The Holy Spirit in Christian Growth by C. J. Horton
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CHRISTIAN GROWTH
By C. J. HORTON
OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION:
Many difficulties surround belief in the Holy Spirit. Such difficulties come more from conjecture than from scripture. The Bible is our source of information on the subject of the Holy Spirit.
I. THE HOLY SPIRIT AND MAN.
A. Work of the Spirit to make us spiritual.
B. Testimony of the Spirit that we belong to Christ.
II. LEADERSHIP OF THE SPIRIT.
A. Active in revealing the mind of God.
B. Effective in establishing man in righteousness.
III. LIFE IN THE SPIRIT.
A. Without Condemnation.
B. Free From The Law of Sin and Death.
C. Lived According to The Spirit.
D. Spiritual Peace.
E. Spiritual Righteousness.
F. Hope Through the Spirit.
G. The Spirit of Sonship.
H. Prayer in The Spirit.
I. Spiritual Victory.
For many people the Holy Spirit is nothing more than a personalized nebulous abstraction. Faith in God and belief in Jesus Christ seems real enough but they lack any solid foundation for faith in the reality of the Holy Spirit, or the influence he exerts in the lives of people today. Yet it is impossible to structure a sound and meaningful faith without taking into consideration God's expression of Himself, as seen through both Christ and the Holy Spirit.
As we speak of the work of the Holy Spirit in Christian growth we must remember that we can talk of the spiritual at all only because of the existence, effort, and effects of the Holy Spirit. Such expressions as "spiritual guidance," "spirit-ual living," "spiritual growth" and the thoughts they convey are possible only because of the reality of the Holy Spirit.
One of the purposes of the Bible is to answer our legitimate inquiries regarding things vital to our lives and destinies. And if it is proper to reflect upon the subject of Christian growth, it is also in order to try to ascertain the work of the Holy Spirit in effecting that growth.
The apostle Peter wrote of Christian growth as an ever-increasing participation in the divine nature. "His (the Lord's) divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature."( 2 Peter 1:3-4.) Our lives, to please the Lord must be lived lived in an ever-enlightening faith. Paul wrote of those "who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit," and added, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live ac-cording to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."( Romans 8:5-6.) There is no possibility of living according to the Spirit, apart from the Spirit. No one can bear the fruit of the Spirit, who does not possess the Spirit, and who is not, in return, possessed by the Spirit of God.
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE INDIVIDUAL
The Holy Spirit's influence in the life of an individual is what we see and recognize as proof of that person's belonging to God. "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."(Romans 8:14) The Spirit's effect in the life of an individual identifies that person as a Christian. The Christian is a "spiritual" person. In the sense that the Spirit never rules our lives completely we are never "completely" Christian, but only to the extent that the Holy Spirit does direct our lives, are we Chris-tians at all. The sole purpose of the Holy Spirit is to make us spiritual, and this can be accomplished only by our coming into possession of the Spirit himself. The intent of the Spirit is to reveal the mind of God. In II Peter we read, "men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."(2 Peter 1:21.)
The work of the Spirit is to conform us to the likeness of God. The Holy Spirit is God's reach for us. And the climaxing victory of every person's life is that time when his spirit reaches for God as God's Spirit reaches for him. It should be our purpose (whether before or after baptism) to become more Christ-like. The Spirit assists us in our efforts in this direction. The Spirit's work is to guide us into his knowledge and to enable us to live by his guidance.
"Anyone who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to him."(Romans 8:9.) One can no more belong to God's family without God's Spirit than he can belong to the human family without a human spirit. My spirit is what separates me from the rest of creation, and identifies me as a member of the human race. And God's Spirit in my life is what distinguishes me as a child of God, separated from the world about me, and sanctified to the Lord's service. The Spirit's function, above all else is to enable me to live a holy life, a marvelous accomplishment for such a pitifully sinful person. The Holy Spirit does not take the place of Christ, but rather strives to give Christ a place in my life, enabling me to find in my Lord a person to worship, an interpretation of life, and a hope for the future.
VALIDATION OF THE SPIRIT The Holy Spirit is God's signature on my salvation. Paul wrote the Corinthians, "For all the promises of God find their years in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God. But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."(2 Corinthians 1:20-22) To the faithful saints at Ephesus he wrote, "In him (Christ) you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.( Ephesians 1:13-14.) And he advised the Ephesian saints not to "grieve the Holy Spirit of God."(Ephesians 4:30.) Possession of the Holy Spirit is my warranty that I belong to God. I know that I have the Spirit of God only when I evidenced the fruit of the Spirit in my life, when I live peacefully, joyfully and with the serenity which only God's Spirit can give me.
