4. Holy Spirit and Revelation
HOLY SPIRIT AND REVELATION
I could not feel that I had done justice to myself, nor been courteous to you, without joining in the words of wel-come and expressions of appreciation in the introduction.
Our overall subject is: THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
All we know about the Holy Spirit is what is revealed in the Bible concerning the subject. We know nothing "directly" about the Holy Spirit. We have never seen the Holy Spirit. We are not inspired, and we have wrought no miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. There are de-ceptions around about, everywhere, concerning the work of the Holy Spirit, and even concerning the very nature of the Holy Spirit.
Spirit a Person
Yesterday evening we tried to learn something of the personality of the Holy Spirit. Remember that the Spirit is not a mere 'essence' of some sort, like water, air, or elec-tricity, or something of that kind. Although figurative ex-pressions are used in the Bible (such as, "I will pour out my Spirit" and "the Holy Ghost fell on them," Joel 2:28; Acts 11:15), the Bible does not teach that the Holy Spirit is a liquid, like water. These are figurative expressions.
The Holy Spirit is actually a person, a divine Being, as is God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is "eternal" (Hebrews 9:14), just as God (Romans 1:20) and Christ (1 Timothy 1:17) are eternal. He is one of the Godhead, is of the 'Trinity,' as in Matthew 28:19, and many other such kindred passages.
Spirit in the Old Testament
I would like first to point out something about the Holy Spirit, and his teaching concerning himself, in the Old Testament. We read of the Holy Spirit, beginning with the second verse in the Old Testament: "The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:2.) Hence, the Spirit was "brooding" (as some translations put it) upon the face of the waters back there in the first chapter of Genesis.
The Holy Spirit could move men to speak and to write Scripture. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:20-21.) Peter's statement that "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation," should be ob-vious: it simply means that the prophecy of the scripture did not come by the will of man, as he goes on to say. Some 'Drew Pearson' back there did not take into consid-eration the facts concerning the trend of the times, and then interpret these to mean that in the future certain things were going to happen. The prophecies did not come "by the will of man" in such fashion. It was not some pre-diction based upon even a good knowledge of the facts con-cerning the 'trend' of things at that time. In the next verse Peter affirms: "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:21.) Thus the Holy Spirit moved men to speak and to write the Old Testament scrip-tures, even prophetic scriptures.
"Spirit of Christ"
We also read that "the Spirit of Christ" was in those prophets back there. (1 Peter 1:10.) The "Spirit of Christ" was the Holy Ghost. He was sometimes called "the Spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9-11), and sometimes "the Spirit of God," as well as "the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit spoke through men in Old Testament times. David said, "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue." (2 Samuel 23:2.) Peter said, "Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake . . ." (Acts 1:16.) And so, the Holy Spirit spoke the scriptures of the Old Testament, and the Spirit was in the inspired men who spoke and wrote.
Spirit Interested
God said, "My spirit shall not always strive with man." (Genesis 6:3.) This indicates that the Spirit is interested in man. However, the flood would come in "one hundred and twenty years," which would be early in life for many, and they would not live out their usually-allotted time of eight or nine hundred years. So, the Spirit was striving--but would not always strive--with man. David prayed in the great "Confession" Psalm, "And take not thy Holy Spirit from me." (Psalms 51:11.)
Spirit Strives With Man From Genesis 6:3 we learn that the Holy Spirit "strives" with, and is interested in, man and his welfare. He strives with man to get him to do right. He does not just leave man alone, and leave him to be lost, without making an effort to reach him, and without trying to influence him for good and for God. So, he is striving with men. He strove with people then through the preaching of God's word. Of Noah we read that he was "a preacher of righteousness." (2 Peter 2:5.) Hence, Noah, as one of God's "holy men," "spake as" he was "moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:21.) It was the Holy Spirit, then, who moved such "holy men of God" as Noah, to speak to the people, and warn them, and plead with them to turn and live. Hence, the Holy Spirit was "striving" with man.
Noah Preached By The Spirit This may help us to understand and appreciate the statement that Christ was raised from the dead by the same Spirit by which he had "preached unto the spirits in pris-on; which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." (1 Peter 3:18-22.) Christ did not go in person; he went by the Spirit in the person of Noah, for it was the "Spirit of Christ" who was in those prophets back there. (1 Peter 1:10.) Since "Spirit of Christ" is just another name for the Holy Spirit, Christ by the Holy Spirit (in Noah) preached (2 Peter 2:5) unto the spirits in prison. Christ preached by the Holy Spirit.
He preached to them "while the ark was a preparing." (1 Peter 3:19-20.) That is when they "were disobedient." They are called "spirits in prison," first of all, because they were "shut up" under a destruction that was to come in 120 years: "yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." (Genesis 6:3.) And they were "in prison" in the sense that they were involved in sin, and were in the "prison" of sin. We read (Luke 4:18) that Jesus was to "preach de-liverance to the captives, . . . and to set at liberty them that are bruised." This evidently has a direct reference to the "prison" of sin. So, Christ's preaching by the Spirit through Noah was done to those who were in "prison." And it was done to those only who lived in the days of Noah: "which sometime were disobedient when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing." Hence, the preaching was done through Noah, done by the Holy Spirit, done unto the people before the flood came; and in that manner the Holy Spirit was "striving" with them.
