The book has sufficient theological depth to be a resource for those doing research on the issues and passages Cole addresses. Learn more about the importance of the Holy Spirit in Christianity. Who do we pray to, the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit? What is the Holy Spirit’s role in a person’s conversion … These real questions are the burden of this book, which seeks to sequentially address from throughout Scripture six crucial questions that affect a person's relationship to the Spirit: What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Here are serious, careful, practical, theologically alert answers. What did the Holy Spirit do in regard to creation and revelation? Readers of The Pneuma Review will probably remember his excellent contribution about pneumatology, also from Crossway, entitled He Who Gives Life (2007). How does a person resist him? Read "Engaging with the Holy Spirit Real Questions, Practical Answers" by Graham A. Cole available from Rakuten Kobo. Cole turns quickly to a discussion of the gift of prophecy in which he positions himself as open but discerningly cautious. That is, to be filled with the Spirit is to behave in an other-centered manner. Graham A. Cole, (3) Ought we to pray to the Spirit? [Graham A Cole] -- Despite the growth of the charismatic movement and Pentecostal churches, people still have questions-and even troubling concerns-about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. What is the Trinity? What Is Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? In the Crossway Studies on the Holy Spirit collection, author Graham A. Cole seeks to share the power and works of the Holy Spirit. Cole adopts a “newer view” of Eph 5:18–21 in which to be filled with the Spirit is equated with the performance of certain behaviors by the people of God (pp. There are two weaknesses I perceive in the book. In other words, since Cole thinks that the Eph 5 passage does not teach individual empowerment by the Spirit, Cole’s book on engaging the Spirit ends up without any major treatment of what such engagement brings about in the believer’s life. Ought we to pray to the Spirit? I recommend it highly." Graham A. Cole. Readers are also given key elements for thinking theologically and implications for their belief and behavior. Engaging with the Holy Spirit: six crucial questions. Reflections on Inspiration and Interpretation in Light of Scripture’s Dual Authorship, Cities Through the Looking Glass: Essays on the History and Archaeology of Biblical Urbanism, War in the Bible and Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century, Three Views on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Graham lives in Libertyville, Illinois, with his wife, Jules. ISBN: 978-1-84474-179-3. D. A. Carson, Cofounder and Theologian-at-Large, The Gospel Coalition, "Pneumatology has been sadly neglected in recent evangelical theology, and when it has been touched upon, it has trended toward either the speculative or the sensational. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit is a … Answers to questions about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is often the least understood and studied member of the Trinity. When it comes to quenching the Spirit, Cole argues that the Pauline term (1 Thess 5:19) is a metaphor for nullifying the Spirit’s work, but that the text does not specify how the Spirit can be quenched. Six pivotal questions concerning the Holy Spirit are examined here, including 'Ought we to pray to the Holy Spirit?' The Holy Spirit is the 3rd person of the trinity, co-equal with the Father and the Son. "I cannot imagine that there are many pastors who have not heard each of the six questions that Graham Cole raises. It was not too long ago that Kevin Vanhoozer answered the question Is There a Meaning in This Text? by relocating meaning in authorial intention,1 doing so even more robustly (not to mention, evangelically) than E... he original question I was asked to address was "How does our commitment to the primacy of the gospel tie into our obligation to do good to all, especially those of the household of faith, to serve as salt and light in the world, to do good to the city?" David Peterson, Retail Price: The answers are sure to grace the church, because what Christians believe about the third Person of the Trinity will determine how they live. Is that not powerful. Without the Holy Spirt, life will be useless; life becomes burdensome without His help. What are the gifts of the Spirit? Graham A. Cole, Engaging with the Holy Spirit: Real Questions, Practical Answers (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), 125 pages. Others understand the Holy Spirit as the impersonal power that God makes available to followers of Christ. • How do we quench the Spirit? Engaging with the Holy Spirit : real questions, practical answers. Engaging with the Holy Spirit by Graham Cole. Regarding praying to the Spirit, Cole alerts the reader to the fact that there is no biblical precedent for praying to the Spirit although the practice does have historical precedent in the church. (2) How may we resist the Spirit? What is the biblical evidence for the personhood of the Spirit? Ought … How May We Resist the Holy Spirit? Indeed, Cole emphasizes the pastoral point that an individual’s concern over having committed the unpardonable sin is a good indication that they have not done so inasmuch as such sensitivity is a sure sign of the Spirit’s ongoing work. Timothy George, Distinguished Professor of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, "Drawing from the well of his extensive and rigorous study of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, Graham Cole gives refreshingly clear answers to six crucial questions that earnest Christians invariably ask. What is the illumination of the Spirit? But here is a book on the Holy Spirit that is practical, relevant, balanced, and useful in the lives of God's people everywhere. If you have questions about the Holy Spirit Cole does a good job getting you started. He is a member at Church of the Redeemer in Highwood, Illinois. The book is reasonably brief. This book handles some difficult questions regarding the Holy Spirit and how to engage with him. -What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?-How may we resist the Holy Spirit?-Ought we pray to the Holy Spirit?-How do we quench the Holy Spirit?-How do we grieve the Holy Spirit?