the Holy Spirit. The rationale and value of this thesis is that it describes the consequences of a Christian believing that being Spirit-filled is dependent upon highly ~harged emotional feelings derived from subjective sensations. These sensations or experiences may include speaking in tongues, receiving a second baptism in the Spirit, or some other experiential manifestation of the Spirit's filling. This thesis will establish that the believer does not get any more of the Spirit after conversion, but that the Spirit desires surrender of the believer's submission to Him, and that this is ultimately proven by an earnest desire to obey the Word of Godin the life of the Christian. Thus, this thesis will convey that when a believer is Spirit-filled, he will habitually obey the Bible, and will have a firm understanding that the Spirit leads the believer in thinking and acting in ways that are in agreement with the teaching of Scripture. 3 Statement of the Problem What does the Holy Spirit controlled life resemble and produce in the Christian, his family and his church? The purpose of this thesis project is to issue biblical teaching regarding the "fruit of obedience" the Holy Spirit produces through a Christian in his life, his family and his church as a result of that believer being "Spirit-filled." Furthermore, a revealing of the negative implications for the believer, his family and the local church when erroneous teaching is accepted about the Spirit-filled life as propagated by the church's denomination is a purpose of this project. Definition of Terms Indwelt: indwell: indwelling: A description of the instantaneous act of God, the Holy Spirit, taking up permanent residence in a person's life at the very moment the