The Promise of the Holy Spirit

Does Gal 3:14 mean that the promise of the Holy Spirit is a person as a gift? No. The Spirit is the Spirit OF Christ which was God at work especially in the Prophets by Christ and the prophecies made more perfect by Jesus of Nazareth Whom God made to be both Lord and Christ.

Jesus of Nazareth died, was resurrected, was changed into HIs post-resurrected state. We will be like Him because we will see Him as He is.

Jesus' spirit returned to God Who gave it.
He received the gift of The Holy Spirit which was His state in the presence of the One God
He returned as The Holy Spirit and at Pentecost "HE Shed forth that which" the apostles saw and Heard.

Jesus is still the one Mediator or Intercessor between man and God.

The Gift of The Holy Spirit One
The Gift of The Holy Spirit Two
John Mark Hicks: claiming Alexander Campbell was a trinitarian
Father Son Spirit Passages: there is ONE GOD and Jesus of Nazareth whom God made to be both Lord and Christ
Augustine: Faith and Creed
Athenagoras - The Trinity
Theophilus who first used the Word Trias

Acts 2:30 Therefore being a PROPHET, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins,[SPERM] according to the FLESH, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; [30 years later] Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, [first born FROM THE DEAD] neither his flesh did see corruption	1Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Jesus became HOLY SPIRIT and the only COMFORTER
Acts 2:32 This Jesus [man] hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Acts 2:33 Therefore (Jesus) being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the PROMISE of the Holy Ghost, HE (Jesus) hath SHED forth this, which ye now see and hear. Sound of rushing wind was figurative of BREAT	1Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 1Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, [THEOS] which giveth us the victory through our Lord [KURIOS] Jesus Christ.
Jesus was given the OFFICE of THE HOLY SPIRIT [Pure Breath] Epagg-elia A. command, summons, Plb.9.38.2.[Example: s sent an ambassador to your town] b. announcement, notice 3. offer, promise, profession, undertaking, D.21.14; “tas huperbolas tōn e. 2. as law-term, dokimasias) summons to ATTEND a dokimasia tōn rhētorō WHERE WILL WE FIND JESUS: Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with OBSERVATION: [Religious ovservations called Lying Wonders OPER0SUS , painstaking, active, busy, industrious, laborious ( costs much trouble, troublesome, toilsome, laborious, difficult, *elaborate* , costly, sumptuous Temple, from “carmina, [vocal or instrumental music] ” elaborate, Hor. C. 4, 2, 31 “artes,” skill in constructing, profession as music, “rhetorica,” Quint. 2, 17, 4: “musica,” poetry, Ter. Hec. prol. 23: “musica,” music, ars oratoris, oratoris autem omnis actio opinionibus, mūsĭca , ae, and mūsĭcē , ēs, f., = mousikē, he art of music, music;	Jesus as Holy Spirit has the SOLE role in Church doki^m-a^sia1. of magistrates after election, to see if they fulfil the legal requirements of legitimacy, full citizenship, “tōn hiereōn” Pl.Lg.759d; 3. d. (sc. ephēbōn), before admission to the rights of manhood, D.44.41, v. l. in 57.62. 4. d. tōn rhētorōn a judicial process to determine the right of a man *to speak* in the ekklēsia 5. examination of recruits, PLond.3.982.6 (iv A. D.). 6. generally, *TEST, make full* trial of, Is.7.34 (but, receive *assurance* of .” Arist.EN1162a14; “krisin kai d. tinōn poiein” Plu.Cleom.10; “lithos dokimasias” LXXSi.6.21; “d. oikodomōn” Carmen an oracular response, a prophecy; a form of incantation ( “carmine vocali clarus citharāque Philammon,” Apollinem) concordant carmina nervis,, “lyrae carmen, harundineum [pipes] barbaricum playing on the cithara: Plebs the great MASS, lyricorum carmina, carmine tibiis,” Naenia [Jesus cast them out] A magic formula, an incantation: a formula in religion or law, 7. Moral sentences composed in verses: OPPOSITE: "The word that is employed for this "anaginosko, anagnosis) is the technical term for the cultic reading aloud of the Old Testament in the synagogue. By applying this terminology to the reading of his own epistles he not only ascribes the same authority to the apostolic word as to the Old Testament writings...he also combines a quotation from the Old Testament with a word of Jesus and introduces the whole with the familiar formula: 'for the Scripture says.'" (Ridderbos, Hermon, Paul, P. 483 an Outline of His Theo., Eerdmans)
Matt. 11:28 Come unto ME, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt. 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and LEARN OF ME for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find REST unto your souls. Heb. 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto HIM without the camp, bearing his reproach. God does not live in literal houses and dŏmus , b. In philos lang., a philosophical school, *SECT, Sen. Ep. 29 fin.; id. Ben. 5, 15. schŏla* (scŏla ), ae, f., = skholē 1. A place for learned conversation or instruction, a place of learning, a school “ The Synagogue was called an Acadamy the opposite of the habes scholam Stoicam, [Conscision or homosexuals] Of phĭlŏsŏphus “scriptiones,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 41, 121: “verbum,” “tractatus, rationem praecepta tradere Academici,	Anapauo (g373) an-up-ow'-o; from 303 and 3973; (reflex.) to repose (lit. or fig. [be exempt], remain); by impl. to refresh:- take ease, refresh, (give, take) rest. Stop the: Melōd-eō Stop, aoidēs,, Stop Playing, Stop singing or speaking, Stop Reciting poems, Stop humnois rhapsantes aoidēn, DAMON" Rise, Lucifer, and, heralding the light, bring in the genial day, while I make moan fooled by vain passion for a faithless bride, for Nysa, and with this my dying breath call on the gods, though little it bestead-- the gods who heard her vows and heeded not. 'Begin, my flute, with me Maenalian lays.'
Heb. 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Heb. 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; Heb. 10:21 And having an high priest over the HOUSE of God; [excluding priests or levites, Scribes or Pharisees, speakers, singers, instrument players.] 2Cor. 3:17 Now THE LORD (Jesus) is that SPIRIT: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Col. 4:16 And when this EPISTLE is READ among you, cause that it be READ also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise READ the epistle from Laodicea.	HIER-EUS khristos of the Kings of Israel LEV 4:[5] The anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull, and bring it to the Tent of Meeting. Ev.Matt.2.4, etc.; “ho kh. Kuriou” Ev.Luc.2.26; then used as pr. n. of Jesus, “Iēsous kh.” Ev.Matt.1.1, etc.; Iēsous ho legomenos kh. ib.16 to recite what is written, labe to biblion kai lege analegomai, ek biblōn a. collect materials from books, read through anagignōskō , later anagi_nōskō : 1. know well, know certainly, 2. know again, recognize books *read aloud,* hence Oopposie unpublished "The Cultic READING ALOUD of that which is written for our learning." Clement of Rome (I Corinthians 45) tells his readers to search the *Scriptures* for the truthful expressions of the *Holy* Ghost. St. Irenæus (Against Heresies ... 1 Clem 45:2 Ye have searched the SCRIPTURES, which are TRUTH, which were given through the Holy Ghost [NEVER a person]; epilegomai. read, to bublion, ta grammata
Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Acts 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God HATH MADE that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. [30 years after He was born in the FLESH]	1Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the WORK OF THE LORD forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. When the Spirit Lord appeared to Paul He said "I am JESUS of Nazareth." There is NO OTHER name.

