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TEXT: John 14:16-17
SUBJECT: Doctrine of the Holy Spirit #1: Introduction
I propose this morning to begin a series on the Holy Spirit. I have chosen this subject carefully, and for two main reasons:
1.We don't know much about the Spirit. We are uncomfortably like those Ephesian disciples who knew a good deal about God and Christ, sin and its remission, but had to admit "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit". Well, maybe we do better than them--but not much. To many Christians, the Holy Spirit is little more than a word he has memorized from the creed or a catechism. Yet surely, Jesus meant more than that when He said, "But you know Him". But do we? I wonder.
2.It is good for us to know the Spirit. "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh". Jesus prayed that His people would be made holy. And to make us holy, He gave His Spirit. Thus we cannot be wise or good without "knowing (this) Spirit of Truth".
And so, "Who is the Holy Spirit?" and "What does He do?" are the two questions this study undertakes to answer. Today we address the former, and over the next several weeks, the latter.
The first thing we have to know is this: "Is the Holy Spirit a person or a thing?"Some Christians call the Spirit "Him"; others prefer "it"; and still others, use both interchangeably. What does the Bible say on the subject?
Frankly, it lends support to both sides. In some places, the masculine pronouns "he, his and him" are applied to the Spirit. Our text is one such place: five times it is used in the two verses. Two chapters later, they are used even more often. 16:13-15 almost wears them out: 10 times in three short verses! Surely, Christ wants His people to know that the Spirit is more than a thing or an influence--He's a person! Moreover, Personal characteristics are applied to Him, especially:
1.Thought: "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden upon you..." said the Apostles in Acts 15:28.
2.Speech: "If any man has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" is the heavenly refrain.
3.Action: "But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things..." Inanimate objects don't "act" at all--but are only acted upon".
4.Even what we would call "feelings": "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God" is Paul's counsel.
Thus, the Bible seems to teach that the Spirit is a person.
But in other places, just the opposite seems to be taught. Ezekiel thinks of the Spirit as "wind" and "breath". John, Peter, and Jesus spoke of the Spirit as if it were water. John promised that Christ would "baptize with the Holy Spirit". Peter assured everyone at Pentecost that God was "pouring out His Spirit". And Christ spoke of the Spirit as "rivers of living water". Paul thought of Him as a fire: "Quench not the Spirit" he wrote in one place.
And so, which is right? Is the Holy Spirit a Person or a thing; a "who" or a "what"?
The Holy Spirit must be a Person because He can adequately make up for the loss of another person, Jesus Christ. JOHN 16:5-7.
Here is the argument in brief: Christ will shortly leave His disciples. This prospect breaks their heart. But Jesus comforts them by promising that His absence will be made up for by the presence of another, the Holy Spirit.
Here is the question: could a "thing" (be it ever so precious) make up for the loss of a loved one? Could a perfect photograph compensate a widow for a lost husband? Of course not! Could a million dollar settlement replace a dead child? No parent would think so. Thus, "things" cannot take the place of "persons". But the Spirit's arrival would make up for the departure of Jesus. Therefore, the Holy Spirit must be a Person. The fact that the Apostles never "missed" Jesus or wished He were back conclusively proves that the Spirit is a Person.
But what kind of "Person" is He? It seems to me that there are only three choices: human, angelic, or Divine. And here, the decision is easy. The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person. We know that because Peter uses the words "Holy Spirit" and "God" interchangeably. To the church's first liar, he asked bitterly:
"Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit,
and to keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
While it remained, was it not your own?
And after it was sold, was it not in your control?
Why have you conceived this thing in your heart?
You have not lied to men but to God".
His blessing, furthermore, is thought to be of equal value with that of the Father and Son:
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all. Amen."
Finally, sin offends Him just as badly as it does Christ.
"Of how much sorer punishment, do you suppose,
shall he be counted worthy, who has trampled
the Son of God underfoot,
counted the blood of the covenant by which he
was sanctified, an unholy thing,
and done spite to the Spirit of Grace?"
From this Scripture, we learn that "insulting the Spirit of Grace" is as bad as "trampling the Son of God under foot". The Spirit, therefore, must be of equal dignity with the Son, and therefore, Divine.
Because the Spirit is a Divine Person, He shares all of the traits and cooperates in all the works of deity.
1.The attributes of God are equally His, as for example:
a.Omnipresence. "Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in hell--behold you are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me".
b.Supreme knowledge and wisdom are His, too. "The Spirit searches all things, yes the deep things of God". The mysteries of God are child's play for the Spirit.
c.Almighty power. The angel made a staggering promise to the betrothed virgin: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you..."
d.No beginning and no end are attributed to Him. Christ, after all, "offered Himself through the eternal Spirit".
2.But He not only shares in the Divine nature, but works alongside the Father and Son in all that they do.
a.In the beginning, while the Father was issuing the creative word, was not "The Spirit of God moving on the face of the waters"?
b.He remains energetic in the world he made. "You send forth your Spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth".
c.He takes a special part in the work of redemption, both by fitting Christ to be our Savior, and by applying the Savior's work to His people.
d.He sits in judgment over men and angels. "When He is come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment".
e.And it is He who makes a new heaven and new earth. "If the Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you". But not only does He raise the dead, but makes all things new. Thus, the raised Christian is called "the firstfruits of the Spirit".
The Holy Spirit, therefore, is not an appendage to God, a little God, or the "Third Person" of the Trinity in the sense of comparative unimportance. He is in the words of the ancient creed: "Very God of very God".
Because of His deity, the Holy Spirit must be known, worshiped and served.
1.Do you know Him? Do you have regular communion with Him--through prayer, Bible-reading, meditation? In other words, do you enjoy His company? You must. For in "His presence is the fulness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forever more".
2.Do you worship Him? This is done by confessing--and feeling--your utter dependence on Him. And by singing His praises.
"Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen".
3.Do you serve Him? His Word is the Bible. "No prophecy of the Scriptures is of any private interpretation, but holy men of old spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit". You serve Him--"walk in the Spirit"--only insofar as you believe what this Book teaches and do what it commands.
"Teach me to do your will for you are my God;
Your Spirit is good;
Lead me into the land of uprightness".
And so, all I can say for the moment is:
"Come Holy Comforter, Thy sacred witness bear;
In this glad hour, Thou who Almighty art,
Now rule in every heart, and ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of power".
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