FAMILY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES  

CHRISTIANITY(Advanced level) ​Written 
and  compiled  by  ,Duce  of  Africa.  Mr. 
Charline Prazen Chikomo

​DUCE OF AFRICA.MR. CHARLINE PRAZEN CHIKOMO. 

Contacts +26377403566(WhatsApp) Charline Chikomo ( Facebook) 
[email protected]/[email protected](emails) 
#Educate them to educate others #Duce of Africa #FRS Advanced level
NB: Duce of Africa, Mr. Charline Prazen Chikomo has been releasing
several handouts, so if you find this handout useful for you and you want to
find out more, kindly reach out on the following contacts via Whatsapp
Duce of Africa (the author) +263774035666
Mollen Pagwaira (Secretary) +263 77 379 4438

Edited By Muzingaye Mathew Thaka ( African Leadership University)

and Sara McAlister( Guilford College, United States of America)
Acknowledgments
Admittedly, it would be a great mistake to publish these handouts without
appreciating the people who made this possible. Allow me to express my
gratitude to the Duce Tutoring and the Duce Leadership Initiative team. These
are the very people who continue to demand notes of this nature, and we all
know that when demand exists, there is a need for supply. Thank you to my
students for believing in me, you are the reason why we continue to cook the
food of the mind for you all. I also want to extend my utmost respect to the
leadership of Duce Tutoring. Without these people, Duce Tutoring would be
just an idea stuck in my mind. Still on that, my secretary and Vice President,
MOLLEN PAGWAIRA and Takudzwa Tota. You are the reason why Duce
Tutoring is still stands. You are an actual exhibit of excellence and hard work. I
honestly have no better words to thank you. May the good Lord bless you
mightily. Not forgetting my parents and God for bringing me to this earth not
only as a consumer of information but also as a cook for the
generation………….
To everyone who reads this piece, thank you very much. I know you have
access to many books, but you decide to read this one. It's something that I don't
take lightly. God bless you. Please share it with others for free. I might not
come to your houses or schools to see you all, but I hope that these notes will
reach very far than I could do myself.
@DUCE OF AFRICA, MR CHIKOMO, "LOSS OF A BATTLE DOES NOT
SIGNAL THE END OF THE WAR. KEEP YOUR GUNS BLAZING UNTIL
YOU WIN THE WAR, FOR FAILURE IS NOT FINAL BUT A STEP
TOWARDS SUCCESS!

Topics
● The relationship between the Old and New Testament
● Birth narratives
● Baptism
● Holy Spirit
● Some essential facts on Christianity

Chapter 1: The relationship between the Old and the New Testament
In the new curriculum, learners should have an understanding of the relationship
between the old and the New Testament under the topic of Christianity. It is of
paramount importance to make it clear that there is a healthy debate amongst
scholars as to the relationship between the Old and the New Testament or that
the two testaments are existing independently of each other. Learners should
understand both sides, that is the relationship and the difference to avoid
unbalanced arguments in their answers. This chapter is going to explore the
relationship between the old and the new testament / the similarities but also the
differences. I am also going to provide evidence to give academic weight to my
arguments. For the learners to understand this topic, they should read the
following biblical chapters (Hebrews 7 and Jeremiah chapter 33)

The relationship / the similarities / the state of continuity / the

interdependence / the connection between the Old and the New Testament
Before going any further in elucidating the relationship between the following
covenants, it is very significant to start arguing from the naming of the
following two covenants. The use of the words ​Old and the ​New is a clear
indication that there is some connection. It shows that there is a transition
taking place that is from the Old Testament to the New Testament. A good
exemplification to make this more understandable would be the use of the
words primary, secondary, and tertiary in the education and the industrial
sector. It is a clear explanation that there is a process that involves all those
stages. In that same manner, it can be argued that the titles of these covenants as
the Old and the New is reflecting the state of continuity or what has been termed
by schools of thought as the relationship between the Old and the New
Testament. However, it is not epistemologically convincing to just say this
without giving concrete evidence to this relationship. Therefore, below is the
evidence to prove this argument correct

1.​The fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies in the New Testament.

The Old Testament is a home of prophecies, and a plethora of all these
prophecies are fulfilled in the New Testament. Therefore, it is a clear indication
that there is a state of continuity between the Old angjrgd the New Testament,
rather than considering these two independent of each other. The following are
examples of Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled or come to pass in
the New Testament.
● The birth of Jesus​ - many prophets of the Old Testament, for instance, the
Prophet Isaiah, who said, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a
sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his
name Immanuel." (​Isa. 7:14​.). However, the fulfillment of such a prophecy
is in the New Testament, e.g., (Matthew 1:20-23), "20' But as he
considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,
saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that
which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; '21 she will bear a son, and
you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
'22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and his name shall be called Emman′u-el". This prophecy from an Old
Testament prophet elucidated in the book of Isaiah and, of course, the
reincarnation of the words of prophet Isaiah in the New Testament book of
Mathew is a clear indication that there is a relationship between the old and the
New Testament. Combining the two makes the bible more understandable than
looking at them independently of each other.

● The promise of the Holy spirit prophecy

Peter at Pentecost in trying to convince the Judaizers who were calling the
Apostles drunk yet they were filled with the Holy Spirit, used a prediction made
by an Old Testament prophet, Joel as his opening statement to clear the
misunderstanding amongst the people of Judea. He said, "For these men are not
drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day, but this is what
was spoken by the prophet Joel, “And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh…….". In essence, this shows that
there is a relationship between the old and the new Testament because Peter had
to defend the church using a prophecy that was delivered in the old Testament.
Therefore, the New Testament is more of a continuation of the old Testament

Other Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in the New Testament

● The flight to Egypt ​… This was the fulfillment of the prophecy by an old
testament prophet as captured in the book of Mathew chapter 2 verse
14-15, “When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night
and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet,
saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
The killing of the children by King Herod after being tricked by the wisest man
from the East is well captured in Mathew, and the bible is very clear that it was
prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah, "The Lord says,
"A sound is heard in Ramah,
the sound of bitter weeping.
Rachel is crying for her children;
they are gone,
and she refuses to be comforted. (Jeremiah 31:15). Jeremiah being an Old
Testament prophet meant that it is of unreasonable doubt that there is a
relationship between the Old and the New Testament. Not forgetting that
Jeremiah also presided over the New Covenant yet an Old Testament prophet
(Jeremiah 33). Therefore, this New Testament being brought to life through an
Old Testament is an undeniable fact that sums up to the argument that there is a
relationship between the Old and the New Testament.

NB: Therefore, the fact that the prophecies, as mentioned earlier and
others not mentioned above, were delivered by the Old Testament prophets
and were fulfilled in the New Testament is a clear indication that there is a
relationship between the Old and the New Testament. This can not be
denied because it will not make sense to just have a fulfillment of
prophecies without the know-how of where and how they were delivered as
well as by who. With that being said, it brings us to a crucial argument that
there is a strong relationship between these two testaments. @Duce of
Africa. Mr Charline Prazen Chikomo.

2.The story of the Adamic sin and the coming of Jesus as a redemptive
figure
There is also a relationship between the Old and the New Testament, as
evidenced by this story of the Adamic sin and the coming of Jesus Christ. Paul
well articulates it in one of his epistles, Romans that, "The first Adam brought
sin and death to the world, but the second Adam brought life." In trying to
understand who is the first Adam and the second Adam, one should understand
the story of Adam and Eve in the first book of the Old Testament, Genesis( The
first Old Testament book)and then follow the coming of Jesus Christ as
articulated in the New Testament books that, he is a sacrificial lamp, redemptive
figure, etc. John 3:16 goes even beyond that to say, "For God so loved the world
that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever who believes in him shall not
perish but have everlasting life."Supporting the relationship between the Old
and the New testament argument, one can safely argue that the fact that the one
who brought sin to the whole world is in the Old Testament and the first book of
Genesis in particular.In contrast, he who comes as a redemptive figure to save
humanity from the Adamic sin is in the New Testament is a bright light to the
argument that there is a relationship between the old and the New Testament. In
other words, the first Adam is in the Old, and the second Adam is in the New
Testament. Therefore we do not, in a way, separate Adam in Genesis (Old
Testament, the source of the problem to the world from Jesus the solution in the
New Testament. With that being said, there is a relationship between the old and
the New Testament.

