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TOPIC: Pink, Arthur - Eternal Security (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 05. Its Springs contd
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the Springs cont'd
14. The operations of the Spirit. These are summed up in "He which hath begun a good work in you will finish it" (Php_1:6). The reference is to our regeneration, completed in our sanctification, preservation and glorification. First He imparts spiritual life to one who is dead in trespasses and sins and then He sustains and maintains that life by nourishing it and calling it forth into exercise and act, so that it becomes fruitful and abounds in good works. Every growth of spirituality is the work of the Holy Spirit: as the green blade was His so is the ripening corn. The increase of life, as much as the beginning thereof, must still come by the gracious power of the Spirit of God. We never have more life or even know we need more or groan after it, except as He works in us to desire and agonize after it. Were the Spirit totally withdrawn from the Christian he would soon lapse back into spiritual death. But thank God there is no possibility of any such dire calamity: every born-again soul has the infallible guarantee "the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me" (Psa_138:8).
Let us now consider more particularly some eminent acts of the Spirit in the believer and effects of His grace exercised in them. He empowers and moves them unto obedience: "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and ye shall keep My judgments and do them" (Eze_36:27). The two things are inseparable: an indwelling Spirit and holy conduct from those indwelt. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God" (Rom_8:14). The Spirit guides into the paths of righteousness by a blessed combination of invincible power and gentle suasion: not forcing us against our wills, but sweetly constraining us. He directs the activities of the Christian by enlightening his understanding, warming his affections, stimulating his holy inclinations and moving his will to do that which is pleasing unto God. In this way is that divine promise fulfilled, "lam the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go" (Isa_48:17), and thus is his prayer answered "Order my steps in Thy Word" (Psa_119:133). By His gracious indwelling the Spirit affords the saints supportment: "likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities" (Rom_8:26). If the believer were left to himself he would never see (by faith) the all-wise hand of God in his afflictions, still less would his heart ever honestly say concerning them, "Thy will be done." If left to himself the believer would never seek grace to patiently endure chastisement, still less cherish the hope that afterward it would "yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Heb_12:11). No, rather would he chafe and kick like "a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke" (Jer_31:18) and yield to the vile temptation to "curse God and die" (Job_2:9). If the believer were left to himself he would never have the assurance that his acutest sufferings were among the all things which work together for his ultimate good, still less would he glory in his infirmity that the power of Christ might rest upon him (2Co_12:9). No, such holy exercises of heart are not the products of fallen human nature: instead they are the immediate, gracious, lovely fruits of the Spirit, brought forth in such uncongenial soil.
By His gracious indwelling the Spirit energies the believer: "strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man" (Eph_3:16). This is manifested in many directions. How often He exerts upon the believer a restraining influence, subduing the lusts of the flesh and holding him back from a course of folly by causing a solemn awe to fall upon him: "the fear of the Lord is to depart from evil," and the Spirit is the Author of that holy fear. "That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us" (2Ti_1:14)—He is the one who oils the wheels of the saint’s obedience. "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith" (Gal_5:5) otherwise the deferring of our hope would cause the soul to utterly pine away. Hence we find the Spouse praying to the Spirit for invigoration and fructification, "Awake 0 north wind, and come thou south; blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out" (Son_4:16).
The graces which the indwelling Spirit produces are durable and lasting, particularly the three cardinal ones: "now abideth faith, hope, love" (1Co_13:13). Faith is that grace which is "much more precious than of gold that perisheth" (1Pe_1:7)— it is its imperishability which constitutes its superior excellency. It is "of the operation of God" (Col_2:12) and we know that whatsoever is of Him "it shall be forever" (Ecc_3:14), Christ praying that it "fail not," and therefore no matter how severely it shall be tested its possessor can declare "though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job_13:15). The hope of the Christian is "as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast," for it is cast on Christ the foundation, from whence it can never be removed (Heb_6:18-19).. As to the believer’s love, though its initial ardor may be cooled yet it cannot be quenched, though first love any be "left" it cannot be lost. Under the darkest times Christ is still the object of his love, as the cases of the Church in Son_3:1-3 and of Peter (Joh_21:17) evidence.
15. The relations which the Holy Spirit sustains to the Christian. In Eph_1:14 He is designated "the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession" (cf. 2 Cor. 1:22). Now an "earnest" is part payment assuring the full reward in due season: it is more than a pledge, being an actual portion and token of that which is promised. If the inheritance were precarious, suspended on conditions of uncertain performance, the Spirit could not in truth or propriety be termed the earnest thereof. If an "earnest" is a guaranty among men, much more so between God and His people. He is also "the first fruits" of glorification unto the believer (Rom_8:23), an antepast of Heaven, the initial beams of the rising sun of eternal bliss in the Christian’s soul. He is also the "anointing" which we have received from Christ (cf. 2Co_1:21) and this "abideth" in us (1Jn_2:17). Again, He is the believer’s seal: "grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30), that is, until their bodies are delivered from the grave. Among other purposes a "seal" is to secure: can then the treasure which the Spirit guards be lost? No: as Christ was "sealed" (John 6:27) and in consequence "upheld" by the Spirit so that He failed not (Isa_42:1, Isa_42:4) so is the believer. It is impossible for any saint to perish.
