At the Men’s Bible Study this morning, as a follow-up to the teaching on Sunday from Ephesians 4:25-32, Ken led us in a fruitful discussion about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. There was a consensus that the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and His role in the life of the believer is under taught in the Church today.
I’ve got a basic policy that if J.I. Packer writes on a subject, it’s worth reading. Fortunately for us, he has written on this topic in Keep In Step with the Spirit. This is an insightful and even-handed look at the biblical teaching on the Holy Spirit and it’s implications on the life of the believer.
If my memory serves me, this is the work in which Packer refers to the Holy Spirit as a spotlight ministry. He offers an analogy that goes something like this….
Imagine a beautiful building at nighttime. It’s beauty and majesty are only made visible by the giant spotlights that illuminate the structure. The spotlights are absolutely essential for the building to be seen and known. However, it wouldn’t make sense to stare into the spotlight for its own sake. Its role is not to call attention to itself, but to illuminate the building.
According to Packer, the Holy Spirit’s role is similar. He illuminates and points us to Christ. If the Holy Spirit is working in our lives, we will know Christ more deeply and emulate Him more accurately. The Scriptures come alive to us. Our consciences are sensitive to our own sin and the needs of those around us. Christ becomes more real to us and we live like it.
I don’t know about you, but I need more of that every day.
I’ll have to check out Dr. Packer’s book. I personally find myself stymied in my understanding of the Holy Spirit, and that deserves remedy.
It seems like there are two extremes when it comes to the Spirit — on the one hand, attending to the Holy Spirit conjures up thoughts of charismatic, pentecostal, tongue-speaking, flag-waving, weirdness. On the other, limiting the Spirit to an unknowable mystery seems feeble.
I hope we can correct the problem of “under-teaching” the Spirit.
I think the spotlight analogy falls short a bit. I’d like to add that Jesus promised a counselor to come (John 14:15-17), and the Holy Spirit is just that. When we walk against or away from His counsel, He is grieved and we are left to languish out of step with Him until we hear His conviction, whether through the Word, through friends, or circumstances. When we repent, the Spirit comforts our mourning and renews our hope. As Ken has often said, we have the power of the resurrection of Christ in us, and that is the Holy Spirit, our Hope of Glory.
I agree with Hugh, in that my experience, teaching on the Holy Spirit has been limited.
It is true that most non-pentecostal churches have averted their teaching from this issue simply becuase they are afraid of what it might be taken for or the questions it may raise. Sad, but true.
If you are interested in moving through some deeper waters on this subject, may I encourage you to read, The Holy Spirit by Sinclair Ferguson. It is part of the Countours of Christian Theology by IVP and does a very nice job of giving a treatment of the subject along with practical applications. Also, Sinclair is the professor of systematic theology at Westminster in Philadelphia so you know it is solid.