1. THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE.

It is of the highest importance from the standpoint of worship that we decide whether the Holy Spirit is a divine person worthy to receive our adoration, our faith, and our love, or simply an influence emanating from God, or a power that God imparts to us. If the Holy Spirit is a divine person and we do not act on it, we are robbing a divine being of the love and adoration which are his due.

It is of the highest practical importance that we decide whether the Holy Spirit is a power that we in our weakness and ignorance are somehow to get hold of and use or whether the Holy Spirit is a personal being infinitely wise, infinitely holy, infinitely tender, who is to get hold of us and use us.

The one conception is heathenish, the other Christian. The one conception leads to self-humiliation, self-emptying, and self-renunciation; the other conception leads to self-exaltation.

It is of the highest experiential importance that we know the Holy Spirit as a person. Many can testify to the blessing that came into their lives when they came to know the Holy Spirit not merely as a gracious influence (emanating, it is true, from God), but as an ever-present loving friend and helper.

II. THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE USE OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS John 15:26 — -"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me. John 16:7-8 — "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when he is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." John 16:13-14" Howbeit when He, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he will not speak of Himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you."

First Proposition: Various pronouns that clearly imply personality are repeatedly used of the Holy Spirit.

The use of these pronouns is remarkable considering that in the Greek language the word for "spirit" is a neuter noun, and according to Greek usage, the pronouns that refer to spirit should be neuter. Yet in numerous instances a masculine pronoun is used, thus bringing out very strikingly how the Bible idea of the personality of the Holy Spirit dominates grammatical construction. There are instances, of course, where the natural grammatical usage is followed and a neuter pronoun used ( Romans 8:16,26). But in many instances this construction is set aside and the masculine personal pronoun used to refer to the neuter noun.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS ASCRIBED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 — "For God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."

Knowledge is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:11 — "But all these worketh that one and the self:same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

Will is ascribed to the Spirit. Romans 8:27 — "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Mind is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. The word here translated "mind" is a comprehensive word including the ideas of thought, feeling and purpose. (Compare to Romans 8:7 — "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.") Romans 15:30 — "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me."

Love is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. Nehemiah 9:20 — "Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst."

Intelligence and goodness are ascribed to the Holy Spirit. Note that this passage is from the Old Testament, where the truth of the personality of the Holy Spirit is not as fully developed as in the New Testament. Ephesians 4:30 — "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

Grief is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit thinks, feels, purposes, knows, wills, loves, grieves.

Second Proposition: Many characteristics that only a person can possess are ascribed to the Holy Spirit.

PERSONAL ACTS ASCRIBED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

1 Corinthians 2:10 — "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

The Holy Spirit searches the deep things of God. Revelation 2:7 — "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

The Holy Spirit speaks. Galatians 4:6 — "And because ye are sons. God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

The Holy Spirit cries out. Romans 8:26, R.V. — "And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered."

The Holy Spirit intercedes. John 15:26 — "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."

The Holy Spirit testifies. John 14:26 — "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (Compare John 16:12-14 "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." Nehemiah 9:20 — "Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.") The Holy Spirit teaches all the truth. Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

The Holy Spirit leads, or directs believers in what to do. Acts 16:6-7 — "Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered them not."

The Holy Spirit commands. Acts 13:2 — "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Acts 20:28 — "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

The Holy Spirit calls us to work and appoints our role or office. John 15:26 — -"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."

The Holy Spirit goes forth upon missions to which He is sent.

Third Proposition: Many acts that only a person can perform are ascribed to the Holy Spirit.

PERSONAL OFFICE

John 14:16-17 — "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

It is the office of the Holy Spirit to be "another Comforter" (or paraclete) to take the place of the absent Savior. Is it possible that Jesus Christ could use such language in speaking of an impersonal influence or power?

Fourth Proposition: An office is predicated of the Holy Spirit that could only be predicated of a person.

PERSONAL TREATMENT ASCRIBED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Isaiah 63:10 R.V. — "But they rebelled, and grieved his holy spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them."

The Holy Spirit can be rebelled against and grieved, or offended. (Compare to Ephesians 4:30.) Hebrews 10:29 — "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he is sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace."

The Holy Spirit can perceive when people treat it with despite. Acts 5:3 — "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?"

The Holy Spirit can be lied to. Matthew 12:31-32 — "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

The Holy Spirit can be blasphemed against.

