Divine Titles And Their Significance / Part Thirteen | Grace & Truth, Inc

Series – December 2015 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Divine Titles
AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE / Part Thirteen

The Holy Spirit Of God
The Holy Spirit is God as the Father is God and the Son is God. This is in the unity of the Godhead: of one substance and one in knowledge, counsel, will and purpose. In speaking of them together we are compelled to put their names in a certain order. Scripture gives the order in baptism, that those baptized are baptized “in the name,” not names, “of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 28:19 NKJV ). But we must be careful not to make any distinction in the persons of the Godhead in the way of one being more prominent than another. [The editors of Believer’s Bookshelf USA note “the non-biblical expression, ‘the first person, second person and third person of the Godhead’ is likely to produce the wrong thought, making in one’s mind the Holy Spirit, for example, of lesser importance or greatness than the Father.”]

An illustration may help. Think of a beautiful chandelier with three branches, the branches equally distant from each other, all its bulbs fed by wires from the central stem and diffusing the light equally, blending so perfectly that no one can say which light belongs to this branch or that branch. If you were asked which was the most important branch you would reply they are all one in the purpose of giving light, all fed by the same central stem. No one can say when all are alike that there is any differing importance in these three branches. But suppose for the sake of a very careful inventory of the furniture of the home it was necessary to distinguish between these branches. The distinction would be arbitrary and should be so treated. Apply this illustration to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Some teach that the Holy Spirit is not a person, but that it is an influence radiating from God. Consider 1 Corinthians 12:11: “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” Here is language that only can be attributed to a person who is divine for Scripture clearly attributes sovereignty, which is one of the attributes of God, to the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 13:2 the Holy Spirit is again seen acting only as God can act, in full sovereignty. There we read: “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” An influence cannot speak and give authoritative instruction as this, with the vast implications in connection with the impact of Christianity on Judaism and the pagan world.

We also read of the Holy Spirit as the “eternal Spirit” (Heb. 9:14). Only God Himself can have the word “eternal” describing His being. Note that while the Scriptures clearly teach the eternity of the Father and the Son, it is reserved to the Holy Spirit to have the description given in these actual words, “eternal Spirit.”

The three Persons of the Godhead are given together, which could not have been if the Spirit were impersonal. Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 28:19). In similar fashion we have the doxology at the close of 2 Corinthians: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen” (2 Cor. 13:14).

Peter testifies to the same truth: “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:2). Here again we have the activities of three divine persons tied together in one activity of sovereign grace.

The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost (Acts 2) as sent of the Father (Jn. 14:16-17), as sent of the Son (Jn. 15:26) and as come of His own will (Jn. 16:7). Since then the Holy Spirit has been pleased to indwell all believers on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 1:13) as the Seal, the Anointing (1 Jn. 2:27) and the Guarantee. He is forming the one body of Christ on earth (1 Cor. 12:13), Christ Himself being the glorious Head in heaven while believers are members of that body on earth for the continuance of the life of Christ on earth in the persons of His members.

The Holy Spirit is the Inspirer of our worship and prayers until we are with Christ in glory. One day all Christian activity on earth will cease.

Then, “From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost, ALLELUIA.”

Blessed happy prospect! Amen.

By A. J. Pollack

This Series was adapted from the book “Divine Titles And Their Significance,”
written by A. J. Pollock and published by Believers Bookshelf USA. Used by permission.Look for a new Series next month.