THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD'S POWER.
IT is through the gift of his Holy Spirit that God works his own will in everyone who yields his members to be operated as God wills. It is thus that God dwells in human flesh to give it power against sin, and strength to work God's will. Man has no strength of himself, but the God of peace, through Jesus Christ, makes him perfect in every good work to do God's will, working in him that which is well pleasing in his sight. Heb. 13:20, 21. When therefore man yields his will entirely to the operation of God's Spirit, which is in the place of the personal presence of Christ, he can do no other than work things pleasing to God, and so is counted perfect in his sight. In other words, God does the good in us, and then gives us the credit for it. This is imputed right doing. Christ passed over this very line in man's behalf, his mission to earth requiring him to step into man's place in everything. He was not only tempted like man, but he, too, yielded his will to God as supreme, and depended entirely upon him for strength with which to meet his responsibilities. He did nothing of himself. John 5:19. The miracles he performed were the work of the Father, who dwelt in him. John 14:10. The works he did were therefore presented by him as evidence of the indwelling of the Father, on the grounds that no one could do the works of God, but he himself. And, as it was admitted that the works of Christ were also those of the Father, the works themselves proved that God dwelt in Christ. Verses 10, 11. This being true in relation to the work of Christ, the same is true of his followers. Without divine power they can do nothing. John 15:5. But, on the other hand, if they believe in Christ, and so receive divine power, the works that he did, they will also do. John 14:12. If Christ is not personally present, how can believing in him bring this power to the believer? In this way: The believer in Christ must believe his word, and so see in all his mighty works the presence and power of God. The faith which enables one to see this is that also which brings to the believer the power by which the works were done through Christ, namely, the Spirit of the living God. So lest any might not see beyond the instrument through which that work was done, and thus forget God, who is over all, Christ said that after he was gone to the Father, the works of his followers would be greater than those which were seen of him. That was to say: "In all I have done I represent my Father. I shall return to him, for he is 'greater than I.' Your power will come direct from him, and will show him dwelling in you, even as his work by me shows him dwelling in me. When you, therefore, through faith in me, as the revealer of God, do the works of God, they will be greater than mine, even as 'my Father is greater than I,' who is above all, and through all, and in you all." John 14:28; Eph. 4:6. But the significance of the Saviour's leaving his disciples was not so readily understood by them. They were filled with sorrow at the announcement of his going away, especially when told that they could not then follow him. John 13:37. His personal presence had been exceedingly comforting, and his words of instruction had attached them to him as children to a parent. They felt that they could not be separated from him. In their distress he offered words for their comfort. "I tell you the truth: It is expedient [advantageous] 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." John 16:7. These words were full of mystery to the wondering disciples. How would it be possible for another to do as much for them as he had done? Who, indeed, beside him, could feed the hungry multitude from nothing, heal the sick, cure loathsome diseases, quiet the angry waves of the sea, and raise the dead at will? Had they not been constantly instructed by his gracious words, and had power, also, to cast out devils in his name? Why should they desire a change? Should he leave them, as he had declared he must, how would they be able to still do the wondrous things his presence had enabled them to do before? All these questionings, and others, doubtless, found place in their minds. But Jesus could not remain with them personally to satisfy their reasonings. Indeed it were better for them not to have it so; for in that case his presence would be confined to one locality at a time, thus restricting his direct influence to a comparatively limited number. Not so, however, with his representative, the Holy Spirit, which was to succeed him among men. That would not only be able to dwell, at the same time, with all who might desire its presence, but it would, moreover, be to each with whom it should abide, all that Christ himself had been to those with whom he had been personally present. As Christ was the gift of God to the world, that all men might believe on him to everlasting life, so when Christ returned to the Father, the Comforter was given instead, that by its reception through faith men might have power to be kept unto eternal salvation. As Christ was the power of God among men, so the Holy Spirit is that power to all who receive it. The unbelieving world knows nothing of the power of this heavenly visitant, because it is not seen. John 14:17. But those who receive it by faith, become acquainted with its power, for it dwells in them. Through it they become acquainted with God and Christ, since its sole mission in the world is to communicate the things of God and Christ to those in whom it dwells. John 16:13-15. When on earth in the flesh, the personal Christ was visible to all with whom he came in contact. His representative, however, is never seen, but is recognized only by faith. It is therefore impossible to know Christ until he is comprehended by faith, through the indwelling of the Spirit which reveals him. When thus received, Christ lives within, and so the believer lives by him. John 14:16-19. But since the Spirit proceeds from the Father, and comes to us from him, he who has Christ dwelling in him by the reception of the Spirit, has both the Father and the Son. Verse 23, also 2 John 9. So, then, whatever Christ was, or possibly could have been to his disciples, by his personal presence, he is now to everyone who receives by faith the Holy Spirit, which is as freely bestowed of God as was the gift of his only-begotten Son. Rom. 8:32. As Christ was God's gift to man, by which earth might be linked to heaven, so the bestowal of the Holy Spirit is the gift of God's power, by which man may attain to the righteousness of God, and thus preserve his connection with Divinity. This same energy was bestowed without measure upon Christ when in the flesh, and was that by which he did so many mighty works in overcoming Satan for us. Matt. 11:27; John 3:34. All flesh which is kept from falling under the temptations of the enemy, must have the same indwelling power that he had, hence when it became necessary for him to return to the Father, the Spirit he cherished while here, and by which he overcame, was given to live in the hearts of his followers, to be also their guardian power, in their journey to the heavenly abode.