-How does the Holy Spirit … How does a person resist him? Some view the Holy Spirit as a mystical force. This result does not mean that Cole’s interpretation is incorrect, but it does make it even more troubling that Cole never deals in his book in any sustained manner with the empowering work of the Spirit. How do we grieve the Spirit? Engaging with the Holy Spirit: Real Questions, Practical Answers [Cole, Graham A., Peterson, David] on Amazon.com. Free shipping for many products! Graham A. Cole teaches biblical and systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Lastly, Cole argues that the fullness of the Spirit in Eph 5:18–21 refers to the filling of the church with other-person-centered practices, which is in contrast to the interpretation that sees the filling of the Spirit as the empowerment for such practices. Engaging with the Holy Spirit: Real Questions, Practical Answers (9781581349726) by Graham A. Cole If it were not for that, you would never have heard of Andrew Wommack. 2 Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit (John 14:15- 17) 15 “If you love me, keep my commands.16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever 17 the Spirit of truth.The world cannot accept him, because it neither Graham Cole answers common practical questions about the Holy Spirit. He focuses on the primary role of Scripture in directing our theology for life together in a community of Christians animated by the Spirit of God. On the blasphemy of the Spirit, Cole makes clear that believers can sin, doubt, and be angry with God and yet not have committed blasphemy. The study of the Holy Spirit raises certain basic questions. Its primary audience is theological students, pastors and scholars. IT’S TIME TO RELEASE: UNDERSTANDING THE HOLY GHOST (HOLY SPIRIT) pg. and How does a person resist the Spirit? Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Engaging with the Holy Spirit : Real Questions, Practical Answers by Graham A. Cole (2008, Trade Paperback) at the best online prices at eBay! First, assuming that space limitations forced Cole to be highly selective regarding the particular issues he addressed, I found myself wishing he would have merged several of the questions and eliminated another which would have made room for him to deal with other matters. Despite the growth of the charismatic movement and Pentecostal churches, people still have questions-and even troubling concerns-about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. John 14:16,26 -And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that … The Holy Spirit is a person. Ought we … Do you know about Christianity, take the quiz? Holy Spirit, in Christian belief, the third person of the Trinity. Themelios is a peer-reviewed international evangelical theological journal that expounds on the historic Christian faith. These real questions are the burden of this book, which seeks to sequentially address from throughout Scripture six crucial questions that affect a person's relationship to the Spirit: What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Graham A. Cole (ThD, Australian College of Theology) is the dean and professor of biblical and systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Engaging with the Holy Spirit: Real Questions, Practical Answers (2) If so, how then does that ministry relate to the proclamation of the gospel? The Holy Spirit is much too vast for anyone to have all the answers. 138 pages; £9.99. It should also be noted that Cole has written a more comprehensive theology of the Spirit: He Who Gives Life: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Crossway, 2007). R. Kent Hughes, Senior Pastor Emeritus, College Church, Wheaton, Illinois, "When churches wrestle with division over contradictory views related to the work of the Holy Spirit, this book will provide lucid and succinct guidance. Foreword by Graham Cole is Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois. Cole’s purpose here is not to offer an apologetic for the person of the Holy Spirit, but to focus on a number of key questions many believers find themselves asking as they read the Scriptures and journey through the Christian life: This book provides important grounding for a fuller theology of the Holy Spirit, and I commend it to all believers who are serious about the Christian life." My life was completely changed when I received the Holy Spirit. All Christians have heard of the Holy Spirit but how well do you really know Him? What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Apollos. An ordained Anglican minister, he has served in two parishes and was formerly the principal of Ridley College. It does not address tons of questions, however it does provide complete answers for the questions it wrestles with. Graham Cole’s Engaging with the Holy Spirit is the kind of book we need more of within evangelical theology: concise, accessible, and practical. Greg Waybright, Former President, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Senior Pastor, Lake Avenue Church, Pasadena, California. So then one has to make clear that it is only by the Spirit’s enabling grace that these behaviors are meant to be performed. And yet, it is also written in an accessible style for a thoughtful layperson who is interested in pneumatology. Table of Contents. Engaging life’s brokenness with life-changing promises of our living God within divine intervention of the Holy Spirit. Cole maintains that grieving the Spirit takes place when there is a moral discrepancy between what believers say they do and what they actually do. Contrary to classical theism, Cole argues that the Spirit’s grief or sorrow is not metaphorical but that the Godhead does experience different passional states. This is an important, accessible, life-giving book." 1 Corinthians Acts Ephesians Holy Spirit Missiology Racialethnic questions Theology. What does the Bible say about the identity of the Holy Spirit? (5) How do we grieve the Spirit? When church leaders long for their congregations to know the filling of the Spirit of God, they will find wisdom in this book. The following are questions frequently asked. Cole applies this approach to six questions regarding the Spirit: (1) What is blasphemy against the Spirit? Cole’s introduction touches on the theological method he utilizes throughout, which involves biblical investigation of the issue under consideration, some discussion of contemporary and historical perspectives, and engagement with the practical implications. 