By One Spirit

From the earliest words of the Old Testament we are reminded of the presence of “The Spirit of God” (Gen. i. 2), and all through the Old Testament times we find the Holy Spirit at work filling men with power (Exod. xxxi. 3; Judges xiv. 6), and enabling the servants of God to do their Divine service (1 Sam. x. 10; 2 Sam. xxiii. 2). When we come to the New Testament the presence of the Spirit of God becomes still clearer as we read of His work, His influence upon such men as John the Baptist (Luke i. 80), and also upon our Lord Himself (Luke i. 35; John iii. 34). Still further revelation is given to us concerning the Spirit by our Lord. He is called the Comforter (John xiv. 25), the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, and His work includes such personal actions as teaching, reproving, speaking, and witnessing (John xiv. 26; xvi. 8, 13). We are thus led to the conviction that the Holy Ghost is God, for no less than God could do that which is attributed to Him, or occupy the position given to Him in the New Testament. He can be grieved by the sins of men (Eph. iv. 30). It is possible to blaspheme against Him (Matt. xii. 31, 32), and to lie unto Him is to lie unto God (Acts v. 4). Hence, in the Nicene Creed we have that remarkable fulness of statement of what the Holy Spirit is, who He is, and what He does.

(a) He it is Who unites us to Christ, and thereby makes us members of “the holy catholic Church” (1 Cor. xii. 13)
(b) He it is Who indwells every believer, and enables us to realize the “communion of saints,” i.e., the union and fellowship of all who belong to God.
(c) He it is Who applies to our souls the efficacy of the atoning Sacrifice whereby we are enabled to receive “the forgiveness of sins.”
(d) He it is Who will be the means of our resurrection hereafter, and for this reason we confess our belief in “the resurrection of the body” (Rom. viii. 11).
(e) He it is Who by His indwelling presence now gives us the pledge, foretaste, and guarantee of “life everlasting,” which will be ours in fulness in the world to come.