The Spirit and the Word by Zachary Taylor Sweeney

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GALATIANS.

3:2. Received ye the Spirit by the 3:3. Having begun in [the]
works of the law, or by the _Spirit_, are ye now
hearing of faith? perfected in the flesh?

3:5. He ... that supplieth to you 4:29. He that was born after the
the Spirit. flesh persecuted him that was born
after [the] _Spirit_.
3:14. That we might receive the
promise of the _Spirit_ 5:5. We through [the]
through faith. _Spirit_ by faith wait for
the hope of righteousness.
4:6. God sent forth the
_Spirit_ of his Son into our 5:16. Walk by [the] Spirit, and ye
hearts. shall not fulfil the lust of the
flesh.
5:17. The flesh lusteth against
the _Spirit_, and the 5:18. If ye are led by [the]
_Spirit_ against the flesh. _Spirit_, ye are not under
the law.
5:22. The fruit of the
_Spirit_ is love, joy, peace. 5:25. If we live by [the]
_Spirit_, by the
6:8. He that soweth unto the _Spirit_ let us also walk.
_Spirit_ shall of the
_Spirit_ reap eternal life.

EPHESIANS.

1:13. Ye were sealed with the Holy 1:17. That God ... may give unto
Spirit of promise. you a spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of
2:18. Through him we both have our him.
access in one Spirit unto the
Father. 2:22. In whom ye also are builded
together for a habitation of God
3:16. That ye may be strengthened in [the] _Spirit_.
with power through his
_Spirit_ in the inward man. 3:5. It hath now been revealed
unto his holy apostles and
4:3. Keep the unity of the prophets in [the] Spirit.
_Spirit_ in the bond of
peace. 5:18. Be filled with [the] Spirit.

4:4. There is one body, and one 6:18. Praying at all seasons in
_Spirit_. [the] _Spirit_.

4:30. Grieve not the Holy Spirit
of God, in whom ye were sealed.

6:17. Take ... the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God.

PHILLIPPIANS.

1:19. The supply of the 2:1. If there is ...any fellowship
_Spirit_ of Jesus Christ. of [the] _Spirit_.

3:3. We are the circumcision, who
worship by [the] _Spirit_ of
God.

COLOSSIANS.

1:8. Who also declared unto us
your love in [the] _Spirit_.

1 THESSALONIANS.

4:8. God, who giveth his Holy 1:5. Our gospel came not unto you
Spirit unto you. in word only, but ...in the Holy
Spirit.
6:19. Quench not the
_Spirit_. 1:6. Having received the word
...with joy of [the] Holy
_Spirit_.

2 THESSALONIANS.

2:13. God chose you ...in
sanctification of [the]
_Spirit_.

1 TIMOTHY.

4:1. The Spirit saith expressly, 3:16. He who was ... justified in
that ... some shall fall away from [the] spirit.
the faith.

4:14. Neglect not the gift that is
in thee.

2 TIMOTHY.

1:7. God gave us not a spirit of
fearfulness; but of power and love
and discipline.

1:14. That good thing ... guard
through [the] Holy Spirit.

TITUS.

3:5. He saved us through the ...
renewing of [the] Holy
_Spirit_.

HEBREWS.

3:7. Wherefore, even as the Holy 2:4. God also bearing witness with
Spirit saith, To-day if ye will them, ... by gifts of [the] Holy
hear his voice. Spirit.

4:3. Even as he hath said. 6:4. Were made partakers of [the]
Holy Spirit.
4:7. He again defineth a certain
day. 9:14. Who through [the] eternal
Spirit offered himself without
9:8. The Holy Spirit this blemish unto God.
signifying.

10:15. The Holy Spirit also
beareth witness to us.

10:29. Hath done despite unto the
_Spirit_ of grace?

JAMES.

4:5. Doth the _Spirit_ which
he made to dwell in us long unto
envying?

1 PETER

1:11. Searching what time ... the 1:2. In sanctification of [the]
Spirit of Christ ... did point _Spirit_.
unto.
1:12. Preached the gospel unto you
3:18. Put to death in the flesh, in [the] Holy Spirit.
but made alive in the spirit.
4:6. Live according to God in
4:14. The Spirit of glory and the [the] spirit.
Spirit of God resteth upon you.

2 PETER

1:21. Men spake from God, being
moved by [the] Holy Spirit.

1 JOHN

2:20. Ye have an anointing from
the Holy One.

2:27. The anointing which ye
received of him abideth in you.

