CHRISTIAN LITERATURE
& LIVING

THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Mike Leeming

1. THE THIRD MEMBER OF THE TRINITY: THE HOLY SPIRIT

"I recognize the Holy Spirit as the third member of the Godhead, incessantly at work convicting, convincing, and comforting." This brief quote from Charles R. Swindoll summarizes what Christians believe about the Holy Spirit. A more technical definition of the Holy Spirit can be found in Hendrikus Berkhof's book Christian Faith.

The word for Spirit, Heb. ru(a)h; Gr. pneuma (the first word is feminine, the second neuter!), referred originally, like the Latin spiritus, to the movement of the air; it can be translated 'wind,' 'storm,' 'breeze,' but more often as 'life,' 'vitality,' 'principle of life,' 'life in its movements and dynamics.' Even in its most 'spiritual' significance, that background does somewhat color the meaning, even the notion of wind or storm (see John 3:8 20:22; Acts 2:2-4). Of God it is said that he has or is Spirit, that with it he animates his creation, and that he gives that Spirit to man so that he becomes a living and dynamic being.

2. THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

All three members of the Holy Trinity are Persons. That is, each member possesses the characteristics of personality. R.A. Torrey claimed that

the doctrine of the personality of the Holy Spirit is of the highest importance from the standpoint of worship. If the Holy Spirit is a person, and a Divine Person, and He is; and if you or I do not know Him as such, if we think of the Holy Spirit merely as an impersonal influence or power, as so many do, then we are robbing a Divine Person of the worship which is His due, of the love which is His due, and of the faith and confidence and surrender and obedience… which are His due.

That the Holy Spirit is a Person can be seen, first of all, from the personal pronouns used in connection to Him in the Scriptures. Jesus, in speaking of the coming of the Holy Spirit, used such personal pronouns, as seen in the Scriptures below.

And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him. But ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17 KJ21)

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment: (John 16:7-8 KJ21)

However when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak from Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me, for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine; therefore I said that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:13-15 KJ21)

Such personal pronouns as "He," "Him," and "Himself" are used here in reference to the Holy Spirit.

The personality of the Holy Spirit can also be seen in the things that He does, things that would be applicable only to a Person:

• The Holy Spirit speaks -- As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2 KJ21).
• The Holy Spirit judges -- For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: (Acts 15:28 KJ21)
• The Holy Spirit wills -- But all of these that one and the selfsame Spirit worketh, apportioning to every man individually as He will. (1 Corinthians 12:11 KJ21)
• The Holy Spirit teaches -- But the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJ21)
• The Holy Spirit guides, hears, and shows -- However when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak from Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come. (John 16:13 KJ21)
• The Holy Spirit testifies concerning Christ -- "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth who proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me. (John 15:26 KJ21)

The personality of the Holy Spirit can also be seen not only in what He does, but also in what can be done to Him:

• The Holy Spirit can be resisted -- "Ye stiffnecked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so do ye! (Acts 7:51 KJ21)
• The Holy Spirit can be quenched -- Quench not the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19 KJ21)
• The Holy Spirit can be blasphemed -- Therefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men. (Matthew 12:31 KJ21)
• The Holy Spirit can be lied to -- But Peter said, "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land? (Acts 5:3 KJ21)
• The Holy Spirit can be grieved -- And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30 KJ21)

The personality of the Holy Spirit can also be seen: "because of His coordinate relations with the Father and the Son." This can be seen both in the baptismal formula in Matthew 28 and in the benediction given at the conclusion of 2nd Corinthians:

• Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19 KJ21)
• The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14 KJ21)

3. THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The deity of the Holy Spirit can be seen in that the Apostle Peter equates lying to the Holy Spirit with lying to God:

But Peter said, "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." (Acts 5:3-4 KJ21)

Also, the Apostle Paul calls body of the believer the temple of the Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians, while in 2nd Corinthians, he says that it is the temple of God, indicating that the two terms are synonymous:

What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you and which ye have from God, and that ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19 KJ21)

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God. As God hath said: "I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (2 Corinthians 6:16 KJ21)

The deity of the Holy Spirit can be seen in the divine works He is said to do:

The Holy Spirit was an active participant in the creation.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-3 KJ21)

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. (Job 33:4 KJ21)

The Holy Spirit regenerates.

The wind bloweth where it will, 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." (John 3:8 KJ21)

The Holy Spirit renews.