Fifth Proposition: A treatment is predicated of the Holy Spirit that could only be predicated of a person.

Concluding Proposition: The Holy Spirit is a person.

Theoretically we may believe this. Do we in our real thought of Him, or in our practical attitude toward Him, treat Him as a person? Do we regard Him as indeed as real a person as Jesus Christ — as loving, wise and strong, as worthy of our confidence and love and surrender, as He? He came to be to the disciples, and to us, what Christ had been to them during the days of His personal companionship with them ( John 14:16-17). Do we know "the communion or fellowship" of the Holy Ghost ( Corinthians 13:14)?

2. THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

I. DIVINE ATTRIBUTES. Hebrews 9:14 — -"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

First Proposition: The Holy Spirit is eternal. <19D907> Psalm 139:7-10 — "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

Second Proposition: The Holy Spirit is omnipresent. Luke 1:35 — "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

Third Proposition: The Holy Spirit is omnipotent. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 — "For God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." John 14:26 — "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 16:12-13 — "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye can not bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come."

Fourth Proposition: The Holy Spirit is omniscient.

Concluding Proposition: Each of the four distinctly divine attributes is ascribed to the Holy Spirit.

II. DIVINE WORKS. Job 33:4 "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life." <19A430> Psalm 104:30 — "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth."

First Proposition: Creation is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. John 6:63 — "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." Romans 8:11 — "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Genesis 2:7 — "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Second Proposition: The impartation of life is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21 R.V. — "For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Samuel 23:2-3 — "The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God."

Third Proposition: The Bible ascribes authorship of divine prophecies to the Holy Spirit.

Concluding Proposition: The Bible ascribes three distinctively divine works to the Holy Spirit.

III. STATEMENTS THAT REFER TO THE LORD OR JEHOVAH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT APPLIED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. Isaiah 6:8-10 — "Also I heard the voice of the LORD, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." (Compare to Acts 28:25-27 — "And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word.

Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts and should be converted, and I should heal them.") This same passage is applied to Jesus Christ. Could it be that in the threefold "holy" of the seraphic cry in Isaiah 6:3, "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory," we have a hint of the triune personality of the Jehovah of Hosts and hence the propriety of the threefold application of the vision? Exodus 16:7 — "And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; and what are we, that ye murmur against us?" (Compare Hebrews 3:7-9 — "Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.") See also Psalm 95:8-11.

Proposition: Statements which in the Old Testament distinctly name the Lord, God, or Jehovah as their subject are applied to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament; thus, the Holy Spirit occupies the position of deity in the New Testament thought.

IV. THE WAY IN WHICH THE NAME OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS COUPLED WITH THAT OF GOD. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 — "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." Matthew 28:19 — "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 2 Corinthians 13-14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."

Proposition: The name of the Holy Spirit is coupled with the name of God in a way that it would be impossible for a reverent and thoughtful mind to couple the name of any finite being with that of the deity.

V. THE DIVINE NAME APPLIED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. Acts 5:3-4 "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."

Proposition: The Holy Spirit is called God.

By the ascription of all the distinctively divine attributes and several distinctively divine operations; by referring statements that in the Old Testament distinctly name Jehovah, the Lord, or God as their subject to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament; by coupling the name of the Holy Spirit with the name of God in a way that it would be impossible to couple that of any finite being with that of the deity; by calling the Holy Spirit "God" — in all these unmistakable ways, God in His word distinctly proclaims the Holy Spirit is a divine person.

3. THE DISTINCTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM THE FATHER AND THE SON Luke 3:21-22 — "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."

First Proposition: A clear distinction is drawn between Jesus Christ who was on the earth, the Father who spoke to him from heaven, and the Holy Spirit who descended in a bodily form as a dove upon Jesus. Matthew 28:19 — "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

Second Proposition: A clear distinction is drawn between "the name of the Father" and "of the Son" and "of the Holy Ghost." John 14:16 — -"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever."

Third Proposition: A clear distinction is drawn between the Son who prays, the Father to whom He prays, and the "another Comforter" who is given in answer to the prayer. John 16:7 — "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

Fourth Proposition: A clear distinction is drawn between Jesus who goes away and the Holy Spirit who comes to take His place. Acts 2:33 — "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."

