There Is No Spot in Thee
The Holy Spirit is intensely concerned for our highest life and wants us to be free from sin, weakness, and decay to become the spotless Bride of Christ.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the Holy Spirit's deep concern for the purity and perfection of the believer's heart, illustrating that the Spirit's love is both sensitive and jealous. He explains that the Holy Spirit aims to cleanse us from sin (the spot) and weakness (the wrinkle), desiring that we embody the highest possibilities of God's will. The sermon highlights the importance of being free from blemishes and decay, as Jesus desires a spotless Bride. Simpson calls for believers to seek the Holy Spirit's work in their lives to achieve this divine standard of holiness.
Text
The blessed Holy Spirit who possesses the consecrated heart is intensely concerned for our highest life and watches us with a sensitive and even a jealous love. Very beautiful is the true translation of that ordinary passage in James 4:5, The Spirit that dwelleth in us loveth us to jealousy. The heart of the Holy Spirit is deeply concerned in preserving us from every stain and blemish and in bringing us into the very highest possibilities of the will of God. The heavenly Bridegroom would have His Church not only free from every spot, but also from every wrinkle, or any such thing.
The spot is the mark of sin, but the wrinkle is the sign of weakness, age and decay; Jesus wants no such defacing touch upon the holy features of His beloved.
So the Holy Spirit, who is the Executor of His will and the Divine Messenger whom He sends to call, separate and bring home His Bride, is jealously concerned in fulfilling in us all the Master's will. Lord, take from me every blemish and mark of weakness and decay and make me Thy spotless Bride.
Sermon Outline
- The Concern of the Holy Spirit
- The Holy Spirit's love is jealous and concerned for our highest life
- The Spirit's concern is to preserve us from sin and bring us to God's will
Key Quotes
“The Spirit that dwelleth in us loveth us to jealousy.” — A.B. Simpson
“The heart of the Holy Spirit is deeply concerned in preserving us from every stain and blemish and in bringing us into the very highest possibilities of the will of God.” — A.B. Simpson
“Lord, take from me every blemish and mark of weakness and decay and make me Thy spotless Bride.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We should pray for the Lord to take from us every blemish and mark of weakness and decay.
- We should strive to fulfill the Master's will by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us.
- We should recognize the Holy Spirit's love and concern for our spiritual well-being.