The Subordination of the Spirit to the Father and the Son
(1) Jno. 14:26 — “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all tilings to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Jno. 15: 26 — “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.”
FIRST PROPOSITION: The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father
and also by the Son.
Elsewhere we are taught that Jesus Christ was sent by the Father. (Jno. 6: 29; 8: 29, 42.)
(2) Rom. 8: 9 — “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
SE COND PR OPOSITION: The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit
of God” and “the Spirit of Christ.”
(Compare Acts 16: 7, R.V. — “And when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the spiiit oj Jesus suffered them not.”)
(3) Jno. 16: 13, R.V. — “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.”
THIRD PR OPOSITION: The Holy Spirit speaks not from Him self but speaks the things which He hears.
In a similar way Jesus said of Himself * ’ my teaching is not mine, but His that sent Me.” (Jno. 7: 16; 8: 26, 40.)
(4) Jno. 16: 14 —” He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.”
The Subordination of the Spirit 237
FOURTH PROPOSITION: It is the work of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ.
In a similar way Christ sought not His own glory but the glory of Him that sent Him. (Jno. 7: 18.)
GENERAL PROPOSITION: The Holy Spirit in His present
work is subordinated to the Father and to the Son.
NOTE. — We shall see later that in his earthly life Jesus lived and taught and worked in the power of the Holy Spirit.