SS Outline 11.8.2026

Week 22 — The Common Operations of the Holy Spirit
How does a death outside Jerusalem two thousand years ago become your salvation today?

I. The crossing: from accomplished to applied

II. Who the Spirit is

• A person, and God — John 14:26; Eph 4:30; 1 Cor 12:11; Acts 5:3–4
• Proceeds from the Father and the Son — John 15:26; Gal 4:6
• His work is completion, and he glorifies Christ — Gen 1:2; John 16:13–14

III. The Spirit's general operations

• Life — Ps 104:29–30; Job 33:4
• Skill and office — Ex 31:2–5; 1 Sam 10:10; 16:14; Num 24:2
• Revelation — 2 Sam 23:2; 2 Pet 1:21
• Striving with sinners — Gen 6:3; Isa 63:10; Acts 7:51; Heb 6:4–6; Matt 13:20–21

IV. General and special

• Similarity: in both spheres he originates, sustains, and guides life
• Difference: only the special operation renews the heart
• Three contrasts: no new heart / new heart; persuasion / re-creation; resistible / effectual
• LBCF 10.4, "common operations of the Spirit"
• Pairs: Heb 6:4–6 with 6:9; Matt 13:20–21 with 13:23; Balaam with Peter

V. Answer

• The Spirit carries Christ's finished work into the heart by making the heart new.
• Memory verse: Titus 3:5–6