3:24. We know that he abideth in
us by the Spirit which he gave us.

4:2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of
God: Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh is of God.

4:6. By this we know the spirit of
truth, and the spirit of error.

4:13. He hath given us of his
Spirit.

5:7. It is the Spirit that beareth
witness, because the Spirit is the
truth.

5:8. There are three who bear
witness, the Spirit, and the
water, and the blood.

JUDE

19. Having not [the]
_Spirit_.

20. Praying in [the] Holy
_Spirit_.

REVELATION.

1:4. The seven Spirits that are 1:10. I was in [the] _Spirit_
before his throne. on the Lord's day.

2:7. Hear what the Spirit saith to 4:2. Straightway I was in [the]
the churches. _Spirit._

2:17. Hear what the Spirit saith 11:11. The breath of life from God
to the churches. entered into them.

2:29. Hear what the Spirit saith 17:3. He carried me away in [the]
to the churches. _Spirit_ into a wilderness.

3:1. He that hath the seven 21:10. He carried me away in [the]
Spirits of God. _Spirit_ to a mountain.

3:6. Hear what the Spirit saith to
the churches.

3:13. Hear what the Spirit saith
to the churches.

4:5. Seven lamps of fire ... which
are the seven Spirits of God.

5:6. Seven eyes, which are the
seven Spirits of God.

14:13. Yea, saith the Spirit, that
they may rest from their labors.

22:17. The Spirit and the bride
say, Come,

III

THE PERSONALITY AND DIVINITY OF THE SPIRIT

Two views have been entertained concerning the Holy Spirit: (1) That it
is a divine influence proceeding from the Father, an emanation from or
manifestation of the divine, or a mere impersonal force. (2) That he is
a person and active in all the ways of a personality. That the latter
view is the correct and Scriptural one is evident from the following
considerations:

1. HIS WORKS PROCLAIM PERSONALITY.

(1) _He speaks._ "But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times
some shall fall away from the faith" (1 Tim. 4:1). A speaker is a
person; no influence or principle can speak.

(2) _He testifies._ "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send
unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth
from the Father, he shall bear witness of me" (John 15: 26).

(3) _He teaches and quickens the mind._ "But the Comforter, even the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you
all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you"
(John 14:26).

(4) _He guides._ "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye can not
bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall
guide you into all the truth" (John 16: 12, 13).

(5) _He leads and forbids._ "And they went through the region of Phrygia
and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word
in Asia; and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go
into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not" (Acts 16:6,
7).

(6) _He searches._ "But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit:
for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" (1
Cor. 2:10).

In the above passages the Holy Spirit is said to speak, to testify, to
quicken, to teach, to guide disciples, to lead, to forbid and to search.
All these things unite in showing the Holy Spirit to be a person, for
nothing but a person can do them.

2. HE HAS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERSON.

We will mention a few of them:

(1) _Mind._ "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the _mind
of the Spirit_" (Rom. 8:27).

(2) _Knowledge._ "Even so the things of God none knoweth, save the
Spirit of God" (1 Cor. 2:11).

(3) _Affection._ "Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ,
and by the _love of the Spirit_, that ye strive together with me in your
prayers to God for me" (Rom. 15:30).

(4) _Will._ "But all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing
to each one severally even _as he will_" (1 Cor. 12:11).

(5) _Goodness._ "Thou gavest also thy _good Spirit_ to instruct them"
(Neh. 9:20). Goodness, will, affection, knowledge and mind are all
characteristics of a person. By no stretch of the imagination can they
be ascribed to a mere impersonal influence or principle. These five
characteristics form the fingers in the hand of certainty by which we
grasp the personality of the Holy Spirit.

3. HE SUFFERS SLIGHTS AND INJURIES THAT CAN ONLY BE ASCRIBED TO A
PERSONALITY.

(1) _He can be grieved and vexed._ "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of
God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30).
"But they rebelled, and grieved his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned
to be their enemy, and himself fought against them" (Isa. 63:10).

(2) _He can be despited._ "Of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall
he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and
hath counted the blood of the covenant where-with he was sanctified an
unholy thing, and hath _done despite_ unto the Spirit of grace" (Heb.
10:29).

(3) _He can be blasphemed_. "Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and
blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the
Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whosoever shall speak a word against
the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak
against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this
world, nor in that which is to come" (Matt. 12:31, 32).

(4) _He can be resisted_. "Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart
and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit" (Acts 7:51).