Words Of The Spirit The Spirit put his words in the mouth of Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 59:21); and Ezekiel said, "The spirit entered into me when he spoke unto me." (Ezekiel 2:1-5.) This was also true of the other prophets. We read (Micah 2:7) that the words of the Spirit were for the good of God's people. The Holy Spirit spoke always in behalf of the best interest of the people. (cf. Deuteronomy 6:24.)
But the Spirit did not then work miraculously upon people to make them better. God has always dealt with sinners with regard and respect for their free moral agency. Man is not a mere "machine," to be operated upon by God Almighty himself, nor by the Holy Spirit, for the purpose of making him better. God works through moral means to bring about a moral change which would fit man to dwell in a perfectly moral society in heaven.
Spirit In Prophets The Spirit was in the prophets, and God through that means taught the masses of the people. He did not send the Spirit directly to all the people to teach them. But he sent the Spirit to his inspired men, that through them he could teach the people. In Nehemiah's prayer to God, he said: "Thou gayest also thy good Spirit to instruct them." (Nehemiah 9:20.) The Spirit never did come to "confuse" people, but to teach and instruct. Now, from this verse alone, I will admit that you could not know whether he gave his Spirit directly to each individual, or whether he gave the Spirit to inspired men to (through them) instruct the peo-ple. But just ten verses later Nehemiah says God "testi-fiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets." (Nehemiah 9:30.) So the Spirit was in the prophets, and through them testified against God's people, who at that time were wicked and sinful, in rebellion against God.
With this in mind, we read again of "the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets." (Zechariah 7:12.) Hence the Spirit was God's spokes-man through inspired men to the masses of the people. So the Holy Spirit back in Old Testament times called upon his prophets, one of whom was Ezekiel, and said, "Speak," and then guided them in their speaking. (Ezekiel 11:5.)
We have in Joel 2:28-30 a prophecy fulfilled beginning on Pentecost. Quoting this prophecy, Peter said, "These are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:15-21.)
"This Is That"
Peter said, "This is that." You can be certain you are right when you find where some New Testament writer quoted an Old Testament prophecy and said, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet." "This is that." Peter did not say, "Something that will happen way down yonder in the twentieth century, somewhere, will be that which was spoken by Joel," but he said "This that is happening here on Pentecost, A.D. 33, in the city of Jerusalem, is it." Nearly nineteen hundred years ago Peter said, "This is that" which was spoken by the prophet Joel. And Joel said, "It shall come to pass in the last days . . ." So Pentecost (Acts 2) was in "the last days," according to Peter. "Last days" has no reference to the end of the world, nor necessarily to the twentieth century. But it has reference to the last dispensation of God's mercy to man, the Christian age of the world. So, God said, "In the last days" I will pour out the Spirit; but he poured it out on Pentecost; therefore Pentecost was in the "last days." Concerning the outpouring of the Spirit, God said, "I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you." (Prow. 1:23.)
Nature Of Spirit But now study with me some of the characteristics of the Holy Spirit, and see that the Holy Spirit is a divine person or being, an intelligent being, and not some un-intelligent something, nor a mere essence, like water, or wind, or electricity, or such like. We read that the Spirit could be blasphemed: "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation." (Mark 3:29.) Thus one could blaspheme the Holy Spirit. One could not blaspheme electricity, nor water, nor wind, nor some mere essence, nor a stone, nor a stump; he could not blaspheme anything less than a per-son or that which is connected with a divine person--like the word of God, which is connected with God himself. Hence, the Holy Spirit is a divines being, the same as Christ is. "Whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him." That is, this is a "pardonable" sin; upon proper conditions, man can obtain pardon for it. "But whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost" (that would be "blasphemy" against the Holy Ghost, v. 31) "it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." (Matthew 12:32.) "Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit." (Mark 3:30.)
Again: people can lie to the Holy Spirit: Peter asked, "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?" (Acts 5:3.) Man could not lie to electricity, water, wind, or something of that sort; but man can "lie" to the Holy Spirit; hence the Holy Spirit is a divine Being, as God--to whom also Ananias "lied." (v. 4.)
Spirit Knows The Spirit is intelligent, or knows: "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." (1 Corinthians 2:11.) The Spirit of God, then, knows the things of God, as the spirit of man knows the things of man. And if the spirit of man is intelligent, then the Spirit of God is intelligent. If the one is a person because it can know, then so is the other.
Spirit Grieves And then, the Spirit could be grieved: "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30.) Thus people can grieve the Holy Spirit, just as children by their waywardness and sins can grieve their parents, and as a husband by his sins can grieve his wife, or the wife can grieve her husband. Just so, people can "grieve the Holy Spirit." (This proves the Holy Spirit is not a mere essence, like wind, electricity, etc., for man cannot "grieve" them.) The Holy Spirit is interested in us, and in our welfare. He grieves over our sins more than our parents, because they don't always know all about their children, but the Holy Spirit does know.
Spirit Can Be Vexed But then again: the Holy Spirit can be vexed, or aggravated, or fretted, and that by men's sins, just as God can be angered by sin. Isaiah (63:10) said, "They rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit." "Vex" means to harass, annoy, or trouble grievously. Only a person could be "vexed;" there-fore the Holy Spirit is an intelligent person of the godhead, which consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19.)