He saved us not by works of righteousness which we had done, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration, and by the renewing of the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:5 KJ21)

The Holy Spirit convicts of sin.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment: (John 16:7-8 KJ21)

The Holy Spirit sanctifies.

that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:16 KJ21)

And such were some of you. But ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11 KJ21)

The Holy Spirit empowers.

But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, and of judgment and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. (Micah 3:8 KJ21)

But ye shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8 KJ21)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 KJ21)

through mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem and round about into Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:19 KJ21)

The Holy Spirit seals the believer-- In Christ ye also trusted after ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation. In Him also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13 KJ21)

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30 KJ21)

John F. Walvoord in his book The Holy Spirit says, "All the works of the Holy Spirit bear the marks of His deity."

We can also see the deity of the Holy Spirit in the divine attributes He is said to possess.

The Holy Spirit is said to be eternal.

how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14 KJ21)

Ralph Gore remarks, "Here in this passage the Spirit is described as having the characteristic of eternality, a characteristic that is only, properly speaking, a characteristic of God."

The Holy Spirit is said to be omnipresent.

Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? (Psalms 139:7 KJ21)

The Holy Spirit is said to be omniscient.

But the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJ21)

But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10 KJ21)

The Holy Spirit is said to be omnipotent.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God who worketh all in all. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 KJ21)

In the passage above, it is the Holy Spirit who powerfully gives the gifts of God to the Church. Having looked at the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit, we will move on to consider other topics of study concerning the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

4. THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

There is a distinction in the ministry of the Holy Spirit under the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, especially after Pentecost. In the Old Testament, we often read of the Holy Spirit coming upon a prophet of God to empower him to either give a message from God, or to do some special work. Examples of this are numerous.

Here are some examples of the Sprit coming upon a person to empower him to give a message from God.

Ezekiel:

And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, "Speak! Thus saith the LORD: Thus have ye said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them. (Ezekiel 11:5 KJ21)

Zechariah:

And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said unto them, "Thus saith God: 'Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? Because ye have forsaken the LORD, He hath also forsaken you.'" (2 Chronicles 24:20 KJ21)

Saul:

And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them and shalt be turned into another man… And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. (1 Samuel 10:6, 10 KJ21)

Balaam:

And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him. And he took up his parable and said: "Balaam the son of Beor hath said… (Numbers 24:2-33 KJ21)

Here are some examples of the Sprit coming upon a person to empower him to do a special work:

Gideon:

But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and the Abiezrites were gathered after him. (Judges 6:34 KJ21)

Jephthah:

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpah of Gilead; and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon. (Judges 11:29 KJ21)

Samson:

And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand; but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. (Judges 14:6 KJ21)

And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him; and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them and took their apparel, and gave changes of garments unto those who expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house. (Judges 14:19 KJ21)

And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him; and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burned with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. (Judges 15:14 KJ21)

Saul:

And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. And he took a yoke of oxen and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the regions of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, "Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen." And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. (1 Samuel 11:6-7 KJ21)

5. THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

George Smeaton, author of the classic work The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, has these insightful comments about the difference between the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament as compared to that which we see in the New Testament.

All these memorable instances in the history of Israel which we have surveyed, disclose to us that Holy Spirit in the work of imparting the superhuman gift of prophecy to a few, and the comforting power of the Spirit to the many. The Old Testament Church was in many respects different from the New Testament Church, the former being more occupied with externals, the latter being privileged to have a worship which may be described as more in spirit and in truth. But the divine personality of the Spirit, as we have clearly seen, was not less known and not less recognized in the one economy than in the other. He who spoke by holy men from the beginning was in every age recognized as a DIVINE PERSON…

It will be found, on examination, that the Holy Spirit is referred to more or less copiously by every New Testament writer…There is not a single New Testament book drawn up as a public document for the Church which does not contain a marked, though often brief, allusion to the Holy Spirit, and very frequently, if not always, in connection with the main design or scope which the writer had in view.

One of the key passages in understanding the distinction of the Holy Spirit's working in the Old Testament as opposed to the New is found in the Upper Room Discourse (John 14 to 16) where Jesus talks somewhat extensively about the coming of the Comforter.

One of the things that Jesus tells the disciples here is this:

And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him. But ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you (John 14:16-18 KJ21).

