In the opening verse of the Scriptures, we are introduced to the creative power and energy of God: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Gen. 1:1. In verse two this power and energy is termed “The Spirit of God.” We are informed that the “Spirit of God moved (or hovered) upon the face of the waters.”
Word of His Power
In verse three we learn of the “word” of His power: “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” We are told by the Psalmist, “By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath (RUACHSpirit) of His mouth.” Psa. 33:6. And in verse 9, “For He Spake and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast.”
In creation, this creative power or Spirit is said to come forth from God. “Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created.” Psa. 104:30. This Spirit which radiates from His Person, or Substance, pervades all the universe; so that while God personally dwells in heaven, His Presence is everywhere by means of His Spirit. Heb. 1:3, Matt. 6:9, Psa. 139: 7-10.
God has created heaven and earth and all things therein, by His power and wisdom which is inseparable from Him, Jer. 10:12, Jer. 51:15, Jer. 32:17, Jet 27:5. We are told by the things that are made, we can understand the invisible things that belong to God, “Even His eternal power and divinity.” Rom. 1:20. This eternal power and divinity is invisible. We do not see it in space, but it is there nevertheless. This eternal power, or Spirit is at the base of all things. From this invisible energy, or power, matter or substance is formed. This we see.
God’s Moral Attributes
God’s physical power and might is without limit or measure. Isa. 40: 26, 28, Psa. 145:3. He is the Almighty. His understanding, wisdom, and discretion are infinite. Psa. 147:5. There is also the moral perfection of God. He is right in everything. No injustice can ever justifiably be attributed to Him. Psa. 145-17. There are His wonderful and glorious moral Attributes and qualities, Jer. 32:18, 19, Exo. 33: 18, 19. It is in these moral Attributes that God glories most. Jer. 9:23, 24.
God’s Spirit Sustains
By His Spirit God has created all things, and by His Spirit He sustains all creation. He has formed a system of physical, or natural laws that envelops the earth and governs it. This regulatory system we call, “The laws of nature.” Psa. 148:5, 6, Jer. 10:13. It is not to be supposed that the laws of nature are the only or highest laws of the universe. God is in no way subject to or limited by these laws. He exists and sits above and over the circle of things on the earth. Isa. 40:22. The natural laws that govern the earth were specifically formed for the earth and its inhabitants. God formed these laws by His Spirit through His wisdom and discretion, and by His Spirit He sustains them.
The term “Spirit of God” is an expression that comprehends all that proceeds from Him, or is affirmed of Him. It is used of His physical power and greatness in creation, or destruction; it is used of Him in reference to His mind in relation to wisdom and understanding; it is also used of instruction that comes from Him. Isa. 40:13, Rom. 11:33, 34, I Cor. 2:14. As the rays of sunshine are to the sun, and as the light to a lamp, and as the heat is to a fire, so is the Spirit of God to His Person. The Spirit of God radiates from His person and pervades and penetrates every cubic inch of the universe.
The Spirit of Man
There is a thinking ability in man. He possesses the power of reason. This is called the “spirit of man.” I Cor. 2:11. Through the natural processes of reasoning and experiencing man acquires knowledge and wisdom. This is called “the wisdom of men,” or the “wisdom of the world” in contrast to “the Spirit which is of God.” I Cor. 2:12. Thinking and reasoning, which comes from the feelings and desires of a man unenlightened in the ways and thoughts of God, is called the thinking of the flesh, or the carnal mind. Rom. 8:5-7. When a man thinks and acts apart from the laws and instruction of God, he is following that which proceeds from his own heart. They which do this are said to “follow their own spirit.” Eze. 13:2„ 3, Jer. 23:16, 26.
The Holy Spirit
It is easy enough to understand the meaning of the “Spirit of God.” But when the word “Holy” is attached to the word “Spirit,” we run into some difficulty. The phrase “Holy Spirit” is found in both the Old and New Testaments, though much more frequently in the New. What is the meaning of the phrase, “Holy Spirit ?” We know the meaning of the word “holy” and how it is used. The adjective “holy” is attached to many different words in the Scriptures. We read of holy ground, nation, gifts, crown, linen, house, congregation, vessels, seed, mountain and many others. The word itself carries the meaning of “set apart, sanctified, consecrated, devoted and Godly.” In these places the holy things, or holy people, represent that which is set apart for special usage.
When we probe the Scriptures for information on this subject, we find that the “Spirit of God” is a general term for his invisible power, while the “Holy Spirit” is used specifically of the Spirit of God given to any individual, or a number of individuals, for a specific purpose or accomplishment.