LEADING OF THE SPIRIT
Apart from the gospel of Christ, and my faith in that word there can be no leading of the Spirit, for "faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preach-ing of Christ."(Romans 10:17) Elsewhere Paul speaks of the Spirit being received by hearing with faith. "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? Did you experience so many things in vain? If it really is in vain. Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?"(Galatians 3:1-5). So it is in response to a believing reception to the word that the Spirit is given.
There is then a twofold purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Spirit reveals the mind of God, making His thoughts and purposes known. In conjunction with this, and as the end result, the Spirit makes us holy. And to make us holy, he must reveal the mind of God. The effect of encountering the word of the Lord is clearly shown in the nineteenth Psalm. "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern his errors? Clear thou me from hidden faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blame-less, and innocent of great transgression."(Psalms 19:7-13)
THE SPIRIT'S INTEREST IN AND EFFECT UPON MAN The Holy Spirit is vitally interested in the affairs of man. The degree of this interest is almost beyond human comprehension. Even the scriptures are merely suggestive when describing the depth of the Spirit's interest in us. There is perhaps no greater concern that man knows how to show for another human being than the love that will extend a helping hand at times when it is needed. Paul speaks in this manner about the Spirit's interest in us: "The Spirit helps us in our weakness."(Romans 8:26). When we are weak, the Spirit helps us. As long as we are weak, the Spirit assists us. And for all of us, this means we have the continual assistance of the Spirit! And though I may encounter difficulties in understanding precisely the manner in which the Spirit aids and strengthens me in my attempt to become more godlike, I continue to witness his influence upon my life.
The content of my belief in the Spirit's contribution to my spiritual growth is two-fold. (1) God's explicit promise in His word. "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? "(Luke 11:13). The fruit of the Spirit in my life. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."(2 Corinthians 13:14)
THE DWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
"But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit if the Spirit of God really dwells in you. Any one who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you." (Romans 8:9-11). It is noticeable in various places in the New Testament that Paul individualizes the dwelling place of the Spirit. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?"(1 Corinthians 6:19). "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."(Romans 8:14). The Spirit dwells in people individually and it is difficult to attempt to confine the Spirit to the church as some sort of corporate body, and separate the Spirit from the people as individuals. If not cautious we may find ourselves detaching the influence of the Spirit from every day Christian living. The Spirit dwells individually within us, and we in whom the Spirit dwells, who are directed by the Holy Spirit, comprise the spiritual body of Christ, "are sons of God."
To say however, that the Holy Spirit dwells in Christians individually, is not to deny God's action, exercised through His spirit, in the church, since the church is a composite body of Christian people. Churches, as well as individuals are known by their fruit. And both individuals and churches may be either taught and strengthened by the Spirit, or ex-posed for what they are, what they do, and what they pre-tend to be. The criterion by which we determine the sons of God is the leading of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit was never intended to be a prodder, but a leader. Those who are the children of God have become so by the direction of the Spirit of God. They follow the Spirit. He is their leader, actually, particularly, daily, in all of their experiences.
THE HOLY SPIRIT AS AN ACTIVE AGENT IN OUR LIFE
Romans is a great chapter on the Holy Spirit. But this chapter is not a definite treatise on the Spirit. More is said in this passage about what the Spirit does than who the Spirit is. When we summarize the content of this reference ye have a definition of the Christian life a product of the work of the Spirit. Consider the kind of life the Spirit con-structs if given the opportunity.
(1)A LIFE WITHOUT CONDEMNATION:"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."(Romans 8:1) How terrible to have to live daily under the burden of impending condemnation! What a comfort to know that in Christ, we are no longer under this condemnation!
(2)A LIFE FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death."(Romans 8:2). From the earliest days of man's existence he has lived under the shadow of his two greatest enemies, sin and death. How welcome the freedom of the Spirit!
(3) A LIFE LIVED ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT: "In order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."(Romans 8:4). Knowing that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps how blessed is the privilege of having the Spirit's leadership!