Wayne Grudem comments on these verses,

We should not conclude from this verse [14:17] that there was no work of the Holy Spirit within people before Pentecost. Although the Old Testament does not frequently speak of people who had the Holy Spirit in them or who were filled with the Holy Spirit, there are a few examples… This means that when Jesus says to his disciples that the Holy Spirit 'dwells with you and will be in you' (John 14:17), he cannot mean that there was an absolute within/without difference between the old and new covenant work of the Holy Spirit…[But that] the more powerful, fuller work of the Holy Spirit that is characteristic of life after Pentecost had not yet begun in the lives of the disciples. The Holy Spirit had not come within them in the way in which God had promised to put the Holy Spirit within his people when the new covenant would come (see Ezek. 36:26, 27; 37:14), nor had the Holy Spirit been poured out in the great abundance and fullness that would characterize the new covenant age (Joel 2:28-29). In this powerful new covenant sense, the Holy Spirit was not yet at work within the disciples.

In another section of the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus continues to talk about the ministry of the Holy Spirit and He says this,

However when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak from Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me, for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:13-14 KJ21)

James Montgomery Boice gives a fine commentary on this.

What is the Holy Spirit's primary work? Some would answer by saying that the Holy Spirit is active most in the sanctification of individual believers or in the interpretation of the Bible or in the giving of specific gifts to those serving within the church or in moving unbelievers to accept Christ. But while these items are each examples of things the Spirit does, they are not the best answer to the question. The best answer is found in John 16:13-14 (and related verses) in which Christ himself says of the Spirit's work, 'When the Spirit of truth comes… He will glorify me…' In John 15:26, the Lord declares, 'He will bear witness to me.' The work of the Holy Spirit is primarily to glorify Christ. Indeed, when they are correctly understood, all the other works that might be mentioned are included within this one overriding purpose.

Boice then goes on to list four specific ways in which the Holy Spirit accomplishes this overriding purpose of glorifying Christ:

1. By teaching about Christ in the Scriptures,
2. By drawing people to Christ in saving faith,
3. By reproducing Christ's character in believers, and
4. By directing Christians into Christian service and by sustaining then in it.

6. SYMBOLS OR TYPES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Bible contains numerous symbols or types of the Holy Spirit, each of which is indicative of the Holy Spirit's work. We will look at some of these.

The Dove:"The use of the dove as a type of the Holy Spirit is indicated in the description of the baptism of Christ… Aside from this reference, this type is not explained in Scripture." It is interesting that, in all four of the Gospels, it is recorded that the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ in the form of a dove.

And Jesus, when He had been baptized, went up straightway out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him. (Matthew 3:16 KJ21)

And straightway coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him. (Mark 1:10 KJ21)

and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from Heaven, which said, "THOU ART MY BELOVED SON; IN THEE I AM WELL PLEASED." (Luke 3:22 KJ21)

And John bore record, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and It abode upon Him. (John 1:32 KJ21)

The gentle character of the dove may be the attribute that is most like the Holy Spirit. The fact that the Holy Spirit can be grieved and resisted shows His gentle nature.

Fire: Fire is associated with the Holy Spirit in at least three Scriptural references.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Matthew 3:11 KJ21)

John answered, saying unto them all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the straps of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Luke 3:16 KJ21)

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4 KJ21)

C. Peter Wagner, in his commentary on the book of Acts, has some insightful comments on Acts 2:-4:

Three tangible signs indicated that the Holy Spirit had come… The first tangible sign was audible, the second was visual. At presumably the same time they heard the sound of the wind, the disciples actually saw 120 separate fires shaped like tongues resting on one another. At that moment, few would have had to be reminded of John the Baptist's prophecy concerning Jesus: 'He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire' (Luke 3:16).

Those familiar with the Old Testament knew well how fire was often used by God to give tangible evidence of His power, His presence and His holiness. The climax of the great power encounter between Elijah and the priests of Baal was fire. 'The fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench' (1 Kings 18:38). Moses experienced God's presence in the burning bush (see Exod. 3:2), and Isaiah's lips were touched with a burning coal of holiness from the alter (see Is. 6:6,7).

Fire would seem to emphasize the power and purity of the Holy Spirit, since fire is believed to have a purging or purifying effect and, in some cases, can also be a powerful force to reckon with.

Water: Two important Scripture references use water as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and His ministry.

Jesus answered and said unto her, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13-14 KJ21)

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth in Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believe in Him should receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37-39 KJ21)

Walvoord goes on to explain the meaning of water as a symbol or type of the Holy Spirit.

The abundance in which water has been created makes it a good type for that which is infinite… The figure includes the eternal life springing fro the Spirit, and the power, abundance, and cleansing of His ministry.