3.The Genealogy of Jesus Christ is traced back from the Old Testament
The Genealogy of Jesus is also a shred of factual evidence in supporting the
claim that there is a relationship between the Old and the New Testament.
Mathew 1:1 , “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the
son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob,
and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and
Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of
Ram,[​a​] and Ram[​b​] the father of Ammin′adab, and Ammin′adab the father of
Nahshon, and Nahshon, the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Bo′az by
Rahab, and Bo′the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and
Jesse, the father of David, the king”. Matthew 1 verse 17also says, "So all the
generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David
to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to
Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. In essence, this shows that there is a
relationship between the Old and the New Testament because even the
genealogy of Jesus was traced back from the Old Testament patriarchs like
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. Without any fear of contradiction, this
shows that there is a connection between the two testaments.

4.The use of the Old Testament scriptures and figures in answering

questions and illustrating some controversial topics in the new Testament
The connection between the Old and the New Testament is also depicted by the
use of the Old Testament scriptures and the stories of the Old Testament figures
in the New Testament. This brought to light by Paul in his Pauline epistles.He
used Abraham an old Testament figure to stress his point on justification by
faith. The name of Abraham appears in many of his epistles, and this shows that
there is a relationship between the old and the New Testament. More to that,
Jesus Christ as he was fasting and was confronted with temptation by the
devil,his responses started with the phrase, "It is written. " The question is
where was or is it written ?. One can conclude that Jesus was quoting from the
Deuteronomic laws of Moses. Just to add, when Jesus and his disciples were
blamed for eating the heads of corn during the sabbath day by the teachers of
the Law, he used the example of an Old Testament story of David when he ate
the food of the priests. To bring more light, Jesus even goes on to say, "Behold I
did not come to destroy… but to fulfill meaning to say that there is a
relationship between the old and the New Testament.
More facts that can be used in a bid to show the relationship between the
old and the New testament.
1. Some can explain this relationship using the importance of mountains
as a sacred place in both the new and the Old Testament. ​It is of no
 doubt that mountains were essential in the Old Testament and played a
pivotal role, for instance, the Mosaic covenant and the call of Moses
happened in a mountain, Horeb. Elijah had to walk 40 days, and 40 nights
to mount Horeb running away from Jezebel and the Lord managed to speak
to him in the Mountain. Horeb is well known as the Mountain of God for
its absolute importance in the Old Testament. In the same like manner, the
New Testament seems to be nothing different concerning the significance
of the mountains. This is because Jesus himself, the nub of the New
Testament, used to go to the hill for praying, and the transfiguration also
takes place in the Mountain, which shows that mountains were significant
in both the old and the New Testament. (Mathew 17 and Luke 9 verse
28-36). Therefore, this indicates that there is a relationship between the Old
and the New Testament since they are all associated with mountains.
2. The transfiguration story​ is also something that should be taken into
consideration as much as the topic of the relationship between the old and
the New Testament is concerned. According to the synoptic gospels, for
instance, Mathew 17 and Luke 9, it is clearly articulated that during the
transfiguration of Jesus, there appeared Moses and Elijah. Moses
represents the Law and Elijah the prophets. Two essential facts are
depicted here, ​a) The appearance of the Old Testament figures like
Moses and Elijah​ is an indication that there is a relationship because these
are Old Testament prophets but still essential in the New Testament.
Without any doubt, this speaks more to the fact that there is a relationship
between the Old and the New Testament. ​b)Moses was representing the
Law and Elijah the prophets​. However, one should be conscious of the
fact that both the Law of Moses and the prophethood represented by Elijah
 are of the Old Testament. In essence, this shows the relationship between
the Old and the Testament.
​Differences between the Old and the New Testament.
Although the Old and the New Testaments are all testaments or covenants, it is
of paramount importance to also annotate that there are differences that exist in
these two covenants. This writeup will provide 32 clear and substantial
reasoning backed by proper evidence in articulating those differences.
● The old covenant came by Moses while the new contract came by Jesus
Christ (John 1:17)
● The old covenant leads to death (kills) while the new agreement gives life
(2 Cor 3:6)
● The old covenant was ended by Jesus Christ (Roman 10:4) while the new
covenant was established by Jesus Christ (Heb 8:6)
● The old covenant enslaves (Gal 5:1)while the new covenant makes man
free (gives freedom) (John 8:32. 36)
● The old covenant leaves man imperfect while the new covenant leaves man
perfect (Heb 7:19)
● The old covenant exposes sin (Gal 3:19) while the new covenant covers sin
(Rom. 4:1-8)
● The old covenant cannot give life (2 cor 3.7) while the new covenant gives
life (Gal. 3:11, 6:8)
● The old covenant was abolished while the new covenant is in force
(Eph:2:15)
● The old covenant brings a curse (Gal. 3:10) while the new covenant
redeems from curse (Gal. 3:13)
● the old covenant, living is by works while in the new covenant living is by
faith (Gal. 3:10-11)
● The old covenant is a shadow (Col. 2:14-17) while the new covenant is the
reality (Heb. 10:1-18)
● The old covenant is a covered glory while the new covenant is glory
uncovered (2 Cor. 3:13)
● The old covenant had many high priests (Heb. 7:23) while the new
covenant has only one high priest (Jesus Christ) (Heb. 7:24-28)
● The old agreement had earthly priest (Heb. 5:1-4) while the new covenant
has heavenly priest (Heb. 9:24, 10:12)
● The old covenant makes the priest by Law while the new covenant makes
priests by oath (Heb 7:12,28)
● The old covenant had earthly tabernacle (Heb. 9:2) while the new covenant
has heavenly tabernacle (Heb. 8:2)
● The old covenant priesthood was in the lineage of Aaron (Aaron
priesthood) while the new covenant priesthood is in the Melchizedek
lineage (Melchizedek priesthood) (Heb 7:11,21)
● In the old covenant priests (high priest) were sinners (Heb. 5:1-4) while in
the new covenant the priest has no sin (Jesus Christ) (Heb. 7:26)
● The old covenant was fulfilled (Mat. 5:17-18) while the new covenant is
now in force (Heb. 8:6, 10:9)
● the old, the Law was written in stone tablets while in the new covenant, the
Law is written in people's hearts (Jeremiah 31:33)
● In the old, the Ark of the covenant was present as a sign of salvation while
in the new covenant salvation is by grace through faith
 ● The old covenant demanded work (doing) while the new covenant only
demands obedience
● In the old, Moses and the prophets were mediators while in the new
covenant, Jesus Christ is the mediator
● The old covenant is a covenant of letter while the new covenant is a
covenant of the Spirit
● The old covenant needed offering for sin while in the new covenant, Jesus
is the perfect sin offering
● The old covenant needed statues and ordinances while the new covenant
only needs one's heart
● In the old covenant, the tabernacle was made with hands while in the new
covenant the tabernacle is made without hands
● In the old covenant, remembrance of sin was done yearly while in the new
covenant, forgiveness and washing away of sin was done once and for all
● The old covenant remembers sin (Heb. 10:3) while the new covenant does
not remember sin(Heb. 8:12, 10:17)
● The old covenant is a ministry of death while the new covenant is a
ministry of life (2 Cor 3:6-7)
● The old covenant was written with ink while the new covenant is written
with the Spirit of God (2 Cor 3:3)
● The old covenant is for Israelites only (Det 4: 7-8) while the new covenant
is for all men (Luke 22:20)
Additional information @Duce.
NB.While the Bible is a unified book, there are differences between the Old
Testament and the New Testament. In many ways, they are
complementary. The Old Testament is foundational; the New Testament
builds on that foundation with further revelation from God. The Old
Testament establishes principles that are seen to be illustrative of New
Testament truths. The Old Testament contains many prophecies that are
fulfilled in the New. The Old Testament provides the history of a people;
the New Testament focuses on a Person. The Old Testament shows the
wrath of God against sin (with glimpses of His grace); the New Testament
shows the grace of God toward sinners (with glimpses of His anger).
The Old Testament predicts a Messiah (see ​Isaiah 53​), and the New
Testament reveals who the Messiah is (​John 4:25–26​). The Old Testament
records the giving of God's Law, and the New Testament shows how Jesus
the Messiah fulfilled that Law (​Matthew 5:17​; ​Hebrews 10:9​). In the Old
Testament, God's dealings are mainly with His chosen people, the Jews; in
the New Testament, God's dealings are mostly with His church (​Matthew
16:18​). Physical blessings promised under the Old Testament(​Deuteronomy
29:9​) give way to spiritual blessings under the New Covenant (​Ephesians
1:3​).​@Duce of Africa. Mr Charline Prazen Chikomo
The Old Testament prophecies related to the coming of Christ, although
incredibly detailed, contain a certain amount of ambiguity that is cleared up in
the New Testament. For example, the prophet Isaiah spoke of the death of the
Messiah (​Isaiah 53​) and the establishing of the Messiah's kingdom (​Isaiah 26​)
with no clues concerning the chronology of the two events—no hints that the
suffering and the kingdom-building might be separated by millennia. In the
New Testament, it becomes clear that the Messiah would have two advents: in
the first, He suffered and died (and rose again), and in the second, He will
establish His kingdom.
Because God's revelation in Scripture is progressive, the New Testament brings
into sharper focus principles that were introduced in the Old Testament. The
book of Hebrews describes how Jesus is the true High Priest and how His one
sacrifice replaces all previous sacrifices, which were mere foreshadowing. The
Passover lamb of the Old Testament (​Ezra 6:20​) becomes the Lamb of God in
the New Testament (​John 1:29​). The Old Testament gives the Law. The New
Testament clarifies that the Law was meant to show men their need of salvation
and was never intended to be the means of salvation (​Romans 3:19​).

