Spirit of Life

Dear Brethren,

What are some of the attributes of God's Holy Spirit?  The Holy Spirit, "Hagios Pneuma," is the Spirit of God the Father and Jesus Christ.  We know, of course, that the Holy Spirit is not the third person of a Trinity.  The Holy Spirit is not a personage or a separate third member of the Godhead.  We have learned to reject that false doctrine.  Some are satisfied to say that the Holy Spirit is the power of God.  That is true - but God's Spirit is much more than only His power.

Holy Spirit is the life, mind, wisdom, love and power of God by which all things are created and sustained.  The full attributes of God's Holy Spirit are beyond the grasp of our finite human minds.  Let's consider the attribute of Life - the Spirit of life eternal.

John wrote of Jesus Christ's example of Holy Spirit being like Living Water.  "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 4:14)

"In the last day, that great day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  This spake he of theSpirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:37-39)

God is the giver of life, because life is inherent in Him.  Holy Spirit is the very life of God.  "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself." (John 5:26)  "It is the spirit that [gives life] quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."  (John 6:63)

Paul explained in 2Corinthians 3:6 that "the spirit giveth life."  It is the natural condition of man to die.  Because of sin, there is a death penalty hanging over all of mankind.  On the other hand, God's Spirit is able to give life to those who would otherwise die.  "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."  (Romans 8:2)

Through His Holy Spirit, God moved the holy men of old to record His words of life in the Bible (2Peter 1:21).  Today, God's Spirit, in us, leads us in building Godly character.  Our lives become more like God's life when His Spirit dwells within us.  Through the Spirit, God is living in us. Jesus said, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (John 14:23)

Paul differentiates between our fleshly body and the Spirit of life.  "If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [give life to] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:10-11)

Brethren, do we seek to please ourselves?  Is our primary motivation in life to take care of ourselves, our needs and our securities?  Or, do we seek the Kingdom of God, His will and His righteousness ahead of everything else?  "For to be carnally minded is death; but to bespiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8:6)

"If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 8:13)

"He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." (Galatians 6:8)

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Sermon:

"Christianity"