‘He is risen!’ – Part 6

Indeed, if Jesus had remained dead in the grave and did not rise, there will be no Holy Spirit in the world. It is essential that believers recognise the importance of the Holy Spirit in God’s redemptive purpose. Many Christians have no idea what difference it would make, if there were no Holy Spirit in this world. The Holy Spirit is the breath/Spirit of Christ. (Jn 20: 22). After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to the disciples and said: “As My Father has sent Me, I also send you 22And when He had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn 20:21,22). As we shall see later, this Holy Spirit, which came from Christ’s breath is the same “Spirit of God” involved in Creation in Genesis 1:2 and 2:7). Without the Holy Spirit, there would be no creation, no universe, no human race (Gen 1:2; Job 33:4). Without the Holy Spirit, there would be no Bible (2 Pet 1:21), no New Testament (John 14:26; 15:26-27; 1 Cor 2:10-14), no power to proclaim the gospel (Acts 1:8).

Without the Holy Spirit there would be no faith, no new birth, no holiness, no Christians at all in the world. This pivotal doctrine of “the breath/Spirit of Jesus” (Jn 20:22) called the “Holy Spirit” or “the Spirit of Christ” (Rom 8:9); “the Spirit of God” (Rom 8:9); “the Spirit of adoption” (Rom 8:15) and “the Spirit of truth” (Jn 14:17) and “another Helper/Comforter” (Jn 14:16; 16:26) is indeed the substance of the New Covenant. The doctrine of the Holy Spirit will be discussed in great details later. This then brings us to the question—Was Christ present at Creation?

• The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit had a role in creation
God the Father (Gen 1,2; Neh 9:6; Is 42:5; 45:18
God the Son (Jn 1:1-3, 10; Col 1:15-18; heb 1:1-3, 10; Rev 4:11
God the Holy Spirit (Gen 1:2; 2:7; Job 33:4; Ps 104:30)

• The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit give life
The Father gives life (Gen 2:7; Jn 5:26; Ps 33:6; Job 33:4; Rv 11:11)
God the Son gives life (Jn 1:4; 14:6; Jn 4:14; 20:31; 10:28; 1:4; 3:36; Col 3:4; 2 Tim 1:1; Rev 13:15; 1 Jn 5:11-13,20; 1 Cor 15:45)
God the Holy Spirit gives life (Ezk 37:14; Jn 6:63; 2 Cor 3:6; Gal 6:8; Ezk 37:1-14; Rom 8:11; 1 Pet 3:18

• The Holy Spirit is given by the Father (Jn 14:16,26; Acts 1:4,5;) and Jesus the Son of God (Jn 20:22)

• Jesus often spoke of His Father. Who is His Father?
“I and My Father are one.” (Jn 10:30) “If you have known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” (Jn 14:7)

“Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves” (Jn 14:9,11)

“God is a Spirit” (Jn 4:24). “I who speak to you, I am He” (Jn 4:26).
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