Many Christians have either heard, or even muttered, the phrase, "The Holy Spirit is the forgotten person of the Trinity." This assertion misses the real problem in the church today, a problem not extant in generations past. Christians know about the Holy Spirit, but, unlike the Father or the Son, they don't really know who the Holy Spirit is. In this message, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson purposes to remove this ignorance by exploring the questions of the identity of the Spirit, the nature of His character, how we, as Christians, may come to know and have fellowship with Him, and more.
Order from Chaos
Message 1
Sinclair Ferguson
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Who Is the Holy Spirit?
The Face of God
Sinclair Ferguson
Many people have claimed at various times and in various ways that the God of the Old Testament is not the same God as the God of the New Testament. Sadly, this assertion misunderstands the nature and purposes of God. God is immutable: He does not change in His nature, character, will, or purposes. Nonetheless, He has chosen to reveal His person and plans progressively in the history of redemption through His Spirit. This does not mean that the Spirit did not reveal the face of God at all in the Old Testament. On the contrary, the Old Testament reveals that the Spirit disclosed the very personal nature of our Lord to His people throughout the old covenant while pointing forward to the fullness of this disclosure in Jesus Christ.
The Spirit of the Lord
Sinclair Ferguson
It is tempting to understand the Spirit as an impersonal force fulfilling the purposes of God mechanically. However, the Scriptures paint a different picture, and they portray the Spirit as anything but impersonal. The third person of the Trinity is personal, and His role in the life and ministry of Jesus attests to this fact. The Spirit is the lifelong companion and friend of Jesus, and the two were never, nor ever will be, apart. This revelation is marvelous, and our wonder should increase as we consider Jesus' role in sending His Spirit, His companion and friend, to dwell with us.
Dwelling Within
Sinclair Ferguson
The temptations endured by Jesus in the wilderness are remarkable accounts of Jesus' righteous fortitude in the face of the most trying conditions. Having received the approval of the Father and the anointing of the Spirit at His baptism, Jesus, debilitated and suffering, succeeded where our forefather, the first Adam, failed, setting the stage for a ministry that would lead to His victory in the resurrection. However, Jesus did not undergo these trials alone, but He received the ministrations and support of His companion, the Holy Spirit, the same person who led Jesus into the wilderness. The Spirit orchestrated these events and assisted Jesus in order that He might rebuke the Devil and move into His rightful position as our Savior.