Spirit A "Comforter" The Holy Spirit could "comfort," for Jesus said, "He shall give you another Comforter . . . even the Spirit of truth." (John 14:16-17.) Christ was the first Comforter considered there; he had been comforting them in that very chapter. (John 14:1-3.) He was their present Comforter; but he spoke of "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name." (v. 26.) He again called the Spirit "the Comforter" in John 15:26; John 16:7. Of course, he could not be a "Comforter" unless he were an intelligent Being.
Of course, the Holy Spirit "comforts" by his word, which he spoke through the apostles, which would comfort them as they were taught. He would show them how to live as teachers, and through them would show to others the way of life and salvation. Hence we read: "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." (Romans 15:4.) Again Paul said, "Comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:18.) So the words of the Holy Spirit comfort man. When the Holy Spirit dwells in men, he does not comfort them directly, in any miraculous way; but he comforts now just like he always has comforted--like he did the apostles and other people in apostolic days--through his word which he spoke through inspired men. He guided them "into all truth." (John 16:13.) And as the Spirit spake by David, and his word was in David's tongue (2 Samuel 23:2), it was to comfort people then, and encourage them, or to reprove them. As we have seen, God testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets." (Nehemiah 9:30.)
Spirit Masculine In Gender The Holy Spirit is referred to in the masculine gender, and is presented to us as "He." (John 16:13.) I know the King James Version often reads "it" (as in Romans 8:16; Romans 8:26); but the Holy Spirit is never called "it" in the better trans-lations--but is referred to as "He."
In discussing the new birth at Huntsville, Alabama, I pointed out the fact that Jesus said we are "born of water and of the Spirit." (John 3:5.) My opponent ridiculed the idea that men are born "of water," and said that made "water" our mother! So he said I have a "Water Mother." Of course I did not say "water" is our mother, for Paul said, "Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." (Galatians 4:26.) I simply quoted what Jesus said, that "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5.) Jesus was "born" from the dead (Colossians 1:18); does that make the grave his mother? Of course not! Figures of speech cannot be made to creep on "all-fours," as logicians would say.
But I asked my respondent who--according to his doc-trine--is the "mother?" "Who is the 'mother' in the new birth?" He said, "The Holy Spirit." To this I replied, "Then you have a 'HE' mother in the new birth, for Jesus said, "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." (John 16:13.) The Spirit is called "he" six times in this verse, and twice in v. 14; so my friend would have a "he" mother.
Spirit Begets But the Holy Spirit is the "begetting" agency, rather than the "mother." In James 1:18 we read, "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth." But remember, "the word of truth" or gospel is preached "by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven." (1 Peter 1:12.) And so, the Holy Spirit uses the word by which to beget people. Paul said, "I have begotten you through the gospel" (1 Corinthians 4:15), but that gospel is the message of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit begat people through the preaching of the gospel, and by that means.
Guided By Spirit
Then again, the Holy Spirit could "guide," as I have just quoted from John 16:13 : "He shall guide you into all truth." As the driver guides the automobile, so the Holy Spirit guided the inspired man. He did not take away all the man's personality, and destroy that; he did not reduce the inspired man to nothing more than a "microphone," but he guided him nevertheless. I think it was Bro. J. W. Mc-Garvey who illustrated it by a man driving down the street a horse hitched to a buggy. So long as the horse was going exactly like he wanted him to go, the driver did not pull either the right rein nor the left. But if, before the driver wanted to go home, the horse started to turn homeward, his master would pull the rein, guiding the horse and caus-ing him to go exactly where the driver desired. After this fashion the Holy Spirit did the guiding (John 16:13), but left the inspired man free to use his own vocabulary in speaking or writing. When the inspired man might be about to go wrong, or use the wrong word, the Holy Spirit would then guide and direct him. This gave us the ver-bally inspired Bible. (1 Corinthians 2:13.)
Spirit Bears Witness
Again, I call attention to the fact that the Holy Spirit could bear witness. We read of the Holy Spirit, that "he shall testify of me." (John 15:26-27.) That is, he would come, take possession of the apostles, and through them he would preach the gospel, thus testifying of Jesus--that he died for our sins, God raised him up, and he is alive and at the right hand of God to make intercession for us. Hence, the Holy Spirit testified through inspired men. Jesus said, "Ye also shall bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning." (John 15:26-27.) These apostles had been with him during his personal ministry, even from the beginning, and they would bear witness of Jesus.
Again we read: "The Spirit itself (ASV: himself) beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." (Romans 8:16.) Through inspired men, the Holy Spirit has laid down the plan of salvation. The conditions of pardon, revealed and confirmed by the Holy Spirit, are: faith in Christ, repentance of sin, confession of Christ, and baptism. (Acts 2:4; Acts 2:36-38; Acts 8:35-39.) And then our spirits testify as to whether or not we have met these terms. (1 Corinthians 2:11.) If we have complied with them, then there are two witnesses to the fact that we are saved: our human spirits testify that we are in the group who have done what the Holy Spirit testifies must be done. Thus, the Holy Spirit does not bear witness "to"--but "with"--our spirits. Hence, it is a matter of faith, and Paul speaks of drawing nigh "with a true heart, in full assurance of faith." (Hebrews 10:22.)
It is not a matter of physical knowledge that we know we are saved, like a man knows he has a dollar in his hand. It is not that kind of knowledge, but is a matter of "faith" --"full assurance of faith."
