Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/92

Contributor - Ken Ramsay

Title - Who Is The Holy Spirit?

Topic - Holy Spirit

Many Spirits, One Holy Spirit

In this article I want to discuss two questions: Who is the Holy Spirit and what does the Holy Spirit do?

First, then, who is the Holy Spirit? Quite simply, the Holy Spirit is God. He is not any god, mind you, but the Spirit of God the Father and God the Son, "of one and the same essence and majesty and glory" (Belgic Confession, Article II). The Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 20, Question 53, says this: "What do you believe concerning the Holy Spirit? Answer: First, that, with the Father and the Son he is equally eternal God."

This understanding of the Spirit is anything but academic. You see, there are many spirits, but one Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son. And those other spirits are threatening. I recently paid a' visit to a book store - a major Canadian chain. It was located in a brightly lit, airy, modern shopping mail. In the store the section on the occult was half again as large as the section devoted to Christian works (which section, incidentally, was located well in the back). Prominently displayed at the front of the store was a section devoted to witchcraft, black and white magic and the casting of spells. There was a further section on "New Age" philosophy, containing such wicked things as channeling and spirit contact. Such spirits have nothing to do with the Holy Spirit, just as darkness has no fellowship with light (2 Cor. 6:14).

More than Head Knowledge

But, of course, it is not enough simply to know that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son and that all three are one in truth and power, in goodness and mercy" (Belgic Confession, Article 8). More is involved in our faith than mere intellectual assent. John Wesley, in his sermon, "The Almost Christian," made the point well when he noted that ... even the devils believe that Christ was born of a virgin: that he wrought all kinds of miracles, declaring himself very God; that, for our sakes, he suffered a most painful death, to redeem us from death everlasting; that he rose again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father, and at the end of the world will come to judge both the quick and the dead. These articles of our faith the devils believe, and so they believe all that is written in the Old and New Testament. And yet, for all this faith they be but devils.

There is more to faith than affirming that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father and the Son. I must believe that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of t e God who is not against me, but is for me. And he is for me in a special way. He gives himself to me, that the benefits of Christ may become mine. It is for this reason that the Catechism concludes its f answer on the Holy Spirit by saying, "...second, that God's Spirit is also given to me, preparing me through a true faith to share in Christ and all his benefits, that he comforts me and will abide with me forever."

He Gives Himself to the Chosen

That brings us to the second question. What does the Spirit do? What is the work of the Holy Spirit? Quite simply, he gives himself to those whom the Father has chosen. In thinking of how this happens, three things must be said. First, the Spirit awakens man to God. Or, to put it another way, the Spirit of God raises those who are dead in sin. Without this, nothing is possible as "by nature I am prone to hate God and my neighbour" (Heidelberg Catechism. Lord's Day 2, Question 5). The Scots Confession of 1560 puts matters clearly:

By... original sin, the image of God was utterly defaced in man, and he and his children became by nature hostile to God, slaves to Satan and servants to sin, and thus everlasting death has had, and shall have, power and dominion over all who have not been, are not, or shall not be reborn from above. This rebirth is wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost creating in the hearts of God's chosen ones an assured faith in the promise of God revealed in his Word; by this faith we grasp Christ Jesus with the graces and blessings promised in him.

The Spirit of God performs heart surgery. Stony hearts are removed. Real hearts are transplanted. And then they begin to beat.

He Reveals God's Truth

Secondly, once awakened, the Spirit reveals to man the truth of God. He rants the gift of faith in God's Word, the Holy Bible. Look at the Scots Confession again.

Our faith and its assurance do not proceed from flesh and blood, that is to say, from natural powers within us, but are the inspiration of the Holy Ghost... who sanctifies us, and brings us into all truth by his own working, without whom we should remain forever enemies to God and ignorant of his Son, Christ Jesus.

The Holy spirit "testifies in our hearts" that the Scriptures are from God (Scots Confession, Chapter XVIII). The Spirit resurrects us from the dead and then reveals God to us in the Scriptures.

But even this glorious mercy is not enough for our God. The third thing the Spirit of God does is come and live in us. After our regeneration there remains work for the Spirit to do. This work is our sanctification. The Second Helvetic Confession, Chapter X, reads in this way:

"WE ARE ELECTED FOR A DEFINITE PURPOSE. Finally, the saints are chosen in Christ by God for a definite purpose, which the apostle himself explains wh en he says, "He chose us in him for adoption that we should be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption to be his sons through Jesus Christ that they should be to the praise of the glory of his grace" (Eph.1:4ff).

The Ultimate Goal

Ultimately, salvation is not the goal of the Christian. Instead it is to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:29). The Holy Spirit is alive in the believer to do that to make him like Jesus. C.S. Lewis once s ' aid something like this: Imagine that you are a house. God comes into your life. You want him to make repairs. Fix the pipes. Unclog the drains. A coat or two of paint would be nice. And God does these things. But then he goes further and does things that you do not understand. Things that hurt. He knocks down a wall or two. He puts up a new wing. He adds a courtyard garden. You wanted to be a cosy, decent little cottage with one and a half baths. But God is building a palace. You see, he is the King of Kings. Through his Spirit he has come to live in you.

Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is God. What does the Holy Spirit do? He makes us alive when we were dead. He guides us in the truth of Jesus when we were lost in the darkness of ignorance. He lives in us now and forever that the Father's Will for us may be accomplished.

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