The Holy Spirit
THE Lord Jesus Christ was begotten by the
Holy Spirit, which is also called "the power of the Most High" (Luke
1:35). The same power raised him from the dead; and by the same power those who
are faithful to him will be made immortal when he comes again. Paul speaks of
the "exceeding greatness" of God's power towards those who believe,
"according to the strength of his might which he wrought in Christ when he
raised him from the dead" (Eph. 1:19-20, R.V.). Believers will be
"changed", so that their "vile body" is "fashioned
like unto his glorious body"; and this is spoken of as the work of Christ,
"according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto
himself" (Phil. 3:20-21).
We learn, then, that (1) the "Spirit"
and "power" of God mean the same, (2) this "power" raised
Christ, and (3) will raise believers; (4) the power will be so under Christ's
control that what is done is spoken of as his own action.
"Spirit" and the words it is used
to translate all have the same root meaning of "breathing" or
"blowing". By a figure of speech they are used for the
"outbreathing" of God's power and being. They may also stand for mind
and disposition, as when we say a man shows "a good spirit".
1. The Spirit of God flows from Him. -- "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are
created" (Psa. 104:30).
2. The Spirit is God's active Power. -- In the creation, "the Spirit of God moved
upon the face of the waters" (Gen. 1:2). "By his Spirit he hath
garnished the heavens" (Job 26:13). "The Spirit of God hath made me,
and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life" (Job 33:4).
3. The Spirit is the Principle of life. -- "He giveth breath unto the people upon it,
and spirit to them that walk therein" (Isa. 42:5). "The Lord God ...
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life" (Gen. 2:7). "He giveth
to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:25).
4. God is universally present through His
Spirit. -- "Whither shall I go
from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? ... If I make my
bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. If I ... dwell in the uttermost parts of
the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me" (Psa. 139:7-10). "Can any
hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not
I fill heaven and earth?" (Jer. 23:24).
5. God, through His Spirit, is the source
of all things that are, and through the universal Spirit all things are
sustained in being. -- "Of him
are all things" (literally, "out of him") (1 Cor. 8:6). "In
him we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28).
6. The Spirit is also equivalent to the
mind of God. -- "My spirit
shall not always strive with man" (Gen. 6:3). "They rebelled, and
grieved his holy spirit" (Isa. 63:10, R.V.). "Grieve not the Hoiy
Spirit of God" (Eph. 4:30).
7. When God communicates His mind to men,
it is spoken of as communicating His Spirit. -- "I will pour out my spirit unto you. I will make known my words
unto you" (Prov. 1:23). ". . . Rebellious children ... that take
counsel but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my
spirit" (Isa. 30:1).
8. The Spirit may rest on chosen men, so
that with a power not their own they speak things beyond human knowledge. -- "The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon
David from that day forward" (1 Sam. 16:13). "The Spirit of the Lord
spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said . . ."
(2 Sam. 23:23). "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy
Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21).
9. When God led Israel out of Egypt, He
manifested Himself through an angel filled with His Spirit; and this is
described as "putting His Holy Spirit in the midst of them". -- "Where is he that brought them up out of the
sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy spirit in the
midst of them? that caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of
Moses?" (Isa. 63:11-12, R.V.).
IO. Jesus was filled with the same spirit
power. -- "The spirit of the
Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me . . . " (Isa. 61:1;
Luke 4:18). "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with
power" (Acts 10:38).
11. Receiving authority so to do as a
gift from his Father, Christ bestowed the power of the Spirit on his apostles
after his ascension. -- Peter said
at Pentecost: "Therefore being at the right hand of God exalted, and
having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured
forth this, which ye see and hear" (Acts 2:33; compare R.V. margin).
12. By this Christ fulfilled the promise
of a "Comforter" to lead the disciples into all truth and empower
them in their mission. -- "The
Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he
shall teach you all things . . ." (John 14:26, 16; 15:26; 16:13).
13. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God
specially directed to the work of redemption: and all references which name the
three together show the Father as source and origin, the Son as the means, and
the Holy Spirit as the operative power, in this work of redemption. -- Read carefully Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:30- 35; 1
Cor. 12:3-6; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2.
"God", it is said, "is
spirit" (John 4:24). The Spirit is the being and power of God, both
universally and in particular manifestation. Father and Son are completely at
one in mind and purpose, and -- since Christ was glorified -- in nature;
together they exercise the power which is termed Spirit. There is a profound
unity between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; but, as will be seen from these
passages, it is not the mysterious "Trinity in unity" of three
co-equal and co- etemal persons.
["Holy Spirit" should be read
throughout the New Testament for "Holy Ghost".]