RESEARCH PROJECT: FINAL SUBMISSION ASSIGNMENT
The Role of the Holy Spirit in Disciple Making
Patrick Scales
THEO 530: Systematic Theology II
June 30, 2024
Content
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………….1
Explanation of Disciple Making ………………………………………………………….1
Disciple Making and the Significance of the Holy Spirit ………………………………...1
Overview of the Role of the Holy Spirit ………………………………………………………….2
The Essence of the Holy Spirits Role in Discipleship ……………………………………3
The Holy Spirits Role in Empowering Believers ………………………………...3
The Purpose of the Empowerment by the Holy Spirit ……………………………4
Transformation Empowered by the Holy Spirit …………………………………………..5
The Holy Spirit Convicts the World of Sin ………………………………………………………6
The Holy Spirit Convicts Believers of Sin ……….…………………………………………..7
The Holy Spirit Empowers Believers to Turn From Sin ….………………………………….9
The Holy Spirit Guides all into Truth …………………………………………………………….9
The Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth in Discipleship ………………………………………10
The Holy Spirit in the Teachings of Jesus on Discipleship …………………………………11
The Holy Spirits Role in Transforming Lives to Reflect Christ …………...……………………12
The Holy Spirit in the Life of Christ ………………………………………………………...13
The Holy Spirit's Work in the Believer's Life ……………………………………………….14
Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………………15
Dependence on the Holy Spirit ……………………………………………………………...16
Fostering Spiritual Gifts ……………………………………………………………………..16
Bibliography …………………………………………………………………………………….17
ii.
Introduction
This paper will argue that the Holy Spirit plays a vital role in disciple making,
empowering believers to witness, convicting the world of sin, guiding individuals into truth, and
transforming lives to reflect Christ's character.
Explanation of Disciple Making
The disciple-making process is a spiritual journey that encompasses a transformation
method illustrated by Jesus’ earthly ministry, as revealed in New Testament scriptures.
Christopher Moody states that, “Jesus presented and then proceeded to model this process, the
disciple’s path, during His three years of public ministry.” Disciple making is about connecting
with people in a relational, personal way, just as Jesus Christ did with His disciples. This method
was implicated through Jesus’ obedience to the divine Father, motivated by love, and fueled by
the Holy Spirit.
Disciple Making and the Significance of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the divine agent playing a critical and pivotal role in discipleship
making. The Holy Spirit is an agent of empowerment, empowering believers for service and
witnessing. William Abraham states that, “The wind of the Spirit that appeared at Pentecost
signifies the Holy Spirit breathing life into the waiting disciples to give energy to their lives and
witness.”1 It is the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who empowers believers to boldly
proclaim the gospel as seen in the book of Acts when the promised Holy Ghost was ushered in.
“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” (Acts 1:8 KJV). The Holy Spirit’s work is necessary for the missionary work of
1 Abraham, William J., 'The Person of the Holy Spirit', Divine Agency and Divine Action,
Volume III: Systematic Theology (Oxford, 2018; online ed., Oxford Academic, 20 Dec. 2018),
https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198786528.003.0008,
1
producing disciples, as they share the Gospel in a society today that is falling away from the
faith.
Overview of the Role of the Holy Spirit
Throughout biblical history, the Holy Spirit has been present and essential in all aspects
of humanity first seen in the Bible since creation (Gen. 1:2), He empowered God’s chosen
vessels for service in Moses (Ex 31:1–5) and inspired the prophets to speak God’s word (such as
Isaiah and Ezekiel), enabling them to deliver God’s message to the Children of Israel. In his
publication, Daniel Akin alludes to: “The Spirit of God implicitly prepares us in the Old
Testament for a revelation of Himself as a distinct person of the One God in the New
Testament.” 2 The Old Testament roles of the Holy Spirit foreshadowed what was to come after
the ascension of Jesus Christ, setting the stage for a more expansive work of the Holy Spirit in
the New Testament and in the contemporary Church age.
The Holy Spirit plays multifaceted roles in the New Testament, especially concerning
discipleship, which is a process of becoming more like Christ and leading others to do the same.
Akins suggests: “In the book of Acts, Luke continues the discourse begun in his “first account,”
the Gospel, by showing how the church is spiritually empowered to be witness to Christ.”3 In
summary, the role of the Holy Spirit is integral to the life and mission of Jesus and His disciples,
providing insurance, encouragement, and many other attributes essential for a disciple of Christ
important to ministry work. This is a work that that Christ significantly contributed to through
His earthly ministry and was done through the essences of the Holy Spirit and shared with His
disciples.
