Jesus and the Holy Spirit
Reading the typology of the Old Testament and applying it in the light of revelation would be fraught with danger and would become the territory of every lunatic if we did not have Jesus Christ as our light.
In coming to earth in human flesh, visible to the eyes of every man, seen, touched and enthroned on the pages of scripture by his chosen, anointed Apostles, God closed the door on speculation.
When we look at Jesus Christ we see many things, and many aspects of God's plan. The writer of Hebrews even calls Jesus "the brightness of [God's] glory, and the express image of his person". (Heb 1:3) Paul says He is the "image of the invisible God" (Col 1:15). Theologians would like to limit Jesus' usefulness in understanding God, but the Apostles knew no other laboratory apparatus for observing God's nature or power. He is called God's "right arm" by the prophets, and the "Almighty" by John. To imagine that there is a better place to look for evidence and understanding of the operation of the Spirit of God than in Jesus is foolishness.
The revelation of Jesus Christ expressly involves the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) from the beginning. When the Messiah is prophesied, it is understood that God's Spirit would empower Him.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. - Isa 42:1
Though we see God referring to "his servant" in third person, we do understand that the messiah is in fact the "Ancient of Days", by whom all things are made. Very little classical Christian theology would not make the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ to be an individual who did not have access to the Spirit (English for the Greek "pneuma" of the Hebrew "breath"). That is to say that this passage from Isaiah and others like it cannot be used to imagine a mortal Messiah who is first touched by the Holy Spirit through divine transformation.
Furthermore, the advent of the "Christ Child" occurs when the Holy Spirit, also called the power of the Highest, overshadows the virgin Mary. Evidently, the Spirit is the Father (or progenitor) of the child Jesus. The angel declares that the name of the child shall be Emanuel, and Jesus. Obviously heaven knew the plan that the immanent God would be called "God with us" by men, and would save HIS people from their sins. When God imparted life into Mary, that life was the life of God. Notice that the scripture writer takes time to repeat the angels instruction that that the life originates in the Holy Spirit. If Jesus had life, it was the life of the Holy Spirit, the deity, or "father" concealed within the Messiah (see 2Cor 5:19)
Man vs. Spirit The main purpose of this pamphlet is not to deal with the nature of God, but it is necessary to stop by these old landmarks for a moment.
To understand the relationship of the character of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and the concept of the Holy Spirit in scripture, three truths must be laid down and held to:
- Jesus Christ, no matter what else he was, was a mortal man by the design of God's eternal plan. The Savior could not ultimately fulfill the role of Savior unless he was mortal.
- God is a Spirit. When the scriptures refer to the Spirit of God, it refers to God projecting and acting in His creation. When the scriptures refer to Holy Spirit, they are referring to the Supreme Deity (God), often demonstrating power in some way in our world.
- Mankind, generated by mankind, is corrupt and could not serve as a Savior.
The problem which many theologians of the Christian tradition find difficult is to reconcile these facts and conclude with Jesus Christ in the place of supreme deity as the Apostles preach.
Following these principles we understand:
- When God speaks of the messiah, or anointed one, which we find is also to be the Savior of mankind, God is referring to a mortal man. Of course we also realize that no mortal man could be found who would have the needed characteristics to accomplish God's will in bearing the sin, and leading out the captivity from spiritual bondage.
- Thus, we understand that the messiah must also have identity drawn from outside the fallen creation. But, this presents a paradox, for God says "there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me". (Isa 45:21). Though mortal, the Messiah is not of mortal origin.
- When the true God is referred to, He cannot be considered without considering His Spirit, any more than a human person can be divided from his spirit.
There are three important truths found when we hold to these principles. We might be puzzled by the third person language of the Bible regarding the Messiah, and we might puzzle as to the great mystery of godliness ("..without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.." 1 Tim 3:16), God's description of his anointing a human messiah with His Spirit does NOT mean:
- The Messiah is not God
- The Messiah is God but is distinct from the Spirit of God. Again, though the Spirit of God could be referred to separately, as can that of a man, it cannot be separated in reality from the Deity.
