Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition

LESSON 4 | GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT / 249

(4) The Holy Spirit as the fire of God, constantly purifies the Church, protecting it from the infection that sin might bring.

Ibid . p. 40, 110.

d. The Dove – the symbol of new life In Genesis chapter 8, when God has destroyed all life on the earth because of sin, only Noah, his kinfolk, and a group of animals remain alive on the ark. As they wait for the waters to subside, they send out a dove to see if it can find dry land. Initially, just like the Holy Spirit at creation, the dove “hovers over the waters” but cannot find a resting place and returns to the ark. It is sent out a second time and returns with an olive leaf indicating that the water level is lowering. The third time it is sent out it does not return and Noah knows that dry land has appeared and it is safe to come out of the Ark and start life on the earth again. In the Noah story, the dove becomes the symbol of new creation and new hope for the earth. (1) When God sends Jesus to the earth he also enters the waters, not of the flood, but of the Jordan River in baptism, Luke 3.22. (2) This incident is so important that it is recorded in all four of the Gospel accounts. The appearance of the Holy Spirit as a dove reminds the Jewish audience who sees Jesus baptized that, like Noah, this man is beloved of God and the means of new hope and new creation.

page 130 & 9

Ibid . p. 79.

4

T heology and E th i c s

3. The scriptural names and titles of the Holy Spirit reveal him as Life-giver.

a. He is called the Spirit of Truth (John 14.16-17; 15.26; 16.13). He is the one who teaches us the words of life.

b. His is called the Spirit of Holiness (Rom. 1.4). He is the one who enables us to overcome sin and death.