Spirit a Teacher The Holy Spirit could teach. Jesus said, "He shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26.) He could "instruct," for "Thou gayest also thy good Spirit to instruct them." (Nehemiah 9:20.) This was done "by thy Spirit in thy prophets." (v. 30.) So, the Holy Spirit can instruct or teach.
Spirit Could Hear The Holy Spirit could speak, and he could hear. "How-beit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall 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." (John 16:13.) So he came and took possession of the apostles, and through them he spoke the word of God which he himself had heard from the Father and the Son. In his prayer to the Father, Jesus said, "I have given them"--the apostles--"the word which thou gayest me" and "I have given them thy word." (John 17:8; John 17:14.)
Spirit Could Speak
Then again we read, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 2:7.) And you will find this admonition in each of the letters to the seven churches of Asia: "Hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." What the Spirit had to say to the churches, he did not say directly to each individual member of the church in some mysterious way; he did not inspire the members, but through John the apostle the Spirit delivered his message, saying it in the letter that was to be read to the churches. When they heard that, they were hearing "what the Spirit saith unto the churches." The Spirit spoke through inspired men, and could thus be heard by the people.
"The Spirit speaketh expressly" (1 Timothy 4:1-3)--so he did not stammer and stutter around when he spoke, like many do. He could speak plainly; he is supposed to be un-derstood, hence it says, "The Spirit speaketh expressly." And we know what he had to say, because it is recorded in scripture: "The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;" and so on. (1 Timothy 4:1-3.)
Paul said, "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth." (1 Corinthians 2:13.)
Spoke By Men
We learn (1 Corinthians 2:13) that the Holy Spirit taught the apostles the words to speak; he did not give them just the idea, and let them use their own judgment in the selection of words--and allow errors to thus creep into revelation. But they were verbally inspired. The Spirit selected the very words. So when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, "They began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4.) The Spirit gave them the utterance to say those things in other languages which the apostles previously knew nothing about. They spoke in the languages of the people, to teach them in their own tongues. The people understood that the apostles were talking about "the wonderful works of God" in raising Jesus from the dead, seating him at his own right hand as Lord and Christ. They understood. It was not "jabbering" such as modern deceivers and deceived people try to palm off on us.
Spirit Could Witness
Paul said, "The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me." (Acts 20:23.) The Holy Ghost witnessed by saying this--not by a still small voice that was no voice at all--was nothing but imagination! The Holy Spirit is an intelligent being, and always acted in an intelligent manner.
Spoke the Scriptures The Holy Spirit spoke the scriptures. We read that "the Holy Ghost saith" (Hebrews 3:7-11) what was recorded in Psalms 95:7-11. Paul said, "Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet unto our fathers, saying . . ."--and then he quotes from Isaiah 6:9-10 and Isaiah 44:18. So the Holy Ghost "said" what was recorded by Isaiah. These scriptures are quoted as the words of the Holy Spirit. This is what the Holy Ghost had to say on the subject.
Jeremiah 31:33-34 is quoted in Hebrews 10:14-18, and in connection therewith the author says, "The Holy Ghost also is a witness to us"--that is, a witness that under the new covenant, sins would not be remembered again, as they were under the old. But the Spirit's "testimony" is con-tained in the scripture: "For after that he had said . . ." and then follows the quotation from Jeremiah; but it is attributed to the "Holy Ghost." Therefore the Spirit spoke the scriptures.
Could Be Resisted The Holy Spirit could testify in words that can be under-stood. God "testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets." (Nehemiah 9:30.) And if they wanted the testimony of the Spirit, they had to listen to the prophets. That is why Stephen says, "Ye stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost." (Acts 7:51.) Like the Old Testament prophets, Stephen spoke by inspiration of the Holy Ghost (Acts 6:3; Acts 6:5); but he said, "As your fathers did, so do ye." (Acts 7:51.) How did their fathers "resist" the Spirit? Well, when God " testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear." (Nehemiah 9:30.) Therefore in rejecting the prophets' word, they were rejecting and resisting the Spirit's word--because the Spirit was speaking through the prophets who testified against them. And Stephen said, "You are doing the same thing your fathers did."
The Spirit could strive with men (as we pointed out in Genesis 6:3), and they resisted the Holy Ghost back there by resisting what the Holy Spirit had to say to them through inspired men. People today resist the Holy Spirit in the same way that it has always been done--when they resist the words of the Holy Spirit revealed through in-spired men. (Nehemiah 9:20; Nehemiah 9:30; 2 Samuel 23:2; Acts 1:16.)
The Holy Spirit did not speak directly to the masses of the people, but spoke to the fathers by the prophets, and to us through the apostles and other inspired writers of the New Testament. And we can understand what he has to say. Paul says, "By revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." (Ephesians 3:3-6.) So, when we read we can understand what the Holy Spirit wrote (through inspired men), and spoke, when he through them spoke the scriptures. (Acts 1:16.) When the word of the Spirit is rejected and resisted, the Holy Spirit is re-jected and resisted.
His Word Perfect
We must not add to the words of the Holy Spirit. His word is perfect, for we read, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." (Psalms 19:7.) So the law of the Lord is able to do a perfect job of converting men. It is able to save: "Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21.) "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free." (Romans 8:2.) The Spirit is able to convert and save--but that does not mean he does the pardoning. By his "law" (Romans 8:2) he--influences us to turn from sin and become--and be Christians, and to live faithfully the Christian life. The Holy Spirit is able to do that job; but he will not miraculously do it. He works through the gospel.