There is but ONE Spirit. Eph. 4:4. The Holy Spirit is not another Spirit but is the Spirit of God specially used for a certain purpose. The Holy Spirit always has reference to the Spirit of God. We do not say “The Holy Spirit of God” because the Holy Spirit is always God’s Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit in special usage. The Holy Spirit is used in contrast to the spirit of man. The Spirit of God does not always have reference to the Holy Spirit (Isa. 40:7), but sometimes it is used interchangeably with Holy Spirit as in Luke 4:1, 18. The context usually determines the meaning of the word “Spirit.” There is the spirit of the world and there is the Spirit which is of God. I Cor. 2:12.
Holy Spirit Is Given
The Holy Spirit is said to be Given. Rom. 5:5, I John 3:24, I Thess. 4:8, Luke 11:13. It is said to be Received. John 20:22, Acts 19:2, Acts 10:47. It is not something that is built up, or developed within a person; it must be given by God. The Holy Spirit when received is said to be a Gift. Acts 10:45, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:20, Heb. 6:4. It was said to be given to them who Obeyed God. Acts 5:32. It was not given to make one believe, or obey God. It was of no moral value. It was not given to make a bad one good, or to keep one from sinning. Ananias and Sapphira are a case to the point. They are said to have lied to the Holy Spirit which they seemingly had received. Acts 5:3,9.
Holy Spirit Not an Assurance of Salvation
It was possible for those who had received the Holy Spirit to “Fall away” to where it was impossible to renew them to repentance. Heb. 6:4-6. It was not an assurance of salvation. It was not given to cleanse one’s sins. Baptism is for that. It was not given as a substitute for, or instead of, baptism or immersion. Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-48. The Holy Spirit was something extra in addition to baptism. Acts 2:38.
One does not require The Gift of the Holy Spirit in order to believe the articles of faith. There is not one article of faith that a man cannot understand, or believe without the gift of the Holy Spirit. If man requires the Holy Spirit in order to understand, believe, and obey God, then how could God justifiably hold men accountable for unbelief and disobedience who do not have it? Unbelievers could use their not having received the Holy Spirit as an excuse for their unbelief. They could logically reason that God could not hold them responsible for their unbelief, if it were necessary to receive the Holy Spirit in order to believe.
Purpose of Holy Spirit Gifts
The Holy Spirit was a gift given by God for a purpose. The Spirit of God when given to man as a gift is often termed the Holy Spirit, but is sometimes simply termed the Spirit, or the Spirit of God. The gift of the Holy Spirit consisted of the distribution of several particular gifts. I Cor. 12:11. The particular gifts of the Spirit are listed in I Cor. 12:8-11. There were doubtless many beside these named here. Each gift was a manifestation of the Spirit. I Cor. 12:7. There were a number of different manifestations of the Spirit. Each individual would receive one or more Spirit gifts. The gifts of the Spirit were for the benefit of the ecclesias. I Cor. 12:7, 28-30. The gifts of the Holy Spirit in the days of the Apostles, with its diversities of gifts, or manifestations were essential to the development and establishment of the ecclesias.
Natural Talents and Spiritual Gifts
Men have natural talents, or abilities, or are gifted, and can do certain remarkably things; but these are not to be confused with spiritual gifts. I Cor. 12:1, I Cor. 14:12. Natural gifts and spiritual gifts differ. The one is bestowed by nature, the other is directly given by God. Whatever form of manifestation the Holy Spirit worked, it gave something divine to the receiver. It gave him something that the laws of nature could not. Acts 19:5, 6.
The New Testament
Without the work of the Holy Spirit, the New Testament could not have been written. The New Testament is a divine commentary on the Old Testament. The New Testament is a completion of God’s written word, and was written by men whose words were guided and directed by the Holy Spirit, or Holy Spirit gifts. I Cor. 2:13, I Cor. 14:37.
The Old Testament
The Old Testament was written by men who were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak and write infallibly. 2 Pet. 1:21, 2 Tim. 3:16,17. The giving of the Holy Spirit was not confined to the Apostolic age. Men of the Old Testament era who preached and wrote, and taught, and performed miracles, did so by the power of the Holy Spirit which was given to them for that purpose. 2 Pet. 1:21. The Holy Spirit was “sent down from heaven” to them as it was later to the Apostles. God put His Holy Spirit in Moses. Isa. 63:10-13. Moses shared the Spirit which was upon him with seventy others. Num. 11:16, 17, 24-30.
David was anointed of the Holy Spirit and spake by it. 2 Sam. 23:2, Mark 12:36. Micah was ‘full of power by the Spirit of the Lord.” Mic. 3:8. So was Ezekiel. Eze. 2:1. Certainly Elijah and Elisha were full of power by the Spirit of the Lord. They performed many miracles.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One