THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON
This title seems to stress the complete unity of the nature within the Trinity: the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) of His (God's) Son (Jesus). The expressions "son of" and "spirit of" are used in the Bible to describe similarity of nature. When Jesus is called the Son of God, this title implies that He is by nature God. When the Holy Spirit is described as the Spirit of His Son (Gal. 4:6), the title implies that the Holy Spirit has the same nature as the Son - who has the same nature as God the Father.Jesus told His disciples: "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you ANOTHER Helper, that He may abide with you forever." (John 14:16) The word Jesus used which is translated "another" is the Greek word allos, which means "another of the same kind or sort." When Jesus applied that adjective to the Holy Spirit, He was saying that He and the Holy Spirit are of the same nature.
THE SPIRIT OF JESUS
When the title "Spirit of ..." is used to describe the Holy Spirit, the word following the preposition is key to understanding the meaning of that particular name. Acts 16:7 refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of JESUS. Therefore, the meaning of this name is wrapped up in the meaning of the name Jesus.
The name Jesus means "Jehovah is Savior." When Gabriel came to Joseph, he told him " ... you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Since the Holy Spirit is the same nature as Jesus and Jesus is Savior, we can easily conclude that the Holy Spirit has a part in the salvation of men. We'll look in detail at His work in salvation in Lesson 4.
THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST
The word "Christ" means "the anointed one." In the Old Testament, there were three offices (or roles) to which men were anointed: prophets, priests and kings. When the title "Christ" is applied to Jesus, it tells us the He was the messianic fulfillment of each of these three Old Testament offices.The Holy Spirit has a prophetic ministry in the respect that His ministry reveals the message of God to humanity. "For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:21
The Holy Spirit has a priestly ministry in the respect that His ministry offers an acceptable sacrifice for sin. "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Heb. 9:14
The Holy Spirit has a regal (kingly) ministry in that He rules in the broader kingdom of God. "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." Rom. 8:2
THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST
Just as the title "Jesus Christ" is used in scripture to illustrate the balance between His saving and His messianic ministry, so is the title "the Spirit of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:19) Paul used this title to emphasize the full provision and supply of Jesus Christ in his own Christian life and ministry.
The minute you became a Christian, my sweet sister, you were born again by the Holy Spirit, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and sealed with the Holy Spirit.And, His ministry certainly didn't end with your conversion, did it? It continues throughout our lives. Many times we do not even realize all that the Holy Spirit did for us when we were saved. And because today we only "see through a glass darkly," we certainly don't realize all that He does in our lives on a daily basis.
Sometimes we wonder if anything is going right and think our lives are in total chaos; but, I can assure you, we cannot even imagine how bad things would be if the Holy Spirit were removed from this world! He is active in the world today as He continually works to restrain sin in the world.
In the final post on Lesson 3 we will look at how the Holy Spirit was active in Jesus' life throughout His time on earth and how He helps us live for God today.
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