THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN RELATION TO CHRIST

Pastor Floyd Koenig

INTRODUCTION

 The relation of God's Spirit to our incarnate Lord is shrouded in mystery. The Savior was both God and man, weary yet omnipotent, ignorant yet omniscient, capable of growth yet perfect.

He was self-sufficient as God, yet in His humiliation He needed the anointing of the Spirit.

We shouldn't let it bother us that there are things that we can't comprehend about the Spirit's relationship to Christ, but let's rejoice in the mystery of godliness (I Tim. 3:16).

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ANOINTING

The work of the Spirit in the life of Christ is very important as we can see by the titles that are given to Him.

Both the title "Christ" and "Messiah" mean "anointed." Jesus is the "Christ" because He was anointed with the oil of the Spirit in a pre-eminent way.

- He has been anointed with the oil of gladness (Heb. 1:9).

- He possessed the full power of the Spirit (Jn. 3:34-36).

- He has been anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power (Acts 10:38).

The Old Testament has much to say about Christ as the anointed One that was to come:

A. IT WAS PROPHESIED THAT CHRIST WOULD BE THE ANOINTED ONE.

1. He would be anointed King of Kings (Ps. 2:6).

- The word "set" comes from a Hebrew word for "anointed."

- A Hebrew king was not "crowned" but "anointed" as king.

2. Christ was to be anointed King of an eternal kingdom (Ps. 45:6-7).

3. Jesus declared Himself to be the one Who had been sent by God and anointed by the Spirit (Lk. 4:16-21).

4. Before the creation our Lord was foreordained to be the "Christ"(Prov. 8:22-23).

B. IT WAS TYPIFIED THAT CHRIST WOULD BE THE ANOINTED ONE.

1. The fine meal (a type of Christ's sinless flesh) was to be offered with oil (a type of the Spirit) according to the book of Leviticus.

2. In the Old Testament, men were anointed to the offices of prophet, priest, and king.

- This typology finds its antitype in our Savior the anointed of God.

a. He was anointed as PROPHET (Isa. 61:1-3).

b. He was anointed as PRIEST (Heb. 9:11-14).

c. He was anointed as KING (Isa. 11:1-5; 42:1-4).

 II. THE NECESSITY OF THE ANOINTING

The question of why the Son of God should need the Spirit's anointing is part of the great mystery of the incarnation.

We must remain very close to the letter of Scripture in answering this question and not wander into vain speculation.

A. OUR LORD'S ANOINTING ENABLED HIM TO BE LIKE HIS BRETHREN.

1. The covenant of grace required that for Christ to represent His people He must become a servant and take upon Himself their nature (Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 2:14, 17).

2. In this way He became the last Adam.

3. As the children of God are dependent upon the Spirit for service, so Christ likewise served God through the power of the Spirit (Acts 10:38; Isa. 61:1-3).

4. Mark, who represents Christ as a servant says that He was driven by the Spirit (Mk. 1:12).

B. CHRIST HAD TWO NATURES.

1. As a man, Christ was capable of growth and was thus taught by the Spirit of God (Lk. 2:40; Isa. 11:1-4).

2. As a man, Christ was led by the Spirit (Lk. 4:1).

3. Even Christ's works are attributed to the Holy Spirit (Mt. 12:28).

4. In all this, Christ never ceased to be God, yet His humanity was certainly displayed.

 III. THE STAGES OF THE SPIRIT’S ACTIVITY IN RELATION TO CHRIST A. THE SPIRIT’S WORK IN RELATION TO CHRIST’S FORERUNNER.

1. The Holy Spirit enabled John the Baptist to carry out his work as Christ’s forerunner (Lk. 1:15).

2. Even John’s parents were Spirit-filled (Lk. 1:41,67).

B. THE SPIRIT’S WORK IN RELATION TO CHRIST’S CONCEPTION.

1. The Spirit of God prepared the Savior’s human body in the womb of Mary (Mt. 1:18-20).

C. THE SPIRIT’S WORK IN RELATION TO CHRIST’S BAPTISM.

1. Christ received a new anointing at His baptism (Mt. 3:13-17).

2. The purpose of this was:

a. To give a pledge of the Father’s complete satisfaction with Christ (Mt. 3:17; Ps. 45:7).

b. To give a sign to others (Jn. 1:32-34; 6:27).

- John recognized that Jesus had the full power of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:34).

c. To equip Christ for service (Isa. 61:1-4).

 D. THE SPIRIT’S WORK IN RELATION TO CHRIST’S TEMPTATION.

1. It was the Holy Spirit who led Christ into the place of His testing (Mt. 4:1; Mk. 1:12).

E. THE SPIRIT’S WORK IN RELATION TO CHRIST’S SERVICE.

1. Christ’s wonderful words and works were produced by the Spirit’s power.

2. God anointed Him with the Holy Ghost and with power (Acts 10:38).

3. The Spirit of the Lord was upon Him (Lk. 4:16-21).

4. He cast out devils by the Spirit of God (Mt. 12:28).

F. THE SPIRIT’S WORK IN RELATION TO CHRIST’S DEATH.

1. It was through the power of the Eternal Spirit that Christ offered Himself to God (Heb. 9:14).

G. THE SPIRIT’S WORK IN RELATION TO CHRIST’S RESURRECTION.

1. Christ was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 1:4; 8:11; I Pet 3:18).

2. This work as with others is attributed to the Father and the Son also.

- This helps us to remember that Christ never ceased to be God or to exert His Divine power.

H. THE SPIRIT’S WORK IN RELATION TO CHRIST’S GLORIFICATION.

1. John the Baptist taught that only Christ could baptize with the Spirit (Mt. 3:11).

2. This could not take place until after the ascension of Christ (Jn. 7:37-39; Acts 2:33).

3. As a result of Christ’s redemptive work, He has bestowed the Spirit of life and power upon His people (Gal. 3:13-14).

4. When the Bible speaks of Christ sending His Spirit, it does not mean that the Spirit was not present before that time.

5. These references rather refer to the Spirit’s coming in the New Testament power and blessing.

Note

Before He ascended to the right hand of the Father, our Lord spoke of the Spirit as being present and yet as coming (Jn. 14:16-17).

I. THE SPIRIT’S WORK IN RELATION TO CHRIST’S COMING REIGN ON EARTH.

1. The Bible connects the glory of Christ’s future reign with the power of the Spirit.

2. When Christ comes as King of kings and Lord of lords, the power of the Spirit will rest upon Him (Isa. 11:1-4).

3. The Servant of Jehovah shall come forth to reign in the power of the Spirit (Isa. 42:1-4).
 


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