Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org
Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. Adam Clarke XI.—THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT.—As every pious soul that believed in the coming Messiah, through the medium of the sacrifices offered up under the law, was made a partaker of the merit of his death, so every pious soul that believes in Christ crucified is made a partaker of the Holy Spirit. It is by this Spirit that sin is made known, and by it the blood of the covenant is applied; and, indeed, without this the want of salvation cannot be discovered, nor the value of the blood of the covenant duly estimated. From the foundation of the church of God it was ever believed by his followers that there were certain infallible tokens by which he discovered to genuine believers his acceptance of them and of their services. This was sometimes done by a fire from heaven consuming the sacrifice; sometimes by an oracular communication to the priest or prophet; and at other times, according to the Jewish account, by changing the fillet or cloth on the head of the scape goat from scarlet to white: but most commonly, and especially under the gospel dispensation, he gives this assurance to true believers by the testimony of his Spirit in their consciences that he has forgiven their iniquities, transgressions, and sins for His sake who has carried their griefs and borne their sorrows. "The Spirit itself"—that same Spirit, the Spirit of adoption; that is, the Spirit who witnesses this adoption; which can be no other than the Holy Ghost himself, and certainly cannot mean any disposition or affection of mind which the adopted person may feel; for such a disposition must arise from a knowledge of this adoption, and the knowledge of this adoption cannot be known by any human or earthly means; it must come from God himself. "With our spirit"—in our understanding, the place or recipient of light and information; and the place or faculty to which such information can properly be brought. This is done that we may have the
highest possible evidence of the work which God has wrought. As the window is the proper medium to let the light of the sun into our apartments, so the understanding is the proper medium of conveying the Spirit's influence to the soul. We therefore have the utmost evidence of the fact of our adoption which we can possibly have: we have the word and Spirit of God, and the word sealed on our spirit by the Spirit of God. And this is not a momentary influx: if we take care to walk with God, and not grieve the Holy Spirit, we shall have an abiding testimony; and while we continue faithful to our adopting Father, the Spirit that witnesses that adoption will continue to witness it; and hereby we shall know that we are of God by the Spirit which he giveth us. "The same Spirit," viz., the Spirit that witnesses of our adoption and sonship, makes intercession for us. Surely, if the apostle had designed to teach us that he meant our own sense and understanding by the Spirit, he never could have spoken in a manner in which plain common sense was never likely to comprehend his meaning. Besides, how can it be said that our own spirit, our filial disposition, bears witness with our own spirit; that our own spirit helps the infirmities of our own spirit; that our own spirit teaches our own spirit that of which it is ignorant; and that our own spirit maketh intercession for our spirit, with groanings unutterable? This would have been both incongrouous and absurd. We must, therefore, understand these places of that help and influence which the followers of God receive from the Holy Ghost; and consequently of the fulfilment of the various promises relative to this point which our Lord made to his disciples. This Holy Spirit is sent forth to witness with their spirit. He is to bear his testimony where it is absolutely necessary,—where it can be properly discovered,—where it can be fully understood, and where it cannot be mistaken:—viz., in their hearts; or, as St. Paul says, "the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit:" the Spirit of God with the spirit of man—spirit with spirit—intelligence with intelligence; the testimony given and received by the same kind of agency: a spiritual agent in a spiritual substance.
