The Holy Spirit Our Efficiency by R. D. QUINN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 27, 1911

The Holy Spirit Our Efficiency

By R. D. QUINN

Jesus Christ himself is the one perfect manifestation in history of the complete work of the Holy Spirit in man. He was begotten of the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:35. He lived a holy and sinless life, and offered himself without spot to God, through the eternal Spirit. Heb. 9:14. Jesus Christ wrought his miracles while here on earth in the power of the Holy Spirit. He said, “I cast out devils by the power of the Spirit of God.” Matt. 12:28. It was by that same Spirit that he was raised from the dead. Rom. 8:11. Even after his resurrection, but before his ascension, he gave commandments unto his apostles, whom he had chosen through the Holy Spirit; for we read in Acts 1:2: “Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen.” He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” Thus we see that every act of the Saviour’s life, from his advent into this world until he was taken up, was under the control of the Spirit of God.

Now all this is written of Christ, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. For “Jesus revealed no qualities and exercised no powers that men may not have through faith in him. His perfect humanity is that which all his followers may possess if they will be in subjection to God as he was.”—Desire of Ages, page 795.

Before Jesus departed out of this world, he gave to his followers the key to success in the following words: “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me,

even so send I you.” When he had said this, he drew aside the veil, as much as to say, I will now tell you by what power I have done all these things which you have witnessed. This is it: “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” Jesus spoke as never man spoke, and his word was with power. It is written: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do ye not after their works: for they say, and do not.” Matt. 23:2, 3. But of Christ it is recorded: “The people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

As far as the true form of the message was concerned, their teaching was alike, and Christ instructed the people to obey what the scribes and Pharisees said, but not to do what they did. In contradistinction to their practise, Christ began both to do and to teach. Acts 1:1. In this splendid truth lay the difference between the teaching of Christ and the popular preachers of that day. They said, but did not; whereas Christ lived in his life what he taught.

“The teaching of Christ was the expression of an inwrought conviction and experience, and those who learn of him become teachers after the divine order. The Word of God, spoken by one who is himself sanctified through it, has a life-giving power that makes it attractive to the hearers, and convicts them that it is a living reality. When one has received the truth in the love of it, he will make this manifest in the persuasion of his manner and the tones of his voice. He makes known that which he himself has heard, seen, and handled of the Word of life. . . . His testimony, from lips touched with a live coal from off the altar, is truth to the receptive heart, and works sanctification upon the character.”—Desire of Ages, page 156.

Some one has said that the best translation of the Scriptures is its translation into flesh. This is what the world beheld in Christ. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” He could say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The Word made flesh is the sword of the Spirit. In Christ the Spirit had a perfect sword. In 2 Sam. 23:10 we read of one of David’s mighty men smiting the Philistines “until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day.” The man and the sword were one and inseparable. Thus it should be with the witnesses of the Word.

Jesus Christ was in this world truly saying: “All power [and that is “all authority” in the Revised Version] is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” And when he said this, he had no place at all, no, not so much as to lay his head. He made himself of no reputation, and had no position in this world. The scribes and the Pharisees had all that, but no authority. What, then, was it that gave Christ his authority?—It was the truth that was made flesh in him, and lived in his life. Being able to read the Scriptures anywhere without condemnation, he taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes. The measure of truth that a man has, not in theory, but in his life, is the only measure of authority that he has. And when the time comes again that we find men in this world who have as much of the truth made flesh in them as Christ had in him, we may look for the same power and authority in the preaching of the everlasting gospel to the world. This is power, and this is the price of power, and the blessed truth is that we may have just as much as we are willing to live for. “And we are his witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” Acts 5:32.

R. D. QUINN.