2 Akin, Daniel L. A Theology for the Church. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2014.
697d.
3 Akin, A Theology for the Church. 679k.
2
The Essence of the Holy Spirits Role in Discipleship
The Greek word associated with the Holy Spirit is helper or Paraclete; this is who Jesus
was referring to when He introduced His disciples to the Holy Spirit (Jn. 20:19-31).4 However, it
was not until the night before His crucifixion that Jesus would provide vital instruction to his
disciples who were confused and troubled by His very instruction (Jn. 14-16). Issler Klaus
suggests that: “In a mysterious way, Jesus’ departure from earth made available to the disciples
and to us the ministry of the Spirit that He experienced.” 5 Jesus said: “But very truly I tell you, it
is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but
if I go, I will send him to you” (Jn. 16:7 NIV). And just as the Lord promised, so it is today that
the very essence of the Holy Spirit is active in a believer's life, walking beside each individual,
guiding, teaching, empowering and transforming them in the resemblance of Christ, and
equipping them and others who would come to be disciples of Christ.
The Holy Spirits Role in Empowering Believers
Historically, the Holy Spirit has always provided a supernatural empowering for the
unfolding of God’s purpose and His plan. Today, that empowerment continues with provisions
and gifts and many other needed attributes for the building of the kingdom of God. Craig Keener
suggests that: “the Book of Acts is the Spirit empowering believers for mission" (Acts 1:8).6 No
other New Testament book references “acts” of the empowering of the Holy Spirit more than the
4 Moody, Disciple-Making Disciple. 55.
5 Issler, Klaus. "The Spiritual Formation of Jesus: The Significance of the Holy Spirit in
Jesus' Life." Christian Education Journal 4, no. 2 (Fall 2000, 2000///Fall): 5,
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-
journals/spiritual-formation-jesus-significance-holy/docview/205416102/se-2.
6 Keener, Craig S. "THE SPIRIT AND THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IN ACTS 1–
2."Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 62, no. 1 (Mar 2019, 2019/03//): 25-45,
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/
scholarly journals/spirit-mission-church-acts-1-2/docview/2214889118/se-2.
3
Book of Acts itself. Luke most extensively recorded the connection between the Spirit and the
missions of Jesus’s disciples, including those of Saul. Saul was met by the risen Christ on the
road to Damascus, where he was converted as a disciple and empowered by the Holy Spirit,
becoming an Apostle, a contributor to being a witness to the risen Christ, and a proclaimer of the
Gospel. Luke expounds on the Spirit and the mission at an intentional point when Jesus passes
His mission on to His followers, ending at the Gospel of Luke and beginning in Luke’s inspired
writing in the Book of Acts.7 It is in the Book of Acts that the purpose of the empowerment by
the Holy Spirit is seen; this contributed to the birth of the Church.
The Purpose of the Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
Keener states that: “In Luke-Acts, Jesus himself provides the ultimate example for
depending on the Spirit.”8 Jesus points to one of the many purposes of the Holy Spirit in
scripture, saying: “He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you”
(Jn. 6:14 KJV). The empowering of the Holy Spirit is a significant concept concerning
discipleship and contains a biblical foundation for understanding how a believer is able to walk
in faith as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Dave Earley takes this position: “The starting point for
being a disciple of Jesus, and making disciples for Jesus, is to understand the role of the Holy
Spirit in the process of evangelism.”9 One of the many reasons why the Holy Spirit came to give
power and boldness to Jesus Christ's disciples is so that they and those to follow could be
effective witnesses for Him. In the Book of Acts, the coming of the Holy Spirit and His power is
promised: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall
7 Keener, THE SPIRIT, 28-29.
8 Keener, THE SPIRIT, 28-29.
9 Earley, Dave, and Dempsey, Rod. Disciple Making Is: How to Live the Great
Commission with Passion and Confidence. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2013. Xxxiii.
4
be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
part of the earth” (Acts 1:8 KJV). It is through the power of the Holy Spirit and His role to help a
believer grow in the understanding of the proclamation of Jesus Christ. Earley states: “there is
the Holy Spirit, who applies the gospel to the understanding of the nonbeliever.”10 It is an
ongoing process, a transformation by the Holy Spirit empowering believers to be effective
witnesses for Jesus Christ. A supernatural power for the soul purpose of doing the will of the
Father; just as Jesus was commissioned to do (Jn. 6:38), so are the Disciples of Christ.