(4) A LIFE IN WHICH THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT ARE SOUGHT: "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spiritual” living through spiritual thinking an indestructible combination! (Romans 8:5)
(5) A LIFE OF PEACE: "To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."(Romans 8:6). What greater joy can man experience than the blessedness of being a peacemaker and its attendant privilege of being called a son of God!
(6) A LIFE THAT BELONGS TO CHRIST:"But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God really dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to him."(Romans 8:9). Life's deepest meaning is found in love. The heart's deepest love is found in Christ.
(7) A LIFE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: "But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness."(Romans 8:10). Life, death and destiny will be affected by the right or wrong we do today!
(8) A LIFE OF HOPE: "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you."(Romans 8:11). Rob a man of his hope and you have taken his last and most precious possession.
(9) A LIFE OF SONSHIP: "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship."(Romans 8:15). How thrilling that God has shown the extent of his love by calling us his children!
(10) A LIFE OF JOINT HEIRSHIP WITH CHRIST:"When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.'(Romans 8:15-17). What an exhaltation to receive a measure of the inheritance provided for God's own son!
(11) A LIFE OF PRAYER: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words."(Romans 8:26). Someone has said, "Prayer is so simple. It is like quickly opening a door and slipping into the very presence of God. There is the stillness to listen to his voice; perhaps to petition, or only to listen it matters not: just to be there, in his presence, is prayer."(Author Unknown)
(12) A LIFE OF ASSURANCE: "We know that in every-thing God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28). In the final analysis faith is the only assurance life offers.
(13) A LIFE OF CONQUEST: "In all these things are more than conquerors through him who loved us."(Romans 8:37). No one in the world but a Christian has the assurance of victory in the last great conflict between life and death. In truth, ours is the victory that overcomes the world.
It would be impossible to speak of life in a more definite, distinct or desirable way than the way in which the scriptures here speak of it. Yet every blessing here enumerated is contingent upon, man's willingness and desire for the Spirit to exercise himself in his own life.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Any discussion of the role of the Holy Spirit in Christian growth calls for consideration of the fruit of the spirit, about which Paul speaks in the book of Galatians. "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like . . . I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."(Galatians 5:16-24). We do not possess the fruit of the Spirit simply because we desire it, but rather because we live, yearn and labor for it. The fruit of the Spirit comes not by argument, but action; not by reason but by reception. Paul in this passage speaks boldly of the good things that need assistance as well as the evil things which need resistance. There is spiritual power in participation, and each described fruit of the Spirit implies our participation.
It is but natural to assume that such a power as the Spirit will evoke opposition, and this opposition Paul described as he saw it in his own life. "For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I of myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."(Romans 7:18-25). From this passage we learn that it is not enough to simply condemn the works of the flesh with the mind, while mentally condoning the fruit of the Spirit. Rather, while condemning the works of the flesh, we must actively cultivate the fruit of the Spirit "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."(Galatians 5:22-23).
A critical examination of the contrast between the works of the flesh, and the fruit of the Spirit shows us how the fruit of the Spirit is designed to defeat every work of the flesh. The vices to which Paul refers in his description of the works of the flesh are more than minor character deficiencies. Theyare sins. The virtues which he enumerates are more thandream world fantasies. They are realities, in the life of the person who is fully dedicated to Christ. What, but genuine love for God in a person's heart can do away with the spirit of idolatry (self-love and its various expressions, all or any of which bar one from the presence of the Lord)? In what area of life can joy and enmity co-exist? Do peace and strife walk hand in hand? Is there a virtue termed "patient anger"? Can immorality, impurity, and licentiousness dwell in the light of goodness? Where kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control are in power, do you ever find jealously, selfishness, dissension, envy, drunkenness, and carousing reigning? The works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit are, by their very nature antipodal.
