Part
10 of 12
The
Significance of the Various Titles of God’s Spirit
As we’ve
already seen in this study series, there is only “one spirit” and
“one God” (Gal 4:4) in the Triune Godhead which “is Spirit”
(John 4:24). Yet, there are many meaningful titles in the Bible for the “one
Spirit” of God.
“Holy Spirit” seems to be
the general all-inclusive title for the “Spirit of
God.”
In the Old Testament
there was only the “Spirit of God” (i.e., Gen 1:2). In the
Law and the Prophets and the Psalms only King David mentions the Holy Spirit
three times in the Psalm. He writes “Cast me not away from thy presence;
and take not thy holy spirit from me (Ps 51:11).” “But they
rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be
their enemy, and he fought against them. 11 Then he remembered the days of
old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of
the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy
Spirit within him (Isa 63:10-11)?”
The New Testament term “Holy
Spirit” in Greek is hagios pneuma, meaning the “the
sacred breath.” John 20:22
And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive
the Holy Spirit.” It may
be beyond us to fathom the full significance of this name as applied to the
Holy Spirit, but this much seems clear: The Spirit is the out-breathing
of God, His life going forth to bring life. We should
notice the fact that breath is itself the vital principle, and we can
see that “the Spirit” therefore is the inmost life of God.
In
many cultures, including Israelite culture, people were given descriptive
names. For instance, Isaac means “he laughs”, Abraham means “father
of a multitude.” Thus, by examining the names of the Holy Spirit we
learn about the characteristics and traits of the Holy Spirit and about the
relationship between “the Spirit” and others.
Referring
to Jesus of Nazareth after His death, burial, and resurrection, Paul’s then
uses various terms for the “one God” that is the “one Spirit”
and all are significant. These are some of the most relatable titles for
believers; telling us the Lord Jesus is now the Spirit. 1) “That
Spirit,” 2) “the Spirit of Jesus,” 3) “the Spirit,” 3) “Spirit
of God,” 4) “the Spirit of Christ,” 5) “the Spirit of
Jesus Christ” and 6) “a life-giving spirit.”
2
Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord (Jesus) is that Spirit…
Acts
16:7 When they (Paul and
Barnabas) came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter
Bithynia
, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. (NIV)
Romans
8:9 But ye are not in the flesh,
but in (union with) the Spirit, if so be that “the
Spirit of God” dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit
of Christ, he is none of his.
Philip.
1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your
prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
1
Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made
a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening
(life-giving) spirit.
Some may say
“How can you say the term Holy Spirit refers to the “Spirit of Jesus”?
Referring to God, Paul writes there is only “one spirit” (Eph 4:4). Then
notice in the verses here below that the terms “Holy Spirit” and “Spirit
of Jesus” are used interchangeably.
Acts
16:6-7 (NIV) Paul and his companions
traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and
Galatia
, having been kept by the HOLY SPIRIT from
preaching the word in the province of
Asia
. 7When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter
Bithynia, but the SPIRIT OF JESUS would not allow them
to. (“Spirit of Jesus” appears in NIV and the “Greek Interlinear of the
NT”)
All
of these “Spirit” terms below refer to the resurrected “Jesus
of Nazareth” who in fact now is God … in Christ, as
“the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:2a). Each title
refers to seeing the Spirit of the Lord from a point of view for particular
emphasis.
1)
The term “Spirit of Jesus”
particularly speaks from the viewpoint of seeing the humanity
of the incarnated and resurrected Spirit of the Savior, who was called
Jesus. This reveals the human element of the Lord who was “born of
a woman made under the law” (Gal 4:4) can thereby be touched with “the
feeling of our infirmities” (Heb 4:15).
Acts
16:7b … but the Spirit
of Jesus would not allow them (Paul and Barnabas) to (go). (NIV)
“Spirit
of Jesus” also speaks of Jesus as
the “Son of man” who as a perfect man who died and was resurrected
as “the Spirit,” bringing the element of His elevated humanity
into the Godhead.
Romans
1:3-4 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which
was made of the seed of David according to the (human) flesh;
4 And declared to be
the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by
the resurrection from the dead:
By
His resurrection, Jesus’ humanity was now “declared to
be the Son of God” – thus, the Father would say “this day I
have begotten the” (Heb 5:5).
2)
The term “Spirit of Christ”
speaks of the now resurrected Spirit of the
Savior from the viewpoint of seeing Christ as He now is in His
divine element. Being completely processed via the cross, the “Spirit
of Christ” speaks of the “life of” the
“Spirit of God” indwelling the believers of
Christ’s body, “the church, which is His body.”
Romans
8:9 But ye are not in the flesh,
but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell IN
YOU. Now if any man have not the SPIRIT OF CHRIST,
he is none of his.
Ephesians
5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of
his bones.
3)
The term “Spirit of Jesus Christ” speaks from the viewpoint
of seeing the Lord as BOTH the uplifted
humanity of Jesus of
Nazareth
and divinity of the resurrected Christ, now in believers as being
their full supply.
Philip
1:19 …this shall turn to my
salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit
of Jesus Christ,
“The Spirit
of Jesus Christ” speaks here of the full supply
that Paul needed in his Roman prison experience. Paul and we need both the uplifted
humanity and the overcoming divinity of Jesus Christ.
“The Spirit”
is our full supply for enduring the situations of life. We need the
resurrected overcoming life of Christ that Paul enjoyed, to be our
supernatural supply. Thankfully, we have that full supply always in us as by “Christ
who is our life” (
Col
3:4; Gal 2:20).
All
the foregoing titles point to the culminated or completed “Spirit of
Christ,” as He is today. He as “the Spirit” is the
fruit of His total experience, with His divine essence as the Son of
God and His human essence as the Son of man. He today is the
God-man who still bears the marks of His experience as seen in His pierced
hands and wounded side.