Unfortunately, when the word spirit occurs we too quickly translate it into The Holy Spirit as the third member of the godhead. However, the promise of the Holy Spirit in Galatians is not the possession of a personal Deity as a gift to us. God give gifts but we deceive our selves and may be arrogant to imagine that the God of the universe gives Himself away to His creatures. The context shows that it was the promise which the Spirit made through inspiration.

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Gal 3:14

Not only does this lead to the false belief that we are personally inspired by the literal presence of God in our literal bodies--another incarnation--it shuts off any clear understanding of the context.

Rubel Shelly, minister of Woodmont Hills Church of Christ and writer of Faith Matters, follows the lead of many ministers in somewhat denying the power of Christ through the written gospel by insisting that it must be empowered (discerned) by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit as a third member of the God family:

"Even so, the Word of God is made powerful by virtue of the Holy Spirit of God. The spoken or written Word is the 'sword' which the Spirit of God uses to convict hearts, lay us bare to the truth about our condition as sinners, and impress us with what heaven has done to save us." (Rubel Shelly, In Step with the Spirit, 20th Century Christian.")

However, the faith which matters comes from the Word of God which is perfectly adequate of life and Godliness:

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:13

And take the helmet of salvation, and (and you take) the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Eph 6:17

The Sword of the Spirit Our Mouth Speaking Christ's Words

Paul said, "you take the sword of the Spirit." It is the Christian evangelist (he has no office) who prepares like a soldier and then "takes" the powerful sword to the world. If not then the Holy Spirit, like He is said to have done in creation, takes the "totally worthless" and powerless Words Jesus said are "spirit and life" (Jn 6:63) and infuses power into them.

Why not, then, find an honest job and let the Spirit swing His sword without our usually hindering effort? To the Hebrews Paul personifies the same written word as Solomon personified Wisdom. This is true because the revealed Words of Christ are Spirit and Life and must inform sermon and song (Eph 5). When the "un-paradigmed" or "un-patterned" word is taught "as it has been delivered to you" it does what it is supposed to do:

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb.4:12

This is true because:

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

To understand the promise of the Spirit as the promise which the Spirit made:

First, the promise was made through the prophets who spoke as they were moved by the Spirit of Christ in them (1 Pe 1:11)

Second, the promise was made by Jesus Christ that He would return as the "another Comforter" which was the same Father-Son Who had been with the Apostles and would be in them after Pentecost (Jn 14:16-18).

