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THEOLOGICALLY THINKING Doctrinal pointers by Gerald B. Stanton, Th.D.
the Old Testament
The Ho ly Spirit in » ur understanding of the Holy Spirit stems chiefly from the self revelation of God found in the Bible. Human thinking may organ ize or systematize the facts of that revelation but it is unable to add to it. Likewise we do not learn of the Spirit from human experience, for experience needs the corrective of divine revelation and must be inter preted in the light of it. The Scrip tures are the only final authority. The emphasis of the Old Testament is upon the unity of the Godhead and not upon t r i n i t a r i a n distinctions (Deut. 6:4). While in the main a New Testament revelation, the Spirit of God finds frequent mention with in the pages of the Old Testament and it is there that the foundations of this doctrine are laid. This is not surpris ing, for God the Holy Spirit is just as eternal as the Father and the Son (Heb. 9:14). The Holy Spirit is seen in the Old Testament in the ministry of crea tion. As early as Genesis 1:2, the Spirit .of God is found actively en gaged in bringing into being the heavens and the earth (cf. Psa. 33:6 where “breath” may refer to the Spirit). He is included within the personal pronouns which speak of the Godhead in Genesis 1:26. The patriarch Job testifies that “ the spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life” (Job 33:4). Isaiah 40:7 evidently speaks of the power of the Spirit over that which He has made. The Holy Spirit is active in the ministry of inspiration. While the most explicit statements on this doc trine are found in the New Testa ment (2 Pet. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:16), in spiration in the Old Testament is by the selfsame Spirit. David declares: “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2). Ezekiel records: “The spirit en t e r ed i n t o me when he [Jehovah] spake unto me” (Ezek. 2: 2). Micah rejoices: “Truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord” (Micah 3:8), and Isaiah connects the words which God put in his mouth with the Spirit which came upon him (Isa. 59:21). Such references re veal the activity of the Spirit in the r e v e l a t i o n and inspiration of the books of the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit is also seen as the
restrainer of sin and Satan. Genesis 6:3 is found in the setting of the ini quitous days before the flood wherein Jehovah declares: “My spirit shall not always strive with man.” It is evident that in the days of Noah, restraint of human iniquity was by the Spirit much as it is today (2 Thes. 2:6-8; 1 John 4:4). Isaiah 59:19 contains th e s im i l a r affirmation: “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Men have long had reason to rejoice in the hand of the Spirit which has held in check the power of Satan and the floodtides of iniquity. Some light is shed in the Old Testa ment in respect to salvation from sin and indwelling by the Spirit. We read of Joseph: “Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” (Gen. 41:38.) The Lord spoke to Moses concerning Josh ua: “Take thee Joshua . . . a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him” (Num. 27:18). Assuredly such men were saved and controlled by the Spirit even though the normal Old Testament ministry of the Spirit was to “ come upon” men rather than to indwell them. The presence of the Spirit for spe cial ministries is recorded in passages such as Exodus 28:3 and 31:1-5. Proof that the presence of the Spirit might be lost is found in 1 Samuel 16:14 where “ the Spirit of the Lord depart ed from Saul.” The prayer of David in Psalm 51:11 is significant in this regard: “ Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” It is evident that in the Old Testament men were set apart by the Spirit for specific service after which He might withdraw from them. In contrast, church saints are “ sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30) in fulfillment of the promise of Christ: “ I will pray the Father, and he shall give you anoth er Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16). In re spect to the Spirit, the Old and the New Testament orders are contrasted by Christ in His declaration: “He dwelleth with you and shall be in you” (John 14:17). In this present age the Holy Spirit may be grieved, fellowship and rewards may be lost, but the Spirit never departs from His own. END.
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