106–7). Engaging with the Holy Spirit by Graham A. Cole, 9781581349726, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. Print on Demand. Graham Cole’s Engaging with the Holy Spirit is the kind of book we need more of within evangelical theology: concise, accessible, and practical. When individuals fear they have grieved the Holy Spirit, Dr. Cole's teaching will provide clarity and encouragement. Many of the Christian Faith view God as a Trinity, where God, Jesus, and the Spirit are One, and yet separate; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. This reader-friendly book biblically addresses six of the most common questions people have about the Holy Spirit. Simply put, the Bible declares that the Holy Spirit is God. Whether you’re not sure or just having a problem receiving, my teaching entitled The Holy Spirit will answer your questions and set you free to receive this powerful gift. These real questions are the burden of this book, which seeks to sequentially address from throughout Scripture six crucial questions that affect a person's relationship to the Spirit: Each chapter is devoted to one question and challenges readers about their relationship with the Spirit and about Christian living in general. Introduction 1. How does a person resist him? How do we grieve the Spirit? What do you know about Christianity and the Holy Spirit? It's a brief, reader-friendly book full of solid, reassuring answers. If the Holy Spirit lives in us, then are we human and divine? This book deserves the widest circulation." Christianity is a religion that has been the most popular and most common form of worship, and what is this Holy Spirit. By Sometimes preachers and writers discuss the question in ways that make this anxiety, especially for young Christians, very understandable. These real questions are the burden of this book, which seeks to sequentially address from throughout Scripture six crucial questions that affect a person’s relationship to the Spirit: What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? How do we quench the Spirit? The question of whether we have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit and thus have committed the unpardonable sin troubles many. Steve Porter is associate professor of theology and philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Rosemead School of Psychology (Biola University). Ought we to pray to the Spirit? In particular, while there is a difference between resisting, quenching, and grieving the Spirit, these three ways of obstructing the ministry of the Spirit could have been treated together and thereby condensed. Graham Cole’s new book is entitled Engaging with the Holy Spirit: Despite the growth of the charismatic movement and Pentecostal churches, people still have questions—and even troubling concerns—about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, you are helpless. Cole is to be commended for clearly and succinctly dealing with several important questions regarding the ministry of the Spirit in a balanced manner that will no doubt be helpful to many Christians. 3. Answer: There are many misconceptions about the identity of the Holy Spirit. Cole proposes that blasphemy of the Spirit is a settled opposition to Christ, which, on Cole’s Calvinism, can be committed only by the unbeliever. (6) How does the Spirit fill us? Do you have to … The infilling of the Holy Spirit is for all Christians, of every era. Who is the Holy Spirit? Graham A. Cole presents a solid engagement with the 6 most common questions regarding the Holy Spirit. The second criticism pertains to Cole’s treatment of being filled with the Spirit. 2. Also, while the question of praying to the Spirit is important, there would seem to be other questions of greater significance, such as the following: What does it mean to walk by the Spirit? Discerning the Spirit’s Voice by Engaging in Multiple Cultures. These real questions are the burden of this book, which seeks to sequentially address from throughout Scripture six crucial questions that affect a person's relationship to the Spirit: What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? • Ought we to pray to the Spirit? I will divide this question into two parts: (1) If we are committed to the primacy of the gospel, does the gospel itself serve as the basis and motivation for ministry to the poor? Salvation History, Chronology, and Crisis: A Problem with Inclusivist Theology of Religions, Part 2, The Center of Biblical Theology in Acts: Deliverance and Damnation Display the Divine, Shared Intentions? But this view could easily suggest a spirituality of autonomous behavior that can exist apart from the Spirit’s empowerment, which seemingly flies in the face of various other New Testament teachings (e.g., Gal 5:16–26). What is the indwelling of the Spirit? As mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, outpourings of the Holy Spirit can include healing, prophecy, exorcism, and speaking in tongues. and 'What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?' *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. $17.99, Availability: By Craig Keener November 30, 2020. • How does a person resist him? • … On resisting the Spirit, Cole argues that Acts 7:51 in which the term appears is not relevant to the debate between Calvinists and Arminians over irresistible/resistible grace. It was formerly a print journal operated by RTSF/UCCF in the UK, and it became a digital journal operated by The Gospel Coalition in 2008. But such a nuanced position ends up reasserting the truth (empowerment of the individual by the Spirit) that the Eph 5 passage supposedly no longer teaches. Christians think that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that if you accept Christ as your redeemer and repent for your sins, you will be saved. Get this from a library! These real questions are the focus of this book, which seeks to sequentially address six crucial questions that affect a person’s relationship to the Spirit: • What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? How do we quench the Spirit? The first is that the seven spirits of God are symbolic of the Holy Spirit. (4) How do we quench the Spirit? Cole accepts a Trinitarian argument in favor of praying to the Spirit, though he stresses the theologically normative shape of prayer as to the Father through the Son by the Spirit. A woman lights a candle in a Russian Orthodox church in this image from our photography archives. 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