The Old Testament saw paradise lost for Adam; the New Testament shows how
paradise is regained through the second Adam (Christ). The Old Testament
declares that man was separated from God through sin (​Genesis 3​), and the New
Testament says that man can be restored in his relationship to God (​Romans
3—6​). The Old Testament predicted the Messiah's life. The Gospels record
Jesus' life, and the Epistles interpret His life and how we are to respond to all
He has done.

In summary, the Old Testament lays the foundation for the coming of the
Messiah, who would sacrifice Himself for the sins of the world (​1 John 2:2​).
The New Testament records the ministry of Jesus Christ and then looks back on
what He did and how we are to respond. Both testaments reveal the same holy,
merciful, and righteous God who condemns sin but desires to save sinners
through an atoning sacrifice. In both testaments, God reveals Himself to us and
shows us how we are to come to Him through faith (​Genesis 15:6​; ​Ephesians
2:8​).
NB- Learners can add more similarities and differences as well as giving more
details and flesh to strengthen the arguments.
@Duce of Africa. Mr. Charline Prazen Chikomo.
+263774035666(Whatsapp) [email protected]

Chapter 2 : The Birth Narratives

● Of the four Gospels only Matthew and Luke give us birth narratives.
Paradoxically,Luke’s narrative is about three times as long as Matthew’s
and therefore usually receives more attention. These narratives constitutes
stories such as
● Mary Visiting Elizabeth
● Zacharia in the temple and the birth of John the Baptist
● The birth of Jesus
● The circumcision and presentation
● The visit of the wisest man from the East/ shepherds.etc
At this point in time, it is crucial to mention that these birth narratives recorded
in the books of Mathew and Luke have differences and similarities amongst
these stories as alluded below.
Points of Comparison in Matthew and Luke
● Bethlehem
● Mary, Joseph, Jesus, visitors–main characters
● Mary and Joseph engaged
● God speaks through angels
○ to Zechariah, Mary, Shepherds (L)
○ in a dream to Joseph, Herod, Magi (M)
 ● unknown number of visitors (shepherds, heavenly hosts, magi)
● God at work in the scene
○ God works through dreams (M)
○ God speaks through angels (M and L)
○ God speaks through angels in dreams (M)
● announcement of birth
○ star announces birth (M)
○ angels announce birth (L)

Points of Contrast in Matthew and Luke

● visitors are shepherds (L) and magi (M)
○ those involved are upper class/royalty (Herod, scribes, magi) (M)
○ the visitors are lower class (shepherds) (L)
● Place of birth/visit
○ manger/barn/cave/stable (L)
○ house (M)
● Leadership and dating of story
○ Qurenius was governor of Syria (6AD) (L)
○ King Herod (died 4BC) (M)
○ Archelaus, son of Herod (M)
● Gifts for Jesus
○ gold, frankincense, myrrh (M)
● Flee to Egypt to escape Herod (M)
○ death of all infants in Bethlehem area
● Actions fulfill prophecies and are named (M)
 ○ Jeremiah, Isaiah, Elijah
● Order of Location
○ (L) Nazareth–>Census in Bethlehem–> Birth in Bethlehem–>
Jerusalem to Temple–>Nazareth
○ (M) Wise Men to Jerusalem, then Bethlehem–>Mary and Joseph in
Bethlehem for Birth –> flee to Egypt–> Nazareth
● Mary’s involvement
○ ponders visitors in her heart (L)
○ angel comes to her (L)
○ does not speak (M)
○ angel in dream comes to Joseph (M)
● Joseph’s involvement
○ leads Mary and Jesus to Egypt after dream (M)
○ leads Mary and Jesus to Nazareth after dream (M)
● Elizabeth and Zechariah’s involvement
○ Zechariah talks w/ Angel (L)
○ Elizabeth gives birth to John (L)
○ Mary visits w/ Elizabeth (L)
○ neither mentioned in Matthew

Similarities

● The names of the parents are Mary and Joseph (Mt. 1:18; Lk. 1:27)
 ● Joseph was a descendant of King David (Mt. 1:1; Lk. 1:27; 2:4)
● An angel foretells Jesus’ birth (Mt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:26-38)
● Mary was a virgin when she conceived (Mt. 1:18; Lk. 1:34-35)
● Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Mt. 2:1; Lk. 2:4-7)
● Herod the Great was king of Israel (Mt. 2:1; Lk. 1:5)
● Jesus’ family settled in Nazareth (Mt. 2:23; Lk. 2:39)

Unique Features in Matthew

● Joseph resolves to divorce Mary (1:19)
● An angel visits Joseph (1:20-21)
● The angel tells Joseph to name his son Jesus (1:21)
● Wise men from the east visit the family (2:1-12)
● The family escaped to Egypt (2:13-15)
● Herod slaughters the male children in Bethlehem (2:16-18)
● An emphasis on fulfilled prophecies (1:22-23; 2:5-6, 15, 17-18, 23)

Unique Features in Luke

● The angel Gabriel visits Mary (1:26-38)
● Mary’s song of praise (1:46-55)
● Angels visit the shepherds (2:8-21)
● Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the temple (2:22-38)
 Why are there some differences between Mathew and Luke in
recording the birth narrative.