(5) _He can be lied unto_. "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan
filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the
price of the land?" (Acts 5:3).

A mere principle can not sustain any of the above slights. Nothing but a
personality can be blasphemed, lied to, resisted or grieved.

4. HE IS A DIVINE PERSONALITY. This will be seen from the following
attributes, which are the attributes of God:

(1) _Eternity_. "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through
the _eternal_ Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse
your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Heb. 9:14).
"Jehovah is great in Zion; And he is high above all the peoples" (Ps.
99:2).

(2) _Omniscience_. "But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit:
for the Spirit _searcheth all things_, yea, the deep things of God. For
who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man,
which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit
of God" (1 Cor. 2:10, 11).

(3) _Omnipotence_. "But as for me, I am full of power _by the Spirit_ of
Jehovah, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his
transgression, and to Israel his sin" (Mic. 3:8).

(4) _Omnipresence_. "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither
shall I flee from thy presence?... Even there shall thy hand lead me,
And thy right hand shall hold me" (Ps. 139:7, 10). "Can any hide himself
in secret places so that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah. Do not I
fill heaven and earth? saith Jehovah" (Jer. 23:24).

5. THE WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MANIFEST DIVINITY.

(1) The work of _creation_. "And the earth was waste and void; and
darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon
the face of the waters" (Gen. 1:2). "By his Spirit the heavens are
garnished; his hand hath pierced the swift serpent" (Job 26:13). "By the
word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the
breath of his mouth" (Ps. 33:6). "The Spirit of God hath made me, And
the breath of the Almighty giveth me life" (Job 33:4).

(2) The work of _providence_. "Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are
created; and thou renewest the face of the ground" (Ps. 104:30).

(3) The work of _regeneration_ and resurrection. "Jesus answered,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). "But if
the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he
that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your
mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Rom. 8:11).

(4) He is the source of the _miraculous._ "But if I by the Spirit of God
cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you" (Matt.
12:28). "To another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of
healing, in the one Spirit; ... but all these worketh the one and the
same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will" (1 Cor.
12:9, 11).

Thus in his works, his characteristics, the things he suffers, his
attributes and his achievements, we have a fivefold cord of testimony
that clearly demonstrates the Spirit's personality and divinity.

IV

THE SPIRIT AND JOHN THE BAPTIST

The first mention of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is in
connection with John the Baptist: "There was in the days of Herod, king
of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and
he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And
they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and
ordinances of the Lord blameless" (Luke 1:5, 6).

This Zacharias was taking his turn in the temple service, and an angel
appeared unto him and announced that in answer to his prayer his wife
Elisabeth should bear a son whose name should be called John; that he
should be great, and should drink no wine nor strong drink, and (Luke
1:15) "he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's
womb"; and "his father Zacharias was _filled with the Holy Spirit_, and
prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he hath
visited and wrought redemption for his people" (Luke 1:67, 68).

And the child John grew and "waxed strong in spirit, and was in the
deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel" (Luke 1:80). His
private life was spent in the desert solitudes, where he was being
strengthened in spirit for the great work God had prepared for him. This
work had been foretold by the Holy Spirit. It spake through Isaiah the
prophet (40:3), saying: "The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the
wilderness the way of Jehovah; make level in the desert a highway for
our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill
shall be made low; and the rough places a plain: and the glory of
Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." Again,
Malachi (3:1) says: "Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare
the way before me."

In fulfillment of these predictions of the Spirit came John the Baptist
in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, preaching the
baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Great multitudes
flocked to his preaching and baptism. Among others came Jesus of
Nazareth, and "on the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,
Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world" (John
1:29). "This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is become
before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not; but that he should
be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing in water.
And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a
dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he
that sent me to baptize in water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou
shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he
that baptizeth in the Holy Spirit. And I have seen, and have borne
witness that this is the Son of God" (John 1:30-34).

The next mention of the Holy Spirit by John the Baptist is in reference
to the baptism in the Holy Spirit and in fire. In order that the reader
may have a clear understanding of this disputed and difficult subject, I
shall present the testimonies of the four Evangelists in parallel
columns [paragraphs]:

MATT. 3:10-12.

And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree
therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into
the fire. I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that
after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he
shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire: whose fan is in his
hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will
gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with
unquenchable fire.

MARK 1:7, 8.

And he preached, saying There cometh after me he that is mightier than
I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
I baptize you in water; but he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

LUKE 3:9, 16, 17.