In our efforts to overcome the works of the flesh we must be cautious lest through too rigid an emphasis on the negative side we thwart the cultivation and growth of the spiritual fruit. It is true that we, as Christians have certain duties to fulfill to self, to others, to God. But Christian responsibility was never meant to becloud Christian joy. The Lord intends that our lives be joyful, in a deep, meaningful way. Have some of us become so absorbed in our battle with the world and the flesh as to lose our sense of joy in Christian living? Assuredly, spiritual living is possible only through faithful adherance to God's commandments. But is it conceivable that we may become faithful in a perfunctory manner? It is possible for us to respond to our obligations not out of faithfulness to the Lord but out of faithfulness to "faithfulness." It may even be possible to "obey the commandments" without genuinely desiring to obey to be obedient, not because we want to, but because we are afraid not to. And in fighting against the flesh and the devil we must not limit ourselves to a negative definition of Christianity. For Christianity is a great deal more than simple negative morality. When we spend less time fighting each other and more time fighting Satan and the powers of wickedness, perhaps the world will begin, for the first time, to make some sense from the things about which we contend. Meanwhile, let us concentrate upon our service to God a worshipful devotion that originates in an appreciative heart that is grateful that God cares, and loves, and saves: for, that any man is able to live the Christian life is a gift of the Spirit's energy striving within him. And among the Spirit's greatest gifts to man are these:
(1) POWER TO REPLACE WEAKNESS, (2) FREEDOM TO BREAK LOOSE FROM BONDAGE TO SIN, (3) RIGHTEOUSNESS TO OVERCOME WICKED-NESS, (4) LIFE TO ABOLISH DEATH.
The attainment of power, freedom, righteousness and life is to be directly attributed to God's love for us. "And hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).
LIFE ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT The Spirit then is that guiding, supporting, controlling power in the Christian's life. In this sense the Christian lives under the "law of the Spirit." His new life in Christ is life "in the Spirit" as his human life is a life "in the flesh." Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our sufficiency is from God, who has qualified us to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life."(2 Corinthians 3:4-6). We may say we live "in the flesh" but not "according to the flesh." We are in this life still subject to the temptations and weaknesses of all human beings, yet our inner man is directed by the Spirit which we have received. And there is a constant struggle in our bodies between the Spirit, and his efforts to rule completely, and the flesh and the limitations it imposes upon the Spirit's reign.
Spiritual growth is a product of human remoulding. But we cannot be moulded by that which we can neither see nor hear. Over and over again the Bible speaks of the use of man's senses in his development and growth, or lack of it. In the sixth chapter of Isaiah, the prophet spoke of his marvelous vision of the Lord in the year that King Uzziah died. Note he said, "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up."(Isaiah 6:1). "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, "Here' am. I; Send me.' And he said, `Go, and say to this people: "Hear and hear, but do not understand; see and see, but do not perceive." Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."(Isaiah 6:8-10). This passage is quoted over and over again in the New Testament. The book of Acts closes with this comment about Paul teaching the Romans during his imprisonment in Rome. "When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in great numbers. And he expounded the matter to them from morning till evening, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, while others disbelieved. So, as they, disagreed among themselves, they departed, after Paul had made one statement: The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: "Go to this people, and say, You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them." Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen'. And he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and un-hindered."(Acts 28:23-30). Paul reminded the Romans that "as it is writ-ten, 'They shall see who have never been told of him, and they shall understand who have never heard of him'." (Romans 15:21)
The insight of scripture-related visions was usually climaxed by the hearing of a voice. Moses saw the burning bush, and God called to him out of it.(Exodus 3:4). There came a voice to Elijah the prophet.(1 Kings 19:13). Saul of Tarsus heard a voice.(Acts 9:4). The voice of God has been heard in various ways in past days. "In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." (Hebrews 1:1-2). In making known his thoughts, we grant that God spoke in various ways. But the final word of God was through Christ, and we must consider seriously what this means. Basically it suggests that if we are going to get to know God, we'll have to get to know His Son, Jesus Christ. Everything centers around Jesus Christ, and the question of spiritual growth ultimately resolves itself to the question of whether or not we are going to become acquainted with Christ. If we are, then we must do more than talk about him or quote scriptures about him. We must learn to see as he did, and act as he did, because we feel as he did. We must sit at his feet, and listen attentively to what he has to say, and then apply the principles he teaches in our daily lives. It is relatively easy to quote Jesus' words. It is the task of a life time to put them into practice.
QUESTIONS FOR CLASS DISCUSSION 1. Relate the Holy Spirit to spiritual living, spiritual guidance and spiritual growth.
2. Name some ways in which Christians may participate in the "divine nature" of which Peter speaks.
3. What are some of the works of the Holy Spirit in the life of an obedient believer?
4. Discuss the testimony of the Holy Spirit and its significance in respect to the sons of God:
5. How may one know he possesses the Spirit of God?
6. What are some of the characteristics of a life structured by the Spirit?
7. In what type of life can the Holy Spirit best perform his work?
8. Name some ways in which man has been blessed through the agency of the Holy Spirit.
9. Does the Spirit provide guidance for people today? In what way?
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