​ ifferences in the interests of the authors , background and

1. D
audience

Mathew Luke
1. Messianic secret 1. Gospel of prayer
2. Jesus as a long awaited 3. Gospel of women
Messiah specifically of the
jews
3. Mathew is a Jew who believes 4. Gospel of the poor
more in the importance of male
over female
4. Addressing a jewish audience 5. Gospel of other nations
6. Gospel of joy and happiness

Explaining the differences in detail

➔The is a difference concerning who was visited by the Angel between
Mary and Joseph. According to the Gospel of Matthew, he said , “​ ​But
as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in
a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your
wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”. This
shows that Mathew is of the view that the Angel visited Joseph
contrary to what Luke who said that, “In the sixth month the angel
Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ​ ​to a
virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.​ ​And he came to her and said,
“Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!, “showing that theAngel
visited Mary in Luke. This shows a very big difference.One should
understand that this might be due to the fact that Mathew is a jew
and according to the jewish society men were regarded as more
important than women , in other words it was a patriarchal society
and no wonder why women were not even counted. However, Luke
has an interest in the gospel of women and that is why unlike Mathew
, he penned down that the Angel visited Mary instead of Joseph. The
fact that Mathew was a Jew and writing to a very patriarchal Jewish
society might be the reason why the story of Mary visit to Elizabeth
is not mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew because it has something
to do with women alone, however, such a female story is of great
concern to Luke and that is why its found in his gospel and this could
be because of his interest in the gospel of women
➔More to that, Mathew is of the view that the wisest man from the East
visited Jesus whilst Luke called them, the shepherds. This difference
might have been caused by the fact that Luke has an interest in the poor ,
so he captured them as shepherds and the first to be informed about the
birth of the long awaited Messiah , thereby associating Jesus with the
poor. However, Mathew believed that the Messiah was for the jews and
also his deep interest in the Messianic secret. This goes even beyond that to
explain to the fact that Mathew did not even mention where Jesus was born
unlike Luke who describe the place Jesus was born in a manger and
wrapped in swaddling clothes. This signifies someone of a very poor
status from birth and in this regard, one can actually explain this in the
context of Luke’s interest in the gospel of the poor, him wanting to
associate Jesus with the poor.
➔ The genealogy of Jesus should be articulated in the context of the
differences between Mathew and Luke.Notice that Luke starts with Mary
and goes backwards to Adam. Matthew starts with Abraham and goes
forward to Joseph. The intents of the genealogies were obviously different
which is clearly seen in their styles. Luke was not written to the Jews,
Matthew was. Therefore, Matthew would carry the legal line (from
Abraham through David) in order to convince the Jews that Jesus was the
long awaited and for the Jews.However, Luke used the biological one
(from Adam through David). Also, notice that Luke's first three chapters
mention Mary eleven times; hence, the genealogy from her. The
mentioning of Adam by Luke can be explained in the context of Luke’s
gospel in other nations because Adam is the father of mankind that is
everyone, the Jews and the non Jews. More to that mentioning 11 times , is
 a clear indication that unlike Mathew, Luke has an interest in the gospel of
women.

Illustration of this difference

LUKE - Adam, the father of Seth, the father of Enosh, the father of Cainan,
the father of Mahalalel, the father of Jared, the father of Enoch, the father of
Methuselah, the father of Lamech, the father of Noah, the father of Shem, the
father of Arphaxad, the father of Cainan, the father of Shelah, the father of
Heber, the father of Peleg, the father of Reu, the father of Serug, the father of
Nahor, the father of Terah, the father of

MATTHEW - Abraham, the father of Isaac, the father of Jacob, the father of
Judah, the father of Perez, the father of Hezron, the father of Ram, the father
of Admin, the father of Amminadab, the father of Nahshon, the father of
Salmon, the father of Boaz, the father of Obed, the father of Jesse -- the father
of….

NB: The above genealogy from the two books , Luke and Mathew are a
clear exhibit of the differences between the two. That of Mathew is too
Jewish that can be explained in the context of Mathew’s Jewish identity,
his desire in articulating that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah for the
jews as well as his intended audience, that is the Jews. These are the
people who could resonate well with such a story starting from their own
Jewish Patriarchs , Abraham , Isaac and Jacob. However , that of Luke
is starting from Adam because Adam is the father of mankind thereby
articulating his point of interest, the gospel of all nations​. ​@Duce of
Africa. Mr Charline Prazen Chikomo.

Chapter : 4 Baptism

What is Baptism?

Baptism is an outward act that symbolizes the inward phenomenon of coming

to and accepting Jesus Christ as real, as God incarnate, as the sacrificial
means by which those who believe in him can be forever reconciled to God.
The purpose of baptism is to give visual testimony of our commitment to
Christ. It is the first step of discipleship (​Acts 8:26-39​).The Greek word for
“baptism” is “βαπτιζω". The English letters look like this: "baptidzo." The
Greek word "baptizo" literally means to “dip” or to “immerse”.

The symbolism of baptism is that, just as Christ died and was buried, so the
baptized person is submerged (whether physically or symbolically) under
water. And just as Christ rose again from beneath the earth, so the baptized
person rises again from beneath the water. Under the water is the believer’s
old, dead, heavy, suffocating life. Out of the water, cleansed by the blood of
Christ, is the believer’s new, fresh, purposeful life.

Baptism is like a wedding ring. We put on a wedding ring as a symbol of our

commitment and devotion. In the same way, baptism is a picture of devotion
and commitment to Christ. A wedding ring reminds us and tells others that we
belong to someone special. In the same way, baptism reminds us and others
that we are devoted to Christ and belong to Him.Generally by definition
baptism means to be born again spiritually . In christological view it is the
core part of salvation, which means to be saved from the bondage of sin and
its consequences. In the 4 gospels Jesus once said "unless you are born again
in water and in holy spirit you will not enter the kingdom of heaven "... This
literally means baptism has two main agents i.e water and holy spirit
baptism.Symbolically water is being used to represent life , implying that
baptism is a gate to life where every Christian believer has to pass through. ..
Baptism calls for complete revolution in one's life. Therefore baptism
illustrates all spiritual transformation that provides foundation our response to
Christ's call.
In baptism there is something called <​A TRANSFORMATION
CONVERSATION>

On another day , another woman , broken ,ashamed, living in sin, left home
on her urgent errand . Going to jacob's well for water at noon , she had no
idea that before the day was over she would become God's missionary to a
whole town . Jesus travelling from Judea to Galilee through samaria , stopped
to rest by Jacob 's well. " When a Samaritan woman came to draw water,
Jesus said to her, " will you give me a drink ?" (John 4:7). It was a simple
request which led to a life-transforming conversation.In that conversation
Jesus awakened the woman's interest , patiently answered her questions and
lovingly confronted her choices . When her heart was ready Messiah revealed
himself to her. "then Jesus declared 'l, the one speaking to you ... I am he.'
Once the samaritan woman found the Messiah, she immediately shared her
experience with others , her urgent errand forgotten . People knew her broken
life . They must have seen a change in her demeanor , the healing of her
shame and fear through encounter with the savior ... Ellen G white observed
,"This woman represents the working of practical faith in Christ. Every true
disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary ". From the context
it is logical at this point in time to underscore that baptism starts with
transforming conversation or encounter with Jesus . Which can also be termed
as damascus experience followed by acceptance and later on submission .

THREE STEPS TO TRANSFORMATION

As I mentioned earlier, Jesus' baptism illustrate a process at the core of all

spiritual transformation that provides foundation for salvation and response to
the call to go and make disciples of all nations " (Matt 28:19 ) . His baptism
ushered him into a ministry that turned the world upside down . Luke records
that as Jesus prayed , following His baptism " Heavens were opened and the
Holy Spirit descended on him bodily like a dove" (Luke 3 :21;22) . We shall
take note of three sequential steps from the verses . 1 death 2 prayer. 3 the
coming of the holy spirit . Result in supernaturally empowered mission.Lets
unpack them ..
1) first death of sinful self

As illustrated by Jesus 's water burial. Death is always the beginning of

transformation , because death create a necessary space for God to reveal
Himself . We should nevertheless remember that " Jesus did not receive
baptism as a confession of guilt on his own account . He identified himself
with sinners , taking the steps that we are to take. His life of suffering and
patient endurance after his baptism was also exemplary . Jesus described
death as a prerequisite to be a disciple. Ellen G White was convinced that
people must wholly depend on Christ for self must die.

