Holy Spirit - Incarnation

We turn now to the final revelation in the New Testament concerning the Holy Spirit - the Gospel of John. Here Jesus is recorded as promising to give "another Comforter" to His followers on earth. (John 14:16)

In speaking of this "Comforter" in relationship to Himself, He chose the word, allos, rather than heteros. Both words mean, another, in the Greek, but with a difference in the comparison.

Thayer in his Greek Lexicon remarks "Every heteros is an allos, but every allos is not a heteros." (p. 29T To see this difference, we have only to note how these words are used in other New Testament references: 

Romans 7:23 - "But I see another (heteros) law in my members, warring against the law of my mind."

Acts 7:18 - "Till another (heteros) king arose, which knew not Joseph."

Galatians 1:6-7 - "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another (heteros) gospel: which is not another (allos); but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ."

From these illustrations, it can be seen that allos distinguishes between two of the same kind, and which are on an equal level, while heteros denotes two of a different kind not on the same level.

In other words, Jesus was saying that the Holy Spirit was of the same kind as He, but a distinct Being from Him.

This is further illustrated in the fact that Jesus called the Holy Spirit, the "Comforter" (paracletos).

In his first Epistle, John speaks of Jesus as "an Advocate" (paracletos) I John 2:1.

As Jesus continued the conversation in the upper room, He comforted the disciples with the assurance that He would not leave them orphans, but stated - "I will come to you." (John 14:18, margin)

Though He had stated that the Holy Spirit was a distinct Person from Himself, He indicated that in the coming of the Spirit, He would be coming to them. The only way that I have found to express this relationship is to use the term - Alter-Ego. Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as a result of the Incarnation are in an Alter-Ego relationship.

John as he further reports that upper room conversation notes Jesus as referring to the Holy Spirit as "He" - "That One" (ekeinos).

The text reads - "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He (ekeinos) shall teach ,you all things." (John 14:26) This same designation is used again by Jesus in John 16:7-8, 13-14.

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Joh 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Gospel of John clearly presents the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of truth, the paracletos - a distinct Being, the Allos of Jesus Christ even to the coming "in (His) name."

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Truth.

Do you believe Jesus when He said this-

Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one.

If you believe when Jesus said this, that it is true, then what does it mean to you? Are they one entity? No, of course not. They are ONE IN AGREEMENT.

What about when Jesus said this-

Joh_14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Do you comprehend this? Jesus said - 'he that hath seen me hath seen the Father'.   Did we REALLY physically see the Father? Is it the physical FATHER that we are looking for? They agree as one. When you've seen the vice president of a family run company and the president refuses to see you and allows the son who is vice president to meet with you are you seeing the president? If that son can act on his father's behalf, then it is as if you've met with the father. Yes? No?  Again if you're looking for a meeting to see the physicality of the father, then no. But if you're looking for the power of the father, then yes! 

So turning this all towards the Holy Spirit it's the same principle. When we know the Holy Spirit is working in our lives it is as if Jesus is working in our lives, as if God the Father is working in our lives.  The THREE agree as ONE, but are separate entities, three separate gods.  Just as we are separate human beings yet one in commonalities.

More tomorrow by the grace of our LORD through the will of the Father, through the Holy Spirit's guidance.

In THEIR LOVE!