The Exiled Preacher, Guy Davies, has one of his "ten things" list up again. This time its a list of Ten things on Christian spirituality . They are all good but this one in particular is what I keep trying to say over and over about the Holy Spirit:
"3. Christian spirituality is rooted in the believer's union with Christ. We participate in the fruits of his atoning death and mighty resurrection. In Christ, we are forgiven and put right with God. The believer has been crucified with Christ to the old life in sin and raised with him to the new life of holiness. The risen Christ dwells in the hearts of his people by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's task is not to draw attention to himself, but to glorify Christ and communicate his life-transforming presence. The goal of Christian spirituality is that the believer should be conformed to the image of God's own Son. "(My bold)
So enjoy the list here.
4 comments:
Sheldon Sorge, PhD (formerly Assoc. for Worship & Theology) preached a Pentecost sermon about the Spirit as the Left Hand of God. He shared a pentecostal/charismatic background with me. We'd both come to Presbyterianism the same way: disturbed by what we'd later learn was neo-Montanism. He said that anytime someone is talking all about the Spirit, it's because they've relegated the Word / Logos to a static form that has lost the power to transform. Unfortunately, the testimony of Jesus Christ is that the Spirit would bring about change precisely by bringing to mind the words of the Word.
Dr. Sorge went on to say that anyone who is focused on the Spirit is most often dissatisfied by the simplicity of the Word. The Spirit exists to exalt the Son...to bear testimony to His Sonship and the adoption we have as sons. The Spirit doesn't make itself the locus of change, but instead uses the Gospel (the story of the Word written in the Word) to transform us.
Solid advice for times when so many are trying to be prophetic and live guided by the Spirit (without testing the spirits according to their agreement with the Word written).
Excellent Chris,
This is all so good. "Anyone who is focused on the Spirit is most often dissatisfied by the simplicity of the Word. The Spirit exists to exalt the Son...to bear testimony to His Sonship and the adoption we have as sons."
I am fearful sometimes that some Progressives have become interested in the Pentecostals for this very reason. They have become "dissatisfied by the simplicity of the Word." And I don't mean by this that all Pentecostals are like that --but some are.
Excellent, Chris.
That is exactly it. The Spirit ALWAYS exalts the Son. Whatever spirit does not do this is not the Holy Spirit. That is crystal clear.
People seek the other 'spirit' because they are discontent with Jesus Christ.
[Although honestly, this is the same impetus behind the success of many 'evangelical' fads - the Prayer of Jabez, PDL, etc. People are far more inclined to look for 'steps to success' or a business plan or new 'revelations' or 'enlightenments' because the Gospel doesn't give them what they want. Among other things: ways to be elite, ways to have material possessions, ways to get their way, political support, etc.]
Will,
You're SPOTT on (pun intended). The Spirit of Adoption calls the first person of the Trinity "Abba" (Father/Daddy). The Spirit of Christ sanctifies us by helping us proclaim that Jesus is Lord (over the church and over our life, as well as Lord over all).
Those who tamper with this language of Christ's Lordship and the eternal paternity of the Father - all in the name of following the "spirit" - need to be helped by mature, discerning Christians.
Post a Comment