2) second prayer for preparation

Believers need the preparation that Jesus prayed for on the bank of Jordan .
River . The savior's glance seemed to penetrate Heaven as he poured out his
soul in prayer. He knows how sin has hardened the hearts of men ,and how
difficult it will be for them to accept salvation .. He pleads with God the father
for power to overcome their unbelief , to break the fetters with which Satan
has enthroned them and in their behalf to conquer the destroyer . According to
Christianity belief it's only supernatural power from heaven can make a
broken human useful for God's cosmic purposes . That power comes response
to earnest prayers," for daily baptism of the spirit every worker should offer
his petition to God." And this is illustrated next as Jesus receives the holy
spirit .

3. The coming of the holy spirit

Luke present two clues on the baptism of the holy spirit . First, he writes that "
full of the holy spirit, left Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
; where he fasted for forty days and he was tempted by the devil " 2nd clue is
Luke explaining that Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of spirit ... He
was teaching in their synagogues ,and everyone praised him .. Verses 14,15.).
Jesus then explained His own baptism of the spirit to the synagogue , " the
spirit of the Lord is upon me, ..... " the baptism of the Holy spirit enabled
Jesus to overcome Satan and proclaim the gospel with divine power. This
baptism is also for believers . The gospels report that John the Baptist
proclaiming that Jesus will baptize people with holy spirit.( Luke 3:16)

As John the Baptist identifies him saying "the man on whom you see the spirit
come down upon and remain is the one who will baptize with the holy spirit.

The Difference between the Baptism of John the Baptist and

Jesus

Baptism of Baptism of
John Jesus
 Believers:
Seekers:

those who
those who believed the
Audience
were waiting message of
for the the gospel;
Messiah to that Jesus
come died for our
sins

Holy Spirit:

Water
Jesus’
baptism
Medium would not
John baptized
take place
people in the
until the Book
Jordan River
of Acts,
following the
resurrection

Outward sign: Inward

reality:
Evidence

when you
come up out when the
of the water, Holy Spirit
 you appear takes control
wet, a sure of your life,
sign of you appear
baptism different from
the inside out

Ceremonial:
Supernatural:

the process
of being something
baptized by that only God
another can do
person

Permanent:
Significance
Temporary:

God’s
promise is
your wet
that he will
condition will
not leave us
not last
or forsake us;
forever as
once the Holy
you will
Spirit takes
eventually
up residence,
become dry
he abides
with us
 Power:

Jesus
promised that
we would
receive power
when the
Holy Spirit
came (Acts
1:8); this
Preparation:
power would
enable us to
live the
John’s
Purpose Christian life
baptism got
and to be
people ready
witnesses for
to meet the
Christ
Messiah
Reasons why Jesus Christ was Baptised by John the Baptist

At first glance, it seems that Jesus' Baptism has no purpose at all. John's baptism
was a baptism of repentance (​Matthew 3:11​), but Jesus was sinless and had no
need of repentance. Even John was taken aback at Jesus' coming to him. John
recognized his sin and was aware that he, a sinful man in need of repentance
himself, was unfit to baptize the spotless Lamb of God: "I need to be baptized
by you, and do you come to me?" (​Matthew 3:14​). Jesus replied that it should
be done because "it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness"
(​Matthew 3:15​).
There are several reasons why it fitted for John to baptize Jesus at the beginning
of Jesus' public ministry. Jesus was about to embark on His great work, and it
was appropriate that He be recognized publicly by His forerunner. John was the
"voice crying in the wilderness" prophesied by Isaiah, calling people to
repentance in preparation for their Messiah (​Isaiah 40:3​). By baptizing Him,
John was declaring to all that here was the One they had been waiting for, the
Son of God, the One he had predicted would baptize "with the Holy Spirit and
fire" (​Matthew 3:11​). In other words , it was fit for Jesus to approve the mission
of John Christ who has been preaching about the coming of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, to show that he was the long-awaited Messiah, there was a need for
Jesus also pass through the same process. Besides, Jesus' coming to John
showed His approval of John's Baptism, bearing witness to it, that it was from
heaven and approved by God. This would be important in the future when
others would begin to doubt John's authority, particularly after his arrest by
Herod (​Matthew 14:3-11​).

Jesus' Baptism by John takes on an added dimension when we consider that

John was of the tribe of Levi and a direct descendant of Aaron. Luke specifies
that both John's parents were of the Aaronic priestly line (​Luke 1:5​). One of the
duties of the priests in the Old Testament was to present the sacrifices before the
Lord. John the Baptist's Baptism of Jesus could be seen as a priestly
presentation of the Ultimate Sacrifice. John's words the day after the Baptism
have a decidedly clerical air: "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin
of the world!" (​John 1:29​).

Jesus' Baptism also showed that He identified with sinners. His Baptism
symbolized the sinners' Baptism into the righteousness of Christ, dying with
Him and rising free from sin and able to walk in newness of life. His perfect
righteousness would fulfill all the requirements of the Law for sinners who
could never hope to do so on their own. When John hesitated to baptize the
sinless Son of God, Jesus replied that it was proper to "fulfill all righteousness"
(​Matthew 3:15​). By this, He alluded to the righteousness that He provides to all
who come to Him to exchange their sin for His righteousness (​2 Corinthians
5:21​).
Perhaps most importantly, the occasion of the public Baptism recorded for all
future generations the perfect embodiment of the triune God revealed in glory
from heaven. The testimony directly from heaven of the Father's pleasure with
the Son and the descending of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus (​Matthew 3:16-17​) is
a beautiful picture of the trinitarian nature of God. It also depicts the work of the
Father, Son, and Spirit in the salvation of those Jesus came to save. The Father
loves the elect from before the foundation of the world (​Ephesians 1:4​); He
sends His Son to seek and save the lost (​Luke 19:10​); and the Spirit convicts of
sin (​John 16:8​) and draws the believer to the Father through the Son. All the
glorious truth of the mercy of God through Jesus Christ is on display at His
Baptism.
Other reasons that can also be explained in detail
● Him being a role model of Christians, it's an excellent way to set an
excellent example to other believers
● Starting his ministry
● Exhibit his character as a humble Messiah

