A STUDY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part Eleven)

By Bob Myhan

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit have always worked together; they have always been “One” in nature and purpose. In the physical creation the Father initiated, the Son executed and the Spirit completed. (Gen. 1:1; John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:1-2; Col. 1:15-16; Gen. 1:2). In the spiritual creation, also, the Father initiated, the Son executed and the Spirit completed (Eph. 1:3-14; 3:9-12; 1 Peter 1:18-21; John 16:13; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:9-10). The physical creation began by direct operation of God but continues by the operation of physical laws established at its beginning. The spiritual creation likewise began by direct operation of God but it continues by the operation of spiritual laws established at its beginning.

In the physical realm each living thing brings forth “according to its kind” for the seed of each living thing is in itself (Gen. 1:11-25) but in the spiritual realm “the seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). Even during the infancy of the Lord’s church, the Holy Spirit carried out His work of conviction, conversion and sanctification by means of the word of God, which he revealed and confirmed through the preaching and writing of the apostles and prophets. No one was ever convicted, converted or sanctified who had not both heard and understood the word of God, which is why Satan labors so hard to prevent its being heard and/or understood.

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.” (Matt. 13:3-4)

"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.” (Matt. 13: 18-19)

“Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” (Luke 8:12)

Likewise, no one ever grew “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18) who did not have a spiritual appetite.

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:1-3).

One must also be motivated to act in accordance with the word of God.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25)

Those who go beyond the word of God do not have God abiding in them.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9)

By comparing Paul’s epistle to Colosse with his epistle to Ephesus, one sees that to “let the word of Christ dwell in you” is to “be filled with the Spirit.”

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Col. 3:16)

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Eph. 5:18-19).

The apostle to the Gentiles also wrote that Christ dwells in our hearts through, or on the condition of, faith.

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Eph. 3:14-17).

The Father and the Holy Spirit also dwell in our hearts through faith, or they dwell in our hearts whether we have faith or not.

[To be continued]

DIVINE PROVIDENCE (Part Six)

Providence and Civil Government

By Bob Myhan

Paul wrote, in Romans 13:1-6, that God had ordained “the governing authorities.” But when did God do so? He did so in His statement to Noah after the flood.

"Whoever sheds man's blood,

By man his blood shall be shed;

For in the image of God He made man” (Gen. 9:1-6)

In the above statement God implicitly authorized at least two branches of civil government - executive and judicial. The former would have the twofold responsibility of investigating suspicious deaths and executing those convicted of murder. The latter would be responsible for determining the guilt of murder suspects.

Not only did God ordain civil government but He is also active therein.

“...He removes kings and raises up kings” (Dan. 2:21).

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." (Rom. 9:17)

“So I will take you [Jeroboam, son of Nebat-bjm], and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel. Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.” (1 Kings 11:37-38)

The nations accomplish God’s purposes (Acts 4:25-28) though He does not force them to do good or evil (Jer. 18:7-10).

God has used civil governments in the accomplishment of His eternal purpose. He worked among them, indirectly ruling them through their several kings. He used Israel to disseminate the knowledge of God and to preserve the seed of Abraham until “the fullness of the times.” He used other nations to punish Israel when they deserved to be punished, though He never violated the free will of any ruler.

[To be continued]