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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadR.A. Torrey Collection: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches: 09 The Work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ
TOPIC: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 09 The Work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ
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Ch 09 The Work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ
I. HOW DID THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK IN JESUS CHRIST? Luk_1:35 — "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
First Proposition: Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit.
In regeneration the believer is begotten of God; Jesus Christ was begotten of God in generation. He is the only begotten Son of God. (, Joh_3:16 — "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, what whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.") The regenerated man has the carnal nature received from his earthly father and the new nature imparted by God. Jesus Christ had only the new holy nature. He was, however, a man, since he had a human mother. Heb_9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God."
Second Proposition: Jesus Christ led a holy, spotless life and offered Himself to God through the working of the Holy Spirit. Act_10:38 — "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Isa_61:1 — "The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." Luk_4:14; Luk_4:18 — "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about .... The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."
Third Proposition: Jesus Christ was anointed for service by the Holy Spirit.
Compare to Luk_3:21-22 — "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased," and to Luk_4:1; Luk_4:14 "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about." Luk_4:1 — "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness."
Fourth Proposition: Jesus Christ was led by the Holy Spirit in His movements. Isa_11:2 — "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, and spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."
Compare to Mat_12:17-18 — "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, behold my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles."
Fifth Proposition: Jesus was taught by the Holy Spirit, who rested upon Him.
The Spirit of God was the source of His wisdom in the days of His flesh. Joh_1:33 — "And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." Joh_3:34 RV — "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not the Spirit by measure.
Sixth Proposition: Because the Holy Spirit rested upon Jesus in fulness, the words He spoke were the words of God. Act_1:2 — "Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen."
Seventh Proposition: Jesus Christ gave commandment to His apostles whom he had chosen through the Holy Spirit. Mat_12:28 — "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you."
Eighth Proposition: Jesus wrought His miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Compare to 1Co_12:9-10 — "To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gift of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles," etc. Rom_8:11 — "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 your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
Ninth Proposition: Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.
II. PRACTICAL INFERENCES FROM THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN JESUS CHRIST.
Several things are evident from the study of the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ. (1.) The completeness of His humanity. He lived, thought, worked, taught, conquered sin, and won victories for God in the power of that same Spirit who we may all have. (2.) Our dependence upon the Holy Spirit. If it was in the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, lived, worked, and triumphed, how much more are we dependent upon Him at every turn of life, service, and conflict with Satan and sin. (3.) The wondrous world of privilege, blessing, victory, and conquest that is open to us. The same Spirit by which Jesus was begotten is at our disposal for us to be begotten of Him. The same Spirit by which Jesus Christ offered Himself' without spot to God is at our disposal for us to offer ourselves without spot, the same Spirit by which Jesus was anointed for service is at our disposal for us to be anointed for service, and so on through all the points given above.
Jesus Christ is our pattern ( 1Jo_2:6), the firstborn among many brethren. Whatever he realized through the Holy Spirit is there for us to realize also.