Why Christians are baptized today

1. To follow what Jesus their role model did/case of Christ /
John the Baptist also cried out for the need to "Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven has come near" (Matt 3:2) for it was just after John the Baptist was put
in prison and shortly after he was beheaded, "Jesus began to preach, "Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven has come near" (Matt 4:17) and in fact, the very first
words out of Jesus' mouth during His earthly ministries contained two
requirements for eternal life; "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is
at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Jesus was sinless but
still chose to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness, and so just before John the
Baptist would be put in prison, it was written that "At that time Jesus came from
Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus
was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit
descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my
Son, whom I love; with you, I am well pleased" (Mark 1:9-11). Initially, when
"Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John, John tried to
deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me" (Matt
3:13-14), but Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to
fulfill all righteousness" (Matt 3:15). In this regard, Christians are also baptized
as a way to follow what Jesus did because he is their role model.
2. Honors Christ Through Obedience
Matthew 3:13-15, "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized
by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, and
do you come to me?' Jesus replied, 'Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this
to fulfill all righteousness.' Then John consented."
John was baptizing people for repentance, yet he recognizes Jesus has no reason
to repent. Upon trying to deter Jesus from this act, Jesus tells him, "it is proper
for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." As Jesus began his public ministry,
He was baptized. If Jesus was baptized, why shouldn't we be baptized?
Later, after His death and resurrection, Jesus meets with the disciples and tells
them, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:15). Since
this time in history, Christians have honored Christ in obedience through
Baptism. The very first command Christ gives to new believers is Baptism. If
you will not obey God on this simple command, how will you follow him on
weightier issues?
3. Strengthens Your Faith
Baptism and faith go together; without trust, Baptism is just another way to get
wet. When we choose Baptism, because of our belief in Christ's death and
resurrection, it strengthens our faith. Baptism is a way for believers to
understand death and resurrection in a meaningful way. Our sins are
symbolically washed away, and the lesson of this act is that we move from end
to life.
Romans 6:4-5, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,
we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like
his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his."
Both Baptism and communion are ways for us to unite with Christ through his
suffering and resurrection. These ordinances help us reflect and understand what
He did for us, which strengthen our faith.
4. Celebrates Your Commitment to Follow Jesus
Baptism is a purposeful declaration of one's commitment to follow Jesus.
Anytime someone decides to follow Jesus, it is a reason to celebrate. Since
Baptism is often the first public declaration of our faith, our loved ones
celebrate the occasion and are why it is common for believers to invite friends
and family to attend their baptisms. These individuals are sharing their faith
with the world, and we get to celebrate alongside them.
4. Encourages Accountability
Along these same lines, Baptism invites accountability. Since Baptism is a
public declaration of our desire to follow Christ, we should expect those who
are present or those who know of our Baptism to hold us accountable.
Part of the beauty of belonging to a church and the Christian community is the
way we can help one another grow closer to God. As Proverbs 27:17 says, "As
iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
When we are baptized, we are letting the world know who we belong to, what
we stand for, and what we believe. Therefore, we also tell the world what we do
not stand for and give those close to us the ability to say to us when we have
veered off course.
6. Starts of a New Life
Baptism is also symbolic of a new life. When you are raised from the water, it is
symbolic of starting clean. Your old self is dead, and your new life in Christ has
begun. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the
new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" Baptism is a public
way to announce we believe in the power of Christ to forgive our sins and
change our lives.
7. Helps You Share Your Faith
Jesus told the disciples to make other disciples, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them His commands
(Matthew 28:19-20). When we publicly declare that we are followers of Jesus,
we are sharing Jesus with the world and continuing this mission. Baptism is an
opportunity to share our faith in Jesus and His commands with the world around
us.
Other points that can be added
( Why people are baptised in Zimbabwean churches )
1. To gain full church membership
2. To wear church uniform / Regalia
3. To eat the Holy communion
 4. To gain church leadership
5. To participate in the most strategic activities of the church like preaching,
saving and leadership roles
6. Some people are Baptised as a way of being reconsidered into the
structures of the church after a disciplinary action
7. Participate in church activities
8. To be registered in the church register
9. To receive spiritual gifts

Chapter 4: The Holy spirit

​

CONCEPT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

/Pneumatology
- Pneumatology is the study of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The word is
derived from the Greek word Pneuma – meaning wind, Spirit, or break or in
Hebrew as ruah. In Latin, it is spiritual, which means breath. Pneumatology is
the study that deals with the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
is not a force or an influence but a person. He is one of the three persons of the
Father, Son & Holy Spirit, well known as the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is a
person who has emotions, will, and intellect. 1 Corinthians 12:11, Romans 5:5 1
Corinth 2:10. He can be grief Eph. 4:30; can be blasphemed against Matthew
12:31-32; can be insulted Heb. 10:29; can be lied to. Acts 5:3-4. The New
Testament also speaks of the Holy Spirit as divine and God himself (Acts 5:3-4;
1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; 12:4-6). As God, he has all the divine attributes, such as
omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and eternal (Lk. 1:35; Jn. 14:26; Heb.
9:14).The Holy spirit took part in the creation of the universe Gen 1:1, which
appeared at the baptism of Jesus Mt 3:16-17. The Holy spirit can be called ; the
Spirit Jn 3:6, the Comforter Jn 16:7, 6, the Spirit of Promise Ephesians 1:1315
& the Spirit of Witness Hebrews 10:15.
​ ​ Characteristics of the Holy Spirit
The Word Characteristic, according to the English Thesaurus, means to have
uniqueness; and distinctiveness. It describes the extraordinary quality of a
particular person. The Holy Spirit is a person, and Christians need to know that
the Holy Spirit has been a part of the Trinity of God since the beginning of time.
Trinity is a word not found in Scripture but used to express the doctrine of the
unity of God as subsisting in three distinct Persons. The propositions involved
in the doctrine are these:
​ 1. That God is one and that there is but one God (​Deut. 6:4​; ​1 Kings 8:60​; ​Isa.
44:6​; ​Mark 12:29​, ​32​; ​John 10:30​).
2. That the Father is a distinct divine Person (hypostasis, subsistent, persona,
suppositum intellectually), different from the Son and the Holy Spirit.
3. That Jesus Christ was indeed God, and yet was a Person distinct from the
Father and the Holy Spirit, and
4. That the Holy Spirit is also a separate divine Person.
The word "spirit" (in Hebrew is ruah and is cited in the OT – 378 times (also in
Aramaic some 11 times); in the Greek, it is Pneuma and is quoted in the NT –
379 times.) is the word used from ancient times to describe and explain the
experience of divine power working in, upon, and around men, and understood
by them as the power of God.Paul has just arrived in Ephesus on his third
Missionary journey; he had visited it during his second Missionary journey; to
begin a significant evangelistic effort. One year had passed, and during that
time, Apollos had arrived and left for Corinth.When Paul had arrived in
Ephesus, he was informed that there are certain "disciples" like him in the area.
These twelve men (verse 7) had an understanding of Christianity much the same
as that of Apollos before Apollos had met Aquila and Priscilla. They had not
advanced beyond John the Baptist's initial preaching of repentance in
preparation for the coming Messiah. Paul entered into conversation with them to
find out just where they stood concerning the gospel. Like Apollos, they knew
only the baptism of John into repentance. The Holy Spirit had come after
Pentecost, and these 12 men had been baptized unto repentance by John under
the Old Covenant, which ended with Jesus. (​Heb. 10:1-18​). ​John 7:39​, "But this
He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for
the Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John had told them in ​Matt 3:11​, "I indeed baptized you with water unto
repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I
am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Once
they understood this through Paul's instruction, they put their trust in Jesus of
whose coming to their teacher John the Baptist - had spoken about. Therefore,
they believed (v.4) was baptized (v.5) and received the Holy Spirit (v. 6).
The believers at Ephesus were aware of their need to live a better life, but they
were not aware of the power of the Holy Spirit to enable them to do so. Their
experience demonstrates the truth that without the Holy Spirit, we cannot please
God. Thus, without the Holy Spirit, we are incomplete Christians. Scripture tells
us in ​John 4:24​, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in
spirit and truth." The norm of Christian experience is a cluster of four things:
*Repentance, faith in Jesus, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.*
To know the Holy Spirit is to identify the characteristics of the Holy Spirit. That
is why it was important for these 1​2 men and us to understand the
Characteristics of the Holy Spirit. Let us look at them.

