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Chapter 210 [Home] [Accept Jesus] [More] [Previous] [Next] 210.000.000 Torrey: p225 THE PERSONHOOD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.210.010.000 Torrey: p225, T:I 210.010.010 Torrey: p225, T:I, P:1- 1 It is of the highest importance from the standpoint of worship that we decide whether the Holy Spirit is a divine being worthy to receive our adoration, our faith and our love, or simply an influence emanating from God, a power that God imparts to us. If the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person and we do not realize it, we are robbing a Divine Being of the love and adoration which are his due. Let us consider a secular analogy. Americans honor George Washington the person for his characteristics and actions, e.g., his patriotism, and military and political leadership. They do not honor the characteristics and actions themselves. Medals and awards are given for bravery, not to bravery. If the Spirit is simply an influence from God, worshiping it is idolatry, just as it would be idolatry to worship God's compassion or His immortality or His anger, since they are merely things. 210.010.020 Torrey: p225, T:I, P:1- 2 It is of the highest practical importance that we decide whether the Holy Spirit is a power that we in our weakness and ignorance are somehow to get hold of and use, or whether the Holy Spirit is a personal being infinitely wise, infinitely holy, infinitely tender, who is to get hold of and use us. The one conception is heathenish, the other Christian. The one conception leads to self-humiliation, self-emptying and self-renunciation; the other conception leads to self-exaltation. 210.010.030 Torrey: p225, T:I, P:1- 3 It is of the highest importance in our spiritual growth that we know the Holy Spirit as a person. Many can testify to the blessing that came into their lives when they came to know the Holy Spirit not merely as a gracious influence (emanating, it is true, from God), but as an ever-present loving friend and helper. 210.020.000 Torrey: p225, T:II We may believe the Holy Spirit is a person in theory. Do we treat Him as a person in our real thought of Him, or in our practical attitude toward Him? Do we regard Him as indeed as real a person as Jesus Christ -- as loving, wise and strong, as worthy of our confidence and love and surrender, as Jesus is? What Christ had been to the disciples during the days of His personal companionship with them, the Spirit later came to be. Do we know "the communion" or "fellowship" of the Holy Ghost? 210.020.002 Torrey: no 1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 New English Bible Surely you know that you are God's temple, where the Spirit of God dwells. === DISCUSSION === Since Jehovah is a spirit, it would make no sense to talk about the spirit of God if the "Spirit" is Jehovah. It would be like talking about "the wind of wind" or "the heat of heat." 210.020.004 Torrey: no 210.020.010 Torrey: p226, T:II, P:1 John 15:26 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. John 16:7-8, 13- 14 [7] But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. [8] When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: [13] But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. [14] He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. The use of these pronouns is the more remarkable from the fact that in the Greek language the word Spirit is a neuter noun, and according to Greek usage, the pronouns that refer to it should be neuter, and yet in numerous instances a masculine pronoun is used, thus bringing out very strikingly how the Bible idea of the personhood of the Holy Spirit dominates grammatical construction. There are instances, of course, where the natural grammatical usage is followed and a neuter pronoun is used, e.g., Romans 16:16, 26. But in many instances this construction is set aside and the masculine personal pronoun is used to refer to the neuter noun. 210.020.020 Torrey: p227, T:II, P:2 210.020.020a Torrey: p226, T:II, P:2(1) 1 Corinthians 2:10- 11 [10] but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. [11] For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 210.020.020b Torrey: p226, T:II, P:2(2) 1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. 210.020.020c Torrey: p226, T:II, P:2(3) Romans 8:27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. Compare Romans 8:7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 210.020.020d Torrey: p227, T:II, P:2(4) Romans 15:30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 210.020.020e Torrey: p227, T:II, P:2(5) Nehemiah 9:20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. Intelligence and goodness are ascribed to the Holy Spirit. Note that this passage is from the Old Testament, where the truth of the personality of the Holy Spirit is not as fully developed as in the New Testament. 210.020.020f Torrey: p227, T:II, P:2(5) See the previous Point for substantiation. 210.020.020g Torrey: p227, T:II, P:2(6) Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 210.020.030 Torrey: p228, T:II, P:3 210.020.030a Torrey: p227, T:II, P:3(1) 1 Corinthians 2:10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 210.020.030b Torrey: p227, T:II, P:3(2) Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Hebrews 3:7- 9 [7] So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, [9] where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did." Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Note: This does not necessarily mean "speak" in the literal sense, i.e., to cause air to vibrate or to form words. In many instances when people say "the Spirit spoke to me" they mean that they had an overwhelming feeling that they knew was from God. 210.020.030c Torrey: p227, T:II, P:3(3) Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 210.020.030d Torrey: no John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 210.020.030e Torrey: p227, T:II, P:3(4) Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 210.020.030f Torrey: no Sometimes a feeling such as love, joy, sadness, sorrow, frustration, or anger is so strong that it cannot be fully expressed in words. Romans 8:26 ... the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 210.020.030g Torrey: p227, T:II, P:3(5) John 15:26 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 210.020.030h Torrey: p227, T:II, P:3(6) John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 16:13- 14 [13] But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. [14] He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. Nehemiah 9:20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. 210.020.030i Torrey: p228, T:II, P:3(7) Romans 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 210.020.030j Torrey: p228, T:II, P:3(8) Acts 16:6- 7 [6] Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. [7] When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 210.020.030k Torrey: no Acts 16:6- 7 [6] Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. [7] When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 210.020.030l Torrey: p228, T:II, P:3(9) Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 210.020.030m Torrey: p228, T:II, P:3(10) John 15:26 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 210.020.030n Torrey: no John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 210.020.030o Torrey: no Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. 210.020.030p Torrey: no Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. 210.020.030q Torrey: no Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. Hebrews 3:7- 9 [7] So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, [9] where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did." 210.020.030r Torrey: no Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. The Spirit did not change sides like the wind -- out of pure coincidence; He changed sides because they rebelled against Him. When He saw rebellion He had several choices: (1) ignore the rebellion and continue to support them He made a conscious decision to respond in a particular way. 1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. 210.020.030s Torrey: no 1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. 210.020.030t Torrey: p229, T:II, P: General John 14:16- 17 [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- [17] the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 210.020.030u Torrey: p229, T:II, P: General 2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 210.020.040 Torrey: p229, T:II, P:4 John 14:16- 17 [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- [17] the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. It is the office of the Holy Spirit to be "another Counselor" (or paraclete) to take the place of the absent Savior. Is it possible that Jesus Christ could use such language in speaking of an impersonal influence or power? John 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 210.020.050 Torrey: p229, T:II, P:5 210.020.050a Torrey: p229, T:II, P:5(1) Isaiah 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them. Hebrews 3:7- 9 [7] So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, [9] where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did." 210.020.050b Torrey: p229, T:II, P:5(1) See Isaiah 63:10 in the previous Point. Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 210.020.050c Torrey: p229, T:II, P:5(2) Hebrews 10:29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 210.020.050d Torrey: p229, T:II, P:5(3) Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?" 210.020.050e Torrey: p229, T:II, P:5(4) Matthew 12:31- 32 [31] And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. [32] Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
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