You will observe that certain things which are attributed to the Holy Spirit, are also attributed to the word of God. The conclusion best drawn from this observation, is that the Spirit accomplishes certain things through the word which he inspired. So it is just as true to say that the word accomplishes these things, as it is to say that the Spirit accomplishes them.

Four general ideas:

• The call of the Spirit
• The life-giving Spirit
• The sanctification of the Spirit
• The power of the Spirit

I think you will agree with me, that the above list sets out a very large and important part of the Holy Spirit's work. Yet in all these things we find the Holy Spirit acting through the word.

The Spirit, the Bible, and Prayer

God communicates with us through his word, and we communicate with God through prayer. The gift of the Holy Spirit operates within this system. Everything that the Bible says about the gift, work, and seal of the Spirit, the Bible also places within the mechanism of Bible study and prayer. To the extent that we give diligence in Bible study and in prayer, to that extent are we filled with the Spirit.

The Spirit Working Through the Word

The comparisons made below, indicate that the Holy Spirit does not work in us directly apart from his word, but rather works in us through his word. However this does not mean that the word alone does these things without the Spirit.

To illustrate, when I say "I am hammering in a nail" it is true that both I and the hammer are driving in the nail. I am driving in the nail with the hammer as my means and instrument, and I do not drive in the nail without the hammer, not the hammer without me.

The Comparisons

The Call of the Spirit

The call of the Spirit comes through the word.

• The Spirit convicts (Jhn 16:8), The word convicts (2Tm 4:2, Acts 2:37)
• The Spirit calls (Rev 22:17), The word calls (2Th 2:14)
• The Spirit produces faith (Gal 5:22,25), The word produces faith (Rom 10:17)

The life-giving Spirit

The Spirit regenerates us through the word

• The Spirit gives life (Jhn 6:63), The word gives life (Jhn 6:63, Psa 119:50)
• Born again of the Spirit (Jhn 3:5), Born again of the word (1Pe 1:23)

Sanctification of the Spirit

The Spirit sanctifies and saves through the word

• Washed by the Spirit (1Co 6:11), Washed by the word (Eph 5:26)
• Sanctified by the Spirit (1Co 6:11), Sanctified by the word (Jhn 17:17)
• Justified by the Spirit (1Co 6:11), Saved from wrath by the word (Jas 1:21)

The power of the Spirit

The Spirit empowers us through the word

• Made free by the Spirit (Rom 8:2), Made free by the word (Jhn 8:32)
• Strengthened by the Spirit (Eph 3:16), Strengthened by the word (Acts 20:32)

These comparisons make it clear that the Spirit is not acting without the word, and the word is not acting without the Spirit. Rather the Spirit is acting through the word.

Home | Bible Topics | The Hub | List | Next