Transformation Empowered by the Holy Spirit
One of many roles and responsibilities of the Holy Spirit is that He is an agent of
transformation as a representative of the Godhead within a believer’s life, transforming them into
the likeness of Christ. Peter in the Gospels was a mere fisherman, somewhat of a headstrong,
fearful and impulsive Disciple of Christ. From the beginning unto the end of his life, Peter is a
great example of the Holy Spirit’s power to change a lost soul into a soul winner for Christ.
Despite Peter’s shortcomings, in the teachings Jesus promised Peter that after He had
gone away that He would send a comforter (Jn 14:16-17), a promise that was fulfilled on the day
of Pentecost (Acts 2). Dwight Pentecost identifies that: “The disciples, on the day of Pentecost,
were filled, that is, they were filled up with the Holy Spirit: the Spirit moved in, came in to
dwell, and His presences was manifested in believers.”11 It was from that miraculous promised
event that Peter’s life would become a life lived out for Jesus and the kingdom of God, a life that
was led by the Holy Spirit. Odette Mainville explains Peter’s life with the fact that: “Peter,
10 Earley, Disciple Making Is. Xxxiii.
11 Pentecost, J. Dwight. The Divine Comforter: The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.
Chicago: Papamoa Press, 2019. 104.
5
witness of the resurrection (Acts 2:33), defines the relationship between Jesus and the Spirit:
Jesus promised the Spirit (Luke 24:49) and he gives him (Acts 2:33).”12
In Acts 4, we see Peter and John's boldness before the Sanhedrin and the role of the Holy
Spirit, who also provided the courage for these men who knew the threat of healing a crippled
man, yet remained unafraid. The council then “saw the courage of Peter and John and realized
that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men
had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13 NIV). The Holy Spirit provided in the early Church as He does
today an assurance of boldness and courage to proclaim the Gospel, regardless of the dangers
then and the difficulties today concerning discipleship.
The Holy Spirit Convicts the World of Sin
Understanding the process of discipleship and how the Holy Spirit is responsible for,
guiding, empowering, and transforming believers to become more like Christ starts with one
crucial act performed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s task is to convict the world of its sin.
Craig Keener writes: “Jesus has already promised that the Spirit will convict the world of sin,
righteousness, and judgment, just as Jesus himself has done earlier in this Gospel.”13 No measure
of teaching, arguing, or pointing of fingers will achieve the conviction of wrongdoing, unless the
Essence of God is working in the miscreant's heart. The soul must convict.
Peter preached a crucial sermon on the day of Pentecost which would have others asking,
“what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37b). Derek Thomas alludes to Peter’s sermon: “what Peter told
them to do, 'Repent and be baptized,' was something they needed to do. Peter’s preaching had
shown that things were not right between them and God. Something was desperately out of
12 Mainville, Odette. The Spirit in Luke-Acts. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2018.
25.
13 Keener, THE SPIRIT.
6
sorts.”14 It is the Holy Spirit's work to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment,
which are all part of the process of salvation.
The world must likewise be convicted of righteousness. This is also the role of Holy
Spirit. There is an honest standard that an individual is completely held to, notwithstanding the
world's obstinate forswearing of unadulterated facts of the matter. This process leads individuals
to recognize their need for Christ and the impact of the Holy Spirit has on an unsaved
individual's life and that this will lead that individual to the acknowledgment that he is guilty,
that God is just, that all sinners are deserving of judgment. Once a sinner has been awakened to
his soul’s great need, the Spirit will point him to Christ.
The Holy Spirit Convicts Believers of Sin
Peter’s sermon in Acts 2, according to Thomas, says that when the Jews crucified Jesus,
they did not believe they were sinning; they thought they were serving God. But when the story
of that crucifixion was later preached, they were pricked in their heart.15 Jesus offers an
explanation of how the Holy Spirit will convict the world and believers concerning sin,
righteousness and judgement in the Gospel According to John: “And when he is come, he will
reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (Jn. 16:8). Not only does the
Holy Spirit lead an individual to realize their sinful state, but He also brings awareness of
specific sin that leads to a conviction of the soul, the need for repentance and the need for a
Savior.
For believers, the Holy Spirit continues to convict of sin, inciting admission and
repentance. John, in his epistle, writes: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). This scripture continues a
14 Thomas, Derek W. H. Acts. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 2011. 48.
15 Thomas, Acts. 48
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promise that helps believers preserve a close correlation with God and find strength in holiness.
