The Spirit is Good (3)

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2.12, 13

The Spirit Old and New
The Spirit of God features prominently in the New Testament. Beginning with the baptism of Jesus, then greatly accelerating on the first Christian Pentecost, the Spirit’s role in the coming of the Kingdom and the progress of the Gospel is paramount. Without the Spirit there is no Kingdom on earth as in heaven, no witness for Christ, no Church being built as the temple of the Lord, no true understanding of God’s Word, and no power to save sinners or sanctify saints.

The Holy Spirit features in the Old Testament but not as prominently or intimately. The Spirit hovered over the creation, as the active agent in its coming to be. He came upon and even dwelled in saints from time to time, to empower them in various ways, most particularly, for the writing of Scripture. He superintended the work of God over all the earth during the period of the Old Testament, but from afar, as it were, rather than in a permanent, abiding sense.

The Old Testament promised that the Spirit would come one day, and when He did, hearts would change, the Kingdom of God would be established and increase on earth, and Immanuel God would be with His people in a new, more intimate, more powerful and transformative, and more permanent way. This is why Jesus referred to the Spirit as the “promise of the Father”, subsuming in Him all the precious and very great promises of the Old Testament by which we are made partakers of the divine nature (Acts 1.4; 2 Pet. 1.4).

Jesus explained to His disciples (Jn. 14-16) that the pouring out of the Spirit was to establish a permanent divine presence among the followers of Christ, to instruct them in all the Word and will of God, and to empower them to do abundant good works, greater in number than those Jesus was able to do on His own during those short years of His earthly sojourn. And all that indwelling, instruction, and empowering was to be for the purpose of holiness. He is the Holy Spirit who works within the followers of Christ to bring forth the goodness of God in the land of the living.

The Spirit within
Now the Spirit has been sent to all who believe in Jesus, to open their hearts for salvation and to dwell within them unto sanctification – improving holiness in the fear of God (Gal. 4.6; Jn. 14.15-17; Ezek. 36.26. 27). The Spirit of God is sent to work within us, enabling us to will and do that which engages the pleasure of God. His work releases spiritual energy for transformation, so that we might be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3.12-18). How does this happen?

First, the Spirit inclines us to God and His Word, provoking in us a desire to know the Lord (Jer. 31.31-34). Then He brings us to the Scriptures, wherein He reveals the glory of God to us. With this the Spirit works to transform our minds, so that how we think and what we think might be more in line with what God has revealed in His holy and righteous and good Law (Rom. 7.12; 8.5-9).

As we are renewed by the Spirit in our minds, our desiresand aspirationsbegin to change, so that all the affections of our heart are united in the fear of God (Ps. 86.11).

This, in turn, causes the things of God to settle in our conscience and become the default choices and values which guide our lives. So the mind informs the heart, and the heart and mind shape the conscience, which then arbitrates between affections and thoughts to engender holy choices and actions in all our words and deeds. When the Spirit is working, energizing our soul with Kingdom power, this process increases and grows more beautiful and permanent.

That this is not always the case, or that our progress in holiness can be so slow, is not the Spirit’s fault. We also have a role to play in working out our salvation in fear and trembling.

Working with the Spirit
Our responsibility is threefold: We must learn the ways of the Spirit. This means studying God’s Law and all His Word, getting as much of the Lord’s meaning as we can, and discerning the presence of Christ in all His Word.

Second, we must submit to the ways of the Spirit. As He, using God’s Word and glory, convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment, we must agree with Him, embrace His teaching, and discipline our souls to think, feel, and value in line with His teaching. Whatever in our soul does not conform to the Word of God, as illuminated to us by His Spirit, must be excised and replaced with right thinking, affections, and priorities.

Finally, we must obey the Spirit, by being filled with Him and walkingin Him throughout the course of our daily lives. Here prayer without ceasing – that continuous awareness of and communion with the Lord through His Spirit – is an indispensable aid. The more we remain in an attitude and envelope of prayer throughout the day, the more we will both hear the Spirit as He reminds us of the things of Christ, and draw on His power to live out our witness for Christ.

The Holy Spirit has been sent to us to do that holy work which transforms us into the image of Jesus Christ. Let us not quench the Spirit’s work by neglect or disobedience. Instead, let us work hard to get in step with the Spirit (J. I. Packer), so that He might bring God’s goodness out in us in all our ways.

For reflection
1.  How can you know when the Spirit of God is working in you as God intends?

2.  What are some ways we can quench the Spirit, so that His work does not go forward in us?

3.  How can Christians encourage and assist one another in learning, submitting to, and obeying the ways of the Spirit?

Next steps – Transformation: What are some areas of your life where you would like to see more of God’s goodness coming to light? Spend some time in prayer, turning these areas over to the Spirit, and pleading with Him to transform you into the image of Jesus.

T. M. Moore

The Spirit of God executes the will of King Jesus, as His Agent on earth, for the progress of His Kingdom. Learn more about the kingship of Jesus and our place in it by ordering a copy of the book, The Kingship of Jesus, from our online store (click here).

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.