Preached Gospel
Paul says the "gospel" is "the power of God unto salvation, unto every one that believeth." (Romans 1:16.) And Peter says this "gospel" was preached "with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven" (1 Peter 1:12)--not directly by the Spirit, but through the inspired apostles. To them Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15.) People were led by the Holy Spirit, then, when they were led by the words of the Holy Spirit, as spoken and written by these inspired men. And so, we read: "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 8:14.) The Holy Spirit seeks to "lead" all people aright. "God is no respector of persons." (Acts 10:34.) He does not "will" that "any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9.)
Revelation Complete
Therefore, we can be sure that we do not need any additional revelation from the Holy Spirit. He has said all that is necessary. In closing the New Testament scriptures, he warned: "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues"--and one of them is hell fire! "that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Rev. 22:1849.) So we are not allowed to add to, to take from, nor to substitute anything else for, the word of God. It is complete.
His Word In Bible
Hence, James says, "Receive with meekness the engrafted word" (ASV: "the implanted word") "which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21.) The same writer then goes on, "Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:21-25)--and called the word the "perfect" law.
Therefore the Holy Spirit has given us a "perfect" rev-elation. There is not a true religious idea on earth today which is not found in the seed, the word of God. If you want that idea perpetuated, just preach the word--and you will do all that God ever intended for you to do in reaching a world of lost people with the word of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not reveal ideas and thoughts to people directly, nor guide them directly in some mysterious way, leaving them to wonder whether it is the spirit of the devil, or the Spirit of God that is doing the suggesting, and the leading, and such like. The Holy Spirit has no suggestions to make, no instruction to give, other than what he has given in the Bible.
Deception Explained
It is possible for someone with only a meager knowledge of the Bible, to sum up in his mind certain great facts and truths, which he cannot express in Bible words; and he may imagine that the Holy Spirit is telling him, whispering to him, or making him to feel in a certain way, that a certain thing is true. He may imagine that this is a direct operation of the Spirit--when perhaps it was nothing more than a summing up of what he already knows as revealed in the Bible! There are no new ideas in the religious world which are true, which are from heaven. We have nothing that is true except what is revealed in the Bible. Paul said, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17.) The Spirit does not have to detour around the scriptures to aid and assist us in any good work. Every good work has been authorized and has been directed by the Holy Spirit in the scriptures, his word.
Strives With Man
Tonight, the Spirit is striving with you to become a Christian, if you are not such. He is striving with all of us to be consecrated, dedicated Christians. He is striving with us through his word. (Genesis 6:3; 2 Peter 2:5.) He has in that word offered incentives and motives, which are as vast as all eternity, and in which he has wrapped up the mighty, moral, persuasive power of Almighty God to save a lost world.
If God could have put into the gospel any more power than he did put into it, he would have done so. His great interest in us and in our salvation, his great love for us, his great throbbing heart of love, would not have permit-ted him to rest a moment without putting that extra power into the gospel--if he could have put it there and leave man a free moral agent. Hence, God has gone "all-out" in his efforts to save a lost world. He has put into his truth the power to make us free. Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32.) The Spirit guided the apostles "into all truth." (John 16:13.) So, by the time the last apostle died we had "all truth." There-fore Jude says, "Earnestly contend for the faith which was once" (ASV: "for all") "delivered to the saints." (Jude 1:3.)
Revelation Complete
We do not need a new revelation of God's truth. We have that very truth--"all truth"--in the old revelation. This old truth needs no new "revelation;" and it needs no new "confirmation" by miracles today. (That will come up in a subsequent lecture, which we are very eager for you to study with us.)
I appreciate the good attention you have given. Let us now stand, and sing the hymn of invitation, with the hope and prayer that some lost soul will respond to the Lord's invitation.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Question:Please explain the 'Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost'.
Answer:Although I would like to speak forty-five min-utes about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, I will have to be brief. (Nearly a dozen questions have already been turned in for tonight.) The word "blaspheme" means "to speak against." Jesus said, "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 who-soever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be for-given him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." (Matthew 12:31-32.)
When Jesus said, "All manner of sin . . . shall be forgiven him," he meant those sins are pardonable. But he warned the blasphemy of (or speaking against) the Holy Spirit "shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world" (and the word "world" is from the Greek aion, which means "age"); it would not be forgiven him in "this world or age"--the Jewish dispensation, during the personal ministry of Christ--"neither in the world to come,"--during the Chris-tian dispensation. It would not be forgiven in either of these dispensations.
To "blaspheme" the Holy Spirit is to "speak against" the Holy Spirit. In the context they had done that very thing. "By the Spirit of God" Christ had cast out devils. (v. 28.) But they said he cast out devils "by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils." (v. 24.) Mark (3:30) explains that they said, "He bath an unclean spirit," whereas Jesus claimed he had the "Holy Spirit." So to "blaspheme" the Holy Spir-it was to speak against the Spirit, as they did. They denied that the Holy Spirit wrought the miracles that Jesus did, but attributed them to the devil, and gave the credit, glory, and honor unto the devil for that which the Holy Spirit instead did. That will be all the time we have for that question.
Question: If the Holy Spirit is not the same as God, how could Christ be called the Son of God, when the Holy Spirit made Mary conceive? (Luke 1:34-35.)
