THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART 25 )
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3323
THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART 25 )
From Glory to Glory ( Study 4 )
Yesterday we studied the negative effect of the Law. Today we shall study the flipside - the positive impact of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit was active in the Incarnation of our Savior (Luke 1:35). It was through the Holy Spirit that Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice to God for our sins (Hebrews 9:14). The Spirit is the cause of the new birth (John 3:3–8). It is the Spirit who lives in believers (John 14:17), seals them (Ephesians 1:13), and sanctifies them (Romans 15:16).
Today we shall unravel the primary aspect of the ministry of the Holy Spirit - “the Spirit gives life”.
What it means is that the Holy Spirit rescues us from our hopeless situation. God saves us from death and grants us eternal life when we are born again through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:6), and, later, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are Spirit and they are life” (John 6:63).
Abba Father, the Holy Spirit gives life in that He enables us to reach God’s ultimate goal for us, to be transformed into the glorious image of God’s own Son (2 Corinthians 3:18; also see Romans 8:28–30). Until the day that we see Christ, the Spirit intercedes with God on our behalf, ensuring our continued forgiveness and preserving the promise of God (Romans 8:26–27).
Jesus came to give us an abundant life, or life “to the full” (John 10:10). The Holy Spirit living in believers is how Jesus fulfills that promise. The abundant Christian life is marked by the fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). The Old Testament Law could not produce any of that fruit; only the Holy Spirit can, as He lives in us.
That is why without the Holy Spirit, we are literally running on empty.
In Paul's cogent advice to Timothy, we read the following:
2 Timothy 3:5
New Living Translation
They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
King James Bible
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
