Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit
Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit by Elder Lee Price This message deals with the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. That the Holy Spirit works sovereignly in all things is a very broad subject, so this article is limited to His work in giving spiritual life to the people of God.
I think Jesus gave us the best passage of scripture on this subject inJohn 3:8. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (KJV). This passage says a lot about the new birth, but I will limit comments to sovereignty. The blowing of the wind where it "listeth" means that it blows where it pleases or intends, and it is not left to the mind of man. Then Jesus said, "so is every one that is born of the Spirit." He said in those few words that the Holy Spirit works sovereignly and without any influence of man. To sum Jesus’ words, He seemed to say that man cannot control the Holy Spirit any more than he can control the wind. It seems rather obvious that being born of the Spirit is the sovereign work of God, excluding any means.
There are common terms in the Bible that show us God’s sovereignty in giving spiritual life to His people. One of them is new birth. A number of years ago I had the privilege of attending a meeting of the Powell Valley Association with Elder Charles Taylor. The first speaker, Elder Spurgeon Thompson, looked over at me and asked if I did anything to be born into the Price family and of course I told him no. I write this, because the new birth is a birth. Since it is a birth, it means the person being born is passive. This indicates that the Holy Spirit is sovereign in this great work. For another common language term, consier the Word of God inEphesians 2:5. "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" (KJV). This verse says that those addressed by Paul in the Ephesian epistle were once dead in sins, but they no longer were, because they were "quickened," which means they were made alive. Who has the power to give life? I think very few people would say anyone but God has that power. Therefore, this also shows that giving of spiritual life is the sovereign work of God.
One more common word I will mention is found inEphesians 2:10. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (KJV). The word is "created." "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."Genesis 1:1(KJV). What existed to help God create the heaven and earth? Nothing! Who existed to give help? No one! This process of giving life is also creation, and man can no more create spiritual life any more than he can create anything else. Men can make things from something, but only God can make something from nothing. That is what the natural creation was, and what the spirtual creation is.
I will make one more comment, and this is not for controversy. Jesus came into the world to show the Father. Not wishing to glorify Himself, He said, "so is every one that is born of the Spirit." Jesus said, after He went away, the Spirit would come, and would not testify of Himself, but would testify of Jesus. "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"John 15:26(KJV). Since the Spirit did and does not testify of Himself, He inspired the Apostle Peter to write, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."1 Peter 1:23(KJV). I believe the Word of God, by whom we are born again, is Jesus Christ, The Living Word of God. We could argue whether we are born of the Spirit or by Jesus Christ, the mediator, but the important fact is that God does it. Whether the Son or the Spirit, God does it. Concerning which Word of God is under consideration, it is the Word, "which liveth and abideth for ever." I believe that is the Living Word, Jesus Christ.
I believe what I have written is the truth, and that God is indeed sovereign in all things, including the new birth. Since this is the sovereign work of God, He alone should be praised for it. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18(KJV).