- Understanding the Work of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in Redemption
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are active in every step of redemption. However, there is a difference in the function of each. It is necessary to recognize the differences in operation in order to cooperate in the fulfillment of God’s purpose for our lives.
To make the difference simple, we could say that the Father prescribes redemption, the Son provides redemption, and the Holy Spirit applies redemption. Or the Father thought red, the Son bought red, and the Holy Spirit wrought red. Or as one theologian put it, “God is the originating cause; God the Son is the mediating cause, and God the Holy Spirit is the effecting cause (Dr. James McKee Adams). These three roles are set forth in chapter one of Ephesians.
A practical illustration of the teamwork of the Trinity in redemption:
A striking analogy is afforded in the realm of medicine. “There are three professions involved in the treatment of disease: the physician who diagnoses the case and prescribes the treatment; the pharmacist who compounds the remedy; and the nurse who faithfully waits at the patient’s bedside and administers that which the doctor has prescribed and the druggist prepared. In the analogy, of course, the physician represents the Father, who has diagnosed the need of the sinner and prescribed the remedy. The druggist represents the Son, who by achieving a perfect human life provides through His shed blood the only specific cure of sin. The nurse represents the Holy Spirit, who applies the remedy by quickening the Word to challenge the faith of the sinner.[1]
I love this analogy because it pictures the loving and practical nature of the part of the Holy Spirit in recovery from the disease of sin. Anyone who has ever been seriously sick knows what it means to have a compassionate and loving nurse at his or her bedside, administering every aid and literally pulling him through his illness. Such is the wonderful ministry of the Holy Spirit.
- The Crucifixion of King Self
The greatest problem by far, that anyone of us faces, is the problem of Self. King Self is the chief hindrance to being filled with the Holy Spirit. What is Self? It is the rebellious, even incorrigible, nature of every human, passed down from Adam, which seeks its own way, pleasure, comfort, viewpoint, etc. with little or no regard for the rights of others. Paul’s word for this attitude is flesh.
The big question is, how can we gain victory over this ungodly disposition. To make this victory ours is the first work of the Holy Spirit after that of regeneration (the new birth). The way the Holy Spirit gives this victory is by the “Crucifixion (or death) of the flesh” (Romans 8:13).
Now theoretically, every true believer is already dead to sin through the cross (including self) and alive to God through the resurrection (Romans 6:4). In accepting Christ, he accepts Christ’s death to sin (Gal. 2:20). Having been crucified with Him, it is only natural that he would be buried with Him also, for after death comes burial. Hence in God’s sight the rebel self, the big “I” is dead and buried. However, the young believer does not journey far before he discovers through painful experience that if self is dead, it is the livest dead thing he has ever encountered. Paul testifies to this dilemma and cries out “O wretched man I am. Who shall deliver me from the body of death?” (Roman. 7:24). Then Paul answers the question:
How can the flesh be put to death in our experience?
- Certainly not by the energy of the flesh. Some pray, “Lord, help me crucify myself?” Multitudes rededicate their lives, seeking to overcome the flesh, but such is only the rededication of the flesh.
- The flesh must be crucified. But how? No man can crucify himself. It is a physical impossibility. One may commit suicide in many different ways, but if he ever dies by crucifixion, someone else will put him on the cross.
- The Holy Spirit is God’s agent to bring crucifixion to pass. As Romans 8:13 specifically states, “If you by the Spirit do put to death the deeds of the body, you shall life.” However, to understand how the Spirit works with us to put the death sentence into effect, we must understand the words, “put to death.” These three words are one word in Greek, thanatoute, which literally means “to cause to be put to death” the “deeds of the body.” Note: the “deeds of the body,” (or doing’s of the body) meaning acts of evil which come through the body, not the body itself.
- We cannot crucify ourselves. We are only to give the Holy Spirit the permission to get it done. We must say the word, because God does nothing in us without our own active cooperation.
Illustration of Crucifixion: The best way I know to explain crucifixion is to quote the words of a brother who impacted my life as no other person I ever knew in understanding the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit. So here goes:
“An experience some years ago brought home to me this aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry. We had at that time a pet dog named Skipper which had won his way into our affections – especially those of our children. One day Skipper was struck by a passing automobile. Though he recovered in a measure from his injury, Skipper was never himself again. His disposition was ruined and he became a problem in the neighborhood. One day after he had snapped at my little daughter I sent him to the veterinarian for observation. The doctor explained that sometimes a dog’s disposition was permanently altered by an injury of that nature. He stated that Skipper would probably be a dangerous pet to have with the little children in the home and frankly advised me to put him out of the way.
The veterinarian had made his recommendation. He stood ready to carry out the course that he had advised. But the problem was mine – the dog was mine, and the children were mine. It was my responsibility t say the word, and I said it. I have always felt that I said the right word, and ever since I have held in grateful appreciation the friend who counseled me so wisely and who then so faithfully did the “dirty work” for me. So far as I know that is the only sentence of execution I have pronounced – except that which time and time again I pronounce when the Holy Spirit reveals to me the working of a vicious nature within and waits my word to carry out the death sentence which he so strongly recommends.
My relation to Skipper in the incident referred to above designates the position which the believer must take in regard to the problem of self. But the act of pronouncing God’s sentence must be cultivated until it becomes a habit of mind. That attitude is described in Romans 6:11 where Paul say, “Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.” The tense of the verb is present, indicating a continuing process of reckoning. The figure is that of a bookkeeper making his entries, or of a navigator setting his course in a given direction. Appearances to the contrary, our old man has been crucified, as God’s Word plainly states. “Ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). “They that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof (Gal. 5:24). The inference is unavoidable. The thing is done. The crucifixion has already taken place. By faith we must accept the bearings God has given us and hold to the course in a steady reckoning.”[2]
A final Caution: This business of being “dead to sin” (crucified) does not necessarily take away its appeal, nor does it render us incapable of responding. We are free to do as we choose. But God’s perfect will is that we “play” by His rules, and the Holy Spirit is yearning for us to do so (James 4:5). His rule is this: Quietly reckon ourselves to be dead unto sin and alive unto God as He has said (Romans 6:11). And the wonderful thing is that when we make His reckoning a “lifestyle” and take the position that we are dead to sin (including self) and do not have to commit it and alive to God, the victory is ours, as we find ourselves being filled moment by moment by the Holy Spirit and walking in His power.
[1] Ralph Herring, God Being My Helper, Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1955, pp. 10-11.
[2] Ibid. pp. 25-25.