Fifth Proposition: A clear distinction is drawn between the Son, who is exalted to the right hand of the Father, and the Father Himself, and the Holy Spirit, who the Son receives from the Father and sheds upon the church.

Concluding Proposition: Again and again the Bible draws the clearest possible distinction between the Holy Spirit and the Father and the Son.

They are separate personalities, having mutual relations to one another, acting upon one another, speaking of or to one another, and they apply the pronouns of the second and third persons to one another.

It has been said that the doctrine of the Trinity is not taught in the Bible. It is true that it is not directly taught; but the doctrine of the Trinity is the putting together of truths that are taught. It is clearly taught in the Bible that there is but one God. It is also clearly taught that there are three divine per-sons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

4. THE SUBORDINATION OF THE SPIRIT TO THE FATHER AND THE SON John 14:26 — -"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 15:26 — -"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."

First Proposition: The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father and also by the Son.

Elsewhere we are taught that Jesus Christ was sent by the Father ( John 6:29; 8:29, 42). Romans 8:9 — "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

Second Proposition: The Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of God" and "the Spirit of Christ.' (Compare Acts 16:7 R.V. — "And when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the spirit of Jesus suffered them not.") John 16:13 R.V. — "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come."

Third Proposition: The Holy Spirit speaks not from Himself but speaks the things which He bears.

In a similar way Jesus said of Himself, "my teaching is not mine, but His that sent Me" ( John 7:16, 8:26, 40). John 16:14 — "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you."

Fourth Proposition: It is the work of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ.

In a similar way Christ sought not His own glory but the glory of Him that sent Him ( John 7:18).

Concluding Proposition: The Holy Spirit in His present work is subordinated to the Father and to the Son.

We shall see later that in his earthly life Jesus lived and taught and worked in the power of the Holy Spirit.

5. THE NAMES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 1 Corinthians 2:10, R.V. — "But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." "The Spirit.' The word means "breath" or "wind." Both thoughts are in the word as applied to the Holy Spirit. ( John 20:22 — "And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost." Genesis 2:7 — "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.") Compare <19A430> Psalm 104:30 — "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth," and Job 33:4 "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life." Taken together, these passages show the idea of the Spirit as the breath of Christ and of God.

In John 3:6-8 ("That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit"), we have the idea of the Spirit as the wind. The full significance of this name as applied to the Holy Spirit may be beyond us to fathom, but this much seems clear: 1. The Spirit is the outbreathing of God, His life going forth to quicken.

Possibly we should note the fact that the breath is itself the vital principle, and some have thought that the Spirit is therefore the inmost life of God. 2. The Spirit, like the wind, is: Sovereign. "Bloweth where it listeth" ( John 3:8). (Compare Corinthians 12:11 — "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.") Invisible. "Thou hearest the sound thereof' ( John 3:8).

Inscrutable. "Thou knowest not whence it cometh and whither it goeth" ( John 3:8).

Indispensable. Without air in motion there is not life. ( John 3:5 — "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.") Lifegiving. Ezekiel 37:8-10 — "And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army." (Compare John 3:5.)

Much at least of the difficulty in John 3:5 would disappear if we would remember that "spirit" means "wind" and translate literally "Except a man be born of water and wind, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God" (i.e., except a man be born of the cleansing and quickening power of the Spirit or of the cleansing word — Compare John 15:3, Ephesians 5:26, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23).