14. The operations of the Spirit. These are summed up in "He which hath begun a good work in you will finish it" (Php_1:6). The reference is to our regeneration, completed in our sanctification, preservation and glorification. First He imparts spiritual life to one who is dead in trespasses and sins and then He sustains and maintains that life by nourishing it and calling it forth into exercise and act, so that it becomes fruitful and abounds in good works. Every growth of spirituality is the work of the Holy Spirit: as the green blade was His so is the ripening corn. The increase of life, as much as the beginning thereof, must still come by the gracious power of the Spirit of God. We never have more life or even know we need more or groan after it, except as He works in us to desire and agonize after it. Were the Spirit totally withdrawn from the Christian he would soon lapse back into spiritual death. But thank God there is no possibility of any such dire calamity: every born-again soul has the infallible guarantee "the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me" (Psa_138:8).
Let us now consider more particularly some eminent acts of the Spirit in the believer and effects of His grace exercised in them. He empowers and moves them unto obedience: "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and ye shall keep My judgments and do them" (Eze_36:27). The two things are inseparable: an indwelling Spirit and holy conduct from those indwelt. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God" (Rom_8:14). The Spirit guides into the paths of righteousness by a blessed combination of invincible power and gentle suasion: not forcing us against our wills, but sweetly constraining us. He directs the activities of the Christian by enlightening his understanding, warming his affections, stimulating his holy inclinations and moving his will to do that which is pleasing unto God. In this way is that divine promise fulfilled, "lam the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go" (Isa_48:17), and thus is his prayer answered "Order my steps in Thy Word" (Psa_119:133). By His gracious indwelling the Spirit affords the saints supportment: "likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities" (Rom_8:26). If the believer were left to himself he would never see (by faith) the all-wise hand of God in his afflictions, still less would his heart ever honestly say concerning them, "Thy will be done." If left to himself the believer would never seek grace to patiently endure chastisement, still less cherish the hope that afterward it would "yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Heb_12:11). No, rather would he chafe and kick like "a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke" (Jer_31:18) and yield to the vile temptation to "curse God and die" (Job_2:9). If the believer were left to himself he would never have the assurance that his acutest sufferings were among the all things which work together for his ultimate good, still less would he glory in his infirmity that the power of Christ might rest upon him (2Co_12:9). No, such holy exercises of heart are not the products of fallen human nature: instead they are the immediate, gracious, lovely fruits of the Spirit, brought forth in such uncongenial soil.
By His gracious indwelling the Spirit energies the believer: "strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man" (Eph_3:16). This is manifested in many directions. How often He exerts upon the believer a restraining influence, subduing the lusts of the flesh and holding him back from a course of folly by causing a solemn awe to fall upon him: "the fear of the Lord is to depart from evil," and the Spirit is the Author of that holy fear. "That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us" (2Ti_1:14)—He is the one who oils the wheels of the saint’s obedience. "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith" (Gal_5:5) otherwise the deferring of our hope would cause the soul to utterly pine away. Hence we find the Spouse praying to the Spirit for invigoration and fructification, "Awake 0 north wind, and come thou south; blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out" (Son_4:16).
The graces which the indwelling Spirit produces are durable and lasting, particularly the three cardinal ones: "now abideth faith, hope, love" (1Co_13:13). Faith is that grace which is "much more precious than of gold that perisheth" (1Pe_1:7)— it is its imperishability which constitutes its superior excellency. It is "of the operation of God" (Col_2:12) and we know that whatsoever is of Him "it shall be forever" (Ecc_3:14), Christ praying that it "fail not," and therefore no matter how severely it shall be tested its possessor can declare "though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job_13:15). The hope of the Christian is "as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast," for it is cast on Christ the foundation, from whence it can never be removed (Heb_6:18-19).. As to the believer’s love, though its initial ardor may be cooled yet it cannot be quenched, though first love any be "left" it cannot be lost. Under the darkest times Christ is still the object of his love, as the cases of the Church in Son_3:1-3 and of Peter (Joh_21:17) evidence.
15. The relations which the Holy Spirit sustains to the Christian. In Eph_1:14 He is designated "the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession" (cf. 2 Cor. 1:22). Now an "earnest" is part payment assuring the full reward in due season: it is more than a pledge, being an actual portion and token of that which is promised. If the inheritance were precarious, suspended on conditions of uncertain performance, the Spirit could not in truth or propriety be termed the earnest thereof. If an "earnest" is a guaranty among men, much more so between God and His people. He is also "the first fruits" of glorification unto the believer (Rom_8:23), an antepast of Heaven, the initial beams of the rising sun of eternal bliss in the Christian’s soul. He is also the "anointing" which we have received from Christ (cf. 2Co_1:21) and this "abideth" in us (1Jn_2:17). Again, He is the believer’s seal: "grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30), that is, until their bodies are delivered from the grave. Among other purposes a "seal" is to secure: can then the treasure which the Spirit guards be lost? No: as Christ was "sealed" (John 6:27) and in consequence "upheld" by the Spirit so that He failed not (Isa_42:1, Isa_42:4) so is the believer. It is impossible for any saint to perish.