And even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree
therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into
the fire.... John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you
in water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of
whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose; he shall baptize you in the Holy
Spirit and in fire: whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to cleanse his
threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff
he will burn up with unquenchable fire.

JOHN 1:33.

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize in water, he said
unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and
abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth in the Holy Spirit.

John is preaching to a mixed multitude composed of those who would
accept his teaching and baptism, and of those who would accept neither.
Many the former would become disciples of Jesus and receive the baptism
of the Holy Spirit to qualify them to take up the work of the Master and
carry it on until the church would be established and the gospel fully
revealed to men. The baptism of the Spirit, a purely supernatural thing,
was necessary to qualify them for this work. Others would "reject for
themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized of him." These should
at last "have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and
brimstone." That such a division was meant by John becomes evident if we
examine the context carefully. In the above parallel columns the reader
will observe that Matthew and Luke use the expression "in the Holy
Spirit and in fire." They both use two illustrations to show what is
meant by "in fire." One of the illustrations immediately precedes and
the other immediately follows the expression "in the Holy Spirit and in
fire," seemingly for the specific purpose of guarding against a failure
to understand the expression "in fire." The illustration that precedes
in both instances is: "Therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good
fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire." The illustration that
follows in each instance is: "He will burn up the chaff in unquenchable
fire." With these forcible illustrations to guard the passage, can any
one fail to understand what is meant by the baptism in fire? The reader
will also observe that neither Mark nor John refers to the baptism in
fire, and neither uses any illustration to explain it, because no
illustration is necessary. Where the baptism of fire is used there was
always something destroyed by fire. This interpretation harmonizes with
the universal use of the word "fire" in the New Testament. (1) _In not a
single instance is it used to denote a spiritual blessing conferred upon
the good_. (2) _In not a single instance does it refer to the work of
the Holy Spirit in purifying sinners_. It is connected with judgments,
punishments, fiery indignation, devouring adversaries, consuming, and
even with hell itself; but in no case does it refer to the power of God
in the scheme of redemption to convert and save men.

Neither does the baptism of the Holy Spirit refer to cleansing men from
sin and saving them. _It was not given for that purpose_. This is a
foolish dream born out of the castaway doctrine of the total depravity
of man and his total disability to hear, believe and obey the truth.
Those who claim the baptism of the Holy Spirit to-day claim that it is
the regenerating, converting, purifying power of God. _But the Bible
does not so teach_. In every instance in which the word "purify" is
found in the New Testament it is an act of personal volition--_something
a man must do for himself._ John 11:55: "Now the passover of the Jews
was at hand: and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the
passover, to purify themselves."

Acts 21:24: "These take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges
for them, that they may shave their heads; and all shall know that there
is no truth in the things whereof they have been informed concerning
thee; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, keeping the law."

Acts 21:26: "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself
with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfilment of the days of
purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them."

Jas. 4:8: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your
hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded."

1 Pet. 1:22: "Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to
the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the
heart fervently."

1 John 3:3: "And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth
himself, even as he is pure."

"Men must cleanse themselves from wrong in thought, word and deed, and
purify their souls in obeying the truth. The Bible teaches that this is
God's way of purifying sinners" (_H.R. Pritchard, "Addresses,"_ p. 323).

From this chapter the reader will obtain the following Scripture facts:

1. The Holy Spirit rested on John the Baptist from his mother's womb.

2. The Holy Spirit filled his father Zacharias so that he prophesied.

3. The Holy Spirit bore witness to Jesus by descending and abiding upon
him, enabling John to identify him.

4. John promised a baptism in the Holy Spirit to some of his auditors
and threatened others with a baptism in fire.

1 Pet. 1:11, 12: "Searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit
of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand
the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them. To
whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they
minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through
them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth
from heaven: which things angels desire to look into."

V

THE SPIRIT AND JESUS

The relation sustained by the Holy Spirit to Jesus Christ is a twofold
one. First: He predicted by the holy prophets the great facts in the
life of the coming one. Second: He associated himself with that one
after he came.

1. THE TIME OF HIS COMING WAS CLEARLY FORETOLD. He was to come "in the
last days," or in the end of the Jewish Dispensation. "And it shall come
to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah's house shall
be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above
the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it" (Isa. 2:2).

2. HE WAS TO COME WHILE THE SECOND TEMPLE WAS IN EXISTENCE. "Behold, I
send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord,
whom ye seek, will suddenly come _to his temple_; and the messenger of
the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts"
(Mal. 3:1).

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