Answer:An illustration helps clarify this matter: God sent the Holy Spirit through the apostles, to convert us. We are converted by the Holy Spirit; we are "begotten" by the Holy Spirit through his word. (1 Corinthians 4:15; James 1:21); and yet we are "children of God." "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God." (1 John 3:1-4.) Now, if we can be sons of "God" because we are begotten by the Holy Spirit through his word, then why could not Christ be called "the Son of God" when he was directly begotten by the Holy Spirit? The angel Gabriel told Mary, "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." (Luke 1:35.) Hence, I see no real problem, whatsoever, there.
Question:What is it that is being revealed through unrighteous men? (Romans 1:18; et al.) Is it only what we read in the New Testament? Do these men get it from the New Testament?
Answer: Unrighteous men reveal many things, of course; but they reveal only human information. We can learn from unrighteous people many things concerning unrighteous people--because they reveal, make known, things of themselves. But where is the scripture that says unrighteous people are revealing the will of God today? I deny that there is any such passage.
Voice: "Isaiah 64:6."
Gus Nichols: Someone has given me a passage of Scripture which says, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6.) They did not have any righteousness at all! Their 'righteousness' was actually unrighteousness, and was as "filthy rags." Now, true "righteousness" is not as "filthy rags." "All thy commandments are righteousness." (Psalms 119:172.) "Every-one that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." (1 John 3:7.) "He that . . . worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him." (Acts 10:34, ASV.) Such obedience "from the heart" (Romans 6:17-18) is not filthy and un-clean in God's sight. But God's people Israel were wicked at the time Isaiah was prophesying concerning them and said, "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags."
But note: it was Isaiah (who was an inspired prophet) who is saying this to the people. Hence this was not some revelation made to Isaiah by the people themselves.
Question: Is the 'angel of his presence' (mentioned in Isaiah 63:9) the same as 'his Holy Spirit' (in v. 10)?
Answer:.I think the "angel of his presence" was some-thing different. Of course, the "angel of his presence" means a messenger from God's presence. God sometimes spoke by angels. Angels came and talked with Abraham, and with Lot, who entertained them. "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Hebrews 13:2.) The Bible does not say the Holy Spirit is the same as an "angel." We need to get away from that idea.
Question:Did Christ himself speak to Saul in Acts 9:5, or in the sense of through the Holy Spirit, as you discussed in 1 Peter 3:18?
Answer:Christ spoke to the apostles through the Holy Spirit. So far as we know, all his speaking was done through the Holy Spirit. John says, "He whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." (John 3:34.) The context shows he is speaking of Christ. So Christ spoke the words of God, because God had not given unto him (that is, Christ) the Spirit by measure. Hence, when Christ spoke, it was by the Spirit which he had without measure.
Then we read, "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he" that is, Christ--"through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen." (Acts 1:1-2.) So Christ did his teaching, and did his speaking, "through the Holy Ghost." Not only so, but he wrought his miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit: "I by the Spirit of God cast out devils . . ." (Matthew 12:28.)
Question:Did you understand that this question deals with the conversion of Saul? In Acts 9, did Christ himself speak with Saul? or did he speak to him through the Holy Spirit?--at the time of his conversion.
Answer:Of course Christ spoke to him, for he said, "I am Jesus." (Acts 9:5.) But the Holy Spirit was, through Christ, giving the message. (John 3:34.) I do not see any problem there.
Question: How would you define (simply) the role of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity?
Answer:The role of the Holy Spirit is to work with God and Christ, the other members of the Godhead or the Trinity. (Trinity means three: they are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.) The Father planned and purposed our redemption. "God. . . hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 1:8-9.) The church (Ephesians 3:10) and the preaching of the gospel (v. 8) were in "the eternal purpose of God" (v. 11) before the world was. Hence, God "purposed" our redemption, our salvation. The church was not an "afterthought" with God, nor an "emergency" measure that just came up when he did not know what else to provide--and this was the best thing he could plan in an emergency! But the church was in the "purpose" of God from eternity, and our salvation likewise. So God drew up the great "blueprint" of Chris-tianity, we might say; and then he sent the Son.
So we read: "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:17.) Jesus said, "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38.) There it is: God sent the Son to do the Son's work. The Son was to die for our sins, and do all else that was necessary to be our mediator between us and God. (1 Timothy 2:5.) In the shadow of the cross he said, "I have finished the work which thou gayest me to do." (John 17:4.) Jesus went back to heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit, for he promised, "If I depart, I will send him unto you." (John 16:7.)
The Holy Spirit then came to do his work, which was to reveal and to confirm what God had purposed, and what Christ had wrought out in our behalf. The Holy Spirit was to make known (to reveal), and to confirm for all time to come, the glorious gospel of Christ. The Spirit thus guided in the establishment of Christianity in the earth when this gospel was preached by men, as God put it into the hands of "earthen vessels." (2 Corinthians 4:7.) When that gospel is preached, and when people believe and obey it to become Christians and to live according to the words and teaching of the Holy Spirit, they are "led by the Spirit" (Romans 8:14), and are comforted by the Spirit. They are encouraged by the Spirit. They have the Spirit's incentives and motives and inducements--vast as all eternity --to be Christians. And if the Spirit were to do his work over, he could not do any better! He did his best--he did a perfect job.