- The anointing of Spirit of God imparts deity into the Messiah
Jesus Christ at the Jordan Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. - Luke 3:21-22
In truth, Jesus Christ did not become Deity at the Jordan river while being baptized by John. However, some have ventured that Jesus Christ actually received the power of deity when this sign was recorded by John the Baptizer (1:32). There are a number of reasons for this error which we will examine, but lets look at the grotesque consequences of this derivation of kenosis. Some have even said "Jesus was the first "born again believer".
The idea that Jesus became deity at Jordan is very dire, and has completely destructive impact on good doctrine.
- The one who imagines this cannot worship Jesus Christ without worshipping a demigod, and being guilty of idolatry, an abomination in the eyes of God. God is not a "begetter of gods", for God has always been and always will be One. The scriptures are plain that God is One, and when we were created it was in the image of God. We have one personality, and are one in mind, one in spirit and one in body. Until we can beget offspring and someone count them as economically one with their parents, the idea of Jesus "becoming God" is simply absurd. However, if this notion is allowed, the believer is virtually Mormon in his understanding of godhead.
- If Jesus could be deified, then anyone could be deified. Many cults believe that that humanity can become merged with identity of deity through a gift of God. This is an aberration. While God is implanting the word and giving birth to children of God through the church, the children of God who are partakers of the divine nature (2Peter 1:4) are not deity. They are redeemed humanity. We ought to be careful in this, knowing that Satan fell in assuming equivalence with God.
- A departure from the identification of Jesus Christ as God manifest in the flesh results in the removal of restrictions from worship of men and angels in whom the power of deity is purposed to dwell. When Satan came to Jesus seeking worship, Jesus responded from scripture "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.".
When John heard the voice of God through an angel of the Lord, he was inclined to worship him, but it met with reproof: "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not : I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev 19:10) If Jesus is just another "anointed one", we might as well become pantheists and worship the deity in one another.
Several things ought to be plain:
- When the sign and vision occurred, God's omnipresent Spirit was not limited to the space of a wingspan over the Son of God. This was a SIGN, speaking to the observers and ultimately to the scripture reader, that Jesus was anointed of God, and the miracles and signs He did would be accomplished by the power of God. This also tells us that the same power can be communicated to a follower of Jesus Christ, in a similar way.
- Jesus Christ did not receive the Spirit of God here, that is, Jesus did not receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost in this event. There were notable differences. For example, the Spirit did not enter Him, but appeared to rest upon Him. Jesus did not speak in tongues, as the recipients in the upper room. The principle one is this however: Jesus Christ did not suddenly receive the Spirit of God. Jesus already had a spirit, and though he was fully human (i.e. he had a human spirit), the Spirit of God (i.e. Deity) was already resident within Him. To imagine Jesus without the Spirit of God is to imagine Jesus without life.
Retaining good Biblical doctrine, we can make the following declarations!
In the humanity of Jesus Christ is the perfect model for every believer.
Yes, Jesus Christ lived in this world, limiting His omnipotent power to the degree that He actually was tempted as we are, and also resisted temptation using no power that is not accessible to the believer. While Jesus Christ was fully deity, His life is the life of the perfect Son of God. No Christian ought to rejoice in his inheritance as a son of God without also knowing that Jesus established the proof that mortal man can resist sin, through the Spirit of God. The power to overcome was not engendered in Jesus flesh, but in the word of God, and through His spirit. This same power is available to us. Similarly, ministry of Jesus Christ originates in the power that He gives, not in our talents, and therefor it need not be hindered by our limitations.
Some have said that no miracles were done by Jesus before Cana, saying that this was the first miracle, but the Bible says it was the "beginning of miracles". Before this Jesus had seen Nathanael under the fig tree, and had obviously long impressed the scholars at the temple with wisdom that exceeded explanation.
No child of God will ever be greater than the Master who first walked in submission to the will of God, but no child of God will ever have less provision for his or her Christian victory. Our battles are fought in repetition of those which He has already prevailed in, and the great work expected of us is cited as simply "believing on Him who [God] has sent" - (John 6:29). Following Jesus cannot be considered more tedious or less possible than actually being the Trail Blazer.
Jesus Christ was fully God from His birth.