Jesus said that He existed before Abraham. Therefore, He was there as Spirit or angel or Rock to pour out supernatural knowledge to the prophets:

I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" Jn.8:58

Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' Lu.16:29

Third, Peter showed that it was the Spirit of Christ who made the promises through the prophets:

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1Pe.1:11

The promise of the Spirit was not the promise of the gift of the personal, literal Holy Spirit as a divine Being in the literal body. Rather, Paul shows that God supplied His spirit as a result of hearing and believing Paul's preaching:

Does God give (supply) you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Gal 3:5

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Gal 3:6

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. Gal 3:7

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith,

preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. Gal 3:8

The process is not to first hear and then God gives the Holy Spirit directly into the body of the hearer. Rather, By hearing the Words of the Spirit Christ we are supplied with Spirit or the Mind of Christ.

The Lord appeared to Isaac He said that the blessings would come (not because of the Law of Moses) but-

Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. 26:5

Scripture, like Spirit or Wisdom, is personified. When "Scripture" preached to those living under the Old Testament, it was Christ the Spirit preaching to them:

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1Pe 3:18 (Jesus laid down and took up His life)

By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 1Pe 3:19

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Pe1:11

The Law was given as a curse when Israel rejected the Abrahamic covenant restated as The Book of the Covenant at Mount Sinai.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Gal 3:13

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Gal 3:14

Now the blessing of Abraham is not Abraham as a blessing. Rather, the blessing of Abraham is the promise made by the Spirit of Christ that Abraham's descendants and the whole world would be blessed as a result of faithful obedience to the promise made by the Spirit. That is, the promise was not that we would personally have a literal person living in us. Rather, the promise was the promise which the Spirit of Christ made.

The rest of Galatians shows that the promise of the Spirit was the promise which the Spirit of Christ made:

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Ga.3:16

And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. Ga.3:17

For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Gal 3:18

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. Ga.3:21

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Gal 3:22

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Gal 3:23

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Gal 3:24

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. Gal 3:25

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:27

And if ye be Christs, then are ye Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the promise. Ga.3:29

Christ, who was in the very form of God because He was God, laid aside His Majesty, glory and privileges as God. He was made manifest or apparent in the body of flesh "prepared for him." After He was crucified He was resurrected by that glorious power He laid aside. He ascended back and sat down beside the Majesty He laid aside to become a human. As a human He was God's right hand or shoulder.

Christ the Abiding Comforter

It was to the apostle's advantage that He leave His physical body, return to heaven and then come back as the One and Only Comforter, Advocate or Mediator because He is the only image who paid the price. This was in fulfillment of the prophecy which Christ made and then breathed on them as He told them to receive the Holy Spirit:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Jn 14:16

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. Jn 14:17

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Jn 14:18

While in the flesh Christ "had the Father with Him" because He was God manifested in the flesh. When they saw the Son they saw the Father and Thomas identified the Christ as both Lord and God. When He came again as Spirit, Christ would adopt us unto Himself. This confirms that the presence of God is as both Father and Son:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Ep.1:5

After promising to come again as Comforter, Jesus continued:

At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. Jn 14:20

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Jn 14:21

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jn 14:22

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Jn 14:23

Therefore, when the Son made a promise the Father made a promise. Not only did the Son make the promise as the fleshly embodiment of the Father, when Pentecost came it was Jesus the Son Who shed forth or poured forth the signs of sight and sound:

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Lu.24:49

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me Ac.1:4

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Ac.2:33

The visible signs would prove that both Father and Son were in the Apostles in Mind or Spirit. The proof was that they remembered what Jesus said in Person and they were guided into all truth. Furthermore, they were able to bestow Spirit power on certain representative groups as the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Gift of the Spirit to individuals was always subsequent to their baptism, was always by the hands of the apostles and was always manifested in speaking in tongues. This was not a universal promise any more than the power to handle snakes and drink poison.

Promise of the Holy Spirit is the Promise Made By The Spirit of Christ

It seems clear that the promise of the Spirit in Galatians is the promise which the Spirit made.

Jesus was the visible manifestation of the invisible God. Full Deity dwelled in Him. He made the promise to return as "another comforter" at Pentecost. He breathed on the Apostles and told them to receive the Spirit. Therefore, the promise of the receiving of the Spirit--always supernaturally--was the promise of the Spirit.

When the Apostles received the gift of the Spirit and Cornelius received the "like gift" these were unconditional signs that God was speaking through the common people and even the Gentiles. None of the thousands baptized at Pentecost were said to have "received the gift of the Spirit."

When the church spread out over the years, each representative group was given the sign that they could be saved. These were Jews, Samaritans, Gentiles and those "far away" in Ephesus. Paul received a "like gift" on the Road to Damascus when Jesus appeared in His form as light. It was Jesus Christ, the only Comforter, Who reminded Paul of what he had already heard and would be with Him to guide him into new truth.

The promise of the Spirit, therefore, was the promise made by the Spirit of Christ through the prophets that God would live with, walk among and dwell within the hearts which would be recreated for God's indwelling.

The promise Jesus made as He "breathed on them" and taught through the Holy Spirit (along with Father) was that Father and Son would return in Spirit form to live within believers. At the same time, believers would live within Father and Son. Perhaps we should remember that Jesus said that He spoke to the multitudes because "hearing they cannot hear."Rubel

Kenneth Sublett

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