From the Heart of the Pastor

This is the final block devoted to the Trinity.  I hope these last few articles have caused us to think more carefully about the wonderful, glorious Trinity.  God is the one and only one God, having three eternal persons of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Another way of saying this is that God is one in essence in three distinct persons.   In hindsight, maybe to tackle the issue of the Trinity in a church newsletter was a little overambitious.  As I look over what we have concluded in these last couple of months, it is clear we haven’t even scratched the surface of the depth of this doctrine.  We have considered how God is one.  We have considered how God is three by seeing that the Father is God and the Son is God.  One person remains, the Holy Spirit.  Do we know that there is a third person of the Trinity, known as the Spirit?  Yes, the Bible is clear.  Is this one called the Spirit just another way of referring to the Father?  No, he is a third person of the Trinity?  What is the role of the Holy Spirit?  He is a helper and a comforter.

          Having an entire article devoted to the Holy Spirit is ironic in itself.  We are shining the spotlight on the Holy Spirit, and that is precisely what he never wants in Scripture.  Everywhere we read of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament he is pointing to Jesus.  He doesn’t enjoy the spotlight, rather he wants to be behind the scenes giving Jesus the spotlight.  Bruce Ware, a brilliant theologian, has said, “In creation, redemption, and consummation, he willingly accepts the role of supporter, helper, sustainer, and equipper, and in all these respects he forsakes the spotlight.”  Paul says that it is by the very power of the Spirit that the Christian is even able to acknowledge Jesus as savior and lord.  “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.”  How do you say Jesus is your lord?  It is by the power of the Holy Spirit.  He indwells the believer and the church so that we might glorify God.  He is our comforter and help.  He is our empowerment for missions and evangelism.  He is the source of the inspiration of Scripture and source of our illumination of Scripture.  He is an indispensable member of the Trinity seeking no glory for himself, but pointing to Christ to the Glory of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.  May we follow the Spirit’s example of humility and focus on Jesus Christ to the Glory of God the Father.

In Christ, 

Blain Craig