God is not going to do his part over, and get up another religion. Christ is not going to come back and be born (again) of a virgin, and do his work over. Neither does the Spirit need to do his work over. It is now time for us to work--and we ought to be at it.
Question: Should an answer of 'Yes' or 'No' be given to the question, 'Is the Holy Spirit God'?
Answer:Well, some questions cannot be answered with a 'yes' or 'no.' Brother F. B. Srygley was in a discussion with a Seventh Day Adventist who asked him a question, and demanded a "yes-or-no" answer. Brother Srygley from his seat responded, "Some questions cannot be answered in that fashion." His opponent said, "Well, I will answer any question you ask me with a 'yes' or 'no'." Whereupon. Bro. Srygley asked, "Sir, have you quit whipping your wife?" (If he said,"Yes," that would imply that he had been whip-ping her; but if he said, "No," then he still whips her!) So, some questions cannot be answered with a "yes" or "no."
But this one can: "Yes." The Holy Spirit is "God." "God" is not narrowed down to the Father. In some passages "God" includes the whole GOD-HEAD. The word "God" means "Deity," or "Divinity," as in the definition of the word "God-head ," the state of being God, or divine. So, the Holy Spirit is divine; the Holy Spirit is "God."
Christ is "God." Listen to John: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God," --now listen to the next statement--"and the Word was God." The Spirit is not the "Father" God, but he is "God" or "Deity." He is one of the "Godhead." That is why the "Father" (one of the God-head or Deity) said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." (Genesis 1:26-27.) The plural pronouns no doubt refer to the Holy Spirit, and to Christ--who were back there. Christ said he had glory with the Father "before the world was." (John 17:5.) He was not the "Father," but he was "with" the Father "before the world was." He said, "Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (v. 24.) We also read that "God" (the Father) created all things "by" his "Son." (Hebrews 1:2; Colossians 1:13-18.)
Question: Here is another question: "If the Holy Spirit is a person, why can we not see him?"
Answer:Well, you cannot see any spiritual "beings" or persons. Last night I took the time to show that there is a spirit world, an invisible (to us) world. We cannot see God; we cannot see Jesus Christ now; we cannot see the angels up in heaven; neither can we see the "Holy Spirit." (But there are things down here on earth we cannot see. We cannot see atoms, gravity, electricity, the wind, love, instinct, nor thoughts.) So, there is a spirit world. The "Trinity" are spirit beings--and that is why I took the time and trouble last night to establish that fact.
Question: Why would anybody 'lie' to the Holy Spirit?
Answer:That is what I'd like to know! Ananias did it, and I suppose he did it through ignorance, or in a thought-less manner. But today, why will brethren 'lie' about their contributions? "Uncle Sam" says that if Churches of Christ are receiving all the money their members are reporting as contributions on their income tax deductions, he does not understand how in the world we are going to spend all that money! So, not all of the 'liars' are yet dead!
In Ananias' day some could "discern" spirits. One of the nine gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10) was "discerning of spirits." Peter must have been a discerner of spirits. He, by the Holy Spirit, seemed able to discern a man's spirit and know when he was lying to God and the Holy Spirit. Ananias probably did not know he could do that. Perhaps presumptiously, he thought that the Holy Spirit would not be able to detect the error. Hence he told and acted a lie --and God killed him. (Acts 5.) That is the reason Peter told Simon, "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart"--that he could buy the gift of God with money--"may be forgiven thee." (Acts 8:22.)
There are people today so foolish as to think that they can sway God Almighty with numbers, or by counting noses, or by taking a vote, or with money.
Question:How do you know that the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of God, are the same as the Holy Spirit? Does not the Holy Spirit have his own spirit?
Answer:First of all, we do not read in the Bible where the Holy Spirit has his own 'spirit'. But the Bible speaks of "the Spirit of Christ which was in" the Old Testament prophets. (1 Peter 1:10.) But Nehemiah said God "gayest also thy good Spirit to instruct them"--but this was done "by thy Spirit in thy prophets." (Nehemiah 9:20; Nehemiah 9:30.) However, other scriptures (such as Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25) show that it was the "Holy Ghost" or "Holy Spirit" who spoke through the prophets. Hence we must conclude that the "Spirit of Christ," the "Spirit of God," and the "Holy Spirit" are identical. The "Spirit of God" and the "Spirit of Christ" are used interchangeably in Romans 8:9-11. A "Thus saith the Lord" ought to be the end of all controversy. There is no reason to argue against the Scriptures which say that the Holy Spirit in the prophets was called the "Spirit of Christ."
Question: Does the Holy Spirit speak through men today in a direct way? Does he motivate them to speak by 'influence' on their behavior?
Answer:The Holy Spirit now through the Bible influences us to speak; but there is now no direct 'independent-of-the-word' operation, or revelation, for us. Such ideas "make the word of God of none effect." (Mark 7:13.) Such 'traditions' will make God's word of none effect today because people will 'turn up their noses' at the word, and look forward to, or expect, imaginary direct revelation. This is absolutely a 'decoy' to get people away from the word of God. The whole thing is a work of Satan, who wants to belittle the "word" of God and render it ineffective.
Question: Are angels agents of the Holy Spirit, or do they act independently?
Answer:They are agents of God, the Father. God sends angels--or did send them. He dispatched (Luke 1:26) them for his work. You will often read of the "angel of God" (as in Acts 10:3), but I do not know where the Holy Spirit sent angels. No such scripture comes to my mind.