Irresistible. (Compare Acts 1:8 — "But ye shall receive power, after that he Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth," and Acts 6:10 — "And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.") A man filled with the Holy Ghost is transformed into a cyclone. 1 Corinthians 3:16 — "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" "The Spirit of God.' This name includes the same essential thought as the former, but emphasizes His divine origin, character and power. Isaiah 11:2 — "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD." (Compare Isaiah 63:14.) "The Spirit of Jehovah." Isaiah 61:1 — "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." "The Spirit of the Lord God," or rather "Lord Jehovah." This is still more emphatic. 2 Corinthians 3:3 — "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart." "The Spirit of the Living God.' Romans 8:9 — "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." "The Spirit of Christ.' This name brings out the relation of the Spirit to Christ as well as to the Father. (Compare to Acts 2:33 — "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.") Galatians 4:6 — "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying, Abba, Father." "The Spirit of His Son.' This name is given to the Holy Spirit in especial connection with His testifying to the sonship of the believer. It is "the Spirit of His Son" who testifies to our sonship. Philippians 1:19 — "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." "The Spirit of Jesus Christ.' The Spirit is not merely the spirit of the eternal word, but the spirit of the word incarnate, Jesus Christ. It is the man Jesus exalted to the right hand of the Father who receives and sends the Spirit. Acts 2:32-33 — "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." Acts 16:7 R.V. — "And when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not." (Compare to verse 6 — -"And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia.") "The Spirit of Jesus." The relation of the Spirit to the man Jesus is still more clear here. Luke 11:13 — -"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" "The Holy Spirit." This name emphasizes the essential moral character of the Spirit. He is holy in Himself. He imparts holiness to others. (Compare to 1 Peter 1:2.) Oh that we, as the seraphim, would bow in His presence and cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy." Yet how thoughtlessly many talk about Him. We pray for Him to come into our churches and our hearts, but what will He find there? Isaiah 4:4 "When the LORD shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning." "The Spirit of Burning." This name emphasizes His searching, refining, dross-consuming, illuminating, and energizing work. Romans 1:4 "And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. "The Spirit of Holiness.' This name may emphasize His holiness even more than "the Holy Spirit." Ephesians 1:13 R.V.I"In whom ye also, having heard the word of' truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." "The Holy Spirit of Promise.' This name refers to His being the great promise of the Father and the Son. (Compare to Acts 1:4-5 — "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." Acts 2:33 — -"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.") John 14:17 — "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." John 15:26 — "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." John 16:13 — "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." "The Spirit of Truth.' His essence is truth (Compare to 1 John 5:7 RV — "And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth.") It is His work to communicate truth. (Compare to John 14:26; 16:13.) All truth is from Him. Romans 8:2 — "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. "The Spirit of Life.' Isaiah 11:2 — "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. "The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding,' "The Spirit of Counsel and Might, ' "The Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of the Lord.' All these suggestive names refer to the gracious work of the Spirit in "the servant of the Lord." Hebrews 1:9 — "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, that anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." "The Oil of Gladness.' A beautiful and suggestive name for Him whose fruit is first "love," then “joy" ( Galatians 5:22). Hebrews 10:29 — "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" "The Spirit of Grace.' This name brings out the fact that it is the Holy Spirit's work to administer and to apply the grace of God. Not only is He gracious, but He is making ours, experientially, the multifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:14 "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." "The Spirit of Glory." This name is intended to teach not only that He is glorious Himself, but that He imparts the glory of God to us. (Compare verse 13 — -"But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy," and Romans 8:16-17 — "The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.") The Holy Spirit is the administrator of glory and grace, or rather of a grace that culminates in glory. (Compare to Ephesians 3:16-19 — "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.") Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" "The Eternal Spirit. ' John 14:26 — -"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 15:26 — -"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." (See also John 16:7.) "The Comforter." The word translated "Comforter" means far more than just that. It means literally "one called to another's side," the idea being one is at hand to take another's part. It is the same word translated "advocate" in 1 John 2:1 ("My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous"). The thought is that the Holy Spirit is one who is called to our side, one who is ever ready "to stand by us," to take our part. It is a wonderfully tender name for this Holy One.

6. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

I. THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT IN THE UNIVERSE. Psalm 33:6 — "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." Job 33:4 "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life."

First Proposition: The creation of man and the material universe is effected through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

In Colossians 1:16 RV ("For in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him and unto him;") all things are said to have been created in the Son. In Hebrews 1:2 ("Hath in those last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds") God is said to have made the worlds (or ages) through Him. In the first passage given above the word as well as the Spirit is mentioned in connection with creation. (Compare to Genesis 1:2-3.)

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all active in the creative work. The Father works through His Word and His Spirit. <19A429> Psalm 104:29-30 — "Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth."

Second Proposition: The maintenance of living creatures is through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:2-3 — -"And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." Genesis 2:7 — "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

Third Proposition: The development of the present order of things from the early chaotic, undeveloped state is effected through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

Seemingly, each new and higher impartation of the Spirit of God brings forth a higher order of being — inert matter, motion, light, vegetable life, animal life, man (the new man),Jesus Christ. This is biblical development, as distinguished from the godless evolution so popular today. This, however, is only hinted at in the Bible.

The Word of God is even more plainly active in each stage of progress in creation. "God said" occurs ten times in Genesis 1.

II. THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT IN HUMANS IN GENERAL. John 15:26-27 — "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." Acts 5:30-32 — "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."

First Proposition: The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth regarding Jesus Christ.

At first sight this testimony seems to be confined to the believer, for John 15:26 says, "Whom I will send unto you" (i.e., of course, believers), but in the next chapter, verses 7-8 ("Nevertheless I tell you the truth.., if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin"), where the Holy Spirit's work in the world is distinctly described, it says, "I will send him unto you." The truth seems clearly to be that the Spirit works in the world through the believers to whom He is sent. If we as believers realized the utter dependence of the world upon us for the Spirit's gracious work, we would be more careful to see that the Spirit found in us an unobstructed channel. How slowly the world comes to know Jesus because of the unfaithfulness of the church. John 14:17 — "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." All truth is from the Spirit — He is "the Spirit of truth" but it is His especial work to bear witness to Him who is the truth — Jesus Christ.

It is only through the testimony of the Spirit that we ever come to a true knowledge of Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 12:3.) If you wish others to get a true view of Jesus Christ — such a view of Him that they may believe and be saved — you must seek for them the testimony of the Holy Spirit.

Neither your own testimony, nor even that of the Word alone, will effect this — though it is your testimony or that of the word which the Holy Spirit uses. But unless your testimony and that of the word is taken up by the Holy Spirit and He Himself testifies, they will not believe.

This explains why it is that one who has been long in darkness concerning Jesus Christ so quickly comes to see the truth when he surrenders his will to God and seeks light from him. (Compare to John 7:17 and Acts 5:32.) It also explains why it is that when you have shown a man the truth about Christ over and over again and he has seen nothing, suddenly it all bursts upon him, and he sees and believes. The Spirit has borne His witness to Christ. It was not merely Peter's words about Christ that convinced the Jews of the truth concerning Christ on the Day of Pentecost. It was the Spirit Himself bearing witness. If you wish men to see the truth about Christ, do not depend upon your own powers of expression and persuasion, but cast yourself upon the Holy Spirit and seek for them His testimony. This is the cure for both ignorance and skepticism concerning Christ. (Compare to John 7:17.)

The testimony of the Holy Spirit to Christ is different from His testimony to our sonship. That we will consider later. John 16:8-11 RV — "And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged."

Second Proposition: The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.

He convicts (that is, convinces with a convincing that is self-condemning) the world of its sin in not believing on Christ. (Compare to Acts 2:36-37 — "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?") He convicts the world of Christ's righteousness attested by His going to the Father, the coming of the Spirit being in itself a proof that Christ has gone to the Father. (Compare to Acts 2:33 — "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.") He convicts the world of judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. He was judged at the cross. (Compare Colossians 2:15 — "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.") John 12:31 — "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." Hebrews 2:14 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil."

It is our responsibility to preach the word and look to the Holy Spirit to produce conviction. ( Acts 2:4,37). Often the reason we fail to produce conviction is we are trying to do it ourselves. Let us not forget on the other hand that it is through us that the Spirit produces conviction ( John 16:7-8).

III. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BELIEVER. Titus 3:5, RV — "Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." John 3:3-5 — "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I saw unto thee, Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born again when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God."

First Proposition: The Holy Spirit makes anew or regenerates the believer. (Compare to Romans 12:2 and to 2 Corinthians 5:17.)

Regeneration is the Holy Spirit's work. Regeneration is the impartation of life, spiritual life, to the one "dead in trespasses and sins" ( Ephesians 2:1). It is the Holy Spirit who imparts this life. ( John 6:63 — "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.") In 2 Corinthians 3:6, we are told that the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. This is sometimes interpreted to mean that the literal interpretation of the Scripture kills, but that the interpretation that gives the spirit of the passage gives life. It means nothing of the kind, as the context shows. This is a favorite perversion of Scripture with those who do not like to take the Bible as meaning just what it says. Still another false interpretation is that the letter means the old covenant and the law. But this is not the thought. The contrast, as is seen in verse 3, is between the mere word written with ink, and the living word written in the heart "with the Spirit of the living God." This much is true in the second interpretation, that the law was "the ministration of death" (v. 7), because it was unaccompanied by the Spirit's power; and the gospel is a ministration of life, because it is a ministration of the Spirit. But the gospel is a ministration of the Spirit and of life only when the gospel is preached "not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" ( 1 Corinthians 2:4); or as Paul puts it in another place ( Thessalonians 1:5) when the gospel comes "not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost." The mere letter of the gospel will merely condemn and kill unless accompanied by the Spirit's power. The ministry of many an orthodox preacher and teacher is a ministry of death. It is true the word of the gospel is the instrument God uses in regeneration (Compare James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Corinthians 4:15), but it is not the bare word, but the word made a living thing in the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit. No amount of preaching, no matter how orthodox it may be, no amount of mere study of the Word, will regenerate unless the Holy Spirit works. It is He and He alone that makes a man a new creature. This He is ever ready to do when the conditions are supplied.