Thomas mentions that “... repentance involves turning away from sin in the light of the gracious
provisions of God. It is a turning away from sin and toward God—toward the merciful arms that
are held out to the truly penitent.”16 This is also a process that the Holy Spirit uses in the
sanctification of a believer—Thomas alludes to the fact that, “Salvation is a salvation from sin. It
involves more than forgiveness. It includes our sanctification and must, therefore, engage us in
turning away from your wickedness” (Acts 3:26).17 This process is an ongoing transformation, a
continual turning away from sin to retain a likeness of Christ.
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was ushered in and Peter preached a sermon
convicting those who listed of sin. Upon that conviction, Daniel Akin suggests that “... the gospel
was preached and believed, converts were baptized, converts received the Holy Spirit, and
converts gave evidence of new life—a believer's new life that contains the working power of the
Holy Spirit, allowing the believer to experience freedom from sin and live a life of witness to
others joining the family of faith.
The Holy Spirit Empowers Believers to Turn from Sin
The Holy Spirit is the source of power for believers to conquer sin. According to the
Word of God: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 Jn. 3:9). This implies that when an individual is
born again, they are given the power of the Holy Spirit to help them overcome sin. The Holy
Spirit works in the believer’s life to convict them of sin and help them turn away from it. Gregg
Allison and Andreas Köstenberger write: “The issue of what constitutes sin, the dawning and
development of an awareness and repudiation of sin, and the resources to overcome sin are all
16 Thomas, Acts. 77.
17 Thomas, Acts. 77.
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matters related to the Holy Spirit.”18 Paul, writing in the Book of Romans 8:13, suggests that if a
professing Christian lives with habitual sin, then that life—dominated and directed by the evil
nature of the flesh—must die and become controlled by the Holy Spirit in order to live. In the
words of Allison and Köstenberger: “Scripture urges believers to follow the Holy Spirit in order
to make progress in Christlikeness and to overcome temptation and sin.”19 It is impossible to live
a true Christian life as one of Jesus’ disciples without the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit Guides all into Truth
The reliance of the Holy Spirit is a concept within the Christian foundation it is
imperative for the navigation through the complexities in this life being supplied with divine
wisdom and insight, with the assurance of being aligned with God’s truths. This guidance
supplied by the Holy Spirit is vital to a disciple, because it provides faith, truthfulness and
effectiveness in witnessing for Christ. Reginald Alva states: “Just as the Spirit led the early
Christians to spread the kingdom of God, the Spirit continues to lead present-day Christians to
proclaim Jesus as Lord and to live a Jesus-centered life.”20
Today, the Holy Spirit is still empowering present-day disciples in several significant
ways, ensuring that the truth of God aligns with the life and service of a disciple. In the “Upper
Room” discourse, Jesus imparts several truths such as the role of the Holy Spirit where Jesus
promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you
another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” (Jn.14:16 KJV). Jesus's promise has
been fulfilled, and it still being fulfilled for those that give their lives to Christ, in addition to,
18 Allison, Gregg, and Köstenberger, Andreas J. The Holy Spirit. Nashville: B&H
Publishing Group, 2020. 255.
19 Allison & Köstenberger, The Holy Spirit. 291.
20 Alva, Reginald. “The Spirit‐led Church.”International Review of Mission., vol. 108, no.
1, 2019, pp. 164–177, https://doi.org/10.1111/irom.12270
9
“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you (Jn 14:17 KJV).
The Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth in Discipleship
Ultimately, the truth that is revealed to a disciple comes from the empowerment of the
Holy Spirit. When Jesus told the disciples to: “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of
men” (Matt. 4:19), He was essentially telling them that He was about to transform them into
those who would be different. Jesus was telling them that He was about to turn them into mature
disciples to become witnesses of many truths, truths that they were going to be responsible for
spreading everywhere. Andrew Gabriel writes: “The Holy Spirit is the power of the redeemed
future…released to act in the present. A power that would also give convicting truths about
future occurrences of judgment and the wrath of God (Rev 15-16). Nonetheless, the truth is
about a Savior who came to save. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16
KJV). This scripture is a great gateway into sharing the Gospel truth, as it includes the fact that
Christ Jesus came to deal with lost souls. However, He was the example of leading out to make
like kind, and He sent a helper who would guide all of Jesus’ disciples with the truth concerning
the spreading of the Gospel.
Sylvia Collinson makes a suggestion that: “Jesus' command to ' make disciples' (Matt.