Question: Is there any Biblical proof that the miracles stopped with the last person on whom the apostles laid hands and gave them power?
Answer:Of course there is! That will come up in about two more nights, and I prefer not to enter into it now. Time tonight forbids a mature study of it. And any other question that arises, if I am planning to discuss it thoroughly later, I will defer it likewise. In the meantime, study 1 Corinthians 13:8-13.
Question: Does the Holy Spirit guide men today other than through the word?
Answer:Tonight I have been saying over and over that he does not! The Holy Spirit's guidance in the written word of God, and by it he does a thorough job of guiding us. "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel." (Psalms 73:24.) He does not guide us with 'imaginations.' But concerning such Paul wrote, "Casting down imaginations . . ." (2 Corinthians 10:4-5.) He did not say, "Exalt your imaginations, and follow them instead of the written word of God."
Question: Will you comment a little on the passage in Romans that says, 'The Spirit maketh intercession for us.' Is this the Holy Spirit as a person?
Answer:Yes, I think that is the Holy Spirit making the intercession; but his intercessions are his prayers for us. They are made to God. He is working with God for us, in our behalf. But he is not working directly upon us. There is a world of difference! He is not operating on us, and inspiring us, when he is praying for us! When I pray for you, I am not operating and working directly upon you in any miraculous way. Abraham interceded for Sodom (Genesis 18:16-33)--but he was not operating on Sodom in any mysterious manner. There are many illogical conclusions being reached by some.
Question: Please give some reasons why you believe such expressions as "the Spirit of Christ," "the Spirit of God," and "the Holy Spirit" all refer to the same one.
Answer:I did not say they refer to the same one: they refer to the same Godhead, the same Trinity. (Romans 8:9-11.) But God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit are not the same person. If that is what you mean, then I did not say that, nor do I believe that. Many times in debate have I defend-ed the fact that there are three persons in the Godhead.
Voice:"The question concerns the "spirit of God," "Spirit of Christ," and the "Holy Spirit" being the same."
Answer:It depends on what verse is under consideration. The context shows whether it refers to the Spirit of Christ himself--his own spirit. For instance, he said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." (Luke 23:46.) Well, that did not refer to the Holy Spirit, but to his own personal spirit. So the context must be considered.
Question: Romans 8:13 says, "If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Does this teach that we have personal, daily, help in living the Christian life? If so, would this not be a great encouragement to him who says, 'I would become a Christian, but I am afraid I could not live it'?
Answer:Oh, yes! the Spirit encourages us very much to live the Christian life; but he does it through his word. When we study that, and follow his word, we are encour-aged by it, strengthened by it, and by it mortify the deeds of the body. But when you imagine that the Spirit in some direct way encourages you, how would he do it? What sort of thought would he present? How much more could he say than has been said? The grand old song, How Firm A Foundation, stresses this:
"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word! What more can He say than to you He has said, You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?"
Question: I have heard so much about the unpardonable sin, which is supposed to be the sin against the Holy Spirit. What is the sin? Do you intend to discuss this more fully later?
Answer:Later; and I have already said enough about it tonight in answering another question. It was to say the Holy Spirit in Christ was an "unclean" or wicked spirit. (Matthew 12:22-33; Mark 3:22-30.)
Question: Was the baptism of the Holy Spirit necessary to perform miracles? Our brethren also believe in water baptism. In view of 'one baptism' (Ephesians 4:5), would this now answer our few brethren who believe in 'speaking in tongues?' Please give your views.
Answer:That will come up tomorrow night. I am deferring this one until that time, hoping you will come back. That will be the main subject tomorrow night.
Question:If the Holy Spirit does not still guide us, and perform for us, what good are some of our prayers for a heart to be moved toward God and Christ?
Answer:Because the Holy Spirit does not have to oper-ate directly upon a heart to move it. There are many things God providentially does--not miraculously--in answering our prayers. There is a difference between providence and miracles. Providence is the word "provide" plus "-once" (with a slight change in pronunciation). God provides without miracles (necessarily) in many cases, and always has done so.
For instance, when Elijah prayed for rain, his servant saw a cloud about as big as a man's hand, coming from over the Mediterranean Sea; and it rained out of that cloud. (1 Kings 18:41-46.) There was no miracle about that: it was providence, and it was in answer to Elijah's prayer. But if it had rained out of a clear sky, or if the cloud had come up from the desert, and brought rain--that would have been miraculous! (When I was travelling over there in 1962 our guide told us that if the cloud had come from the wrong direction, it would have been a miracle!) But the cloud arose over the sea, and it rained out of the cloud! That was providential.
A mother bird, taking care of the young in her nest, can go out in search of food for which her babies have been begging ('praying' if you please!); she can go out and "answer" their plea for food--without working a miracle! Yet some folk cannot believe (it seems) that God can use the laws of nature and bless us! Some think every such blessing would have to be a 'miracle!'
I would just like to say, in closing, that I very much appreciate your questions. I want you to feel free to ask questions. If I cannot answer them, I will just say that I do not know. I have, over the last fifty years, had to say many times, "I do not know," because I do not believe God has revealed all matters, or I have not yet learned the answer. I am not here to be a 'smart-aleck,' if you please. I am very happy to think that these questions may be helpful, even to those who did not ask them. May all find it interesting to think upon them. God bless you.