But just as we are utterly dependent upon the work of Christ for us in justification, so we are utterly dependent upon the work of the Holy Spirit in us for regeneration. Regeneration is the impartation of a new nature — God's nature ( 1 Peter 1:4). It is the Holy Spirit who imparts this to us, makes us partakers of the divine nature (see Luke 1:35). It is done through the Word ( 2 Peter 1:4; 1 Corinthians 4:15). To put it in a word: the human heart is the soil, the preacher or teacher is the sower, the word of God is the seed, the Spirit of God quickens the seed, and the Divine nature is the result.

The Spirit of God dwells in the one thus born of the Spirit. ( Corinthians 3:16 — ''Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?") Some say that it is not the individual believer, but the church who is thus indwelt by the Spirit of God. But Corinthians 6:19 ("What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?") shows that Paul conceives of the individual believer as the temple of the indwelling Spirit. In the indwelling of the Spirit we have an advance upon the work of regeneration.

In the indwelling Spirit is an abiding presence ( John 14:17). The Holy Spirit dwells in every one who belongs to Christ ( Romans 8:9 — "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his").

The Corinthian believers were very imperfect believers, but Paul told them that they were temples of the Holy Spirit even when dealing with them concerning gross immorality ( 1 Corinthians 6:15-19). The Holy Spirit dwells in every child of God.

In some, however, He dwells way back in the hidden sanctuary of their spirit and is not allowed to take possession as He desires of the whole man — spirit, soul, and body. Some, therefore, are not distinctly conscious of His indwelling, but He is there. What a solemn but glorious thought. If we are children of God we are not so much to pray that the Spirit may come and dwell in us; for He does that already. We are rather to recognize His presence, His gracious and glorious indwelling, and give Him complete control of the house He already inhabits, and strive to so live as not to grieve this Holy one, this Divine guest. We shall see later that it is right to pray for "the filling" or "baptism" with the Spirit. What a thought it gives of the hallowedness of life and of the sacredness of the body, to think of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. How carefully we ought to walk as not to grieve Him. How considerately we ought to treat these bodies, and how sensitively we ought to shun everything that will defile them.

This indwelling Spirit is a source of everlasting satisfaction and life. John 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (From a comparison with John 7:37-39, it is plain that the water here spoken of is the Holy Spirit.) The one who drinks of this water "shall never thirst" or literally shall not thirst unto eternity. He has a fountain within, now with no need to go outside for satisfaction. He is independent of environment for life and joy. Why then do so many professed Christians run to the world for their satisfaction? Romans 8:2 — "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

Second Proposition: The Holy Spirit sets the believer in Christ free from the law of sin and death.

The law of sin and death is addressed in Romans 7:9-24. Paul had been aroused by the law of God to see what was holy and just and good. He delighted in this law after the inward man ( Romans 7:22) and strove to keep it. But he found that there was not only this "holy and just and good" law without him, but he found there was another law in his members warring against the law of his mind. This law of sin and death was that when he would do good evil was present (7:21). "To will is present to me, but to do that which is good is not" (v. 18 RV). In this wretched position of approving of the law in his mind, but in servitude to the law of sin and death in his actions, Paul found himself until he discovered in Christ Jesus a third law, "the law of the Spirit of life." This law set him free from the law of sin and death so that now he not only could "will" but also "do," and the righteousness of the law was fulfilled in him who walked not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ( Romans 8:3). It is the work of the Holy Spirit when we give up trying to live right in our own strength — i.e., in the energy of the flesh — and surrender to the Holy Spirit to live in Him and walk in his blessed power, to set us free from this awful law of sin and death.

There are many professed Christians today experiencing Romans 7:9-24. Some even go so far as to reason that this is the normal Christian life.

But