Oil: Oil is often used in the Scriptures for anointing indicating consecration or being set apart for a particular purpose.

Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head and anoint him. (Exodus 29:7 KJ21)

And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron and upon his garments, and upon his sons and upon the garments of his sons with him; and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons and his sons' garments with him. (Exodus 29:21 KJ21)

And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head and anointed him, to sanctify him. (Leviticus 8:12 KJ21)

And Moses took of the anointing oil and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron and upon his garments, and upon his sons and upon his sons' garments with him, and sanctified Aaron and his garments, and his sons and his sons' garments with him. (Leviticus 8:30 KJ21)

Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it upon his head, and kissed him and said, "Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over His inheritance? (1 Samuel 10:1 KJ21)

Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (James 5:14 KJ21)

Again, Walvoord's comments are helpful here.

In its typical meaning, as illustrated in both the Old and New Testaments, oil is used to represent the concepts of holiness, sanctification, revelation, illumination, dedication, healing, and sustaining. As a type is the shadow of the reality, it serves to reveal the abundant ministry of the Holy Spirit to the believer.

Wind. It is insightful that the words for "spirit" in both Hebrew (ruah) and Greek (pneuma) can also be translated "breath" or "wind," as pointed out by Berkhof on page 1 of this paper. There are two clear associations of wind with the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, and one additional reference that could also be indicated.

The wind bloweth where it will, 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. (John 3:8 KJ21)

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4 KJ21)

For the prophecy came not in olden times by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21 KJ21)

In the last reference, although the word "wind" does not appear in the verse, the word used for "moved" is one that is often used to portray a ship being moved by the power of the wind.

" 'As thy were moved by the Holy Ghost [Spirit]' is a delightful figure of speech. The Greek actually portrays the idea of a sailing vessel. The wind gets into those great sails, bellies them out, and moves the ship along. That is the way the Holy Spirit moved these men… These men who were set apart for the writing of the Scriptures were moved along by the Hoy Spirit."

The figure of the wind illustrates the invisibility, tremendous power, and sovereign purpose of God.

The Seal: At least three times in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is said to be the seal of the believer's salvation or redemption.

who hath also put His seal upon us, and given us the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:22 KJ21)

In Christ ye also trusted after ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation. In Him also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13 KJ21)

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30 KJ21)

The Lutheran commentator, R.C.H. Lenski, provides some very good insight into the meaning of the "seal."

Here [in Ephesians 1:13] and in II Cor. 1:22 the idea is that of ownership: by means of the seal, i. E., by the bestowal of the Spirit, God marked us as his own, II Cor. 1:22 has the middle voice. Sealing, confirming, and "pledge" (down payment)… have been listed as legal and juridical terms, as technical or semitechnical court terms… The Spirit is a living seal, thus a mark that is proper for the divine life kindled in us.

The fact that a seal indicates possession or ownership, as well as authority, can be seen in the book of Esther:

Write ye also for the Jews, as it pleaseth you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's ring may no man reverse (Esther 8:8 KJ21).

So the figure of a seal shows that those who have the Holy Spirit are God's own possession; they belong to Him.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the follower of Christ is more than the sum of these symbols or types that we have been considering. Today, in these early years of the 21st Century, the Church in North America desperately needs the renewing work that can only come from the blessed Holy Spirit. I pray that we would see such renewing soon.

Commenting on the promise Jesus gave to the Samaritan woman in John 4:14, where He said, "whoever takes the water I give him will never be in need of drink again; for the water I give him will become in him a fountain of eternal life," J.A. Huffman says,

Here Jesus is evidently forecasting the fruitfulness of him whose life is Spirit-filled, and bids us lift our eyes to see the parched, famishing fields of withering humanity who need the life-giving touch of the ministries of those who can bring to them that spiritual something called the water of life. Dry, parched and fruitless as the desert areas which spring into verdure and life by the application of water, so almost everywhere countless human deserts await the magic, revivifying touch of that which flows from the Spirit-filled life.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Swindoll, Charles R. Growing Deep in the Christian Life. Portland: Multnomah, 1986.

Torrey, R.A. The Holy Spirit: Who He Is and What He Does. New York: Revell, 1927.

Wagner, C. Peter. Spreading the Fire: A New Look at Acts. 3 vols. Ventura: Regal, 1994.

Walvoord, John F. The Holy Spirit: A Comprehensive Study of the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991.

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