28:19) makes little sense if he did not intend his disciples to actually do so.”21 After Jesus’
resurrection and His appearance to His disciples, He gave them instructions (Matt. 28:18-20) that
are considered to be the most important directives given by the risen Jesus to all His followers.
Collinson states that: “Jesus' command forms the climax to that Gospel's teaching, and certainly
21 Collinson, S. (2000). Making Disciples: An Educational Strategy for Use beyond the
Time of Jesus? Journal of Christian Education, os-43(3), 9.
https://doi.org/10.1177/002196570004300303
10
the early church acted as if making disciples of Jesus was one of their major tasks.”22 It is also a
task apart of the truths provided by the Holy Spirit. It is impossible to conceive this, but God
being God knew that it would take His strength and His power to send His disciples into a sinful
world.
The Holy Spirit in the Teachings of Jesus on Discipleship
Collision poses an important question: “What happened to the master/ Teacher role after
Jesus' ascendance?”23 Before the persecution of Jesus, He told His disciples, “These things have I
spoken unto you, being yet present with you” (Jn.14:25 KJV). Jesus guarantees that the Holy
Spirit will be a teacher for His disciples: “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” (Jn. 14:26 KJV).
The Holy Spirit help them to remember Jesus' lessons and also helps them comprehend
and apply these lessons in their lives. Collision alludes to: “The roles of both Jesus and his
disciples changed after his death, resurrection and ascension. Throughout Acts it is clear that,
although Jesus was not present in the flesh, he was never considered as absent.”24 Just as He had
promised He sent the Third Person of the Godhead to continue the divine plan that was in place
before the foundation of the world, Collision emphasizes that: “Peter and Stephen described him
as exalted in power, with the Father, unseen but not unseeing, vitally involved in the affairs of
22 Collinson, Making Disciples. 9.
23 Collinson, Making Disciples. 9.
24 Collinson, Making Disciples. 9.
11
humans as Ruler, Judge and Savior, who sent his Spirit to equip them for ministry (Acts 2:33,
5:31, 7:56-60).”25
Both Peter and Stephen's testaments according Luke’s account in the Book of Acts show
how these men’s discipleships are empowered by the truths and the teaching continued by the
Holy Spirit, thus continuing the earthly ministry passed on by the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirits Role in Transforming Lives to Reflect Christ
The transformation of a life in Christ is the role of the Holy Spirit who empowers a new
convert’s character, behavior, and purpose, aligning them more closely with the teachings and
example of Jesus Christ to reflect Him. From the Great Commission (Acts 1:8) to the day at
Pentecost and the receiving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), the commandment was given. The power
to do what was commanded was sent down from Heaven (Acts 2:2) and thus began the role of
the Holy Spirit transforming lives to reflect Christ.
Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey define what that transformation entitles: “As we become
like Christ in character, we also become Christ like and adopt His values. Being leads to doing.
The transformation that we are talking about for the disciple connects them not only to the
person of Christ but also to the mission of Christ.”26 By depending on the Holy Spirit and
effectively chasing after these practices, believers can encounter a significant change that mirrors
the person and mission of Christ in their lives.
25 Collinson, Making Disciples. 9.
26 Earley, Dave, and Dempsey, Rod. Disciple Making Is: How to Live the Great
Commission with Passion and Confidence. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2013. Xxx.
12
Early and Dempsey suggest that: “You cannot be a follower of the person of Christ
without being a follower of the mission of Christ.”27 And without the power of the Holy Spirit's
transforming role, it is impossible to live a life that is predicated on Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit in the Life of Christ
It was Christ who first exemplified the role of the Holy Spirit and discipleship. The Holy
Spirit played a major role in the astounding conception and birth of Jesus (Luke. 1:35), marking
the beginning of His earthly life.
The Gospel of John teaches that Jesus Himself received the Holy Spirit at the moment
when He was baptized by John the Baptist (Jn. 1:31-32); that moment of the Spirit's arrival
empowered Jesus for His public ministry. This account of Jesus receiving the accompaniment of
the Spirit of God doesn’t lessen His deity but rather shows His humanity (Heb. 2:7). Bruce Ware
suggests that: “One of the first things we read about Jesus in his public ministry has to do with
his following the lead of the Spirit and living his life in the power of the Spirit.” 28
For example, consider Matthew 4, which speaks of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the
wilderness and, after 40 days, becoming tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1). Ware suggests that:
“Why mention the Spirit in such ways unless the very places that Jesus would go and his very
empowerment for obedience were linked to the Spirit being in him and working through him?”29
But, it was by the power of the Holy Spirit that He was able to fast for 40 days and 40 nights,
withstanding the devil in His humanness. The third Person of the Godhead is the same person
that is still completing the work of God the Father and God the Son: “Rather, the Spirit anointed
27 Earley and Dempsey, Disciple Making Is. Xxx.
28 Ware, Bruce A. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles, and Relevance.
Wheaton: Crossway, 2005. 63.
