The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 51

TWO STANDPOINTS

il

why as regards Satan comand love would be blameworthy? Is it not that we never can look upon Satan without remembering that he is the adversary of our God, the mortal enemy of our But now Christ? Were it not for that we might weep for him. our allegiance to God tells us that such weeping would be treason

Why? What

passion

is

is

the sole, deep reason

dead, hatred

is right,

against our King.

Only by measuring the end can

we stand

of things

right in this matter.

We

by what belongs to God

can view the matter of the

from the right standpoint only when we is highest, i.e., the glory of God. Measured by Him, we can conceive of the redeemed in a state of bliss, enthroned, yet not in danger of pride since it was and is and ever shall be by His sovereign grace alone. But also measured by Him, we can think of those identified with Satan, joyless and miserable, without once hurting the sense of justice in the heart of the upright; for to be mercifully inclined toward Satan is impossible to him who loves God with love deep and everlasting. And such i.s the love of the redeemed.

redeemed and the

lost

subordinate both to that which

;

Considered from this far superior standpoint, the work of the Holy Spirit necessarily assumes a different aspect. Now we can no more say that His work is the sanctification of the elect, with all that precedes and follows; but we confess that it is the vindication of the counsel of God with all that pertains thereto, from the creation and throughout the ages, unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and onward throughout eternitj', both in heaven and in hell. The difference between these two viewpoints can easily be appreciated. According to the first, the work of the Holy Spirit is

man is fallen; hence he is disimpure and unholy, even subject to death itthe Holy Spirit must purify and sanctify him. This implies, that had man not sinned the Holy Spirit would have had no Unfortunately

only subordinate. eased. self, first,

work.

Since he

is

Second, that when the work of sanctification

is finished. His According to the correct viewpoint, the work of the Spirit is continuous and perpetual, beginni.ng with the creation, continuing throughout eternity, begun even before sin first

activity will cease.

appeared. It may be objected that some time ago the author emphatically opposed the idea that Christ would have come into the world even

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