The Holy Ghost in Person

 •  12 min. read  •  grade level: 10
Each of the divine Persons in the eternal Godhead has, in connection with Christianity, obtained a blessedly distinctive expression; which never previously had any place in the revelations made to faith. The Father has been Himself revealed; the Son, as Man risen from the dead, has been glorified in heaven; and the Holy Ghost has for nineteen centuries been a Dweller in the house of God upon earth, and in each member of the body of Christ.
Yet it would be difficult to predicate which of these blessed facts—facts which constitute the essential character of Christianity-has been most ignored, not to say denied, by Christendom. How many are they who rank as Christians, but have no solid apprehension of the revelation which has been made of the Father, who have no divine perception of union with Christ in glory, and perhaps, least of all, have clear, conscious possession of the Holy Ghost in Person.
These remarkable verities of Christianity which, impinging at every point upon our souls, are unfolded in all their wondrous bearings in Paul's epistles, constitute the framework—the very bone and sinew—of that special character of truth which sitting at the feet of Gamaliel gave no qualification for apprehending, but for which the " light above the brightness of the sun," and the voice that spake with him, afforded preparation, and which was itself divinely supplied by the, revelations made to him in the third heaven. But the Christianity which prevails around us, even where divine life really exists, is the crude, and alas! almost purely selfish, thing which is undisturbed by divine claims, and unimpressed by divine desires. Relief from the load, deliverance from the guilt, escape from the wrath, in a word, forgiveness of sins, and, at the most, some knowledge of justification, exhaust the ordinary conception of it as a present reality; finally, heaven after death!
Could anything more perfectly ignore every divine thought of God's eternal purpose in Christ Jesus before the world began, which not only requires the meeting the exigencies of the sinner, but the satisfying in righteousness every claim His holiness preferred; and, above all, the fulfilling those cherished desires of His blessed heart which can find no adequate answer until His Christ is invested in all His glories, heavenly and earthly? Nothing could, perhaps, more strikingly indicate how imperfectly people enter into God's thoughts, than the comparative readiness with which they accept truth as to themselves, as to Israel, and as to the nations, without ever grasping the scope of divine purpose to which all these things are absolutely subservient, being really but the means to that preordained end. Man's unhappy egotism shuts God out, even where God must be everything, or He is nothing; for if, as to His eternal purpose, or as to his ways with us in time, we lay claim to be anything more than vessels of mercy, "afore prepared unto glory," but meanwhile broken pitchers, for the light to shine out, we entrench upon what is due to the divine Persons, and thus is the Head dishonored in His members, and the Spirit of God grieved. Practically, what more than anything else conduces to this deplorable failure in the appreciation of these things is a defective apprehension of the presence of the Holy Ghost in Person, and what it carries with it to faith.
How many Christians have little, if any, personal knowledge of the Father, or sense of union with Christ, the glorified Man on high. and this because they have not the Holy Ghost. They stand, as it were, between the two things of Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)—" After that ye believed ye were sealed." So far from believing and sealing being synchronous, the word " after " clearly marks how positively it is otherwise in every case, although setting no limit, long or short, as to duration of the interval. In point of fact how many Christians are just there, occupying that interval. They have made it their halting-place and have not gone " on to perfection " (Heb. 6:11Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (Hebrews 6:1)) and since the Holy Ghost is given of God " to them that obey Him " (Acts 5:3232And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (Acts 5:32)), they, whilst in that position, fall short consequently of the knowledge of the Father, and of eternal life, which embraces it. (John 17:33And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3).)
Where shall we find in the great Christian communities those who have practically, to the joy of their souls, a real, precious, personal acquaintance with the Father and the Son? So blessed and so abiding a privilege is absolutely beyond the reach of souls, until the Holy Ghost is known in Person as the indwelling divine Paraclete, by Whom alone that holy, blessed, happy intimacy can be enjoyed. And how often alas, do we, who, (through grace) have been sealed and really know of His personal presence, lose the enjoyment flowing from it through grieving Him!
If we turn to the Lord's words to His own, as given in the Gospel of John, we find how wonderfully He stamps a reprobate character on this scene, by the fact, with its issues, of the Holy Ghost being here in Person. " I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove (‘bring demonstration to' or 'convict') the world of sin and of righteousness, and of judgment." (Chapter 16:7, 8.) It is the fact of His presence in Person which convicts the world of its sin in having made away with the blessed Son of God. and these are the world's present relations to God in blood-guiltiness, thus and thereby infinitely enhancing His sovereign grace in delivering the souls whom He brings out of the world to Himself. Then, further, the Holy Ghost's presence demonstrates God's righteousness in His exaltation of the Son to the throne of the Father, consequent upon His finished work, and in attestation of the divine satisfaction in it and in Him. Again, His presence demonstrates that judgment is pronounced, for that the world and its prince are alike judged, is proved by the fact that He, who was refused of the world, and afterward met the power of Satan at the cross, has through death annulled him that had the power of death, has been received up as a Man into glory, and has Himself sent down the Holy Ghost in Person as the promise of the Father.
But if His personal presence has this threefold aspect towards the world and its prince, so also has it a singularly blessed tripartite character in respect to Christ and His saints. In this same pathetic discourse of our beloved Master the same night in which He was betrayed, He unfolds the deep and precious significance of the Comforter, for whose advent it was even gain to them for Himself to go away, and connecting chapter 14:26 with chapter 16:13, we find how blessedly the past, the present, and the future are comprised in the wonderful scope of His current ministry to our souls.