29 Ware, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 63.
13
Jesus with power so that Jesus might be honored in the work he did and words he taught, that the
will of the Father might be done.”30 And so now the Holy Spirit works in the believers of today to
glorify the Father and the Son.
The Holy Spirit's Work in the Believer's Life
The same indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that was with Christ is still dwelling
with believers today, facilitating spiritual growth, transforming and empowering Jesus’s
followers. The Holy Spirit today takes up a permanent residence in the heart of the believer who
has placed their faith in Jesus.31 This is where the role of a disciple takes place as well as being
given the responsibility and the power to witness on behalf of the Kingdom of God. Corneliu
Simut suggest that: "genuine discipleship should always find joy in the service that we render to
Christ and, in doing so, we should learn how not to hesitate in our daily walk."32 A daily walk
with the Holy Spirit includes a nonstop, personal connection with Him, permitting His presence
to direct, engage and transform one’s life.
A believer must also keep in mind that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
which you have been gifted from God (1 Cor. 6:19).33 A gift from God with power for the work
in context of discipleship, nurtured by grace and victory making the disciple a witness
conforming to the image and likeness of Christ. In general, the role of the Holy Spirit in a
30 Ware, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 74.
31 Beeke, Joel, and Smalley, Paul M. Reformed Systematic Theology, Volume 3: Spirit and
Salvation. Wheaton: Crossway, 2021. 56.
32 Simuț, Corneliu C. "J. I. Packer’s Theology of Discipleship: Towards a Contemporary
Evangelical Spirituality." Kairos (Zagreb, Croatia) 17, no. 2 (2023): 189-202.
33 Steibel, Sophia and Martha S. Bergen. "The Body: Discipleship of our Physicality."
Christian Education Journal 16, no. 1 (Apr 2019, 2019/04//): 95-111,
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly
journals/body-discipleship-our-physicality/docview/2184329051/se-2 .
14
believer is considered by Martin Robra as: "the Spirit of Mission as ru’ach the breath of life". It
is indicative that reflections on transformative spirituality are part of this section because
"authentic Christian witness is not only in what we do in mission, but how we live out our
mission."34 The work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life is biblical and evident when
empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
The Holy Spirit is vital to the course of disciple-making. From the moment of conversion,
the Holy Spirit inhabits and seals the believer, marking them as a child of God (Ephesians 1:13).
The Spirit then starts the deep-rooted course of purification, changing the adherent into the
likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).35 This change is a fundamental aspect of discipleship—it
empowers believers to reflect Christ in their character and conduct, and to witness for Him (Acts
1:8).
Dependence on the Holy Spirit
As Martin Robra states: “It is within this empowerment believers can share the gospel
effectively, leading others to faith in Christ and initiating them into the process of discipleship.”36
The Spirit's role is to equip believers with spiritual gifts for service (1 Corinthians 12:4-7),
enabling them to contribute to the edification of the body of Christ and the advancement of His
kingdom mission. Nonetheless, Kenneth Loyer believes that “the Holy Spirit guides believers
34 Robra, Martin. “Moving in the Spirit.” International Review of Mission., vol. 105, no.
2, 2016, pp. 243–56, https://doi.org/10.1111/irom.12147.
35 Wright, Terry J. “How Is Christ Present to the World?” International Journal of
Systematic Theology: IJST, vol. 7, no. 3, 2005, pp. 300–15,
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.14682400.2005.00168.x
36 Robra, Martin. “Moving in the Spirit.” International Review of Mission., vol. 105, no.
2, 2016, pp. 243–56, https://doi.org/10.1111/irom.12147.
15
into all truth (John 16:13), confirming their understanding and teaching of Scripture are
accurate.” 37 The guidance of the Holy Spirit is crucial for discipleship and discipleship-making.
Fostering Spiritual Gifts
In closing, the Holy Spirit yields spiritual fruit in the lives of believers (Galatians 5:22-
23), proving their growth in Christ-likeness. This fruit not only authenticates their discipleship
but also attracts others to the life-transforming power of the gospel, all orchestrated by the
empowering of the Holy Spirit.
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