I. The Holy Spirit Is Personal

A. ​John 16:13-14​ says, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He
will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His authority, but
whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will
glorify Me, for He will take care of what is Mine and declare it to you. In these
quoted verses of the Gospel of John, however, when He is used and the personal
pronoun He is used six times additional time to describe what He will
do.Therefore, the Holy Spirit is neither an impersonal force nor a mere
influence; instead, He possesses a full and distinct personality.He is an essential
part of a divine revelation. Everywhere His prerogatives are before us. He is the
direct agent between heaven and earth in this gospel age.The Holy Spirit has
been committed to the sacred task of applying redemption to believing sinners
and of making believers holy. It is He who convicts us of sin, regenerates,
sanctifies, teaches, guides, and inspires us. We are dependent upon Him for all
that concerns our life in Christ.That is why the writer tells us in ​Proverbs 3:6​,
"In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. "The Holy
Spirit is a person who searches the deep things of God (as in ​Rom. 8:26​);
testifies (as in ​John 15:26​); teaches (as in ​John 14:26​); and guides (as in ​Acts
16:6​).The Bible always pictured the Holy Spirit as a person and never as an
impersonal force. Therefore, as a person, the Holy Spirit relates to us,He
understands, He feels for us, and He is our paraclete which means that He is our
divine Friend and Helper.
II. The Holy Spirit Is Particular (Deity)
The Holy Spirit is none less than God Himself because:The Holy Spirit
possesses divine attributes. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent, which means that
He is present all of the time, no matter when or where. You can call Him.As
part of the Trinity, God is not a physical being limited to place and time as we
are. He is present everywhere, and he can be worshiped anywhere,
anytime.David illustrates this in ​Psalm 139:7-10​, by pointing out that there is
nowhere we can go to flee the Lord's presence. Even if we were to ascend into
heaven, make our bed in hell, or go to the most extreme parts of the sea, we
could never go beyond the reach of God's presence.The Holy Spirit also
possesses eternity, which the only Deity possesses. He is called "the eternal
Spirit" in ​Hebrews 9:14​.The Holy Spirit is omniscient, a characteristic of God,
which means He knows all things actual and possible, whether past, present, or
future. 'The Apostle Paul eludes this in ​1 Corinthians 2:11b​ "one knows the
things of God except for the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is also omnipotent or
all-powerful, a quality of Deity, which means God is almighty and can do
anything consistent with His nature. ​Luke 1:35​ tells us this when the Angel
spoke to Mary saying, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of
the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be
born will be called the Son of God."Divine Works are ascribed to the Holy
Spirit: Some of these works are created as mentioned in ​Gen. 1:2​; the giving of
life as mentioned in ​John 6:63​, prophecy as mentioned in ​2 Peter 1:21​), and the
Making of disciples as mentioned in ​Matthew 28:19-20​.

III. The Holy Spirit is Powerful (God's Agent on Earth)

In ​John 14:16-17​, Jesus promised that He would pray to the heavenly Father and
that the Father would send the Holy Spirit, who would abide with us
forever.The power that Jesus spoke, which is of God, maybe thought of in three
ways concerning the Trinity. It is founded in the Father, it is revealed through
the Son, and the Holy Spirit activates it.From the beginning of time, ​Genesis 1:1
until the end of time, the Holy Spirit is working.In ​Genesis 1:2​, He brought
order into the universe when He moved upon the face of the waters shaping
nothing into something. In ​Job 26:13​, the Holy Spirit is the Chief architect who
garnishes the heavens.In ​Psalm 104:30​, the Holy Spirit is a plastic surgeon who
renews the face of the earth. In ​Job 33:4​, the Holy Spirit is the creation of all
who gives life to human beings, an In ​Revelation 22:17​, the Holy Spirit is the
everlasting life-giver, who gives to those who thirst and come, the water of life
freely.As God's Agent on earth, the Holy Spirit acts in the Ministry of Christ.He
was active in the development of Christ as He "grew, and waxed strong in the
spirit." ​Luke 2:40​. We, too, must allow the Holy Spirit to aid in our
development into the person that God created us for.The Holy Spirit continued
with Jesus Christ during His preaching and healing Ministries. We must allow
the Holy Spirit to be with our Ministries as Jesus did. When the Holy Spirit is in
operation, people are changed, and lives are strengthened.The Holy Spirit is
God's agent on earth in the creation of Holy Scripture: The Holy Scriptures
revealed certain truths to individuals, which they, in turn, recorded as sacred
Scripture for our improvement. We have Jesus saying, "He is the way, the truth,
and the light."
We have John as he writes from the Island of Patmos in ​Revelation 1:10​,
giving us a glimpse of heaven while he was in the Spirit on the Lord's
Day.Scripture is given by inspiration (Holy Spirit) as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for
every good work."
​John 14:26, we​ are assured by Christ the inspiration of Scripture as the Holy
Spirit brings the remembrance of the writer's absolute truth and experiences.
The Holy Spirit is active concerning the Bible through illumination, which
relates to our ability to comprehend the realities as they are revealed to inspire
The Holy Spirit is God's agent on earth in the work of the Church.
As we look to ​Acts 1:8, we​ find that the Holy Spirit initially empowered the
church to act for Him. Jesus tells us in this Scripture, "But you shall receive
power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to
Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
He is involved in the expansion of the Church in ​Acts 2:1-4​, and He is seen in ​1
Corinthians 12:4-11​, as equipping the church.
The Holy Spirit is the administrator of the church's affairs. If churches today,
would allow the Holy Spirit to work as it did in the earlier churches, our life and
work would be entirely revolutionized, causing a change in people's lives.
Consider these special attributes of the Holy Spirit:
1. He convicts us of sin (​John 16:8​).
2. He permanently indwells us (​John 14:16-17​).
3. He seals us (​Eph. 1:13​).
4. He teaches us (​John 14:26​).
5. He guides us into all truth (​John 16:13​).
6. He reminds us (John 14:26).
7. He bears fruit through us (​Gal. 5:22-23​).
8. He comforts us (​John 16:7​).
 9. He equips us with spiritual gifts (​1 Cor. 12:4-7​).
10. He fills us (​Eph. 5:18​).
11. He empowers us (​Acts 1:8​).

The works of the Holy spirit During the Time of the

Early Church
Acts 1: 8. Jesus promised the disciples, "When you receive the power of the
Holy Spirit, you shall be my witnesses in Samaria and Judea." More to that in
Acts 2, Peter reincarnated the long-standing prophecy of Prophet Joel, who
made it clear that "In the last days I will pour my Spirit……. ". In this regard,
this shows the significance of the Holy Spirit. Some scholars like Bruce goes to
the extent of saying, "The book Acts of the Apostles should not be called Acts
of the Apostles but Acts of the Holy Spirit.”All this speaks volumes to the
importance or the significance of the Holy Spirit. This section of the handout
will dig deep into exploring the importance or the works of the Holy Spirit in
the early church.
The importance of the Holy Spirit in the Early Church
1. The Holy Spirit made the Apostles bold to preach the gospel in such a
very resistant space.
A good explanation should try by all means to explore the courage or the
boldness of the Apostle before receiving the Holy spirit and after receiving the
Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2. With that being said, it is of no doubt that before
the Holy Spirit, the Apostles were in a panic mode and could not do more
concerning spreading the gospel but only to lock themselves in a room.
However, the coming of the Holy spirit spearheaded a major transformation in
terms of their boldness. The gospel of John did a good job in explaining the fear
amongst the disciples before receiving the Holy Spirit( John 20:9 On the
evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut, where the
disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said
to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his
hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even
so, I send you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to
them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." More to that, another
good example will be that of Peter, who denied Jesus three times due to fear of
his own life, but it is Acts 2 after receiving the Holy Spirit when he defended
the Apostles with a very long bold speech. He even defended Jesus, whom he
once rejected by saying, "The stone that you have rejected has become the
corner of the couch. "Not forgetting people like Apostle Stephen who could
defend Jesus despite that they were at the point of being killed and the fact that
the Apostles were beaten and received all forms of persecution, but they never
abstain from preaching the gospel. Therefore, this shows that the Holy spirit a
very crucial role in making the Apostle bold. In this regard, this can not go
without mentioning here and now that the importance of the Holy Spirit can not
be underrated as much as the development of the Early Church is concerned

2.The Holy Spirit also enables the Apostles to heal the sick
Through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle was able to heal the
sick. A fair study of the book of Acts in its chapter -chronological verse order,
can elucidate that the first healing miracle happened in Acts chapter 3, "The
healing of a lame man at the beautiful gate." This man was not healed in
Chapter one and two because the Apostle was still waiting for the Holy Spirit.
Acts chapter 1 talks of the promise of the Holy Spirit ( Acts 1:8 ) and Acts 2
talks about the coming of the Holy Spirit. Just from there, Acts three gives an
account of the healing of a lame man. This a clear indication that the Holy Spirit
enables healing. More to that, one should not forget or puts a blind eye to the
fact that the disciples were allowed to heal a boy during Jesus' ministry time,
and they failed, but after Acts 2, they could not fail anymore. Therefore, the
Holy Spirit is of paramount importance. With that being said, scholars like
Bruce have concluded that the book of Acts of the Apostle should be called
Acts of the Holy Spirit, and this undeniably true because the Holy Spirit played
a crucial role.