- Page 103 and 104: sin has been denied by many, while
- Page 105 and 106: Men may amuse themselves by arguing
- Page 107 and 108: nature and dignity of that God agai
- Page 109 and 110: according to the plain construction
- Page 111 and 112: Moses and in the evangelists; there
- Page 113 and 114: THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST—We must
- Page 115 and 116: Christ alone was Prophet, Priest, a
- Page 117 and 118: Christ will never accommodate his m
- Page 119 and 120: Christ's agony and distress can rec
- Page 121 and 122: and if only many and not all have f
- Page 123 and 124: and the whole world is about to be
- Page 125 and 126: JESUS! be thou the centre to which
- Page 127 and 128: Christ's sake has forgiven him his
- Page 129 and 130: alone pardon his guilt: but no dish
- Page 131 and 132: necessary effect; and suffering can
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- Page 135 and 136: it may, and must, in many cases, be
- Page 137 and 138: as they list, but these truths of G
- Page 139 and 140: his word and his Spirit; and learn
- Page 141 and 142: himself and of his designs, either
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- Page 145 and 146: offerings of eternal goodness, and
- Page 147 and 148: To forsake all, without following C
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- Page 153: or pardon of all past sin, through
- Page 157 and 158: man's reason, fancy, or imagination
- Page 159 and 160: those who had every advantage which
- Page 161 and 162: night of spiritual affliction, and
- Page 163 and 164: has it from its own direct witness.
- Page 165 and 166: mankind, with all the fruits of a h
- Page 167 and 168: When reconciled to God, and thus br
- Page 169 and 170: man cannot be operated on in this w
- Page 171 and 172: thought; together with every idea w
- Page 173 and 174: Love is the means of preserving all
- Page 175 and 176: ing it on the first day of the week
- Page 177 and 178: laws of nature, the principles of w
- Page 179 and 180: Nor does it cast out that fear whic
- Page 181 and 182: sanctity. I have known such persons
- Page 183 and 184: In examining this grand subject far
- Page 185 and 186: 3. LIVING HOPE.—The hope that liv
- Page 187 and 188: The presumptuous person imagines he
- Page 189 and 190: that image and likeness of God whic
- Page 191 and 192: elievers, under the name of Christi
- Page 193 and 194: frequently under a dense mask, and
- Page 195 and 196: above described. They were men of t
- Page 197 and 198: to be slothful, and unfaithful to t
- Page 199 and 200: e filled with all the fulness of Go
- Page 201 and 202: things to heart, and answer this qu
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highest possible evidence of the work which God has wrought. As the<br />
window is the proper medium to let the light of the sun into our<br />
apartments, so the understanding is the proper medium of conveying the<br />
Spirit's influence to the soul. We therefore have the utmost evidence of<br />
the fact of our adoption which we can possibly have: we have the word<br />
and Spirit of God, and the word sealed on our spirit by the Spirit of God.<br />
And this is not a momentary influx: if we take care to walk with God, and<br />
not grieve the Holy Spirit, we shall have an abiding testimony; and while<br />
we continue faithful to our adopting Father, the Spirit that witnesses that<br />
adoption will continue to witness it; and hereby we shall know that we<br />
are of God by the Spirit which he giveth us.<br />
"The same Spirit," viz., the Spirit that witnesses of our adoption and<br />
sonship, makes intercession for us. Surely, if the apostle had designed to<br />
teach us that he meant our own sense and understanding by the Spirit, he<br />
never could have spoken in a manner in which plain common sense was<br />
never likely to comprehend his meaning. Besides, how can it be said that<br />
our own spirit, our filial disposition, bears witness with our own spirit;<br />
that our own spirit helps the infirmities of our own spirit; that our own<br />
spirit teaches our own spirit that of which it is ignorant; and that our own<br />
spirit maketh intercession for our spirit, with groanings unutterable? This<br />
would have been both incongrouous and absurd. We must, therefore,<br />
understand these places of that help and influence which the followers of<br />
God receive from the Holy Ghost; and consequently of the fulfilment of<br />
the various promises relative to this point which our Lord made to his<br />
disciples.<br />
This Holy Spirit is sent forth to witness with their spirit. He is to bear<br />
his testimony where it is absolutely necessary,—where it can be properly<br />
discovered,—where it can be fully understood, and where it cannot be<br />
mistaken:—viz., in their hearts; or, as St. Paul says, "the Spirit itself<br />
beareth witness with our spirit:" the Spirit of God with the spirit of<br />
man—spirit with spirit—intelligence with intelligence; the testimony<br />
given and received by the same kind of agency: a spiritual agent in a<br />
spiritual substance.
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