Due to the error of regarding Jesus as a secondary Deity, some have implied that Jesus was no more God than the lowliest man or woman at the time of His birth. We understand that some desire to promote this idea so as to put themselves and followers of their error in line for inheritance of deity. However, we see that at the time of His birth, innumerable angels of God attended and worshipped Him. The wise of the earth came bearing gifts. The Bible says that Jesus Christ is given the highest name (Php 2:11), and is also given "all power in Heaven and earth" (Matt 28:18). Either Elohim, the God of Abraham, has approved that man should worship Him, the true God alone in this tabernacle, or God has demoted Himself and now recognizes another god.
Questions and Answers Question: Was Jesus' power imparted by and enabled through the Holy Ghost experience at Jordan ?
Answer: It depends what power is in question. Regarding the ministry and life which we are to emulate, yes. Regarding the demonstration to man that God had manifest in the flesh and was to be sought and worshipped in Jesus Christ? No. Jesus Christ was not a normal human being, but Jesus did nothing to prevent us from the hope that we can live a life of power and victory, with the anointing of the Holy Ghost. It is not implied that any child of God will ever become equated in stature to "The Everlasting Father".
Question: Did Jesus Christ work miracles only through the anointing?
Answer: Some have said, "It was the anointing of God on Jesus that healed people, not the fact that he was the Son of God." They go on to say that Jesus' flesh and blood body did not have the power to heal, any more than yours or mine. This is true, but it utterly wrong to assume that Jesus was "just flesh and blood" before the Jordan experience. When the seventy returned from the mission of casting out devils and healing (Luke 10), they exclaimed that even the devils were subject to them, not through the anointing, but through Jesus' name. The text records that the disciples here were appointed, not anointed.
Question: Is there any limit to what the anointing can accomplish in a human life ?
Answer: Yes. Our works may exceed the works that Jesus did within 3½ years in some measure (perhaps cumulatively, and perhaps in terms of audience). However, we will not exceed the stature or majesty of Jesus the Christ. Asked about the timing of God's program before his ascension, Jesus said "… It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." Humanity will never have access to any knowledge that God has forbidden of man. No anointing of wisdom will ever do anything that removes a person from the authority of the Living God.
Question: Since the word Christ means "anointed", can I become Sara Christ, or Ricky Christ, in the same way that Jesus was called Jesus Christ, as He was anointed?
Answer: I think this question illustrates the problem with the teaching that we are addressing. Some have pointed out that "Christ was not Jesus' last name, rather it was a title spotlighting Jesus of Nazareth as one who was anointed. Of course this is true, but the implication does not follow that the promised anointing received by a believer makes him a Christ. Its obvious that such a departure enters into blasphemy. The implication from this teaching is that Jesus received the title at Jordan, but the scriptures declare otherwise. The angel announced his birth saying "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Jesus was Christ the Lord in his incarnation.
Jesus was not only anointed with power as witnessed when John saw the sign, whether an actual imparting of power took place at this moment or not. Remember that another purpose of anointing is appointment, identification and selection. Prophet Micah sees Jesus appointed as Messiah long before the incarnation "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, … out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting ." (Micah 5:2)
The Bible makes it clear that the Lamb was slain from the foundations of the world (Rev 13:18). When the veil lifted for a moment, and Peter perceived that Jesus was the Christ (Matt 16:16) he was seeing the eternal plan of God, and glimpsing the one who was always appointed to be Savior of His people. One might ask "by whom ?", but it is clear that the plan, or logos of God was with God from the beginning (John 1:1).
Question: How significant is the term, in the scripture?
Answer: 151 times in scripture (18 times in the NT), anointing is mentioned.
Jesus Christ, the Anointed of God, the Christ. Ac 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
In Jesus Christ, the plan of God to deliver mankind is fulfilled. Jesus is anointed (or chosen) of God as the One and only Christ of God to deliver salvation. To that end God's plan called for anointing humanity with the Holy Ghost, first in the only begotten Son, and then in the believing children of the Kingdom.
Anointing is a method of blessing to change mankind by causing his destiny, being and experience to come miraculously in touch with the divine. Anointing equips humanity to work with eternal purpose, reflecting the intent of the Creator God.
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