3. The Holy Spirit enables the Apostles to preach

When Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, he boldly proclaimed Jesus as Christ
to the Jewish leaders (Acts 4:8ff). When Paul was filled with the Spirit, he
confronted a sorcerer who was hindering the cause of evangelism (Acts 13:9ff).
The Holy Spirit led and enabled the early Christians to witness boldly on behalf
of Jesus (Acts 4:8ff; 5:30-32). Driven by the Spirit, Paul witnessed to the
Corinthian Jews concerning the identity of Jesus as Messiah (Acts 18:5). The
Spirit empowered Stephen's message to his fellow Jews, forcing them to decide
for or against Christ (Acts 6:8-10). Through the Spirit, Paul confronted Elymas
the sorcerer's deceitful ways (Acts 13:9ff). All these verses confirm the fact that
it is the Holy Spirit that enables to preach the gospel.
​4.Holy Spirit gives direction and empowers thereby leading to the spiritual
development of the church
The church's success is vitally tied to its relationship with the Spirit. Jesus
Christ, in His promise of the Holy Spirit, made it clear that "When you receive
the power of the Holy Spirit, you shall be my witnesses in Samaria and Judea.
(Acts 1:8). The Book of Acts also explains Jesus's success in
ministry--particularly in training the apostles and performing healings--to the
work of the Spirit (Acts 1:2; 10:38). In this regard, this depicts the fact that
Jesus promise signifies that there is empowerment from the Holy Spirit ( But
when you receive the power of the Holy Spirit ) and also growth in terms of
expansion of the church( You shall be my witnesses in Samaria and Judea. With
that being said, this means that the Holy Spirit is a prerequisite in the growth
and development of the early church.

Other points that can be explained in detail by learners

1. Enables the Apostles to interpret the scriptures
2. Cast out demons
3. Healing and deliverance
4. Withstand persecution
5. Reveals secrets
6. Transportation ( the case of Phillip )
7. Converting people to Christianity and making them receive the Holy Spirit.
8. They are imparting spiritual gifts. More points can be added.
9. Understanding
Roles of the Holy Spirit in a Christian's Life
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are saved, filled, sealed, and
sanctified. The Holy Spirit reveals God's thoughts, teaches, and guides believers
into all truth, including knowledge of what is to come. The Holy Spirit also
helps Christians in their weakness and intercedes for them through the power of
the Holy Spirit, believers are saved, filled, sealed, and sanctified. The Holy
Spirit reveals God's thoughts, teaches, and guides believers into all truth,
including knowledge of what is to come. The Holy Spirit also helps Christians
in their weakness and intercedes for them.

The following are ten ways the Holy Spirit works in the lives of believers.

1. The Holy Spirit is a helper who teaches and reminds​.

In ​John 14:26​ Jesus told his disciples, "the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will
send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all
that I have said to you" (​John 14:26​)The Greek word "Parakletos" in this
passage is translated "Helper" in the "Advocate," and "Counselor." The meaning
of this word relates "legal counsel."The Holy Spirit provides wise counsel to
Christ's followers. Jesus knew he would be going away and that his followers
would need the Holy Spirit as a helper and an advocate to remind them of his
teachings.
2. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin.
In addition to providing wise counsel, attorneys also provide evidence used to
convict criminals. Similarly, the Holy Spirit will prove the sin, righteousness,
and judgment of the world."Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your
advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to
you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the
world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" (​John 16:7-8​).

3. The Holy Spirit dwells in believers and fills them.

The Holy Spirit is God's presence in the lives of believers.
"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in
you?" (​1 Corinthians 3:16​)

4. The Holy Spirit is a source of revelation, wisdom, and power.

"These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches
all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person's thoughts
except for their Spirit within them? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts
of God except the Spirit of God" (​1 Corinthians 2:10-11​).
God gives His followers the Holy Spirit so that we may know Him better. Since
the Holy Spirit is God's Spirit, it identifies the thoughts of God and reveals
those thoughts to believers. The Holy Spirit opens believers' eyes to the hope of
salvation and the inheritance they have in Christ.
Jesus knew that his disciples would need the power to carry out their mission to
be witnesses to the entire world.
Jesus told his disciples, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (​Acts 1:8​)
Christians have access to power, revelation, and wisdom from the Holy Spirit,
just as the Apostle Paul wrote to believers in Ephesus,
"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may
give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the
hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his
holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power
is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the
dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms" (​Ephesians
1:17-20​).
5. The Holy Spirit guides to all truth, including knowledge of what is to
come.
The Holy Spirit tells what is yet to come. The Holy Spirit is called the "Spirit of
Truth" in ​John 16:13​ because he guides believers into all truth. Jesus told his
disciples the Holy Spirit would make known what he hears and would only
speak what the Father speaks.
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He
will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you
what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will
receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine.
That is why I said the Spirit would receive from me what he will make known
to you" (​John 16:13-15​).

6. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers.

Attributes of the Holy Spirit, such as wisdom, knowledge, and power are
manifested in the lives of believers for the good of others. More gifts are listed
in ​1 Corinthians 12:7-11​.
7. The Holy Spirit is a seal in the lives of believers.
In the ancient world, a seal was a "legal signature," attesting ownership and
validating what was sealed.The Holy Spirit is our mark of adoption as God's
children. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his followers so that they could be
confident in their salvation.Just as you might make a deposit or a down payment
on a new car to make sure the salesperson doesn't sell it to anyone else, the Holy
Spirit is a deposit in our lives confirming the validity of Christ's message and
that we belong to Christ."And you also were included in Christ when you heard
the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were
marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit
guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's
possession—to the praise of his glory" (​Ephesians 1:13​).
8. The Holy Spirit helps in a Christian's weakness and intercedes for them.
We all have times we feel weak and don't know what to do. The Holy Spirit
helps us line up with God's will during those times by interceding for us.
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we
ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless
groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because
the Spirit intercedes for God's people by the will of God" (​Romans 8:26-27​).

9. The Holy Spirit makes believers new and gives them eternal life.
Holy Spirit works in the lives of believers to renew, sanctify, and make us holy.
Just as the Holy Spirit raised Christ from the dead, the Holy Spirit will give
eternal life to believers in Christ.
"But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because
of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him
who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the
dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in
you" (​Romans 8:10-11​).
10. The Holy Spirit sanctifies and enables believers to bear good fruit in
their lives.
The work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian's life is an on-going process of
becoming holy through sanctification. Through the conviction and power of the
Holy Spirit, believers will not indulge the sinful acts of the flesh (​Galatians
5:16-21​) but will bear the good fruit of the Spirit (​Galatians 5:22-25​).
Bible​ Verses about the Holy Spirit
● Acts 4:31​ "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was
shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of
God boldly."
● Romans 8:14-16​ "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the
children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that
you live in fear again; instead, the Spirit you received brought about your
adoption to sonship. And by him, we cry, 'Abba, Father…'"
● 2 Thessalonians 2:13​ "…God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved
through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and belief in the truth."
● Titus 3:4-6​ "…He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by
the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ
our Savior."
The end………………………………………………@Duce of Africa. Mr
Charline Prazen Chikomo
Thank you for reading this book. You are the core reason why we continue to
write. As you read this book, may the good Lord bless you. All the best in
whatever you are reading this book for
@Duce of Africa. Mr. Charline Prazen Chikomo
+263774035666(Whatsapp )
Charline Chikomo ( Facebook )
[email protected] ( email.)
Duce of Africa. Mr Charline Prazen Chikomo, "Loss of a battle does not signal
the end of the war. Keep your guns blazing until you win the war for failure is
not final but a step towards success."