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THE DIFFERENT OPERATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
IT is the inseparable property of divine grace to make us jealous for the honour of God, and studious to promote it to the utmost of our power.
St. Paul, when accused of instability, vindicated his own character, because it was connected with his usefulness in the ministry; but instantly ascribed to God the glory of whatever steadfastness he had been enabled to maintain.
His words naturally point out to our consideration,
I. The blessings which all true Christians enjoy—
Though all Christians do not attain the same measure either of holiness or of comfort, yet there are blessings common to all who are born of God.
1. They are established in Christ—
[All who believe in Christ are united to him as “branches of the true vine.” At first indeed they are but as babes, or children, liable to be tossed to and fro [Note: Eph_4:14.]; but by experience they become more rooted and grounded in Christ [Note: Col_2:7.]. As their views of their own weakness and of his sufficiency are enlarged, they grow more and more; nor was this peculiar to the Apostle, but the common privilege of all the Church at Corinth. Indeed, it is the great end for which all other blessings are communicated; and, in attaining it, the believer becomes immoveable as Mount Sion [Note: Psa_125:1.].]
2. They are anointed with a heavenly unction—
[It is the communication of the Holy Spirit that first enables them to believe in Christ [Note: 1Jn_2:20.]; but, as the lamps in the sanctuary, they have daily supplies of the holy oil. By means of these they obtain more abundant knowledge and grace [Note: Isa_2:2-3.], and are progressively renewed after the image of their God [Note: 2Co_4:16.]. Not that all, even of true Christians, are alike favoured; but every one receives according to the measure of the gift of Christ [Note: Eph_4:7.].]
3. They are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise—
[A seal is for the purpose of both marking and securing property; and with both these views the Holy Spirit seals the people of God. He stamps the very image of God himself upon their souls [Note: Eph_4:23-24.]; he thus marks them as his peculiar, his “purchased possession;” he secures them also to the day of complete redemption [Note: Eph_1:14; Eph_4:30.].]
4. They have the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts—
[An earnest is both a part of a payment, and a pledge of the remainder; and such is the Spirit to us, not in one only, but in all his operations. In illuminating, quickening, sanctifying, or comforting the soul, he is an earnest of that light and life, that purity and joy, which will be more richly communicated to us in the future world. As a seal, the Spirit assures us of our right to heaven; as an earnest, he gives us a foretaste of it.]
The consideration of such inestimable blessings may well lead us to inquire after,
II. The source from whence they flow—
It appears needless, at first sight, to enter minutely into this part of our subject: but the very construction of the sentence shews that there is something particularly emphatical in it. It implies,
1. That these blessings are purely the gift of God—
[They are not the creatures of a vain and heated imagination; nor are they the offspring of man’s will and power [Note: Joh_1:13.]; nor, though imparted in the use of means, do they necessarily flow from the means themselves. They are purely and entirely the gift of God [Note: Jam_1:17.], and are bestowed by Him according to his sovereign will and pleasure [Note: 1Co_12:6; 1Co_12:11.].]
2. That they evidently bear the Divine stamp and character upon them—
[The visible creation manifestly approves itself to be of Divine workmanship [Note: Psa_19:1.], and in the same manner do these blessings evidently appear to proceed from God. The very effects which they produce upon the soul, discover this: but the conviction, which they, who possess these blessings, feel of their Divine original, is inexpressibly clear and strong [Note: Isa_41:20.]: without the smallest hesitation they ascribe them to God as their only source [Note: 2Co_5:5.].]
3. That God is glorified by means of them—
[It is the Apostle’s express design to glorify God on account of them: and surely we cannot fail of admiring his power and goodness in them; or experience them, without an increased desire to devote ourselves to him; and most of all shall we adore him for these beginnings of his grace, when we shall have received their full completion.]
Infer—
1. How little is true religion known and experienced in the world!—
[Christianity is in general viewed as a system of restraints, rather than as a source of enjoyments; but none can have a just view of it who do not experience a measure of these blessings. Let not any one then rest in false notions, or uninteresting professions. Let all seek rather such a religion as will make them holy and happy, and pray, with the Apostle, that God would fulfil in them all his good pleasure [Note: 2Th_1:11.].]
2. How much do many true Christians live below their privileges—
[Many, instead of enjoying a heaven upon earth, are filled with doubts and fears: yet even these have the image of God manifestly instamped upon them, and the hope which they possess is more precious to them than the whole world: but we may well say to them, “Why art thou lean, seeing thou art a king’s son?” Let them be ashamed of giving such occasion to the enemies of religion to triumph; and let them seek that full liberty which God will vouchsafe to all his children.]
3. How astonishing are our obligations to each person in the Sacred Trinity!—
[The Father is the great source and fountain of all our blessings: Christ is the procurer of them, and the medium through whom they come: and the Holy Spirit is the agent, by whom they are conveyed to us. Let us hold fellowship with each in his distinct office and character [Note: 1Jn_1:3.], and acknowledge with gratitude their united exertions; and let every blessing received from them quicken us to the service, and lead us to the enjoyment of our triune God.]