_A Summary of the Christian Faith by Henry Eyster Jacobs, D.D., LL.D Copyright, 1905, BY THE BOARD OF PUBLICATION OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA. Chapter XVI. Pages 183-186 -------------------- CHAPTER XVI. THE MISSION OF THE HOLY GHOST. 1. _What is the second item in the Plan of Redemption_? As stated above (Chapter IX, 20), the first item was the incarnation and mediatorial work of the Son of God. This has been considered. The second item, to which we now come is the special mission of the Holy Ghost to apply the fruits of this mediatorial office. 2. _Repeat a few passages of Scripture in which this is taught_. John 7:39--"The Spirit was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified." 14:16--"I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth." 16:7--"If I go not away, the Comforter will not come; but if I go, I will send him unto your," etc. Acts 1:8--"Ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." --------------------End of Page 183-------------------- 3. _How are these passages to be explained_? Not as though the Holy Ghost had not always been omnipresent. But just as God had different modes of presence and the Son of God, notwithstanding His omni- presence came into the world in a peculiar way when He became incarnate, so the coming of the Holy Ghost refers to a higher stage of His gracious efficacy. 4. _But was He not present with the godly of the Old Testament, and was He not active also during the min- istry of Jesus_? Undoubtedly. The Psalmist (Ps. 51:11) prays that the Holy Spirit be not taken from him. In 2 Sam. 23:2, David declares that the Spirit spoke through him, as also 2 Peter 1:21 teaches when it says that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." So the Spirit descended upon Christ at His baptism (John 1:32), and Christ had preached to Nicodemus the neces- sity of the new birth of the Spirit (John 3:5). But the reference here is to the presence of the Spirit with His gifts in highest measure. Before Pentecost, His gracious presence had been sporadic and occasional; then He came to abide with believers forever (John 14:16), and to enter into a closer and more inner relation with them (Heb. 8:10), through a clearer, wider and more forcible presentation of the Gospel. 5. _Upon what did this mission depend_? Upon the ascension of Christ to the Right Hand of God. Acts 2:32--"Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the gift of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this." 6. _Does not this refer, however, to the miracle of Pentecost_? The miraculous signs of His coming and presence at Pentecost were one thing; the coming and presence them- --------------------End of Page 184-------------------- selves were another. The peculiar presence in which He came was permanent and never withdrawn. John 14:16--"That he may be with you forever." 7. _How was this stated in the Reformation period_? "`Not yet given' means not that He did not then exert in His nature, or in heaven, but that He was not present then in His revelation or His works. For it is the pecu- liar office and work of the Holy Ghost to reveal and glo- rify Christ, and to testify concerning Him. But this office was still in the future, viz., the preaching of forgive- ness of sins, and how we are redeemed from death, and have comfort and joy in Christ. All this that now belongs to us was unheard of at that time. That salvation, right- eousness, joy and life are ours through Christ, no one knew.... It was the old preaching, viz., that of the Law, that was heard, concerning which we have often declared that the preaching of Law and Gospel must be distinguished. For if the Law is preached it causes sin; it is sorry and dry preaching, and makes hearts and con- sciences hungry, terrified, troubled, and athirst so that they sigh for God's grace. Such preaching continues until Christ rises from the dead and is glorified" (Luther, on John 7:39). "He speaks comparatively, just as when the New is op- posed to the Old Testament. God promises His Spirit to the believing, as though this had never been given the fathers. Undoubtedly the disciples had received already the first-fruits of the Spirit. Whence their faith save from the Spirit? Therefore, the Evangelist does not absolutely deny that the grace of the Spirit had been offered before Christ's death, but that it was not so clear and conspicuous as it would be afterward. For it is the chief adornment of Christ's Kingdom, that, by His Spirit, He governs the Church. But when He ascended to the Right Hand of the Father, He assumed the righteous --------------------End of Page 185-------------------- and as it were formal possession of His kingdom. It is no wonder, then, that He deferred the full offer of the Spirit, until this time. Nevertheless one question remains to be considered, viz., as to whether He means here the visible graces of the Spirit, or regeneration, the fruit of adoption. My answer is: In these visible gifts, as in a mirror, the Spirit appeared, who had been promised by the coming of Christ; nevertheless the proper subject here treated is the virtue of the Spirit, whereby we are regen- erated and made new creatures in Christ" (Calvin, on same passage). 8. _What is the Confessional declaration on this sub- ject_? "Afterward He ascended into heaven, that He might sit at the right hand of the Father, and forever reign and have dominion over all creatures, and sanctify them that believe in Him, by sending the Holy Ghost into their hearts, to rule, comfort and quicken them, and to defend them against the devil and the power of sin" (Augsburg Confession, Art. III). --------------------End of Chapter on Page 186-------------------- This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by William Alan Larson and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (260) 452-2123 Fax: (260) 452-2126