Lesson 4: (part 1) THE HOLY SPIRIT in the WORK of ATONEMENT

For me, the worst part about trying to do a continuous study on my blog is how often "life" gets in the way of blogging. My daughter always reminds me that Beverly's Blurbs should be BWG - which I find very intriguing since that happens to be my monogram - but in her frame of reference, it stands for BLOGGING WITHOUT GUILT. I must admit, when I have something I really want to do (like posting these lessons in a timely manner) and then am not able to do it - it's easy for me to feel guilty.

It's been an unusually busy couple of weeks for me - getting ready and then flying to Ohio to enjoy my granddaughters during their break between camp and the beginning of school. It's a little difficult to concentrate on writing when there is an adorable 7 and 9 year old vying for your attention. At least it is for this doting grandmother! GRIN So, for those of you who are working on lesson six and still waiting for me to post lessons 4 & 5, I humbly apologise.

Let's look briefly at the first part of lesson 4: THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE WORK OF ATONEMENT

Atonement is another one of those big theological words that is not nearly as mysterious as it sounds. It has to do with the restoration of man to a right relationship with God. You might even simply break the word apart and define it as the work required to make man "at one" with God.

The Holy Spirit has a dual ministry in atonement. He assists in providing our salvation - and He works in effecting our salvation.

The Hebrew word that was translated "atonement" has a double meaning. It involves appeasing the wrath of God by some action directed toward Him - in this case, the offering of a sacrifice. And - it involves the idea that the sacrifice has a direct result on the sin itself, covering it or blotting it out.

Three titles of the Holy Spirit have to do with His work in providing our salvation:

THE ETERNAL SPIRIT
I'm not sure you can read the print on the picture above, but what Hebrews 9:14 tells us is that in order for us to be made right with God, Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice - the Lamb without spot or blemish - and He did it THROUGH the Eternal Spirit. The word THROUGH means "by means of." In other words, a paraphrase of the verse might read "by means of the Eternal Spirit, Jesus offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to God..." In His death, Jesus functioned in the power of the Holy Spirit just like He did in life when He performed His miracles, raised Lazarus from the dead, taught in synagogues and resisted Satan's temptations.

Has it ever occurred to you that this verse (Heb.9:14) shows a priestly ministry of the Holy Spirit? In the Old Testament, priests took the blood of the sacrificial lamb (bull, or goat) and sprinkled it on the mercy seat as atonement for the sins of the people. Here, in the same action as that of the priests, the Holy Spirit enabled Jesus as Jesus shed His blood on Calvary for the sins of the world!


THE GIFT OF GOD

The Holy Spirit is linked to the gift of eternal life as the ultimate Gift of God. Jesus referred to Him that way when He was talking with the Samaritan woman (John 4:10). Romans 6:23 tells us that ". . .the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." If you have received eternal life, you have received the Gift of God.

Every believer, at the moment of his regeneration, receives the gift of the Spirit. He indwells you. Through grace, you possess the Gift of God (the Holy Spirit). But the question is, my sweet sister, does the Holy Spirit possess you? Are you yielded to Him and obedient to His will? Is the Gift of God flowing through you as "rivers of living water"?

THE SPIRIT OF HIM WHO RAISED UP JESUS

Romans 8:11 links the Holy Spirit with the resurrection of Jesus. Read this verse in your Bible if you can't see it printed on the picture above. What a beautiful picture of the Trinity at work - always in perfect unity - the Father decreed the resurrection of His Son, and the Holy Spirit was the One who did it. Jesus, of course, was the One raised. All three persons of the Trinity were active in the resurrection of Jesus, which provided new life for you and me.

Read Romans 8:11 again - The Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus indwells you today, sweet sister. What a glorious thought! What do you need resurrection power for in your life today - perhaps overcoming a temptation? - perhaps living in a way that reflects Jesus to others?

The Eternal Spirit - the Gift of God - the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus - the Holy Spirit - was active in providing your salvation and He is still active in providing for you today as He lives within you!