If I asked you to name all four of the Beatles, my guess is that the first two would be a cinch: Paul McCartney and John Lennon. Some of you might easily rattle off Ringo Starr and George Harrison, but my guess is that the rest of you would pause to remember. It’s not as if Ringo and George aren’t important to the Beatles; rather, it’s that they aren’t as well known as Paul and John.
The Holy Spirit is most likely the George Harrison or Ringo Starr of the Trinity. I don’t just mean that he’s easily forgotten. Rather, I mean that the Holy Spirit is like George Harrison in the sense that the Holy Spirit’s success is not independent of the Father and Son. George Harrison was most successful as a Beatle; the Holy Spirit works as a person of the Trinity, not as an unsuccessful solo artist.
The eleventh article of the Belgic restates and builds upon what is already written in the older, ecumenical creeds. The Holy Spirit “proceeds eternally from the Father and the Son.” He is “true and eternal God.” This is nothing new.
The interesting thing, however, is how he relates to the Father and the Son. We tend to think of the Father as the Granddaddy of the Trinity and Jesus as the Superstar. The Spirit is as much a member of the Trinity as these two, but his work is different. The Spirit is understood as how he comes from the Father and the Son. He works on their behalf. He submits to their sending.
The Father sends the Spirit, as Jesus tells us in John 14:16. The Son sends the Spirit, as we read in John 15:26. In both of these instances, the Spirit does not do the sending, but he is the one who is sent. He works for them. He “proceeds eternally” from the Father and the Son.
As much praise as is due the Son for his humility to submit to the cross, the forgotten member of the Trinity is as humble. As much praise belongs to Him as well. But he calls no attention to himself. He works for the Father and the Son, bringing them glory and honor. He’s the technician at work during the Jesus Rock Concert, deflecting all praise.
I know Scripture teaches us to have the “mind of Christ” and not the mind of the Spirit (Phil. 2:5). This does not offend the Holy Spirit. He wants it that way; he deflects all attention to Christ.
This doesn’t mean that we must be like the Holy Spirit. No, we are called to put on Christ. But keep in mind that it is the powerful person of the Holy Spirit behind the scenes that enables, empowers, and sanctifies you to even live in Christ.
You could praise him, but that’s like praising the concert technician. He is worthy of praise and glory, no doubt. But my guess is that you’d do him honor by praising the other two persons of the Trinity. This is the work of the Spirit. To praise the other two persons shows the Spirit is working within us.
The Holy Spirit is most likely the George Harrison or Ringo Starr of the Trinity. I don’t just mean that he’s easily forgotten. Rather, I mean that the Holy Spirit is like George Harrison in the sense that the Holy Spirit’s success is not independent of the Father and Son. George Harrison was most successful as a Beatle; the Holy Spirit works as a person of the Trinity, not as an unsuccessful solo artist.
The eleventh article of the Belgic restates and builds upon what is already written in the older, ecumenical creeds. The Holy Spirit “proceeds eternally from the Father and the Son.” He is “true and eternal God.” This is nothing new.
The interesting thing, however, is how he relates to the Father and the Son. We tend to think of the Father as the Granddaddy of the Trinity and Jesus as the Superstar. The Spirit is as much a member of the Trinity as these two, but his work is different. The Spirit is understood as how he comes from the Father and the Son. He works on their behalf. He submits to their sending.
The Father sends the Spirit, as Jesus tells us in John 14:16. The Son sends the Spirit, as we read in John 15:26. In both of these instances, the Spirit does not do the sending, but he is the one who is sent. He works for them. He “proceeds eternally” from the Father and the Son.
As much praise as is due the Son for his humility to submit to the cross, the forgotten member of the Trinity is as humble. As much praise belongs to Him as well. But he calls no attention to himself. He works for the Father and the Son, bringing them glory and honor. He’s the technician at work during the Jesus Rock Concert, deflecting all praise.
I know Scripture teaches us to have the “mind of Christ” and not the mind of the Spirit (Phil. 2:5). This does not offend the Holy Spirit. He wants it that way; he deflects all attention to Christ.
This doesn’t mean that we must be like the Holy Spirit. No, we are called to put on Christ. But keep in mind that it is the powerful person of the Holy Spirit behind the scenes that enables, empowers, and sanctifies you to even live in Christ.
You could praise him, but that’s like praising the concert technician. He is worthy of praise and glory, no doubt. But my guess is that you’d do him honor by praising the other two persons of the Trinity. This is the work of the Spirit. To praise the other two persons shows the Spirit is working within us.
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