(1.) " He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (Chapter 14:26.) What the master Himself had done or had said, but which could not then be communicated in power to the heart, and precious, and beautiful, and full divine import as it was, was often unheeded or forgotten, because its significance was often wanting to their souls, should all come back in mighty volume and enhanced blessedness, every word melodious, and every act fragrant with the virtue and the value of His atoning work and glorified Person, now disclosed to faith, and ministered by the Holy Ghost, that other Comforter. For an instance of this character, compare chapter 7:39 with chapter 12:16.
(2.) " Whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak." (Chapter 16:13.) If we might reverently say so, He is the mighty, living, divine Telephone, by means of which celestial harmonies are conveyed to the soul, the mind of heaven conducted into our hearts, and all the present thoughts of Christ, not only as to the assembly, but also in respect to His interests of grace in the world, are brought home and unfolded in divine power and heavenly freshness to the members of His body here.
(3.) In same verse—" He will show you the things to come." (Compare 1 Cor. 2:9, 109But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9‑10).). All of the Church's portion, whether her path of sorrow and, alas! of defection here, or of glory beyond; all of the new creation, wherein is no sorrow or no defection, but " all things are of God," to the glory of its exalted Head; all of the coming kingdom of the Father above, and of the Son of Man below, when Israel shall be gathered, and the nations universally blessed, after the indignation and wrath have been poured out, as they must be; all of the new heaven and the new earth for eternity, so far as revelation of it has been vouchsafed; all this, and much more—yea, every precious thing of God and of Christ—does the Holy Ghost in Person occupy Himself in ministering to those who, by His indwelling presence, are personally sealed for God, as of the sons He is bringing to glory, and are corporately constituted the body of Christ.
But further; certain things are set forth in a very definite way. The word is " the sword of the Spirit." (Eph. 6:1717And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17).) How clearly does this imply, not only that the Holy Ghost is here in Person, but that He alone enables us to use the word rightly! Prayer, supplication and intercession are very distinctly in connection with Him. (See Rom. 8:26, 2726Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26‑27); Eph. 6:1818Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18); Jude 2020But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, (Jude 20).) So that I may not trust myself either as to how to pray, or what to pray for; but He, divine Person though He be, " helpeth our infirmities." Do I " mortify the deeds of the body?" It is " through the Spirit." (Rom. 8:1313For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13).) Do I want guidance, as a Son of God away from home in this world? I am " led by the Spirit of God." (Ver. 14.) Do I covet to be more like Christ in glory? This practical transformation is by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor. 3:1818But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18).) Do I need a positive check in service, or the sounding of a warning note as to where I should labor? The Holy Ghost knows how to bring it to pass. (Acts 16:6; 20:236Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, (Acts 16:6)
23Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. (Acts 20:23).) And in fine, all the personal path of the saint, if according to God, whether as to growth, devotedness, service, communion, worship, or whatever the spiritual exercise may be, as well as the whole administration of gifts in the assembly, and their exercise in subjection to Christ, must be in the energy and power of the Holy Ghost, or it is mere fleshly activity, and the working of the human will, (1 Cor. 12:3-133Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3‑13).) And while speaking of the assembly, it may be added, that when the glorified Head of His body draws out the affections of His members, and inspires towards Himself the ardent longings of His bride for His coming, the Holy Ghost, in unison with the saints, takes the lead in this desire of heart also: " The Spirit and the bride say, Come." (Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17).)
Once again: " All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore said I that He [the Spirit of truth] shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you." (John 16:1515All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:15).) Is there anything so dear to the Father as the
Person, the character, the ways, the work, the interests, the glories of Christ? In all this our fellowship is with the Father, which is only possible to us by possession of the Holy Ghost in Person. Has God children on earth through faith in Christ Jesus? He gives them the Holy Ghost to witness of this to their spirit, and that they may address Him, " Abba, Father " by that " Spirit of adoption," who is " the Spirit of His Son." (Rom. 8:15,1615For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:15‑16); Gal. 4:66And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6).) Do they, then, seek access to their Father? It is " by one Spirit." (Eph. 2:1818For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:18).) Are they strengthened of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with might in the inner man?
May we not fittingly ask ourselves' (implicitly accepting, as we do, the doctrine of the Holy Ghost's presence) whether we anything like adequately apprehend all that is involved in it, either as to the world, or as to the saints of God? He whose presence here in Person is the pledge of the world's impending doom, is " the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession." (Eph. 1:1414Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14).) Meanwhile, in this, interregnum, Christ, the glorified Head, has " One body" and " One Spirit " here below (Eph. 4:44There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4)), to whom His interests are confided. How little have we understood all that is implied in " the communion of the Holy Ghost." (2 Cor. 13:1414The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. <<The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.>> (2 Corinthians 13:14).) How little, for instance, is it practically recognized by saints, that not only every spiritual victory obtained, but every single thing done that is truly and purely spiritual, everything essentially pleasing to the Father, or glorifying to Christ, is due to our possessing the Holy Ghost in Person! Every bit of divine love that descends into our hearts (Rom. 5:55And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5)), as well as every bit of true, divine apprehension of heavenly things and heavenly joys, is the result of our possession of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. Ought we not, then, to be free to confess how much we need the touching appeal which He, the Holy Ghost, has addressed to us, and which is found in the midst of that divine unfolding of the very highest truth-the Epistle to the Ephesians? " Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
The Comforter, now present,
Assures us of Thy love;
He is the blessed earnest
Of glory there above
The river of Thy pleasure
Is what sustains us now,
Till Thy new name 's imprinted
On ev'ry sinless brow.